Illinois Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 6 for the Illinois Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
Illinois
129 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
Where should you look as you go through a turn?
- At the center line
- Through the turn, toward where you want to go
- Down at your front wheel
- Straight 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.
Question 2 of 25
When should your headlight be on?
- Only at night
- At all times, day and night
- Only in the rain
- Only 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.
Question 3 of 25
In the diagram, marker 3 shows the passenger's hands. What should a passenger hold on to?
- The rear fender
- The rider's shoulders
- Nothing; hands in the lap
- The rider's waist or hips, or the passenger handholds
Show answer
Answer: D. The rider's waist or hips, or the passenger handholds
Passengers should hold firmly to the rider's waist, hips or belt, or to the passenger handholds.
Question 4 of 25
In a slow, tight turn, such as a U-turn, how should you lean?
- Put both feet down and walk it around
- Lean your body farther than the motorcycle
- Keep the motorcycle and your body straight up
- Keep 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.
Question 5 of 25
Why can the center of a lane be slippery near intersections?
- It is cooler than the rest of the road
- It is always painted
- Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
- Water collects only in the center
Show answer
Answer: C. Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
Oil drips build up in the center of the lane where cars stop. The strip is usually narrow, so you can ride to one side of it.
Question 6 of 25
What equipment does a motorcycle need to carry a passenger?
- A seat big enough for two and footrests for the passenger
- Only a backrest
- Nothing extra
- A second set of handlebars
Show answer
Answer: A. A seat big enough for two and footrests for the passenger
The passenger needs a proper seat and their own footrests, plus the same protective gear as the rider.
Question 7 of 25
When should you shift to a lower gear for a turn?
- Before you enter the turn
- After you leave the turn
- Never; stay in top gear
- In the middle of the turn
Show answer
Answer: A. Before you enter the turn
Shift before the turn when you can. A sudden change in power during a turn can make the rear wheel skid.
Question 8 of 25
Why start a curve near the outside of your lane when no traffic is present?
- It hides you from other drivers
- It keeps you on the shoulder
- You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
- It lets you brake in the curve
Show answer
Answer: C. You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
Starting at the outside improves your line of sight and makes the curve's path wider and gentler.
Question 9 of 25
About how many hours a day do experienced riders usually ride at most?
- About ten hours
- About twelve hours
- About six hours
- As many as possible
Show answer
Answer: C. About six hours
Experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day.
Question 10 of 25
Which hand controls the throttle?
- The right hand
- Neither; it is a foot pedal
- Either hand
- The left hand
Show answer
Answer: A. The right hand
The throttle is the right handgrip. Twist it toward you to speed up.
Question 11 of 25
A friend has been drinking and wants to ride home. What can you do?
- Give them coffee and let them go
- Ride behind them to watch
- Arrange a safe ride, or keep them there until they are sober
- Let 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.
Question 12 of 25
Which surfaces can be very slippery for a motorcycle?
- Dry concrete in the sun
- Painted lines, steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet
- Dry, rough asphalt
- Clean, dry pavement
Show answer
Answer: B. Painted lines, steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet
Paint and metal give much less traction than pavement, especially when wet.
Question 13 of 25
In a staggered formation, how far is the third rider behind the leader?
- One second
- Half a second
- Four seconds
- Two seconds
Show answer
Answer: D. Two seconds
The third rider rides in the left position, two seconds behind the first rider.
Question 14 of 25
A tire goes flat while you are riding. What should you do?
- Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle and keep a straight course
- Turn sharply off the road
- Speed up to keep balance
- Brake hard with both brakes
Show answer
Answer: A. Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle and keep a straight course
Stay straight and slow down gradually. If you must brake, gently use the brake on the good tire.
Question 15 of 25
Your front wheel starts to wobble. What should you do?
- Grip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually, without braking
- Brake hard
- Fight the wobble with sharp steering
- Speed up to stop the wobble
Show answer
Answer: A. Grip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually, without braking
Do not fight the wobble or brake. Ease off the throttle, move your weight forward and down, and pull off when you can.
Question 16 of 25
How do you stop as quickly as possible?
- Use only the rear brake
- Pull in the clutch and coast
- Apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel
- Use only the front brake
Show answer
Answer: C. Apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel
In a quick stop, squeeze the front brake firmly and press the rear brake, without locking the wheels.
Question 17 of 25
What should you do with the throttle as you go through a turn?
- Close it completely
- Brake hard instead
- Roll it on to keep or slightly increase your speed
- Pull in the clutch
Show answer
Answer: C. Roll it on to keep or slightly increase your speed
Rolling on the throttle steadily keeps the motorcycle stable through the turn.
Question 18 of 25
On most motorcycles, how do you shift gears?
- With a lever on the right handlebar
- With the pedal at your right foot
- With the lever at your left foot
- With a lever on the left handlebar
Show answer
Answer: C. With the lever at your left foot
The gear shift lever is in front of the left footrest.
Question 19 of 25
About how fast does the body get rid of alcohol?
- About one drink per hour
- About three drinks per hour
- As fast as you drink coffee
- About one drink per day
Show answer
Answer: A. About one drink per hour
The body removes alcohol at about one drink per hour. Nothing speeds this up.
Question 20 of 25
Marker 1 in the diagram shows the rider's head. What should you do with your head in a turn?
- Keep it level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
- Keep it turned to the side
- Tilt it with the motorcycle
- Look down at the road just ahead
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep it level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
Turn just your head to look through the turn, and keep your eyes level with the horizon.
Question 21 of 25
Why must you remember to turn off your turn signal?
- Signals are only for night
- Other drivers ignore signals
- It saves fuel
- Many motorcycle signals do not turn off by themselves
Show answer
Answer: D. Many motorcycle signals do not turn off by themselves
A signal left on can make drivers think you are about to turn.
Question 22 of 25
In the diagram, the rider presses the right handgrip forward. Which way does the motorcycle lean and turn?
- It only slows down
- To the left
- It goes straight
- To the right
Show answer
Answer: D. To the right
This is countersteering: press right, lean right, go right.
Question 23 of 25
A car is riding beside you in the next lane. What should you do?
- Speed up or drop back so you are not in its blind spot
- Honk and stay where you are
- Move closer to it
- Stay 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.
Question 24 of 25
Besides a knowledge test, what test do most riders pass to earn a motorcycle license?
- A written essay
- A yearly medical exam
- An on-cycle skills test
- A parking test in a car
Show answer
Answer: C. An on-cycle skills test
Most states require a knowledge test and an on-cycle skills test. An approved rider course can often replace the skills test.
Question 25 of 25
What does "Slow, Look, Press, Roll" describe?
- The steps for making a turn
- How to park on a hill
- How to start the engine
- How 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.

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