Illinois Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

Practice test 3 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
A riding group has more than four or five riders. What should it do?
- Ride closer together
- Split into two or more smaller groups
- Use the shoulder
- Ride two abreast
Show answer
Answer: B. Split into two or more smaller groups
Small groups are easier for drivers to pass and are less likely to be split by traffic lights.
Question 2 of 25
What does it mean to cover the clutch and brakes?
- Keep your fingers and foot on the controls, ready to use them
- Hold the brakes fully on
- Put the controls in neutral
- Take 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.
Question 3 of 25
Many motorcycles have convex (curved) mirrors. How do they make other vehicles look?
- Upside down
- Exactly as far as they are
- Closer than they really are
- Farther away than they really are
Show answer
Answer: D. Farther away than they really are
Convex mirrors show a wider view, but cars look farther away than they are. Judge distances with care.
Question 4 of 25
During a swerve, what should your body do?
- Lean the opposite way and brake
- Stand up on the footrests
- Lean farther than the motorcycle
- Stay upright while the motorcycle leans under you
Show answer
Answer: D. Stay upright while the motorcycle leans under you
Keep your body upright and let the motorcycle lean quickly beneath you.
Question 5 of 25
How should you sit so you can steer well?
- So your elbows touch your knees
- So your hands are above your shoulders
- So your arms are slightly bent
- So your arms are locked straight
Show answer
Answer: C. So your arms are slightly bent
Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent. This lets you press on the handlebars without strain.
Question 6 of 25
You need to pull off onto the shoulder. What should you do first?
- Stop in your lane first
- Check the surface, signal, and slow down
- Brake hard while still on the road
- Swerve off quickly
Show answer
Answer: B. Check the surface, signal, and slow down
Shoulders can be soft or loose. Check it, signal, and slow down before you leave the road.
Question 7 of 25
Which drinks hold about the same amount of alcohol?
- A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a mixed drink with one shot of liquor
- A beer holds much less than a shot of liquor
- A beer holds twice as much as a glass of wine
- A glass of wine holds no alcohol
Show answer
Answer: A. A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a mixed drink with one shot of liquor
A can of beer, a glass of wine and one shot of liquor each hold about the same amount of alcohol.
Question 8 of 25
When should you use the front brake?
- Only above 30 mph
- Every time you slow down or stop, together with the rear brake
- Never on wet roads
- Only in an emergency
Show answer
Answer: B. Every time you slow down or stop, together with the rear brake
Use both brakes every time you slow or stop, so using the front brake becomes a habit.
Question 9 of 25
Item 1 in the diagram is a full-face helmet. Which type of helmet gives the most protection?
- A half helmet
- A full-face helmet
- A three-quarter (open-face) helmet
- A cap with a sun visor
Show answer
Answer: B. A full-face helmet
A full-face helmet covers your face and chin as well as your head, so it protects the most.
Question 10 of 25
You will ride a borrowed motorcycle for the first time. What should you do?
- Learn where its controls are and ride carefully until you are used to it
- Assume it is just like yours
- Ride fast to test it
- Skip the pre-ride check
Show answer
Answer: A. Learn where its controls are and ride carefully until you are used to it
Controls and handling differ between motorcycles. Get familiar with them in a safe place first.
Question 11 of 25
In the diagram, which lane position is the center third of the lane?
- Position 3
- Position 2
- Position 1
Show answer
Answer: B. Position 2
Lane position 2 is the center of the lane. Position 1 is the left third and position 3 is the right third.
Question 12 of 25
You want to turn left at normal speed. Which handgrip do you press forward?
- The right handgrip
- The left handgrip
- Both grips equally
- Neither; you lean your body only
Show answer
Answer: B. The left handgrip
Press left, lean left, go left.
Question 13 of 25
What is the most important piece of gear for surviving a motorcycle crash?
- A helmet that is securely fastened
- Leather gloves
- A heavy jacket
- Tall boots
Show answer
Answer: A. A helmet that is securely fastened
The manual calls a securely fastened helmet the most important factor in surviving a crash.
Question 14 of 25
What should you do before changing lanes?
- Check your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot
- Only sound your horn
- Only check your mirrors
- Speed up first
Show answer
Answer: A. Check your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot
Mirrors do not show everything. A head check covers your blind spots.
Question 15 of 25
In the staggered formation shown, how far behind the leader should rider 2 ride?
- Right beside the leader
- Two seconds directly behind
- About one second behind, in the right part of the lane
- Half a second, in the left part
Show answer
Answer: C. About one second behind, in the right part of the lane
The second rider stays one second behind the leader, in the right side of the lane.
Question 16 of 25
Your front wheel locks during a quick stop. What should you do?
- Keep the front wheel locked
- Release both brakes and coast
- Turn the handlebars sharply
- Release the front brake, then reapply it firmly right away
Show answer
Answer: D. Release the front brake, then reapply it firmly right away
A locked front wheel can make you fall. Release and reapply the front brake at once.
Question 17 of 25
How should you brake on a slippery surface?
- Use both brakes gently
- Use only the front brake, hard
- Use only the rear brake, hard
- Do 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.
Question 18 of 25
How do you check your brake light before riding?
- Turn on the high beam
- Use the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
- Ride at night and look behind you
- Press the horn
Show answer
Answer: B. Use the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
Each brake control should turn on the brake light by itself.
Question 19 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the second C stand for?
- Carburetor
- Clutch
- Chassis
- Cargo
Show answer
Answer: C. Chassis
The second C is Chassis: the frame, suspension, chain or belt, and fasteners.
Question 20 of 25
On most motorcycles, how do you use the rear brake?
- With the pedal at your right foot
- With the lever at your left hand
- With the pedal at your left foot
- With the lever at your right hand
Show answer
Answer: A. With the pedal at your right foot
The rear brake pedal is usually in front of the right footrest.
Question 21 of 25
On a wet road, which part of the lane is usually best?
- The shoulder
- Over the painted lines
- The tire tracks left by cars
- The oily center strip
Show answer
Answer: C. The tire tracks left by cars
Car tire tracks are often the driest and cleanest part of the lane.
Question 22 of 25
Just before your front wheel hits an object, what should you do?
- Brake hard
- Pull in the clutch
- Roll on the throttle slightly to lighten the front end
- Lean back and stiffen your arms
Show answer
Answer: C. Roll on the throttle slightly to lighten the front end
A little throttle just before impact lightens the front wheel so it rides over the object more easily.
Question 23 of 25
A car is waiting to turn left across your path at an intersection. What should you do?
- Assume the driver has seen you
- Speed up to get through first
- Slow down, pick a lane position where the driver can see you, and cover your brakes
- Ride 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.
Question 24 of 25
Which is one of the most common motorcycle crashes at intersections?
- A car stopping on a railroad crossing
- A rear-end crash at a toll booth
- A car turning left in front of the motorcycle
- A 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.
Question 25 of 25
Where is the greatest risk of conflict between motorcycles and other vehicles?
- On bridges
- At intersections
- In parking garages
- On straight rural roads
Show answer
Answer: B. At intersections
Intersections are where other vehicles are most likely to cross your path.

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