Alaska Motorcycle Practice Test 7

To determine upcoming road conditions when riding at night, use the vehicle ahead of you. For example, the headlights of the vehicle may provide a better view of the road than your own high beam. If the vehicle’s taillights bounce up and down, this indicates the presence of bumps on the road.

A properly chosen lane position should provide a number of benefits, including an increased ability to see others and to be seen. It should help you avoid wind blasts, other drivers’ blind spots, and surface hazards. Your lane position should discourage other drivers from trying to share your lane and provide you with an escape route, should a hazard arise.

There is no lane position that is always best and no lane position that should always be avoided. A responsible rider will adjust their position as road and traffic conditions warrant. If vehicles are on both the left and right sides of a rider, the center lane position is probably the safest option.

More than one-half of collisions involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles are caused by drivers failing to properly yield the right-of-way to motorcyclists. Motorcyclists should never assume that drivers of larger vehicles will yield the right-of-way, even if they are legally required to do so.

80 mph.

The front brake provides about three-quarters of a motorcycle’s total stopping power. Use both the front and rear brakes every time you stop.

Octagonal signs that are colored red are always stop signs. When approaching one of these signs, you must come to a complete stop, yield to any other traffic or pedestrians, and proceed once it is safe to do so.

Engines seize when they are low on oil. Without oil, the engine’s moving parts cannot move smoothly against each other and the engine overheats.

Keep your feet firmly on the footrests for balance. The motorcycle should be equipped with passenger footrests. Firm footing prevents your passenger from falling off and pulling you off, too.

If the throttle becomes stuck and you are unable to free it, immediately operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time. This will remove power from the rear wheel until you are able to safely leave the road and stop.

The skills a person needs to ride safely decrease as the amount of alcohol consumed increases. If you have consumed alcohol in any amount, it is safest not to ride your motorcycle.

A bad idea because you might be in the truck’s “no zone,” an area where the truck driver cannot see you.

When riding, you should be seated so you can use your arms to steer rather than to hold yourself up. Your elbows should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips. Keep your knees against the gas tank to help maintain your balance.

A helmet will provide a rider with the best protection if it meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards; fits snugly all the way around; and has no obvious defects, such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps.

Protection should be your first consideration when buying a motorcycle helmet.

When riding, your feet should be kept firmly on your motorcycle’s footrests for balance. Your toes should not be pointed downward, as this may cause them to get caught between the road and the footrests.

All motorcycles are at least somewhat different. Before riding a motorcycle that is new to you, take the time to learn where all of the controls are. Ride the motorcycle in a controlled area to get used to it before taking it out on the road.

Because a passenger will place additional weight on your motorcycle, you will probably need to add a few pounds of pressure to your tires before riding. Check your owner’s manual for details regarding the appropriate pressure settings to use.

When riding in a group, it is generally best to travel in a staggered formation. This formation allows riders to remain in close ranks while still maintaining safe following distances.

Maintaining an adequate space cushion ensures that you will have time to respond if another driver makes a mistake. A cushion of space also allows you the space you need to safely maneuver your motorcycle.

A group of riders should usually travel in a staggered formation in order to maintain close ranks while still allowing each rider an adequate space cushion. Less experienced riders should ride toward the front of the group, just behind the leader, so that more experienced riders can keep an eye on them from behind. Small groups are safer for traveling than larger groups.

Experienced riders use a SIPDE strategy while riding to make safe judgements. “SIPDE” stands for Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute.

To have proper riding posture, position yourself so that you are using your arms to steer rather than to hold yourself up. Sit so that your elbows are slightly bent when you hold the handgrips.

Warning signs are yellow with black lettering or symbols and provide important information to motorists about upcoming road conditions. This sign warns that a stop sign is ahead.

When passing a truck, you should only return to your original lane when you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror.