New York Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 of 25

   How do you check your brake light before riding?

   • ATurn on the high beam
   • BUse the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
   • CRide at night and look behind you
   • DPress 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.

2. Question 2 of 25

   During a swerve, what should your body do?

   • ALean the opposite way and brake
   • BStand up on the footrests
   • CLean farther than the motorcycle
   • DStay 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.

3. Question 3 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.

4. Question 4 of 25

   A driver is tailgating you and you can't change lanes. What should you do?

   • ASlow down a little to open more space in front of you
   • BSpeed up a lot
   • CStop in your lane
   • DBrake 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.

5. Question 5 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.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Why must you remember to turn off your turn signal?

   • ASignals are only for night
   • BOther drivers ignore signals
   • CIt saves fuel
   • DMany 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.

7. Question 7 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.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What is a good sign that a motorcycle fits you?

   • AYour knees are above the handlebars
   • BYou cannot reach the controls without leaning
   • CYou must stand on tiptoe on one foot
   • DYou can reach the ground with both feet while seated
   Show answer

   Answer: D. You can reach the ground with both feet while seated

   You should be able to put both feet on the ground while seated, and reach all the controls easily.

9. Question 9 of 25

   In the diagram, marker 4 shows the passenger's feet. When should they stay on the passenger footpegs?

   • ANever; feet go on the ground
   • BAt all times, even when the motorcycle is stopped
   • COnly at high speed
   • DOnly in turns
   Show answer

   Answer: B. At all times, even when the motorcycle is stopped

   Tell your passenger to keep both feet on the footrests, even when stopped, and away from the muffler and chain.

10. Question 10 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.

11. Question 11 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.

12. Question 12 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.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How should you ride when carrying a passenger?

    • ABrake later than usual
    • BA little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space
    • CFollow other vehicles more closely
    • DFaster, to keep your balance
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space

    With a passenger, the motorcycle takes longer to speed up and to stop.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Where should you carry cargo on a motorcycle?

    • ABehind the rear axle
    • BLow and forward, over or in front of the rear axle
    • CHigh on the passenger seat
    • DHanging from the handlebars
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Low and forward, over or in front of the rear axle

    Keeping weight low and forward helps handling. Weight high or far back can make the motorcycle unstable.

16. Question 16 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.

17. Question 17 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.

18. Question 18 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.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What should your riding jacket and pants do?

    • ALeave your arms bare in hot weather
    • BBe loose enough to flap in the wind
    • CBe made of thin cotton
    • DCover your arms and legs completely
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Cover your arms and legs completely

    A jacket and pants should cover arms and legs completely. Leather or sturdy synthetic material protects best.

20. Question 20 of 25

    How do you stop as quickly as possible?

    • AUse only the rear brake
    • BPull in the clutch and coast
    • CApply both brakes fully without locking either wheel
    • DUse 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.

21. Question 21 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.

22. Question 22 of 25

    About how fast does the body get rid of alcohol?

    • AAbout one drink per hour
    • BAbout three drinks per hour
    • CAs fast as you drink coffee
    • DAbout 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.

23. Question 23 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.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Why start a curve near the outside of your lane when no traffic is present?

    • AIt hides you from other drivers
    • BIt keeps you on the shoulder
    • CYou can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
    • DIt 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.

25. Question 25 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.

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