Wyoming Motorcycle Test Study Guide

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car, so make a complete check before every ride. Be able to find and work the throttle, clutch, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, gear-change lever, horn, headlight switch and engine cut-off switch without looking for them (WY manual p.48-50).

• Before each trip, check tire pressure, wear and tread, and oil and fluid levels, and look under the bike for oil or gas leaks (WY manual p.47).
• 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 and make sure each turns on the brake light (WY manual p.50).
• Check hydraulic fluids and coolants at least weekly, along with wheels, cables and fasteners; the owner's manual is your guide (WY manual p.47-48).

Wyoming requires approved headgear only for minors — operators and passengers under 18 — and does not require eye protection by law (WY manual p.44, 46). One out of every five crashes results in head or neck injuries, and helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive a head injury, so the manual recommends a helmet for every rider (WY manual p.45).

• Choose a three-quarter or full-face helmet that meets DOT and state standards, fits snugly, and has no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps; a Snell label adds assurance of quality (WY manual p.46).
• A shatter-resistant face shield protects your whole face; goggles protect only the eyes, and a windshield is not a substitute for either (WY manual p.46).
• Wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, over-the-ankle boots with slip-resistant soles, and leather or other durable gloves; never wear tinted eye protection at night (WY manual p.45, 47).

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 (WY manual p.48-50). 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, never grab, the lever (WY manual p.51).

• Shift down through the gears as you slow, and stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly (WY manual p.49).
• Squeeze the front brake and press down on the rear; grabbing or jamming the brakes locks them and causes a skid (WY manual p.51).
• Change gears before you enter a turn whenever possible — a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid (WY manual p.49).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast, then running wide or braking too hard. Use four steps: SLOW, LOOK, LEAN, 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 (WY manual p.50).

• In a normal turn the rider and motorcycle lean together; in a slow, tight turn lean only the motorcycle and keep your body upright (WY manual p.50).
• Running wide in a curve is a primary cause of single-vehicle crashes — ride within your skill level and the posted limit (WY manual p.76).
• 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 (WY manual p.78).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel — left, center and right. 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 (WY manual p.53-55). Keep at least a two-second following distance, opening it to three seconds or more in poor conditions (WY manual p.55).

• 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 (WY manual p.55).
• 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 (WY manual p.55).
• Riding in the center portion puts your image in the driver's rearview mirror; lane sharing is prohibited and you may not ride between rows of vehicles (WY manual p.44, 56).

Wyoming's strategy is SIPDE — Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute (note: not 'SEE'). Scan ahead, to the sides and behind; identify hazards and conflicts; predict how they may affect you; decide what to do; and execute by communicating, adjusting speed and adjusting position (WY manual p.64-68).

• Scan your path of travel about 12 seconds ahead so you can prepare before a hazard becomes immediate (WY manual p.65).
• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each as a single hazard (WY manual p.68).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections and school or construction zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to cut your reaction time (WY manual p.68).

Intersections hold the greatest potential for conflict, and over half of car/motorcycle crashes come from a driver entering the rider's right-of-way — most often a car turning left in front of you (WY manual p.68). Approach a blind intersection at no more than 15 mph. Keep your headlight on, wear bright or reflective gear, and signal every move (WY manual p.42, 68-73).

• Eye contact does not guarantee a driver will yield — if a car can enter your path, assume it will (WY manual p.68).
• By day a motorcycle with its headlight on is twice as likely to be noticed; use the high beam in daylight and the low beam at night (WY manual p.73).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before you slow where others may not expect it, and cancel your turn signal after each turn (WY manual p.73-74).

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 (WY manual p.76). 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 (WY manual p.75).

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly (WY manual p.76).
• 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 (WY manual p.76).
• Never brake while swerving — brake before or after, but separate braking from swerving (WY manual p.75).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, ice, lane markings and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (WY manual p.80). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the oily center strip until the surface oil washes away (WY manual p.81).

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — turning to take them head-on can carry you into another lane (WY manual p.81).
• 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 (WY manual p.81).
• At night, ride slower, open a three-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car (WY manual p.79).

Checking your motorcycle before every ride catches trouble before you reach traffic. If a problem happens on the road, stay calm and account for the road and traffic conditions you face. 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 (WY manual p.83-84).

• Stuck throttle: twist it back and forth; if it stays stuck, operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time (WY manual p.84).
• Wobble: do not try to accelerate out of it — grip the bars firmly, close the throttle gradually, do not brake, and pull off the road (WY manual p.84).
• If the engine seizes from low oil, squeeze the clutch to disengage the rear wheel and pull off the road; a broken chain causes an instant loss of rear-wheel power (WY manual p.85).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances and stops (WY manual p.88). A passenger must have a proper seat and footrests, sit as far forward as comfortable, keep both feet on the pegs even when stopped, and lean as you lean. Keep cargo low, forward and securely fastened (WY manual p.88-90).

• With a passenger, ride a little slower, start slowing earlier, and open up a larger space cushion (WY manual p.89).
• Keep loads low and forward over or in front of the rear axle, distribute them evenly, and secure them with elastic cords at several points (WY manual p.89-90).
• Ride in groups of no more than four or five, in a staggered formation, and move to single file for curves, turns, and entering or leaving a highway (WY manual p.90-92).

Alcohol slows the brain and seriously reduces your ability to identify, predict, decide and execute — the core skills of safe riding (WY manual p.33). In Wyoming a BAC of 0.08% or more brings a 90-day suspension, you can be convicted of DWUI at 0.05% with other evidence, and a rider under 21 is suspended at 0.02% (WY manual p.23, 34-35).

• Alcohol leaves the body at only about one drink per hour — showering, coffee and exercise do nothing; only time lowers your BAC (WY manual p.32).
• Under Wyoming's Implied Consent law, by driving on a public road you have agreed to a chemical test if arrested for DWUI (WY manual p.34).
• Operating a motorcycle while tired is dangerous — limit your distance to about six hours a day and stop to rest at least every two hours (WY manual p.87).