California Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 of 25

   In a slow, tight turn, such as a U-turn, how should you lean?

   • APut both feet down and walk it around
   • BLean your body farther than the motorcycle
   • CKeep the motorcycle and your body straight up
   • DKeep your body upright while the motorcycle leans
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Keep your body upright while the motorcycle leans

   For slow, tight turns, lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight to counterbalance.

2. Question 2 of 25

   A car is waiting to turn left across your path at an intersection. What should you do?

   • AAssume the driver has seen you
   • BSpeed up to get through first
   • CSlow down, pick a lane position where the driver can see you, and cover your brakes
   • DRide close behind a truck
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Slow down, pick a lane position where the driver can see you, and cover your brakes

   Reduce speed, be visible and be ready to stop. Never assume a driver sees you.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Where should you look as you go through a turn?

   • AAt the center line
   • BThrough the turn, toward where you want to go
   • CDown at your front wheel
   • DStraight ahead, not into the turn
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Through the turn, toward where you want to go

   Turn your head and look through the turn to where you want to go. The motorcycle tends to go where you look.

4. Question 4 of 25

   A friend has been drinking and wants to ride home. What can you do?

   • AGive them coffee and let them go
   • BRide behind them to watch
   • CArrange a safe ride, or keep them there until they are sober
   • DLet them ride slowly
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Arrange a safe ride, or keep them there until they are sober

   Step in: arrange a ride, slow their drinking, or keep them from riding. Get other friends to help.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is T-CLOCS used for?

   • AChecking your motorcycle before you ride
   • BPlanning a group ride
   • CChoosing a lane position
   • DMeasuring following distance
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Checking your motorcycle before you ride

   T-CLOCS is a checklist for inspecting your motorcycle before each ride.

6. Question 6 of 25

   What does it mean to cover the clutch and brakes?

   • AKeep your fingers and foot on the controls, ready to use them
   • BHold the brakes fully on
   • CPut the controls in neutral
   • DTake your hands off the controls
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep your fingers and foot on the controls, ready to use them

   Covering the controls cuts the time you need to react in risky places such as intersections.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What do you do in the Execute step of SEE?

   • ADecide not to ride
   • BAct: communicate, change speed or change position
   • CCount seconds
   • DOnly check your mirrors
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Act: communicate, change speed or change position

   Execute means carrying out your decision, such as slowing, moving within your lane or using your horn.

8. Question 8 of 25

   How can you tell a helmet meets the US federal safety standard?

   • AIt weighs more than 5 pounds
   • BIt has a visor
   • CIt has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218
   • DIt is painted a bright color
   Show answer

   Answer: C. It has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218

   Helmets that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 carry the DOT symbol from the maker.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which is one of the most common motorcycle crashes at intersections?

   • AA car stopping on a railroad crossing
   • BA rear-end crash at a toll booth
   • CA car turning left in front of the motorcycle
   • DA car backing into a parked motorcycle
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A car turning left in front of the motorcycle

   Drivers turning left often fail to see an oncoming motorcycle or misjudge its speed.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Which tire problems should you check for before you ride?

    • ALow air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges
    • BThe age of the rims' paint
    • CThe brand name
    • DThe color of the valve caps
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Low air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges

    Tires are your only contact with the road. Check pressure and look for wear and damage.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How should you brake on a slippery surface?

    • AUse both brakes gently
    • BUse only the front brake, hard
    • CUse only the rear brake, hard
    • DDo not brake at all
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Use both brakes gently

    On slippery roads, reduce speed, avoid sudden moves and use both brakes gently.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What does SEE stand for?

    • ASearch, Evaluate, Execute
    • BScan, Examine, Exit
    • CSignal, Enter, Exit
    • DSee, Estimate, Escape
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Search, Evaluate, Execute

    SEE is a three-step way to handle traffic: Search, Evaluate, Execute.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What does "Slow, Look, Press, Roll" describe?

    • AThe steps for making a turn
    • BHow to park on a hill
    • CHow to start the engine
    • DHow to pass a car
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The steps for making a turn

    To turn: slow before the turn, look through it, press the handgrip to lean, and roll on the throttle.

14. Question 14 of 25

    A car is passing you from behind. Where in your lane should you ride?

    • AOn the shoulder
    • BOn the lane line
    • CClose to the passing car
    • DIn the center portion of your lane
    Show answer

    Answer: D. In the center portion of your lane

    The center keeps you away from the passing car, its mirrors, things thrown from windows and blasts of wind.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Where should a passenger sit?

    • AOn the gas tank
    • BAs far back as possible
    • CAs far forward as possible without crowding the rider
    • DSideways on the seat
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As far forward as possible without crowding the rider

    Sitting close to the rider keeps the weight forward and helps balance.

16. Question 16 of 25

    When is a road most slippery in the rain?

    • AAfter hours of steady rain
    • BAs soon as the rain stops
    • CJust after the rain starts, before oil washes away
    • DIt is the same the whole time
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Just after the rain starts, before oil washes away

    Oil on the road mixes with the first rain and makes the surface very slippery.

17. Question 17 of 25

    In the diagram, which lane position is the left third of the lane, next to the center line?

    • APosition 2
    • BPosition 1
    • CPosition 3
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Position 1

    Lane position 1 is the left third of the lane.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Which brake gives most of your stopping power?

    • ABoth give exactly the same
    • BThe engine
    • CThe rear brake
    • DThe front brake
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The front brake

    The front brake provides about 70 percent or more of your stopping power.

19. Question 19 of 25

    In T-CLOCS, what does the second C stand for?

    • ACarburetor
    • BClutch
    • CChassis
    • DCargo
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Chassis

    The second C is Chassis: the frame, suspension, chain or belt, and fasteners.

20. Question 20 of 25

    In heavy traffic, drivers sometimes try to squeeze into your lane. How can you discourage this?

    • ARide on the shoulder
    • BRide in the center portion of the lane
    • CRide very close to the car ahead
    • DRide on the lane line
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Ride in the center portion of the lane

    Keeping a center position makes it harder for drivers to share your lane.

21. Question 21 of 25

    A car is riding beside you in the next lane. What should you do?

    • ASpeed up or drop back so you are not in its blind spot
    • BHonk and stay where you are
    • CMove closer to it
    • DStay beside it
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Speed up or drop back so you are not in its blind spot

    Riding next to a car can put you in its blind spot, and it may move into your lane.

22. Question 22 of 25

    When should your headlight be on?

    • AOnly at night
    • BAt all times, day and night
    • COnly in the rain
    • DOnly in tunnels
    Show answer

    Answer: B. At all times, day and night

    A headlight that is on in daylight makes a motorcycle much easier to notice.

23. Question 23 of 25

    About how many hours a day do experienced riders usually ride at most?

    • AAbout ten hours
    • BAbout twelve hours
    • CAbout six hours
    • DAs many as possible
    Show answer

    Answer: C. About six hours

    Experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day.

24. Question 24 of 25

    In T-CLOCS, what does the first C stand for?

    • AChain
    • BClothing
    • CControls
    • DCargo
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Controls

    The first C is Controls: levers, pedals, cables, hoses and the throttle.

25. Question 25 of 25

    You must stop quickly while in a curve. What is the best method?

    • ASpeed up through the curve
    • BStraighten the motorcycle first, then brake
    • CBrake hard while still leaning
    • DUse only the rear brake while leaning
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Straighten the motorcycle first, then brake

    Stand the motorcycle up and square the handlebars before braking hard. If you can't, brake gently while easing off the throttle.

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