Idaho Motorcycle Permit Practice Test

Correct answer: Against the gas tank to help keep the motorcycle balanced

Keep your knees against the gas tank. This helps keep the motorcycle balanced and upright, especially over rough surfaces and when braking.

Correct answer: Anyone under 18 riding a motorcycle or ATV, on or off highway

Idaho law requires all persons under the age of 18 to wear a DOT-compliant protective helmet while riding a motorcycle or ATV, on or off highway. There is no all-ages helmet requirement.

Correct answer: The center of the lane, where oil collects

When rain begins, before surface oil washes to the sides, the center portion of a lane is usually the most slippery. Ride on the least slippery part of the lane and slow down.

Correct answer: A valid Idaho driver’s license plus a motorcycle (M) endorsement

To ride a motorcycle in Idaho you need a valid driver’s license (Class A, B, C, or D) with a motorcycle (M) endorsement added to it. An instruction permit only lets you practice temporarily before earning the endorsement.

Correct answer: Quickly, so you do not linger where the driver cannot see you

Get through the blind spot quickly. A driver who cannot see you may change lanes into you, so spend as little time as possible where you are hidden.

Correct answer: Never saw the motorcycle

A motorcycle's profile is much smaller than a car's, and most drivers are not looking for motorcycles. Because drivers so often simply do not see riders, your biggest safety job is making yourself easy to notice.

Correct answer: Slightly bent when holding the handgrips

Sit forward in the saddle so your arms are slightly bent when holding the handgrips. This lets you press on the handlebars without stretching, giving better steering control.

Correct answer: Is not required by law to wear one, but is strongly encouraged to

Idaho’s helmet law applies only under age 18. Riders 18 and older are not legally required to wear a helmet, but the manual strongly encourages a securely-fastened, DOT-compliant helmet for everyone.

Correct answer: Low or shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses

Patches of ice tend to crop up in low or shaded areas and on bridges and overpasses, which cool faster than the surrounding road. Cautious riders steer clear of ice- or snow-covered roads entirely.

Correct answer: Not more than three wheels in contact with the ground

Idaho defines a motorcycle as a motor vehicle with a seat or saddle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. That definition excludes tractors and mopeds.

Correct answer: Signal, make a mirror and head check, then return and cancel the signal

Signal again, complete a mirror check and a head check to be sure you have room, return to your lane, then cancel your turn signal. Cutting in too soon can clip the vehicle you just passed.

Correct answer: Appears farther away and slower than it really is

Smaller vehicles look farther off and seem to move slower than they actually do. Drivers commonly pull out in front of riders thinking they have plenty of time, so never assume being seen makes you safe.

Correct answer: Firmly on the footrests, not dragging

Keep your feet firmly on the footrests to maintain balance. Don’t drag your feet — a foot that catches on something can injure you and upset control. Keep them near the controls.

Correct answer: Wear a securely-fastened, DOT-compliant helmet

Head injuries account for a majority of serious and fatal motorcycle injuries. Wearing a securely-fastened, DOT-compliant helmet is the single most important thing you can do to survive a crash.

Correct answer: Reduce speed, avoid sudden moves, and keep the motorcycle as upright as possible

Slow down before reaching the surface, be smooth with the throttle, brakes, and steering, reduce your lean angle, and keep the bike upright. Any sudden change in speed or direction can cause a skid.

Correct answer: A moped

Idaho’s motorcycle definition includes a converted motorbike but specifically does not include a motor-driven cycle, a motorbike, a tractor, or a moped.

Correct answer: The center or right portion of your lane

Staying in the center or right portion gives you more room for error if the passing driver drifts, their extended mirror swings close, wind blast hits you, or a passenger tosses something out.

Correct answer: Bright colors with retro-reflective material

The manual notes black is hard to see in daytime and invisible at night. Bright colors plus retro-reflective tape or a vest reflect light back to its source and are the best choice for staying visible around the clock.

Correct answer: The range of clutch travel where engine power begins to reach the rear wheel

The friction zone is the area of clutch travel where the engine’s power begins to transmit to the rear wheel. Using it lets you smoothly and precisely control power when getting underway.

Correct answer: Three times more likely

No matter the speed, helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing a helmet at the time of a crash.