Tennessee Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 of 25

   When you follow a car, where should you ride?

   • ARight beside the rear bumper
   • BWhere the driver can see you in the rearview mirror
   • CIn the driver's blind spot
   • DClose to the road edge
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror

   Riding in the center of the lane usually puts you in the middle of the driver's rearview mirror.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which surfaces can be very slippery for a motorcycle?

   • ADry concrete in the sun
   • BPainted lines, steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet
   • CDry, rough asphalt
   • DClean, 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.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What should you do when riding at night?

   • AFollow the car ahead more closely
   • BSlow down and increase your following distance
   • CTurn your headlight off near other cars
   • DWear a tinted face shield
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Slow down and increase your following distance

   At night you see less, so slow down, leave more space and use the lights of the car ahead to see the road.

5. Question 5 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.

6. Question 6 of 25

   How should you hold the handgrips when you start out?

   • AWith your right wrist raised high
   • BFirmly, with your right wrist flat
   • CWith one hand only
   • DLoosely, 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.

7. Question 7 of 25

   When should you use the front brake?

   • AOnly above 30 mph
   • BEvery time you slow down or stop, together with the rear brake
   • CNever on wet roads
   • DOnly 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.

8. Question 8 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.

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

    How should a motorcycle helmet fit?

    • ATight only at the forehead
    • BSnugly, all the way around your head
    • CLoosely, so it is easy to take off
    • DLoosely, so air can flow under it
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Snugly, all the way around your head

    A helmet should fit snugly all around and have no cracks, loose padding or frayed straps.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Your front wheel starts to wobble. What should you do?

    • AGrip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually, without braking
    • BBrake hard
    • CFight the wobble with sharp steering
    • DSpeed up to stop the wobble
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Grip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually, without braking

    Do not fight the wobble or brake. Ease off the throttle, move your weight forward and down, and pull off when you can.

12. Question 12 of 25

    In the staggered formation shown, how far behind the leader should rider 2 ride?

    • ARight beside the leader
    • BTwo seconds directly behind
    • CAbout one second behind, in the right part of the lane
    • DHalf 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.

13. Question 13 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.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In heavy traffic, drivers sometimes try to squeeze into your lane. How can you discourage this?

    • ARide on the shoulder
    • BRide in the center portion of the lane
    • CRide very close to the car ahead
    • DRide 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.

15. Question 15 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.

16. Question 16 of 25

    In a staggered formation, how far is the third rider behind the leader?

    • AOne second
    • BHalf a second
    • CFour seconds
    • DTwo seconds
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Two seconds

    The third rider rides in the left position, two seconds behind the first rider.

17. Question 17 of 25

    How should you park a motorcycle at a curb?

    • AParallel to the curb
    • BOn the sidewalk
    • CAt a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb
    • DIn the middle of the lane
    Show answer

    Answer: C. At a 90-degree angle, with the rear wheel touching the curb

    Parking at an angle with the rear wheel at the curb takes little space and lets you ride out forward.

18. Question 18 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.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Why might you tap your brake to flash the brake light before slowing?

    • ATo test the bulb
    • BTo warn drivers behind you who may not expect you to slow
    • CTo signal a lane change
    • DBecause it is required at every stop
    Show answer

    Answer: B. To warn drivers behind you who may not expect you to slow

    Flashing your brake light helps before a sharp turn off a fast road or before pulling off the road.

20. Question 20 of 25

    In T-CLOCS, what does the S stand for?

    • ASignals
    • BSpeed
    • CStands
    • DSeat
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stands

    S is Stands: the side stand and center stand should hold the motorcycle and spring back up.

21. Question 21 of 25

    When should you leave three seconds or more behind the vehicle ahead?

    • AOnly in parking lots
    • BNever; two seconds is always enough
    • COn slippery roads, at night, in heavy traffic, or when you can't see past the vehicle ahead
    • DOnly 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.

22. Question 22 of 25

    How should you ride across a metal bridge grating?

    • AZigzag to keep traction
    • BBrake hard on the grating
    • CStop and walk the motorcycle across
    • DRelax, 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.

23. Question 23 of 25

    In a slow, tight turn, such as a U-turn, how should you lean?

    • APut both feet down and walk it around
    • BLean your body farther than the motorcycle
    • CKeep the motorcycle and your body straight up
    • DKeep 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.

24. Question 24 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.

25. Question 25 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.

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