Pennsylvania Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

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

Motorcycle
Pennsylvania
130 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
How should you ride when carrying a passenger?
- Brake later than usual
- A little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space
- Follow other vehicles more closely
- Faster, 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.
Question 2 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the second C stand for?
- Carburetor
- Clutch
- Chassis
- Cargo
Show answer
Answer: C. Chassis
The second C is Chassis: the frame, suspension, chain or belt, and fasteners.
Question 3 of 25
Where is the greatest risk of conflict between motorcycles and other vehicles?
- On bridges
- At intersections
- In parking garages
- On straight rural roads
Show answer
Answer: B. At intersections
Intersections are where other vehicles are most likely to cross your path.
Question 4 of 25
When should your headlight be on?
- Only at night
- At all times, day and night
- Only in the rain
- Only in tunnels
Show answer
Answer: B. At all times, day and night
A headlight that is on in daylight makes a motorcycle much easier to notice.
Question 5 of 25
What should you do before changing lanes?
- Check your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot
- Only sound your horn
- Only check your mirrors
- Speed up first
Show answer
Answer: A. Check your mirrors and turn your head to check your blind spot
Mirrors do not show everything. A head check covers your blind spots.
Question 6 of 25
In a slow, tight turn, such as a U-turn, how should you lean?
- Put both feet down and walk it around
- Lean your body farther than the motorcycle
- Keep the motorcycle and your body straight up
- Keep your body upright while the motorcycle leans
Show answer
Answer: D. Keep your body upright while the motorcycle leans
For slow, tight turns, lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight to counterbalance.
Question 7 of 25
How should you brake on a slippery surface?
- Use both brakes gently
- Use only the front brake, hard
- Use only the rear brake, hard
- Do not brake at all
Show answer
Answer: A. Use both brakes gently
On slippery roads, reduce speed, avoid sudden moves and use both brakes gently.
Question 8 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 9 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the first C stand for?
- Chain
- Clothing
- Controls
- Cargo
Show answer
Answer: C. Controls
The first C is Controls: levers, pedals, cables, hoses and the throttle.
Question 10 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 11 of 25
Why start a curve near the outside of your lane when no traffic is present?
- It hides you from other drivers
- It keeps you on the shoulder
- You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
- It 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.
Question 12 of 25
On most motorcycles, how do you use the rear brake?
- With the pedal at your right foot
- With the lever at your left hand
- With the pedal at your left foot
- With the lever at your right hand
Show answer
Answer: A. With the pedal at your right foot
The rear brake pedal is usually in front of the right footrest.
Question 13 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 14 of 25
Your engine seizes (locks up) while riding. What should you do?
- Brake hard and keep the clutch out
- Try to restart it while moving
- Squeeze the clutch lever and pull off the road
- Shift down quickly
Show answer
Answer: C. Squeeze the clutch lever and pull off the road
Squeezing the clutch disconnects the locked engine from the rear wheel.
Question 15 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 16 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 17 of 25
If you need to brake and swerve, when should you brake?
- Before or after the swerve, never during it
- Only with the front brake during the swerve
- You should never brake at all
- During 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.
Question 18 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 19 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 20 of 25
In the staggered formation shown, how far behind the leader should rider 2 ride?
- Right beside the leader
- Two seconds directly behind
- About one second behind, in the right part of the lane
- Half a second, in the left part
Show answer
Answer: C. About one second behind, in the right part of the lane
The second rider stays one second behind the leader, in the right side of the lane.
Question 21 of 25
A car is passing you from behind. Where in your lane should you ride?
- On the shoulder
- On the lane line
- Close to the passing car
- In the center portion of your lane
Show answer
Answer: D. In the center portion of your lane
The center keeps you away from the passing car, its mirrors, things thrown from windows and blasts of wind.
Question 22 of 25
Your rear wheel locks during a quick stop on a good road surface. What can you do?
- Shift to neutral and coast
- Release the front brake
- Keep it locked until you have stopped
- Turn 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.
Question 23 of 25
Usually, how should you cross railroad tracks that cross your lane?
- Ride straight across within your lane
- Stop on the tracks to look
- Swerve across lanes to hit them at exactly 90 degrees
- Brake hard while crossing
Show answer
Answer: A. Ride straight across within your lane
It is usually safer to ride straight across within your lane than to turn sharply to meet the tracks at 90 degrees.
Question 24 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 25 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.

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