Idaho Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before riding on the street, be completely familiar with the motorcycle — especially if it is borrowed. Locate the turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel-supply valve and engine cut-off switch, and learn to operate them without looking (Idaho Handbook p.27).

• The throttle is the right handgrip and should snap back to idle when released; the front brake is the right-hand lever (Idaho Handbook p.28).
• The gearshift is in front of the left footrest; a typical pattern is 1-N-2-3-4-5, with neutral selected by a half-lift from first or half-press from second (Idaho Handbook p.32-33).
• Sit forward with your arms slightly bent, keep your knees against the tank and your feet firmly on the footrests for balance (Idaho Handbook p.31-32).

Riding gear is 'right' when it gives you comfort, protection and visibility. Idaho law requires every person under 18 to wear a DOT-compliant helmet, on or off highway; riders 18 and older may ride without one but a helmet is the single most important thing for surviving a crash (Idaho Handbook p.19-20, 25).

• Choose a half, three-quarter or full-face helmet that meets U.S. DOT standards, fits snugly all the way around, and has no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps (Idaho Handbook p.20).
• Eye or face protection is strongly recommended but not required by Idaho law — a shatter-resistant face shield gives the most protection; a windshield is not a substitute (Idaho Handbook p.21).
• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, sturdy over-the-ankle boots with short heels, and full-fingered leather gloves (Idaho Handbook p.21-22).

Use the friction zone of the clutch for smooth starts and low-speed control, and remain in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (Idaho Handbook p.32, 34). Always use both brakes every time you slow or stop — the front brake provides at least 70% of your stopping power (Idaho Handbook p.35).

• Squeeze the front brake smoothly and firmly with increasing pressure — do not grab it; apply less rear brake as weight transfers forward (Idaho Handbook p.35).
• Shifting to a lower gear produces engine braking; downshift one gear at a time and ease the clutch through the friction zone (Idaho Handbook p.34).
• Change gears before entering a turn — a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid (Idaho Handbook p.34).

Many riders take curves too fast, run wide, then over-brake and skid. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, ROLL, PRESS — slow before the turn, look through it, roll on the throttle, and press the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean (Idaho Handbook p.37).

• Press left — lean left — go left; this is counter-steering, and the higher the speed, the greater the lean angle (Idaho Handbook p.37).
• In normal turns the rider and motorcycle lean together; in slow, tight turns keep your body straight and lean the motorcycle beneath you (Idaho Handbook p.38).
• With no opposing traffic, start a curve toward the outside, move to the inside at the apex, then out to exit — this makes the turn less sharp (Idaho Handbook p.61).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel; the left third is a common default, but vary your position as conditions change (Idaho Handbook p.39-40). Keep a minimum 3-second following distance, and open it to 4 seconds or more at night or in poor conditions (Idaho Handbook p.40, 56).

• A good lane position lets you see and be seen, keep an escape route and a space cushion, and avoid surface hazards and blind spots (Idaho Handbook p.39).
• Lane filtering, lane sharing and lane splitting are all illegal in Idaho — motorcycles need a full lane (Idaho Handbook p.45-46).
• When being passed, use the center or right portion of your lane to avoid the other vehicle, extended mirrors and wind blasts (Idaho Handbook p.43).

Idaho teaches the SIPDE strategy — Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute — to spot trouble early and act before it becomes critical (Idaho Handbook p.47). Search aggressively ahead, behind and to the sides; predict how hazards may affect you by asking 'What if...?'.

• Identify hazards in three categories: other vehicles, pedestrians/children/animals, and stationary objects (Idaho Handbook p.47-48).
• In the Decide step you have three choices — adjust speed, adjust position, or communicate your presence (Idaho Handbook p.48-49).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections and school zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time (Idaho Handbook p.49).

The greatest potential for conflict with other traffic is at intersections, where vehicles turning left across your path are a critical danger (Idaho Handbook p.50). Keep your headlight on, wear bright retro-reflective gear, and signal early so other drivers see you (Idaho Handbook p.52-53).

• At a blind intersection, move to the part of your lane that brings you into the cross driver's view as early as possible (Idaho Handbook p.50).
• After a complete stop, you may proceed with caution through a red light only if it fails to detect you after one full cycle — yield to all traffic (Idaho Handbook p.51).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before slowing where others may not expect it (Idaho Handbook p.54).

Two crash-avoidance skills are critical: the quick stop and the swerve. A quick stop fully applies both brakes without locking either wheel; a swerve is two quick counter-steers when there is no room to stop (Idaho Handbook p.57, 59).

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately and completely, then reapply it smoothly (Idaho Handbook p.58).
• If the rear wheel locks, release it immediately and reapply with light-to-lighter pressure to avoid a high-side crash (Idaho Handbook p.58).
• Never brake while swerving — brake before or after, but separate braking from swerving (Idaho Handbook p.59).

Wet pavement, gravel, oil, tar snakes and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow down before reaching a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, use both brakes gently and keep the bike upright (Idaho Handbook p.63-64). When it rains, ride in the tire tracks left by cars (Idaho Handbook p.64).

• Cross railroad or trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane; cross parallel tracks or seams at an angle of at least 45 degrees (Idaho Handbook p.66).
• At night, ride slower, open a 4-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a vehicle (Idaho Handbook p.56-57).
• To handle steady wind, lean into it with forward pressure on the handgrip; for gusts from large vehicles, move away and maximize your space cushion (Idaho Handbook p.65).

A motorcycle needs more frequent maintenance than a car, and a minor failure that is just an inconvenience in a car can cause a crash on a motorcycle. Complete a thorough precheck before every ride (Idaho Handbook p.27).

• Check tires for pressure, wear and tread; check oil and fluids at least weekly and look for leaks; test lights, signals and the horn (Idaho Handbook p.27).
• Front tire flat: the steering feels heavy. Rear tire flat: the back feels sluggish and sways. Hold the grips, squeeze the clutch and ease to the side (Idaho Handbook p.67).
• Stuck throttle: use the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch. Wobble: hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, slow gradually — do not brake (Idaho Handbook p.68).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances and stops. Carrying a child-passenger in front of you is not legal in Idaho (Idaho Handbook p.70-71).

• Idaho law requires a proper seat and passenger footrests; the passenger should hold your waist, hips or belt and lean with you (Idaho Handbook p.71).
• Keep cargo low and forward — over or in front of the rear axle — and secure it firmly so it cannot shift (Idaho Handbook p.72).
• Ride in staggered formation, split groups larger than 4-5 riders, and never ride directly alongside another rider (Idaho Handbook p.73-74).

Alcohol and drugs degrade your ability to think clearly and ride safely more than any other factor — as little as one drink has a significant effect, and judgment is the first thing impaired (Idaho Handbook p.77, 82). It is a DUI in Idaho at a BAC of 0.08 for adults 21 and older (Idaho Handbook p.80).

• Riders under 21 face a 0.02 BAC limit, and commercial drivers a 0.04 limit; impairment of skills begins well below any legal limit (Idaho Handbook p.80).
• The body clears alcohol at only about one drink per hour — there is no shortcut to sobering up; only time works (Idaho Handbook p.78, 83).
• Riding is more fatiguing than driving — dress for the weather, limit your distance, and rest at least every 2 hours (Idaho Handbook p.84).