South Dakota Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

Practice test 4 of 6 for the South Dakota Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
South Dakota
130 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
Many motorcycles have convex (curved) mirrors. How do they make other vehicles look?
- Upside down
- Exactly as far as they are
- Closer than they really are
- Farther away than they really are
Show answer
Answer: D. Farther away than they really are
Convex mirrors show a wider view, but cars look farther away than they are. Judge distances with care.
Question 2 of 25
If your front tire goes flat, how will the steering feel?
- Light and easy
- Exactly normal
- Loose only at high speed
- Heavy
Show answer
Answer: D. Heavy
A flat front tire makes steering feel heavy. A flat rear tire may make the back jerk or sway.
Question 3 of 25
Where is the front brake lever?
- In front of the left handgrip
- At your left foot
- In front of the right handgrip
- At 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.
Question 4 of 25
Why must you remember to turn off your turn signal?
- Signals are only for night
- Other drivers ignore signals
- It saves fuel
- Many 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.
Question 5 of 25
Why can the center of a lane be slippery near intersections?
- It is cooler than the rest of the road
- It is always painted
- Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
- Water collects only in the center
Show answer
Answer: C. Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
Oil drips build up in the center of the lane where cars stop. The strip is usually narrow, so you can ride to one side of it.
Question 6 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 7 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the L stand for?
- Lights and electrics
- Lane position
- Load
- Levers
Show answer
Answer: A. Lights and electrics
L is Lights and electrics: headlight, taillight, brake light, turn signals, battery and wiring.
Question 8 of 25
Where should your knees be while you ride?
- Resting on the handlebars
- Pointing out to the sides
- Spread wide apart
- Against 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.
Question 9 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 10 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the T stand for?
- Tools
- Throttle
- Turn signals
- Tires and wheels
Show answer
Answer: D. Tires and wheels
T-CLOCS: Tires and wheels, Controls, Lights and electrics, Oil and other fluids, Chassis, Stands.
Question 11 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 12 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 13 of 25
How do you measure your following distance, as shown in the diagram?
- Watch the driver's brake lights
- When the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point, count seconds until you reach it
- Look at your speedometer
- Count 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.
Question 14 of 25
When should you shift to a lower gear for a turn?
- Before you enter the turn
- After you leave the turn
- Never; stay in top gear
- In 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.
Question 15 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 16 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 17 of 25
How do you stop as quickly as possible?
- Use only the rear brake
- Pull in the clutch and coast
- Apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel
- Use 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.
Question 18 of 25
What does SEE stand for?
- Search, Evaluate, Execute
- Scan, Examine, Exit
- Signal, Enter, Exit
- See, Estimate, Escape
Show answer
Answer: A. Search, Evaluate, Execute
SEE is a three-step way to handle traffic: Search, Evaluate, Execute.
Question 19 of 25
What path through a curve does the diagram show?
- Inside, then outside, then inside
- Close to the road edge the whole way
- Outside, then inside, then outside
- The center of the lane the whole way
Show answer
Answer: C. Outside, then inside, then outside
With no traffic, enter at the outside, move toward the inside at the middle of the curve, and exit at the outside.
Question 20 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 21 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 22 of 25
What does "Slow, Look, Press, Roll" describe?
- The steps for making a turn
- How to park on a hill
- How to start the engine
- How to pass a car
Show answer
Answer: A. The steps for making a turn
To turn: slow before the turn, look through it, press the handgrip to lean, and roll on the throttle.
Question 23 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 24 of 25
Which surfaces can be very slippery for a motorcycle?
- Dry concrete in the sun
- Painted lines, steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet
- Dry, rough asphalt
- Clean, 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.
Question 25 of 25
When should a riding group switch to single file?
- Only in parking lots
- On long straight roads
- In curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
- Never
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.

Related tests