New Mexico Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before you ride, be able to find and use the throttle, clutch, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gear shift, turn signals, horn, headlight switch, and engine cut-off switch without looking. The throttle is the right grip, the front brake the right lever, the clutch the left lever, the shift lever the left foot, and the rear brake the right foot.

• Start with your right wrist flat so you do not use too much throttle.
• Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, knees against the tank.
• Keep both feet on the pegs with your toes up so you can reach the controls.

New Mexico requires a DOT-approved helmet for operators and passengers under 18; riders 18 and older are not required by law to wear one but are strongly urged to. A quality helmet meeting FMVSS 218 is your single best protection against head injury.

• Wear approved eye protection - a face shield or goggles - when there is no windshield.
• Wear a jacket and pants that cover your arms and legs, plus over-the-ankle boots and durable gloves.
• Bright or reflective clothing helps others see you, day and night.

Smooth riding depends on coordinating the clutch and throttle in the friction zone. Ease the clutch out smoothly while rolling on a little throttle for a controlled start, and shift down through the gears as you slow.

• Stay in first gear while stopped so you can pull away quickly.
• Change gears before a turn - a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid.
• Be slow enough before a downshift, or the bike will lurch and the rear may slide.

Riders crash by taking curves too fast and running wide. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL. Slow before the turn, look through it to where you want to go, press the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean, and roll on the throttle through the turn to stay stable.

• Press left to lean left and go left; press right to go right (countersteering).
• The faster or tighter the turn, the more the motorcycle must lean.
• In slow tight turns, lean the motorcycle but keep your body upright.

Think of each lane as having three paths - left, center, and right. Ride in the path that lets you see and be seen and that keeps a cushion of space, and change position as traffic and the road change.

• Ride where you appear in the driver's mirror, not in a blind spot.
• Keep to the center when being passed; do not ride close to the other vehicle.
• Never share a lane side by side with a car - each needs a full lane.

Use the SEE strategy - Search, Evaluate, Execute - to spot trouble early, judge how it could create risk, and act in time. Intersections are the most common crash location, often when a car turns left across a rider's path.

• Never count on eye contact; a driver can look right at you and not see you.
• Keep your headlight on to be noticed, and signal your intentions early.
• Search at least 12 seconds ahead and keep a space cushion all around you.

Wet pavement is most slippery right after rain begins. Slow down, increase your following distance, and ride in the dry tire tracks left by cars. On any slippery surface, use both brakes gently and avoid sudden moves.

• Cross metal gratings and slick patches straight and at a steady speed.
• At night, slow down, increase distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting traffic.
• Cold and fatigue dull your control - dress warmly and rest when needed.

Carry a passenger only on a motorcycle with a proper passenger seat and footrests, and remember that a first-time licensee under 18 may not carry passengers at all. Extra weight changes how the motorcycle accelerates, brakes, and handles.

• Have the passenger sit forward, hold your waist or hips, and lean with you.
• Tell the passenger to keep both feet on the pegs even at stops.
• Carry cargo low and forward, secured with several elastic cords.

Alcohol attacks the balance, coordination, and judgment that riding demands, and riders are affected long before any legal limit. New Mexico's limit is 0.08% for adults and 0.02% for riders under 21. Many medicines impair you like alcohol.

• Only time sobers you up - coffee, fresh air, and a cold shower do not.
• Fatigue impairs you like alcohol; stop and rest on long rides.
• The safe choice is to keep alcohol and riding completely separate.

You need a Class M license, or a W, Y, or Z motorcycle endorsement, to ride legally. W covers 100cc and up, Y covers 50 to 99cc, and Z covers under 50cc. You must pass a 25-question knowledge test with at least 18 correct (70%).

• A motorcyclist obeys the same traffic laws as any other driver.
• Riders 18+ take a road test unless the MSF Basic RiderCourse waives it.
• The MSF course waives the road test only - the written test is still required.

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car. Check it before every ride using T-CLOCS: Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil and fluids, Chassis, and Stands. Catching a problem in the driveway is far safer than finding it at speed.

• Check tire pressure, tread, and wear, and test each brake separately.
• Confirm the headlight, taillight, brake light, and signals all work.
• Clean and adjust both mirrors before you ride, not while moving.

Practice quick stops, swerving, and handling skids before you need them. To stop fast, use both brakes with the bike straight up; the front supplies about 70% of stopping power. To swerve, press the grip toward your escape path.

• Never brake and swerve at the same time - do one, then the other.
• If the front wheel locks, release and reapply the front brake; if the rear locks while straight, keep it locked until you stop.
• For a stuck throttle, hit the engine cut-off switch and squeeze the clutch.