New York Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

Practice test 5 of 6 for the New York Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
New York
135 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 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 2 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 3 of 25
How should you cross a pavement seam or tracks that run parallel to your path?
- Edge across slowly at a slight angle
- Move away from them, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
- Cross them at full speed at any angle
- Ride along on top of them
Show answer
Answer: B. Move away from them, then cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
Edging across a parallel seam can catch your tires. Cross at 45 degrees or more with a quick, sharp turn.
Question 4 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 5 of 25
Where should a passenger sit?
- On the gas tank
- As far back as possible
- As far forward as possible without crowding the rider
- Sideways on the seat
Show answer
Answer: C. As far forward as possible without crowding the rider
Sitting close to the rider keeps the weight forward and helps balance.
Question 6 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 7 of 25
What kind of gloves should a rider wear?
- No gloves, for better grip
- Full-fingered gloves made of leather or a similar tough material
- Thin cotton gloves
- Fingerless gloves
Show answer
Answer: B. Full-fingered gloves made of leather or a similar tough material
Full-fingered gloves protect your hands and help you grip the controls.
Question 8 of 25
Why are ordinary glasses or sunglasses poor eye protection on a motorcycle?
- They make your helmet too tight
- They don't stop wind from reaching your eyes and may blow off
- They are always too dark
- They 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.
Question 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 of 25
In a normal turn like the one shown, how should your body lean?
- Farther than the motorcycle
- With the motorcycle, at the same angle
- Opposite the motorcycle
- Straight up while the motorcycle leans
Show answer
Answer: B. With the motorcycle, at the same angle
In normal turns, the rider and the motorcycle lean together at the same angle.
Question 16 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 17 of 25
How should you hold the handgrips when you start out?
- With your right wrist raised high
- Firmly, with your right wrist flat
- With one hand only
- Loosely, with your fingertips
Show answer
Answer: B. Firmly, with your right wrist flat
Starting with your right wrist flat helps keep you from using too much throttle by accident.
Question 18 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 19 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 20 of 25
Where should a beginner ride in a group?
- Next to another rider
- Right behind the leader
- At the very back
- In the lead
Show answer
Answer: B. Right behind the leader
Placing less experienced riders just behind the leader lets more experienced riders watch them from behind.
Question 21 of 25
Where is the clutch lever?
- Under the seat
- At your right foot
- In front of the left handgrip
- In front of the right handgrip
Show answer
Answer: C. In front of the left handgrip
The clutch lever is on the left side of the handlebars.
Question 22 of 25
What is countersteering, as shown in the diagram?
- Turning the handlebars sharply toward the turn
- Steering with the rear brake
- Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward to start a lean
- Leaning 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.
Question 23 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 24 of 25
When do most motorcycle crashes happen?
- On short trips, a few minutes after starting out
- Only in rain
- Only on long highway trips
- Only after midnight
Show answer
Answer: A. On short trips, a few minutes after starting out
Most crashes happen on short trips, so wear all your gear every time you ride, even for a quick errand.
Question 25 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.

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