Michigan Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before every ride, be able to find and use the throttle, clutch lever, gearshift, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, and handlebars without looking — there are six primary controls. The manual stresses that a motorcycle needs more attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride (Before You Ride).

• Check tire pressure with a gauge — a tire can be underinflated with no change in appearance — plus tread, fluids, lights, signals, and the brake light from both controls.
• After mounting, confirm the throttle snaps back when released, each brake feels firm and not spongy, and both mirrors show about half the lane behind and beside you.
• Michigan teaches the full inspection as the T-CLOCS checklist: Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil and fluids, Chassis, and Stands.

Required helmets must meet U.S. DOT standards. A full-face helmet gives the most protection because it covers your whole head and face, and a shatter-resistant face shield protects your whole face while goggles protect only your eyes (Before You Ride).

• Riders under 21 must always wear a DOT helmet; a rider 21+ may go without one only with a two-year endorsement (or approved course) and $20,000 in medical benefits.
• Over 35 mph without a windshield, eye protection is required by law; never wear tinted eye protection at night or in low light (MCL 257.708a).
• Wear a leather or sturdy-synthetic jacket and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and full-fingered gloves; bright, reflective gear helps drivers see you.

Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, keep your knees against the tank and feet on the pegs, and keep your right wrist flat to avoid too much throttle. Your motorcycle has two brakes — always use both, every stop. The front brake supplies 70 percent or more of your stopping power, so squeeze it firmly and progressively (Basic Operation).

• Use the friction zone — where the clutch begins to transmit power — to ease the motorcycle moving smoothly from a stop.
• Shift one gear per lift or press; a typical pattern is 1-N-2-3-4-5, with neutral a half-shift up from first.
• Change gears before a turn — a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid; downshifting too quickly can lock the rear tire.

Many riders crash by entering curves too fast. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL. Slow before the turn, look through it by turning just your head, press the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean — press left, lean left, go left — and roll on the throttle to keep the motorcycle steady (Basic Operation, Roadway Management).

• In a normal turn the rider and motorcycle lean together; in a slow, tight turn lean the motorcycle only and keep your body upright.
• The higher your speed in a turn, the greater the lean angle needed — ride within your skill level and the posted limit.
• With no traffic, start a curve from the outside to improve your line of sight; with traffic, move to the center of your lane before the curve.

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, and there is no single best position — you change it as traffic and hazards change. Choose the path that helps you see and be seen, avoids blind spots and surface hazards, and keeps a space cushion. The manual recommends new riders keep at least a four-second following distance (Street Strategies).

• Ride path 2 or 3 if hazards are on your left, path 1 or 2 if on your right, and the center (path 2) when vehicles are on both sides.
• Open your following distance to five seconds or more on slippery roads, in heavy traffic, or when someone may squeeze in front of you.
• The oily strip in the center of a lane is usually no more than two feet wide, and unless the road is wet it still has enough traction to ride on.

Experienced riders use SEE — Search, Evaluate, Execute — to spot hazards and act early. Search aggressively ahead, to the sides, and behind; evaluate how hazards could interact to create risk; and execute by adjusting your speed and position and communicating with your lights or horn (Street Strategies).

• Checking mirrors is not enough — motorcycles have blind spots, so turn your head before changing lanes.
• When two hazards appear at once, adjust your speed so you can deal with them one at a time.
• In high-risk areas such as intersections, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time.

About 40 percent of motorcycle-car crashes happen at intersections, usually when a driver turns left in front of a rider. Drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle, so keep your headlight on — a motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed — wear bright clothing, and signal every time (Street Strategies).

• Making eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — slow down and be ready to react.
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's; flash it before you slow suddenly or where others may not expect it.
• When a car is waiting to cross your path, reduce your speed and be ready to react.

Two skills save you in a tight spot: stopping quickly and swerving. To stop quickly, use both brakes at the same time, squeezing the front lever firmly — never grabbing it. When there is no room to stop, swerve by pressing the handgrip on the side you want to go, then press the other grip to recover (Roadway Management).

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately and completely, then reapply it smoothly.
• If the rear wheel locks while you are upright and straight, keep it locked until you have stopped — releasing it can cause a violent crash.
• Never brake while swerving — brake before or after, and to stop in a curve, straighten the bike and square the handlebars first.

Wet pavement, gravel, metal grates, and lane markings reduce traction. Slow before a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently — the front brake still works. Pavement is most slippery just after rain starts, so ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the oily center (Roadway Management, Special Riding Situations).

• Cross railroad tracks and grates by riding straight within your lane; cross seams that run parallel to your path at an angle of at least 45 degrees.
• Cold weather lengthens your reaction time, and strong side winds are handled by leaning into the wind and keeping a space cushion.
• At night, reduce your speed, increase your following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car.

A pre-ride check catches trouble before traffic does. 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 — you will seldom hear it go (Special Riding Situations).

• A front-tire flat makes the steering feel heavy; a rear-tire flat makes the back jerk or sway.
• If braking is needed and you are sure which tire is flat, gradually use the brake of the tire that is not flat.
• Minimum legal tread depth is 1/32 inch front and rear (MCL 257.710).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances, and stops. A passenger sits behind you, as far forward as possible, with feet on the footrests at all times (Passengers, Cargo and Group Riding).

• With a passenger, ride slower, start slowing earlier, and keep a larger space cushion; more weight over the rear tire can boost the rear brake.
• Keep cargo low and forward over or ahead of the rear axle, distributed evenly, and fasten it with elastic cords using several attachment points.
• Ride in staggered formation in a group, and move to single file for curves, turns, and entering or leaving a highway.

Alcohol is a major contributor to motorcycle crashes — nearly 40 percent of riders killed had been drinking — and even one drink can affect your ability to ride. In Michigan a BAC of 0.08 or greater is operating while intoxicated, and 0.17 or greater is a high-BAC offense (Being in Shape to Ride, Michigan Motorcycle Laws).

• Your body removes alcohol at only about one drink per hour; coffee, a shower, or exercise will not speed it up.
• Riding impaired by marijuana is illegal even where marijuana is legal, and a first drunk-driving conviction brings a six-month license suspension.
• Fight fatigue by taking a rest break at least every two hours; never use artificial stimulants to stay awake.