Kentucky Motorcycle Test Study Guide

To control a motorcycle well, sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent on the handgrips (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.9). Start with your right wrist flat so you do not use too much throttle, keep your knees against the gas tank for balance, and keep your feet firmly on the footrests near the controls.

• Your motorcycle has two brakes — one for the front wheel, one for the rear; the front brake supplies at least three-quarters of your stopping power (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.10-11).
• Adjust the handlebars so your hands are even with or below your elbows, and adjust both mirrors to show the lane behind and beside you (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.7-9).
• Choose a motorcycle that fits — your feet should reach the ground while seated, and smaller motorcycles are usually easier for beginners (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.6).

Your gear is "right" if it protects you: an approved helmet, face or eye protection, and protective clothing. One out of every five motorcycle crashes results in head or neck injuries, and helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.3).

• Choose a three-quarter or full-face helmet that meets U.S. DOT and state standards, fits snugly all the way around, has no defects, and stays securely fastened (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.4).
• A shatter-resistant face shield protects your whole face; goggles protect only the eyes; a windshield is not a substitute, and tinted protection should never be worn at night (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.5).
• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, sturdy over-the-ankle boots, and leather or durable gloves (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.5).

Shift down through the gears with the clutch as you slow, and stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.10). Use both brakes every time you slow or stop — the front brake supplies three-quarters or more of your stopping power and is safe when you squeeze, never grab, the lever (p.11).

• Change gears before entering a turn; if you must shift in a turn, do it smoothly because a sudden power change can cause a skid (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.10).
• Grabbing the front brake or jamming the rear can lock a wheel and cause a loss of control (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.11).
• If you downshift while going too fast, the motorcycle will lurch and the rear wheel may skid (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.10).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast, then running wide or overbraking into a skid. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.11). Slow before the turn, look through it to where you want to go, press the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean — press right, lean right, go right — and roll on the throttle to stay stable.

• In normal turns the rider and motorcycle lean together; in slow, tight turns counterbalance — lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.11).
• Running wide in a curve is a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes — ride within your skill level and the posted speed limit (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.26).
• With no traffic, start a curve at the outside to widen your line of sight, move to the inside, then move out to exit (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.26).

Each traffic lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel. The best position for seeing and being seen is the left third of the lane (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.12). Keep a cushion of space all around you, and maintain a minimum four-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead — open it up further in poor conditions (p.13).

• On a two-lane road ride the left portion of your lane; when being passed, stay in the left portion (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.12-15).
• Lane sharing is usually prohibited — cars and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.15).
• Handle a tailgater by changing lanes to let them pass, or slow down and open extra space ahead (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.13).

Experienced riders use SEE — Search, Evaluate, Execute — a three-step process for spotting hazards and acting early (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.17). Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind. Evaluate how road characteristics, traffic control devices and other vehicles could create risk. Execute by communicating with lights or horn and adjusting speed and position.

• Search your path of travel about 12 seconds ahead (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.9).
• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.18).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections and school or construction zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.18).

Over half of motorcycle/car crashes are caused by drivers entering a rider's right-of-way, and the intersection is the most likely place for a crash (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.18). Drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle. Keep your headlight on — a motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed by day — wear bright clothing, and signal every turn (p.20-21).

• Making eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — slow down and be ready to react (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.18).
• Cancel your signal after every turn so drivers do not think you plan to turn again (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.22).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before slowing where others may not expect it (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.22).

Two skills save you in a tight spot: stopping quickly and swerving. To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time, squeezing the front lever firmly and progressively — never grabbing it (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.25). When there is no room to stop, swerve: press the handgrip on the side of your escape direction to lean the motorcycle quickly, then press the opposite grip to recover.

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.25).
• To stop quickly in a curve, straighten the motorcycle upright first, then brake (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.25).
• Never brake while swerving — separate braking from swerving, doing it before or after (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.25).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, ice, painted lane markings and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow down before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.27-28). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars rather than the slippery center of the lane.

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — turning to take them head-on is more dangerous (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.29).
• For seams or ruts that run parallel to your path, move away and cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.29).
• At night, ride slower, open a four-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.24).

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride — find trouble before you reach traffic (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.7-8). Check the tires, fluids and leaks, lights and turn signals, then the clutch, throttle, mirrors, brakes and horn. Check the wheels, cables, fasteners and fluid levels at least weekly.

• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, use the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.31).
• Wobble: grip the bars firmly, close the throttle gradually, do not brake, and move your weight forward (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.31).
• 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 (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.31).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances and stops (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.33). Instruct your passenger before you start, and keep cargo low, forward, evenly distributed and securely fastened (p.34-35).

• A passenger should get on only after the engine is started, hold your waist or the handholds, and keep both feet on the footrests even when stopped (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.34).
• Keep loads low and forward — a load behind the rear axle can cause a wobble; secure cargo with elastic cords, not rope (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.34-35).
• Ride in a staggered formation, never side by side; split groups larger than four or five, and move to single file for curves and turns (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.35-36).

Alcohol and other drugs degrade your ability to think clearly and ride safely more than any other factor — as little as one drink affects performance, and impairment begins well below the legal limit (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.37-39). An adult rider with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is legally intoxicated, and alcohol leaves the body at only about one drink per hour.

• Studies show 40% to 45% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.37).
• A conviction for riding under the influence brings a mandatory license suspension, severe fines, community service and added costs (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.39-40).
• Riding is more tiring than driving a car — rest at least every two hours and never ride when fatigued (Kentucky Motorcycle Manual p.41).