Missouri Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before you ride, be able to find and work the throttle, clutch, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gear shift, turn signals, horn, headlight switch and engine cut-off switch without looking for them (Form 2332, p.7). Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, keep your knees against the tank and your feet on the footrests, and start with your right wrist flat to avoid using too much throttle (Form 2332, p.12).

• The front brake is the right-hand lever, the rear brake the right-foot pedal, and the clutch the left-hand lever (Form 2332, p.7).
• The throttle should snap back to closed when you let go, and the clutch should feel tight and smooth (Form 2332, p.8).
• Shift down through the gears as you slow, and stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (Form 2332, p.12).

Your single best protection in a crash is a securely fastened, quality helmet that meets U.S. DOT standards; helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries (Form 2332, p.4). A face shield protects your whole face, while goggles protect only your eyes — and a windshield is not a substitute for either (Form 2332, p.5).

• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, over-the-ankle boots, and durable gloves (Form 2332, p.6).
• Bright orange, red, yellow or green gear, with reflective material on a vest and the helmet sides, helps drivers see you (Form 2332, p.21).
• Never wear tinted eye protection at night or when little light is available (Form 2332, p.5).

Your motorcycle has two brakes — always use both at the same time. The front brake is more powerful and can provide at least 70% of your total stopping power, and is safe when you squeeze, never grab, the lever (Form 2332, p.13). Maximum straight-line braking is fully applying both brakes without locking either wheel (Form 2332, p.29).

• Grabbing the front brake or jamming the rear can lock a wheel and cause a skid (Form 2332, p.13).
• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately and completely, then reapply it smoothly (Form 2332, p.29).
• To stop quickly in a curve, straighten and square the handlebars first, then brake (Form 2332, p.28).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast, then running wide or braking too hard. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL (Form 2332, p.14). 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 left, lean left, go left — and roll on the throttle through the turn to stay stable.

• In normal turns the rider and motorcycle lean together; in slow, tight turns lean the bike only and keep your body straight (Form 2332, p.14).
• Running wide in a curve is a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes — ride within your skill level and the posted limit (Form 2332, p.29).
• With no traffic, enter a curve from the outside to widen your line of sight (Form 2332, p.30).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, and no part of the lane — including the center — must always be avoided (Form 2332, p.15). 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, on slippery roads, or when you cannot see ahead (Form 2332, p.16).

• 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 (path 2) when vehicles are on both sides (Form 2332, p.16).
• The center strip collects oil and grease, but unless the road is wet the average center strip still gives adequate traction (Form 2332, p.16).
• Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane; lane sharing is usually prohibited (Form 2332, p.18).

Experienced riders use MSF's three-step SEE strategy — Search, Evaluate, Execute — to spot hazards and act early (Form 2332, p.20). Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind. Evaluate how road conditions, traffic-control devices and other vehicles could create risk. Execute by communicating with lights or horn and adjusting your speed and position.

• Scan your travel path about 12 seconds ahead, with shorter 2- and 4-second lead times for closer hazards (Form 2332, p.20).
• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (Form 2332, p.20-21).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections and school zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut reaction time (Form 2332, p.21).

Intersections hold the greatest potential for conflict — over half of car/motorcycle crashes come from a driver entering the rider's right-of-way, most often a car turning left (Form 2332, p.21). 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 — and use your turn signals every time, even when your move seems obvious (Form 2332, p.24-25).

• Making eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — slow down and be ready to react (Form 2332, p.22).
• Cancel your signal after every turn so drivers do not think you plan to turn again (Form 2332, p.25).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before you slow where others may not expect it (Form 2332, p.25).

In a tight spot, two skills save you: stopping quickly and swerving. To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time, squeezing the front lever firmly and progressively — never grabbing it (Form 2332, p.27). When there is no room to stop, swerve: press the handgrip on the side of your escape to lean the bike quickly, then press the opposite grip to recover (Form 2332, p.28-29).

• Separate braking from swerving — brake before or after, never while swerving (Form 2332, p.29).
• If you lock the rear wheel on good traction, keep it locked until you stop, as long as you are upright and straight (Form 2332, p.27).
• A front-wheel skid means immediate loss of steering — release the front brake at once, then reapply (Form 2332, p.29).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, ice, painted lines and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (Form 2332, p.31). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the oily center strip until surface oil washes away (Form 2332, p.31-32).

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — turning to take them at 90° is more dangerous (Form 2332, p.33).
• For seams or tracks that run parallel to your path, move far enough away to cross them at an angle of at least 45° (Form 2332, p.33).
• At night, slow down, open a three-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car (Form 2332, p.27).

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride using the T-CLOCS checklist — Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis and Stands (Form 2332, p.8, p.59). On the road, 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 (Form 2332, p.33).

• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, use the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch (Form 2332, p.33).
• Wobble: don't accelerate or brake — grip firmly, close the throttle gradually, and pull off the road (Form 2332, p.34).
• If the engine seizes from low oil, squeeze the clutch to disengage the rear wheel and pull off the road (Form 2332, p.34).

Extra weight changes how a motorcycle handles, balances and stops, so only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads (Form 2332, p.35). Have the passenger mount only after the engine is started and the bike is in neutral, hold your waist, hips or belt, keep both feet on the footrests, and lean with you (Form 2332, p.36). Keep cargo low and forward, over or in front of the rear axle, and fasten it securely (Form 2332, p.37-38).

• With a passenger, ride slower, start slowing earlier, and keep a larger space cushion (Form 2332, p.37).
• Children should sit directly behind the rider, never in front (Form 2332, p.36).
• Group riders use a staggered formation and move to single file for curves, turns and freeway entries (Form 2332, p.38-39).

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 (Form 2332, p.42, p.44). In Missouri an adult 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 (Form 2332, p.43-44).

• The combined effects of alcohol and other drugs are more dangerous than either alone (Form 2332, p.42).
• To stop a friend who has had too much, arrange a safe ride, keep them there, and take their keys if you can (Form 2332, p.45).
• Riding is more tiring than driving — take a rest break and never ride when fatigued (Form 2332, p.46).