Massachusetts Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

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

Motorcycle
Massachusetts
130 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 of 25
How should you ride over an object in the road that you cannot avoid?
- Brake hard as you hit it
- Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
- Swerve over it at speed
- Cross it at a shallow angle, staying seated
Show answer
Answer: B. Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
Hit it straight on, keep a firm grip and rise slightly off the seat so your knees and elbows absorb the shock.
Question 6 of 25
Which part of the lane must a motorcycle always avoid?
- The right third
- The left third
- None; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
- The center third
Show answer
Answer: C. None; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
No part of the lane needs to be avoided. Pick a position based on visibility, hazards and space around you.
Question 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 of 25
When should you leave three seconds or more behind the vehicle ahead?
- Only in parking lots
- Never; two seconds is always enough
- On slippery roads, at night, in heavy traffic, or when you can't see past the vehicle ahead
- Only on sunny days
Show answer
Answer: C. On slippery roads, at night, in heavy traffic, or when you can't see past the vehicle ahead
Increase your following distance when you need more time to see hazards or to stop.
Question 12 of 25
A driver is tailgating you and you can't change lanes. What should you do?
- Slow down a little to open more space in front of you
- Speed up a lot
- Stop in your lane
- Brake hard to warn them
Show answer
Answer: A. Slow down a little to open more space in front of you
Extra space ahead gives you and the tailgater more time to stop. If you can, change lanes and let them pass.
Question 13 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 14 of 25
Your throttle sticks and twisting it back and forth does not free it. What should you do?
- Operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time
- Shift to a higher gear
- Use only the rear brake
- Jump off the motorcycle
Show answer
Answer: A. Operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time
This removes power from the rear wheel. Then pull off and stop.
Question 15 of 25
What does SEE stand for?
- Search, Evaluate, Execute
- Scan, Examine, Exit
- Signal, Enter, Exit
- See, Estimate, Escape
Show answer
Answer: A. Search, Evaluate, Execute
SEE is a three-step way to handle traffic: Search, Evaluate, Execute.
Question 16 of 25
You must stop quickly while in a curve. What is the best method?
- Speed up through the curve
- Straighten the motorcycle first, then brake
- Brake hard while still leaning
- Use 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.
Question 17 of 25
Why wear bright or reflective clothing?
- Dark colors are illegal
- It replaces a helmet
- It keeps you cooler
- It helps other drivers see you
Show answer
Answer: D. It helps other drivers see you
Bright colors and reflective material make you easier to see, in the day and at night.
Question 18 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 19 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 20 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 21 of 25
How should you park a motorcycle at a curb?
- Parallel to the curb
- On the sidewalk
- At a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb
- In the middle of the lane
Show answer
Answer: C. At a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb
Parking at an angle with the rear wheel at the curb takes little space and lets you ride out forward.
Question 22 of 25
When should a riding group switch to single file?
- Only in parking lots
- On long straight roads
- In curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
- Never
Show answer
Answer: C. In curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
Single file gives each rider room to choose a line in curves and turns.
Question 23 of 25
In heavy traffic, drivers sometimes try to squeeze into your lane. How can you discourage this?
- Ride on the shoulder
- Ride in the center portion of the lane
- Ride very close to the car ahead
- Ride 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.
Question 24 of 25
How do you measure your following distance, as shown in the diagram?
- Watch the driver's brake lights
- When the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it
- Look at your speedometer
- Count car lengths
Show answer
Answer: B. When the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it
Pick a fixed point. When the vehicle ahead passes it, count. If you reach it before two seconds, you are too close.
Question 25 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the S stand for?
- Signals
- Speed
- Stands
- Seat
Show answer
Answer: C. Stands
S is Stands: the side stand and center stand should hold the motorcycle and spring back up.

Related tests