Montana Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 of 25

   How should a motorcycle helmet fit?

   • ATight only at the forehead
   • BSnugly, all the way around your head
   • CLoosely, so it is easy to take off
   • DLoosely, so air can flow under it
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Snugly, all the way around your head

   A helmet should fit snugly all around and have no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps.

2. Question 2 of 25

   How should a passenger lean in turns?

   • AWith the rider, staying directly behind
   • BAgainst the turn
   • CBack, away from the rider
   • DStraight up, no matter what
   Show answer

   Answer: A. With the rider, staying directly behind

   The passenger should stay directly behind the rider and lean as the rider leans.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Where should your knees be while you ride?

   • AResting on the handlebars
   • BPointing out to the sides
   • CSpread wide apart
   • DAgainst the gas tank
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Against the gas tank

   Keeping your knees against the tank helps you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns.

4. Question 4 of 25

   When should you shift to a lower gear for a turn?

   • ABefore you enter the turn
   • BAfter you leave the turn
   • CNever; stay in top gear
   • DIn 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.

5. Question 5 of 25

   In the diagram, the rider presses the right handgrip forward. Which way does the motorcycle lean and turn?

   • AIt only slows down
   • BTo the left
   • CIt goes straight
   • DTo the right
   Show answer

   Answer: D. To the right

   This is countersteering: press right, lean right, go right.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which part of the lane must a motorcycle always avoid?

   • AThe right third
   • BThe left third
   • CNone; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
   • DThe 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.

7. Question 7 of 25

   How does alcohol affect a rider?

   • AIt slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts
   • BIt has no effect if you eat first
   • CIt only matters after five drinks
   • DIt improves focus
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts

   Riding takes balance and quick decisions. Alcohol harms both, so the safest choice is not to drink and ride.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What should you do when riding at night?

   • AFollow the car ahead more closely
   • BSlow down and increase your following distance
   • CTurn your headlight off near other cars
   • DWear a tinted face shield
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Slow down and increase your following distance

   At night you see less, so slow down, leave more space and use the lights of the car ahead to see the road.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Why are ordinary glasses or sunglasses poor eye protection on a motorcycle?

   • AThey make your helmet too tight
   • BThey don't stop wind from reaching your eyes and may blow off
   • CThey are always too dark
   • DThey fog up only at night
   Show answer

   Answer: B. They don't stop wind from reaching your eyes and may blow off

   Glasses won't keep your eyes from watering in the wind, and they can blow off when you turn your head.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Your front wheel locks during a quick stop. What should you do?

    • AKeep the front wheel locked
    • BRelease both brakes and coast
    • CTurn the handlebars sharply
    • DRelease 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.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How should you load saddlebags?

    • AWith the heaviest items on the left
    • BFull on one side and empty on the other
    • CWith all the weight on one side
    • DWith about the same weight on each side
    Show answer

    Answer: D. With about the same weight on each side

    Uneven saddlebags can make the motorcycle pull to one side.

12. Question 12 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.

13. Question 13 of 25

    When should a riding group switch to single file?

    • AOnly in parking lots
    • BOn long straight roads
    • CIn curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
    • DNever
    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.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Where is the front brake lever?

    • AIn front of the left handgrip
    • BAt your left foot
    • CIn front of the right handgrip
    • DAt your right foot
    Show answer

    Answer: C. In front of the right handgrip

    The front brake lever is on the right side of the handlebars.

16. Question 16 of 25

    A riding group has more than four or five riders. What should it do?

    • ARide closer together
    • BSplit into two or more smaller groups
    • CUse the shoulder
    • DRide 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.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Your rear wheel locks during a quick stop on a good road surface. What can you do?

    • AShift to neutral and coast
    • BRelease the front brake
    • CKeep it locked until you have stopped
    • DTurn sharply off the road
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Keep it locked until you have stopped

    On a good-traction surface you can keep the rear wheel locked until you stop.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How do you measure your following distance, as shown in the diagram?

    • AWatch the driver's brake lights
    • BWhen the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it
    • CLook at your speedometer
    • DCount 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.

19. Question 19 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.

20. Question 20 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.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Which surfaces can be very slippery for a motorcycle?

    • ADry concrete in the sun
    • BPainted lines, steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet
    • CDry, rough asphalt
    • DClean, 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.

22. Question 22 of 25

    If you need to brake and swerve, when should you brake?

    • ABefore or after the swerve, never during it
    • BOnly with the front brake during the swerve
    • CYou should never brake at all
    • DDuring the swerve
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Before or after the swerve, never during it

    Braking while swerving can cause a skid. Separate the two actions.

23. Question 23 of 25

    In traffic, you can't avoid a small animal without swerving into danger. What should you do?

    • AStay in your lane
    • BBrake so hard you fall
    • CRide onto the sidewalk
    • DSwerve into oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stay in your lane

    Hitting something small is less dangerous than hitting a car or truck.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What is the most important piece of gear for surviving a motorcycle crash?

    • AA helmet that is securely fastened
    • BLeather gloves
    • CA heavy jacket
    • DTall 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.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What is countersteering, as shown in the diagram?

    • ATurning the handlebars sharply toward the turn
    • BSteering with the rear brake
    • CPressing the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward to start a lean
    • DLeaning your body only
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward to start a lean

    Pressing forward on the grip on the side of the turn makes the motorcycle lean and turn that way.

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