Alaska Motorcycle Permit Practice Test

Correct answer: So you can use your arms to steer rather than to hold yourself up

Good posture lets you use your arms to steer the motorcycle rather than to hold yourself up, keeping your inputs precise.

Correct answer: The single most important thing you can do to survive a crash

Head injuries are a rider’s greatest threat. Wearing a securely fastened helmet is the single most important thing you can do to improve your chances of surviving a crash.

Correct answer: Just after it starts to rain, before surface oil washes away

Oil builds up on the road and the first rain lifts it into a slick film before washing it to the sides. Those opening minutes are the most treacherous, so slow down and add space.

Correct answer: A Class M1 license

Alaska requires the operator of any motorcycle with an engine displacement of 50cc or more to hold a Class M1 (or M3) license in addition to a regular license. The M1 is valid for all sizes.

Correct answer: A full lane — cars and motorcycles should not share lanes

Cars and motorcycles both need a full lane to operate safely. Drivers should not share lanes with motorcycles, and motorcyclists should not share lanes with cars.

Correct answer: Never saw the motorcycle

It's hard to see something you aren't looking for, and most drivers aren't looking for motorcycles. Since a rider's outline is much smaller than a car's, your main safety job is making yourself easy to see.

Correct answer: Far enough that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the handgrips

Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the handgrips. Bent arms let you turn the handlebars without having to stretch.

Correct answer: About one of every five crashes

One of every five motorcycle crashes reported results in head or neck injuries — the worst kind of injuries you can get — which is why a helmet matters so much.

Correct answer: Lane markings, steel plates, and manhole covers, especially when wet

Poor-traction surfaces include wet pavement, gravel, mud, snow, and ice, plus smooth lane markings, steel plates, and manhole covers — worse still when wet. Cross them upright, without braking or turning.

Correct answer: Applicants who are 14 or 15 years old

A Class M2 license lets an applicant who is 14 or 15 years of age operate a motor-driven cycle, motor scooter, or motorized bicycle with an engine under 50cc.

Correct answer: Not something you should do — do not ride between rows of stopped or slow-moving cars

The Alaska manual tells riders not to share lanes: do not ride between rows of stopped or slow-moving cars, and do not squeeze past a stopped car in the same lane. A hand, a door, or a turning car can appear with no warning.

Correct answer: In broad daylight

Most crashes occur in daylight, and if you skip bright clothing you double your risk of not being seen during the day. Being visible matters even when the sun is out.

Correct answer: Against the gas tank to help your balance

Keep your knees against the gas tank. This helps you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns.

Correct answer: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and state standards

Choose a helmet that meets U.S. DOT and state standards. Labels from Snell, ANSI, or the Safety Helmet Council of America give added assurance of quality.

Correct answer: Both brakes, applying the front brake gradually without locking the wheel

The front brake is still more effective than the rear even on a slippery surface. Use both, but apply the front gradually and avoid squeezing hard enough to lock the front wheel.

Correct answer: Three-wheeled motorcycles (trikes) with a 50cc or larger engine

A Class M3 license covers three-wheeled motorcycles (trikes), three-wheeled motor-driven cycles, and three-wheeled motorized bicycles with an engine displacement of 50cc or more.

Correct answer: Keep a center-portion position when a driver might be tempted to squeeze by

Holding a center-portion position discourages others from squeezing past you. Moving to the far side of your lane only invites another driver to share the lane.

Correct answer: A bright orange, yellow, or green jacket or vest

Any bright color beats drab or dark clothing, and fluorescent orange, yellow, or green is best for daytime riding. A brightly colored helmet helps too.

Correct answer: Firmly on the foot pegs, near the controls, toes up

Keep your feet firmly on the foot pegs and near the controls. Don’t drag your foot or let your toes drop down — they could catch between the road and the peg.

Correct answer: Fits snugly all the way around and has no cracks or frayed straps

Get the most out of a helmet by making sure it fits snugly all the way around and has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps.