Washington Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   How should you sit so you can steer well?

   • ASo your elbows touch your knees
   • BSo your hands are above your shoulders
   • CSo your arms are slightly bent
   • DSo your arms are locked straight
   Show answer

   Answer: C. So your arms are slightly bent

   Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent. This lets you press on the handlebars without strain.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 of 25

   What should you do with the throttle as you go through a turn?

   • AClose it completely
   • BBrake hard instead
   • CRoll it on to keep or slightly increase your speed
   • DPull in the clutch
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Roll it on to keep or slightly increase your speed

   Rolling on the throttle steadily keeps the motorcycle stable through the turn.

4. Question 4 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.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Which tire problems should you check for before you ride?

   • ALow air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges
   • BThe age of the rims' paint
   • CThe brand name
   • DThe color of the valve caps
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Low air pressure, worn tread, cuts and bulges

   Tires are your only contact with the road. Check pressure and look for wear and damage.

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

   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.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which brake gives most of your stopping power?

   • ABoth give exactly the same
   • BThe engine
   • CThe rear brake
   • DThe front brake
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The front brake

   The front brake provides about 70 percent or more of your stopping power.

9. Question 9 of 25

   You must stop quickly while in a curve. What is the best method?

   • ASpeed up through the curve
   • BStraighten the motorcycle first, then brake
   • CBrake hard while still leaning
   • DUse 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.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Where should you look as you go through a turn?

    • AAt the center line
    • BThrough the turn, toward where you want to go
    • CDown at your front wheel
    • DStraight 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.

11. Question 11 of 25

    In traffic, you can't avoid a small animal without swerving into danger. What should you do?

    • AStay in your lane
    • BBrake so hard you fall
    • CRide onto the sidewalk
    • DSwerve into oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stay in your lane

    Hitting something small is less dangerous than hitting a car or truck.

12. Question 12 of 25

    During a swerve, what should your body do?

    • ALean the opposite way and brake
    • BStand up on the footrests
    • CLean farther than the motorcycle
    • DStay upright while the motorcycle leans under you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Stay upright while the motorcycle leans under you

    Keep your body upright and let the motorcycle lean quickly beneath you.

13. Question 13 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.

14. Question 14 of 25

    If your front tire goes flat, how will the steering feel?

    • ALight and easy
    • BExactly normal
    • CLoose only at high speed
    • DHeavy
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Heavy

    A flat front tire makes steering feel heavy. A flat rear tire may make the back jerk or sway.

15. Question 15 of 25

    How does alcohol affect a rider?

    • AIt slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts
    • BIt has no effect if you eat first
    • CIt only matters after five drinks
    • DIt 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.

16. Question 16 of 25

    You are riding past a row of parked cars. Where in your lane should you ride?

    • AOn the shoulder
    • BToward the left side of your lane
    • COn the center line
    • DClose 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.

17. Question 17 of 25

    You want to turn left at normal speed. Which handgrip do you press forward?

    • AThe right handgrip
    • BThe left handgrip
    • CBoth grips equally
    • DNeither; you lean your body only
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The left handgrip

    Press left, lean left, go left.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What is a swerve?

    • AA slow lane change
    • BA skid caused by braking
    • CA U-turn
    • DTwo quick countersteers: one to go around, one to recover
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Two quick countersteers: one to go around, one to recover

    Press the grip on the side you want to go, then press the other grip to straighten out.

19. Question 19 of 25

    In the diagram, the car ahead has just passed line A. How long should it take you to reach line A?

    • AHalf a second
    • BExactly five seconds
    • CAt least two seconds
    • DOne second
    Show answer

    Answer: C. At least two seconds

    Keep at least a two-second following distance in normal conditions.

20. Question 20 of 25

    Where is the front brake lever?

    • AIn front of the left handgrip
    • BAt your left foot
    • CIn front of the right handgrip
    • DAt 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.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Why can the center of a lane be slippery near intersections?

    • AIt is cooler than the rest of the road
    • BIt is always painted
    • COil and grease drip from cars that stop there
    • DWater 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.

22. Question 22 of 25

    A car is passing you from behind. Where in your lane should you ride?

    • AOn the shoulder
    • BOn the lane line
    • CClose to the passing car
    • DIn 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.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Which part of the lane must a motorcycle always avoid?

    • AThe right third
    • BThe left third
    • CNone; choose the position that lets you see and be seen best
    • DThe 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.

24. Question 24 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.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Your throttle sticks and twisting it back and forth does not free it. What should you do?

    • AOperate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time
    • BShift to a higher gear
    • CUse only the rear brake
    • DJump off the motorcycle
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time

    This removes power from the rear wheel. Then pull off and stop.

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