Pennsylvania Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Before you ride, be able to find and work the throttle, clutch, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gear-change lever, turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel valve, and engine cut-off switch without looking for them. Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up, keep your knees against the tank, your feet firmly on the pegs, and start with your right wrist flat to avoid using too much throttle (PUB 147 p.6, 9).

• The engine cut-off switch is usually located near the right hand grip (PUB 147 p.6).
• Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent at the handgrips (PUB 147 p.9).
• On an unfamiliar motorcycle, find and operate the controls first and allow extra room for stopping (PUB 147 p.6-7).

One out of every five motorcycle crashes results in head or neck injuries, and helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury. Wear an approved helmet that fits snugly all the way around with no cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps - a Snell label adds assurance of quality (PUB 147 p.3-4). All permit holders must wear a helmet and eye protection regardless of age (PUB 147 p.39).

• A shatter-resistant faceshield protects your whole face; goggles protect only your eyes, and a windshield is not a substitute for either (PUB 147 p.4).
• Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or when little light is available (PUB 147 p.4).
• Wear a jacket and pants that cover your arms and legs, sturdy over-the-ankle boots, and leather or durable gloves; bright colors help you be seen (PUB 147 p.5, 20).

Your motorcycle has two brakes - use both every time you slow or stop. The front brake is more powerful and can provide at least three-quarters of your total stopping power; it is safe when you squeeze, never grab, the lever (PUB 147 p.10). Shift down through the gears as you slow, and stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (PUB 147 p.9).

• Grabbing the front brake or jamming the rear can lock the brakes and cause control problems (PUB 147 p.10).
• It is best to change gears before entering a turn; a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid (PUB 147 p.10).
• Some motorcycles have integrated braking systems that link the front and rear brakes through the rear pedal (PUB 147 p.10).

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 (PUB 147 p.10).

• In a normal turn the rider and motorcycle lean together; in a slow, tight turn counterbalance by leaning the bike only and keeping your body straight (PUB 147 p.11).
• Running wide in a curve is a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes - ride within your skill level and the posted limit (PUB 147 p.25).
• With no traffic, start at the outside of a curve to widen your view, move to the inside as you turn, then back outside to exit (PUB 147 p.26).

Each traffic 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, need be avoided. Choose the path that helps you see and be seen, avoids blind spots and surface hazards, and provides an escape route (PUB 147 p.11-12). Keep a minimum four-second following distance, opening to five seconds or more in poor conditions (PUB 147 p.12-13).

• Ride in path 2 or 3 if hazards are on your left, path 1 or 2 if they are on your right, and the center when vehicles are on both sides (PUB 147 p.12).
• 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 (PUB 147 p.12).
• Cars and motorcycles each need a full lane; lane sharing is usually prohibited (PUB 147 p.15).

Experienced riders use the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's SEE strategy - Search, Evaluate, Execute - a three-step process for spotting hazards and acting early (PUB 147 p.16). 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, adjusting your speed, and adjusting your position.

• Search your path of travel about 12 seconds ahead (PUB 147 p.8).
• Handle two or more hazards one step at a time - adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (PUB 147 p.16).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections, cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce your reaction time (PUB 147 p.17).

The greatest potential for conflict is at intersections, and over one-half of motorcycle/car crashes are caused by drivers entering a rider's right-of-way - most often a car turning left in front of you (PUB 147 p.17). Never count on eye contact; if a car can enter your path, assume it will. Keep your headlight on, wear bright or reflective gear, and signal every turn (PUB 147 p.17, 20).

• At a blind intersection, move to the part of your lane that brings you into the other driver's view soonest (PUB 147 p.18).
• Cancel your signal after every turn so a driver does not think you plan to turn again (PUB 147 p.20).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's - flash it before you slow where others may not expect it (PUB 147 p.21).

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 (PUB 147 p.23). 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 (PUB 147 p.24).

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly (PUB 147 p.23).
• If you lock the rear wheel on a good surface while upright and straight, keep it locked until you have completely stopped (PUB 147 p.23).
• Never brake while swerving - separate braking from swerving by braking before or after (PUB 147 p.25).

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 (PUB 147 p.27). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the slippery center of the lane until surface oil washes away (PUB 147 p.27).

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane; turning to take them at 90 degrees can carry you into another lane (PUB 147 p.28).
• For tracks or seams that run parallel to your path, move away and cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees (PUB 147 p.28).
• Ride straight across rain grooves or bridge gratings; the wandering feeling is normal, and zigzagging is far more hazardous (PUB 147 p.28).

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride and deal with trouble before you reach traffic (PUB 147 p.7). 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 (PUB 147 p.29).

• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, use the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time (PUB 147 p.29).
• Wobble: don't accelerate or brake - grip firmly, close the throttle gradually, and move your weight forward and down (PUB 147 p.29-30).
• Engine seizure from low oil acts like a locked rear wheel; squeeze the clutch and pull off the road (PUB 147 p.30).

Only experienced riders should carry a passenger or large load, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances, and stops. Pennsylvania law requires a motorcycle carrying a passenger to have footrests and handholds (PUB 147 p.31). Keep cargo low and forward - over or in front of the rear axle - and secure it with elastic cords (PUB 147 p.32).

• A passenger should hold your waist, hips, or belt, keep both feet on the pegs even when stopped, and lean as you lean (PUB 147 p.32).
• With a passenger, ride a little slower and start slowing earlier as you approach a stop (PUB 147 p.32).
• Keep groups to four or five riders, use a staggered formation, and move to single file for curves, turns, and entering or leaving a highway (PUB 147 p.33-34).

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 judgment is affected first. Studies show 40% to 45% of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking (PUB 147 p.35-38). In Pennsylvania you are under the influence at a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher (PUB 147 p.37).

• Alcohol leaves the body at a rate of only about one drink per hour - you cannot speed it up with coffee or exercise (PUB 147 p.36).
• Under the Implied Consent Law, refusing a breath, blood, or urine test suspends your driving privilege for one year (PUB 147 p.37).
• Riding is more tiring than driving - take a rest break at least every two hours and never ride when tired (PUB 147 p.38).