North Carolina Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before every ride, be able to find and work the throttle, clutch, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gear-change lever, turn signals, horn, headlight switch, and engine cut-off switch without looking for them. A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride (NC Handbook p.9-10).

• Before mounting, check tire pressure, wear and tread; oil and fluid levels; the headlight on both beams, taillight, turn signals; and the brake light from both controls (NC Handbook p.10).
• After mounting, confirm the throttle snaps back when released and the clutch feels tight and smooth, then test the front and rear brakes one at a time (NC Handbook p.10).
• Check wheels, cables, fasteners and fluids at least once a week (NC Handbook p.10).

North Carolina requires every operator and passenger to wear a helmet meeting USDOT FMVSS 218, marked with a permanent DOT symbol. One of every five motorcycle crashes results in head or neck injuries, and helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury (NC Handbook p.6).

• Choose a three-quarter or full-face helmet that meets DOT standards, fits snugly, and has no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps; a Snell label adds assurance of quality (NC Handbook p.6-7).
• A shatter-resistant face shield protects your whole face; goggles protect only your eyes, and a windshield is not a substitute for either (NC Handbook p.7).
• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, sturdy over-the-ankle boots, and leather or other durable gloves; never wear tinted eye protection at night (NC Handbook p.7-8).

Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, keep your knees against the tank and your feet on the pegs, and start with your right wrist flat to avoid too much throttle (NC Handbook p.12). Your motorcycle has two brakes — use both every time you slow or stop. The front brake supplies at least three-quarters of your stopping power and is safe when you squeeze, not grab, the lever (NC Handbook p.13).

• Shift down through the gears as you slow, and stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (NC Handbook p.12).
• Squeeze the front brake and press the rear; grabbing or jamming the brakes locks them and causes a skid (NC Handbook p.13).
• Change gears before you enter a turn — a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid (NC Handbook p.11).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast, then running wide or braking too hard. 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 — press left, lean left, go left — and roll on the throttle to stay stable (NC Handbook p.13-14).

• In a normal turn the rider and motorcycle lean together; in a slow, tight turn lean only the motorcycle and keep your body straight (NC Handbook p.14).
• Running wide in a curve is a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes — ride within your skill level and the posted limit (NC Handbook p.26-27).
• With no traffic, start at the outside of a curve to widen your line of sight, move to the inside as you turn, then back to the outside to exit (NC Handbook p.27).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel — left, center and right. There is no single best position, and no part of the lane, including the center, needs to be avoided. Choose the path that helps you see and be seen, avoids blind spots and surface hazards, and leaves an escape route (NC Handbook p.14). Keep at least a two-second following distance, opening it to three seconds or more in poor conditions (NC Handbook p.15-16).

• 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 (NC Handbook p.15).
• The oily center strip is usually no more than two feet wide, so unless the road is wet you can ride beside it and still be in the center portion (NC Handbook p.15).
• Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane; lane sharing is usually prohibited (NC Handbook p.18).

Experienced riders use SEE — Search, Evaluate, Execute — a three-step process for spotting hazards and acting early (NC Handbook p.19). Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind before hazards arise. Evaluate how road conditions, traffic-control devices and other vehicles could create risk. Execute by communicating with lights or horn, adjusting speed, and adjusting your position.

• Scan your path of travel about 12 seconds ahead (NC Handbook p.11).
• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (NC Handbook p.19).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections and school or construction zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time (NC Handbook p.18).

Intersections hold the greatest potential for conflict, and over half of motorcycle/car crashes are caused by a driver entering the rider's right-of-way — most often a car turning left in front of you (NC Handbook p.20). Drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle. Keep your headlight on, wear bright or reflective gear, and signal every turn — then cancel the signal afterward (NC Handbook p.23-24).

• Eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — if a car can enter your path, assume it will (NC Handbook p.20).
• At a blind intersection, move to the part of your lane that brings you into the other driver's view soonest (NC Handbook p.21).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before you slow where others may not expect it (NC Handbook p.24).

When you are 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 (NC Handbook p.26). When there is no room to stop, swerve: press the handgrip on the side of your escape to lean the motorcycle quickly, then press the opposite grip to recover (NC Handbook p.27).

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly (NC Handbook p.26).
• If you lock the rear wheel on a good surface, keep it locked until you stop, as long as you are upright and going straight (NC Handbook p.26).
• Never brake while swerving — brake before or after, but separate braking from swerving (NC Handbook p.28).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, ice, lane markings and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow down before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (NC Handbook p.30). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the oily center strip until surface oil washes away (NC Handbook p.28).

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — turning to take them head-on at 90 degrees is more dangerous (NC Handbook p.31).
• For tracks or seams that run parallel to your path, move far enough away to cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees (NC Handbook p.29).
• At night, slow down, open a three-second-or-more following distance, and use the high beam when not following or meeting a car (NC Handbook p.26).

A complete check before every ride catches trouble before you reach traffic. If a problem happens on the road, account for traffic and surface conditions. 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 (NC Handbook p.32).

• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, hit the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time (NC Handbook p.30).
• Wobble: do not accelerate out of it — grip the bars firmly, close the throttle gradually, do not brake, and pull off the road (NC Handbook p.31).
• If the engine seizes from low oil, squeeze the clutch to disengage the rear wheel and pull off the road (NC Handbook p.33).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances and stops (NC Handbook p.34). The motorcycle needs a seat large enough for two and footpegs for the passenger; keep cargo low, forward and evenly balanced, and fasten it securely (NC Handbook p.34-35).

• Tell the passenger to get on only after you start the engine, hold your waist, hips or belt, keep both feet on the pegs even when stopped, and lean as you lean (NC Handbook p.35).
• With a passenger, ride slower, start slowing earlier, and open up a larger space cushion (NC Handbook p.35).
• Ride in groups of no more than four or five, in a staggered formation, and move to single file for curves, turns and highway ramps (NC Handbook p.36-37).

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 (NC Handbook p.38-40). About 40 to 45 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking, and the body clears alcohol at only about one drink per hour (NC Handbook p.38-39).

• In North Carolina, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more (0.04 percent for a commercial vehicle) means your driving privilege is revoked immediately for a minimum of 30 days (NC Handbook p.40).
• The three factors that most affect your BAC are how much you drink, how fast you drink, and your body weight (NC Handbook p.39).
• Riding is more tiring than driving a car — take a rest break and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours (NC Handbook p.41).