Oregon Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

Practice test 3 of 6 for the Oregon Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
Oregon
132 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 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 2 of 25
How should a passenger lean in turns?
- With the rider, staying directly behind
- Against the turn
- Back, away from the rider
- Straight 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.
Question 3 of 25
About how far ahead should you scan for hazards?
- About 2 seconds ahead
- About 30 seconds ahead
- About 12 seconds ahead
- Only to the vehicle in front
Show answer
Answer: C. About 12 seconds ahead
Look about 12 seconds ahead so you have time to spot and avoid hazards.
Question 4 of 25
How can you tell a helmet meets the US federal safety standard?
- It weighs more than 5 pounds
- It has a visor
- It has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218
- It 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.
Question 5 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 6 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 7 of 25
When is a road most slippery in the rain?
- After hours of steady rain
- As soon as the rain stops
- Just after the rain starts, before oil washes away
- It 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.
Question 8 of 25
What should your riding jacket and pants do?
- Leave your arms bare in hot weather
- Be loose enough to flap in the wind
- Be made of thin cotton
- Cover 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.
Question 9 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 10 of 25
Which brake gives most of your stopping power?
- Both give exactly the same
- The engine
- The rear brake
- The front brake
Show answer
Answer: D. The front brake
The front brake provides about 70 percent or more of your stopping power.
Question 11 of 25
How does alcohol affect a rider?
- It slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts
- It has no effect if you eat first
- It only matters after five drinks
- It 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.
Question 12 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 13 of 25
Where should you look as you go through a turn?
- At the center line
- Through the turn, toward where you want to go
- Down at your front wheel
- Straight 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.
Question 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 of 25
You are riding past a row of parked cars. Where in your lane should you ride?
- On the shoulder
- Toward the left side of your lane
- On the center line
- Close to the parked cars
Show answer
Answer: B. Toward the left side of your lane
Staying left keeps you away from doors opening and people stepping out between cars.
Question 18 of 25
In the staggered formation shown, where does the leader (rider 1) ride?
- In the right part of the lane
- Exactly in the center
- On the shoulder
- In the left part of the lane
Show answer
Answer: D. In the left part of the lane
The leader rides in the left part of the lane. The second rider stays in the right part.
Question 19 of 25
How should you ride across a metal bridge grating?
- Zigzag to keep traction
- Brake hard on the grating
- Stop and walk the motorcycle across
- Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
Show answer
Answer: D. Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
The grating may make the motorcycle feel unsteady, but riding straight at a steady speed is safe.
Question 20 of 25
Why should you avoid stimulants to stay awake on a ride?
- They can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off
- They make you sleepy right away
- They are only legal at night
- They improve your balance
Show answer
Answer: A. They can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off
Artificial stimulants often lead to extreme fatigue or depression when they wear off.
Question 21 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 22 of 25
Item 6 in the diagram shows boots. How high should riding boots be?
- Below the ankle
- Only knee-high boots are safe
- Any height, if they are leather
- High enough to cover your ankles
Show answer
Answer: D. High enough to cover your ankles
Sturdy boots that cover the ankles protect them and give support. Soles should be hard and slip-resistant.
Question 23 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 24 of 25
Where should you carry cargo on a motorcycle?
- Behind the rear axle
- Low and forward, over or in front of the rear axle
- High on the passenger seat
- Hanging 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.
Question 25 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.

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