Michigan Motorcycle Knowledge Test Cheat Sheet
The fastest way to review before your SOS motorcycle test — the numbers and rules most likely to appear.
🪪 Permit & License
- Motorcycle authority is the CY endorsement on your license
- Two paths: an approved rider course, or knowledge + skills tests
- A temporary instruction permit (TIP) is valid 180 days
- Only two TIPs are issued in a 10-year period
- TIP: daylight only, no passengers, supervised by a licensed rider 18+
- An approved rider course waives BOTH the knowledge and skills tests
🔢 Most-Tested Numbers
- Following gap (new riders)4 seconds
- Poor conditions5 seconds or more
- Front brake70%+ of stopping power
- Intoxicated (OWI).08% BAC
- High BAC.17% BAC
- Alcohol clears~1 drink per hour
🪖 Helmet & Gear
- Helmet required under 21, and during any course or skills test
- 21+ exempt only with a 2-yr endorsement and $20,000 medical
- All required helmets must be U.S. DOT approved
- Eye protection: over 35 mph with no windshield
- A face shield protects your whole face; goggles, only your eyes
- Never wear tinted eye protection at night
✅ Remember This Answer
- Quick stop? Use both brakes together
- Front brake? Squeeze firmly — never grab
- Curve? Slow, Look, Press, Roll
- To lean/turn? Press the handgrip toward the turn
- Swerve? Brake before or after — never during
- Eye protection? Over 35 mph with no windshield
✅ Remember This Answer (2)
- Starts to rain? Ride in cars' tire tracks, not the center
- Railroad tracks? Cross straight, within your lane
- Tailgater behind you? Change lanes and let them pass
- Cut reaction time? Cover the clutch and both brakes
- Daytime visibility? Headlight on — 2× as likely to be seen
- Where do crashes happen? Intersections (about 40%)
⚠️ Common Test Traps
- "No room to stop" → Swerve — don't just brake harder
- "Stop fastest" → Both brakes — not front alone, not rear first
- "Brake while swerving" → Wrong — brake before or after only
- "It starts to rain" → Ride in the cars' tire tracks
- "Following distance" → 4 sec; 5+ in poor conditions
- "Made eye contact" → Driver still may not yield
⚠️ More Test Traps
- "Curve, too fast" → Slow before — don't brake hard mid-curve
- "Look through a turn" → Turn just your head, not shoulders
- "Chased by a dog" → Slow, downshift, then accelerate away
- "Deer on the road" → Stop before reaching it
- "Carrying a passenger" → Bike responds slower — ride slower
- "Front wheel locks" → Release the front brake, then reapply
🚨 Emergency Situations
- Tire goes flat → Hold grips, ease off throttle, keep straight, edge off
- Front tire flat → Steering feels heavy
- Rear tire flat → Back jerks or sways
- Rear wheel locks → Keep it locked until stopped if straight
- Stop in a curve → Straighten, square the bars, then stop
- Have ABS? → Steady pressure, don't pump
🌧️ Surfaces, Weather & Night
- Pavement is most slippery in the first minutes of rain
- Slippery surface: slow before it, no sudden moves, both brakes gently
- Cross parallel seams or grooves at 45° or more
- Night: ride slower and open your following distance
- Night: high beam when not following or meeting a car
- Side wind: lean into it and keep a space cushion
🏍️ Motorcycle Control
- Countersteer: press left grip → lean left → go left
- Use both brakes every stop — the front gives 70%+ of the power
- Corner in four steps: SLOW · LOOK · PRESS · ROLL
- Slow tight turn: lean the bike only, keep your body upright
- Friction zone: where the clutch starts moving the rear wheel
- Head-check your blind spot before every lane change
🍺 Alcohol & Impairment
- Intoxicated (OWI).08% BAC
- High BAC.17% BAC
- Clears the body~1 drink per hour
- First conviction6-month suspension
- As little as one drink hurts judgment and balance
- Marijuana impairment is illegal even where marijuana is legal
🎯 Last-Minute Before the Test
- Both brakes to stop — front brake = 70%+ of power
- Every curve: SLOW · LOOK · PRESS · ROLL
- Press the grip toward the turn to lean (countersteer)
- Brake OR swerve — never both at once
- Follow at 4 seconds — 5+ when wet or crowded
- Helmet under 21; eye protection over 35 mph with no windshield
- SEE = Search, Evaluate, Execute · .08% BAC = intoxicated
Confirm every number against the official Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116) before test day. Full helmet law →
Source: Test details reflect the consensus of major rider-education sources — confirm with the state agency before your visit. The Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116, Rev. May 2024) does not publish a question count or passing score. 20 questions / 16 to pass (80%) is the strong multi-site practice consensus and was confirmed by the site owner for the displayed format.