NWT Motorcycle Learner Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 5 for the NWT Motorcycle Learner Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
Northwest Territories
110 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
At what point should you set your mirrors?
- Mirrors on motorcycles are not adjustable
- While riding on the highway
- Only after you start to turn
- Before you ride, while sitting on the motorcycle
Show answer
Answer: D. Before you ride, while sitting on the motorcycle
Adjust your mirrors while seated in your riding position, before you move. Adjusting them while riding takes your attention away from the road.
Question 2 of 25
How does carrying a passenger change the way a motorcycle handles?
- It takes longer to speed up, slow down and turn
- It turns more sharply
- It stops more quickly
- It makes no difference
Show answer
Answer: A. It takes longer to speed up, slow down and turn
The extra weight affects acceleration, braking and steering. Leave more space and brake earlier.
Question 3 of 25
What should you look for when you inspect your tires?
- Mud on the tire
- Only the colour of the sidewall
- Only whether the valve cap is present
- Cuts, bulges, objects stuck in the tread and worn tread
Show answer
Answer: D. Cuts, bulges, objects stuck in the tread and worn tread
Damage or wear can cause a sudden loss of air or grip. Check tread and sidewalls before you ride.
Question 4 of 25
Which brake gives the most stopping power on most motorcycles?
- The front brake
- The rear brake
- The engine cut-off switch
- Both give the same stopping power
Show answer
Answer: A. The front brake
When you brake, weight shifts forward onto the front tire. This gives the front brake most of the stopping power.
Question 5 of 25
Why should you check the side stand before you ride?
- It holds your helmet while riding
- It is needed to start the engine
- If it does not stay up, it can dig into the road in a left lean
- It helps you brake
Show answer
Answer: C. If it does not stay up, it can dig into the road in a left lean
A side stand that drops while you ride can catch on the road surface in a turn and cause a crash. Make sure the spring holds it up.
Question 6 of 25
When should you check your tire pressure?
- Only once a year at a shop
- Only when a tire looks flat
- When the tires are cold, before you ride
- Right after a long ride
Show answer
Answer: C. When the tires are cold, before you ride
Check tire pressure when the tires are cold. Warm tires give a higher reading than the true cold pressure.
Question 7 of 25
Do Canada’s Criminal Code impaired driving laws apply to people riding motorcycles?
- No, they apply only to car drivers
- Yes, they apply to anyone operating a motor vehicle
- Only at night
- Only on highways
Show answer
Answer: B. Yes, they apply to anyone operating a motor vehicle
The Criminal Code impaired driving offences cover the operation of a motor vehicle, which includes a motorcycle.
Question 8 of 25
On most motorcycles, how do you change gears?
- With a lever in front of your left foot
- With a button on the dash
- With the rear brake pedal
- With a lever on the right handlebar
Show answer
Answer: A. With a lever in front of your left foot
The gear shift lever is in front of the left footrest. You lift it or press it down with your foot.
Question 9 of 25
What does "covering the brakes" mean?
- Using only engine braking
- Having your fingers on the front brake lever and your foot over the rear pedal
- Putting a cover on the brakes when parked
- Braking hard all the time
Show answer
Answer: B. Having your fingers on the front brake lever and your foot over the rear pedal
Covering the brakes cuts your reaction time, because you are ready to brake at once.
Question 10 of 25
Where should you keep your feet while riding?
- Hanging down near the road
- On the ground at low speeds
- Resting on the engine guard
- Firmly on the footrests, with toes pointing forward
Show answer
Answer: D. Firmly on the footrests, with toes pointing forward
Keep your feet on the footrests so you are balanced and can reach the shift lever and rear brake. Toes pointing down can catch on the road.
Question 11 of 25
Where should you look when you ride through a turn?
- Through the turn, to where you want to go
- At the road edge beside you
- At the oncoming traffic only
- At the front wheel
Show answer
Answer: A. Through the turn, to where you want to go
The motorcycle tends to go where you look. Turn your head and look through the turn to where you want to be.
Question 12 of 25
Why is alcohol especially dangerous for motorcycle riders?
- Alcohol improves balance
- Motorcycles are not covered by impaired driving laws
- Alcohol only affects drivers of cars
- Riding needs balance and coordination, which alcohol harms
Show answer
Answer: D. Riding needs balance and coordination, which alcohol harms
Riding takes more balance and coordination than driving a car. Even small amounts of alcohol reduce these skills and your judgement.
Question 13 of 25
What should you check on a motorcycle with a chain drive?
- That the chain has the right slack and is lubricated
- That the chain is as tight as possible
- That the chain is dry and clean of oil
- Nothing; chains never need checking
Show answer
Answer: A. That the chain has the right slack and is lubricated
A chain that is too loose can come off, and one that is too tight can wear quickly. Follow the owner’s manual for slack and lubrication.
Question 14 of 25
On a hot day, why should you still wear a jacket with long sleeves?
- It is only needed on gravel roads
- It protects your skin if you fall and shields you from wind and sun
- It is only needed in cold weather
- It makes the motorcycle faster
Show answer
Answer: B. It protects your skin if you fall and shields you from wind and sun
Riding clothing protects your skin from the road surface in a fall. It also reduces sunburn and the drying effect of the wind.
Question 15 of 25
How much of a traffic lane does a motorcycle need?
- Only the space beside the curb
- The full lane
- Only the right third
- Half the lane
Show answer
Answer: B. The full lane
A motorcycle needs the whole lane to move away from hazards. Drivers should not share a lane with a motorcycle.
Question 16 of 25
How should a passenger move in turns?
- Sit stiffly upright while the motorcycle leans
- Lean with the rider and the motorcycle
- Lean the opposite way to balance
- Put a foot down to help
Show answer
Answer: B. Lean with the rider and the motorcycle
A passenger who leans with the rider makes the motorcycle easier to control.
Question 17 of 25
Marker 1 in the diagram shows the rider’s head. What should your head do in a turn?
- Tilt with the motorcycle
- Turn to watch the mirrors
- Stay level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
- Look down at the road just ahead
Show answer
Answer: C. Stay level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
Keeping your head level and your eyes on the horizon helps your balance and lets you judge the turn.
Question 18 of 25
When is the best time to slow down for a curve?
- In the middle of the curve
- As you leave the curve
- There is no need to slow for a curve
- Before you enter it, while the motorcycle is upright
Show answer
Answer: D. Before you enter it, while the motorcycle is upright
Brakes work best when the motorcycle is upright. Slow down before the curve so you can keep a steady throttle through it.
Question 19 of 25
The car in the diagram has just passed line A. What is the least time it should take you to reach that line?
- It does not matter if the road is dry
- At least two seconds
- One second
- Half a second
Show answer
Answer: B. At least two seconds
Keep at least a two-second following distance in good conditions, and more when conditions are poor.
Question 20 of 25
Parked vehicles block your view of an intersection. What should you do?
- Choose a lane position that lets you see and be seen, and edge forward slowly
- Ride in the bike lane
- Stop beside the parked vehicles and wait for a signal
- Speed up through the intersection
Show answer
Answer: A. Choose a lane position that lets you see and be seen, and edge forward slowly
Move to where drivers can see you and you can see them. Edge forward until you have a clear view.
Question 21 of 25
Why should a rider wear brightly coloured clothing with reflective material?
- It is required on every highway in Canada
- It keeps the rider cooler
- It makes the rider easier for other road users to see
- It reduces wind noise
Show answer
Answer: C. It makes the rider easier for other road users to see
Many crashes happen because a driver did not see the rider. Bright colours by day and reflective material at night help you stand out.
Question 22 of 25
You cannot avoid a small object in the road. How should you ride over it?
- Lean hard to one side as you hit it
- Close your eyes and keep your feet down
- Keep upright, rise slightly off the seat and hold the grips firmly
- Brake hard at the moment you hit it
Show answer
Answer: C. Keep upright, rise slightly off the seat and hold the grips firmly
Hit the object as straight as you can, with the motorcycle upright. Your knees and elbows absorb the shock.
Question 23 of 25
Which piece of protective gear does the most to protect you from serious injury in a crash?
- Riding boots
- Riding gloves
- A helmet that fits well and is fastened
- A leather jacket
Show answer
Answer: C. A helmet that fits well and is fastened
Head injuries cause many motorcycle deaths. A good helmet, properly fastened, is your most important gear.
Question 24 of 25
Before you slow down or stop, what should you do?
- Turn off your headlight
- Sound your horn
- Shift into neutral
- Check your mirrors for traffic behind you
Show answer
Answer: D. Check your mirrors for traffic behind you
A driver behind may not expect you to slow down. Checking your mirrors tells you if you need to warn them or leave more room.
Question 25 of 25
When is a road usually most slippery in the rain?
- When the rain has stopped and the road is dry
- Only when the rain is heavy
- Just after it starts to rain
- After several hours of steady rain
Show answer
Answer: C. Just after it starts to rain
When rain first falls, it mixes with oil on the road. The surface becomes very slick until the oil washes away.

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