Indiana Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before you take a motorcycle into traffic, you must be able to find and operate the throttle, clutch lever, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gearshift, turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel valve and engine cut-off switch without looking for them (Indiana MOM p.5). The front brake is operated by the right-hand lever and the throttle by the right grip; the gearshift is in front of the left footrest.

• Be very familiar with the friction zone of the clutch — it is essential for smooth starts and low-speed control (Indiana MOM p.5).
• The throttle must snap back to fully closed when released; the clutch should feel tight and operate smoothly (Indiana MOM p.6).
• Ride extra carefully on any motorcycle that is new or unfamiliar to you (Indiana MOM p.5).

One out of every five motorcycle crashes results in a head or neck injury, and helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury (Indiana MOM p.2). The single most important thing you can do to improve your chances in a crash is to wear a securely fastened, quality helmet that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation standard.

• Choose a three-quarter or full-face helmet; make sure it fits snugly with no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps (Indiana MOM p.2).
• A face shield protects your whole face; goggles protect only your eyes, and a windshield is not a substitute for either (Indiana MOM p.3).
• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, sturdy over-the-ankle boots, and leather or other durable gloves (Indiana MOM p.4).

Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, keep your knees against the tank and your feet firmly on the footrests with your toes up (Indiana MOM p.7). Always use both brakes every time you slow or stop. The front brake supplies 70% or more of your total stopping power and is safe when you squeeze, never grab, the lever (Indiana MOM p.9).

• Use a 3-step process to upshift and downshift, easing the clutch out smoothly so a sudden power change does not skid the rear wheel (Indiana MOM p.8-9).
• Stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly if you need to (Indiana MOM p.9).
• Change gears before you enter a turn whenever possible (Indiana MOM p.9).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast and then running wide — a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes (Indiana MOM p.26). Use four steps: SLOW before the turn, LOOK through it by turning just your head, PRESS the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean, and ROLL on the throttle to stabilize the motorcycle (Indiana MOM p.10-11).

• In normal turns the rider and motorcycle lean together; in slow, tight turns counterbalance — lean the motorcycle only and keep your body upright (Indiana MOM p.11).
• Press left, lean left, go left — the higher the speed or sharper the turn, the greater the lean angle needed (Indiana MOM p.10-11).
• If you must stop quickly in a curve, straighten and square the handlebars first, then stop (Indiana MOM p.23).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel — left, center and right — and no part of the lane, including the center, must always be avoided (Indiana MOM p.11-12). Choose the path that helps you see and be seen, avoids blind spots and surface hazards, and leaves an escape route. Keep at least a two-second following distance, opening it to three seconds or more in heavy traffic or on slippery roads (Indiana MOM p.11, 13).

• Ride in path 2 or 3 if hazards are on your left, path 1 or 2 if hazards are on your right, and the center when vehicles are on both sides (Indiana MOM p.12).
• When following a car, ride in the center portion so the driver can see you in the inside rearview mirror (Indiana MOM p.13).
• Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane — lane sharing is usually prohibited (Indiana MOM p.13).

Experienced riders manage risk with the three-step SEE strategy — Search, Evaluate, Execute (Indiana MOM p.15). Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind; Evaluate how hazards can interact to create risk; Execute your decision by communicating, adjusting speed, and adjusting position.

• Search about 12 seconds ahead; anything within 4 seconds of your path is an immediate hazard (Indiana MOM p.16).
• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (Indiana MOM p.17).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time (Indiana MOM p.17).

Intersections are where you have the greatest potential for conflict with other traffic — over half of motorcycle/car crashes happen when a driver violates a rider's right-of-way (Indiana MOM p.17). Keep your headlight on (a motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed), wear bright or reflective clothing, and use your turn signals every time.

• Making eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — slow down and be ready to react (Indiana MOM p.18).
• At a blind intersection, move to the part of the lane that brings you into the other driver's view soonest (Indiana MOM p.18).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before you slow where others may not expect it (Indiana MOM p.22).

Two skills save you in a tight spot: stopping quickly and swerving (Indiana MOM p.23). To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time, squeezing the front lever firmly and progressively. When there is no room to stop, swerve — press the handgrip on the side of your escape direction, then press the opposite grip to recover.

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it smoothly (Indiana MOM p.24).
• Keep a locked rear wheel locked until you have completely stopped, if you are upright and going straight (Indiana MOM p.24).
• Never brake while swerving — separate braking from swerving, doing one before or after the other (Indiana MOM p.24-25).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, ice, lane markings and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow down before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (Indiana MOM p.26-27). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles and avoid the oily center strip until surface oil washes away.

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — turning to take them head-on is more dangerous (Indiana MOM p.27).
• For pavement seams that run parallel to your path, move far enough away to cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees (Indiana MOM p.27).
• At night, slow down, open a three-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car (Indiana MOM p.23-24).

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car — a minor failure that is just an inconvenience in a car can cause a crash on a motorcycle (Indiana MOM p.5). Use the MSF T-CLOCS checklist — Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, Stands — before every ride.

• If a tire goes flat, hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, keep a straight course, and edge to the side of the road (Indiana MOM p.29).
• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, use the engine cut-off switch and squeeze the clutch at the same time (Indiana MOM p.29).
• If the motorcycle wobbles, grip the bars firmly, do not brake or accelerate, and close the throttle gradually (Indiana MOM p.29).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances and stops (Indiana MOM p.31). Your passenger should wear the same protective gear as you, get on only after the engine is started and the transmission is in neutral, and lean with you through turns.

• With a passenger, ride a little slower, start slowing earlier, and keep a larger space cushion (Indiana MOM p.34).
• Keep cargo low and over or in front of the rear axle; fasten it with elastic cords, not rope (Indiana MOM p.33-34).
• Ride in a staggered formation, move to single file for curves and turns, and place inexperienced riders just behind the leader (Indiana MOM p.34-35).

Alcohol and other 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 impairment begins well below the legal limit (Indiana MOM p.38). An adult with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or above is legally intoxicated, and alcohol leaves the body at only about one drink per hour (Indiana MOM p.39-40).

• The first ability alcohol affects is your judgment of how well you are riding — you ride more poorly while thinking you are doing better (Indiana MOM p.40).
• Riders under 21 face much lower BAC limits — generally 0.00 to 0.02% (Indiana MOM p.40).
• Riding is more tiring than driving a car — take a rest break at least every two hours and never ride when fatigued (Indiana MOM p.42).