Maine Motorcycle Permit Practice Test

Correct answer: So your arms steer the motorcycle rather than support your weight

Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle instead of holding you up. That keeps your steering inputs precise and reduces fatigue.

Correct answer: A full-face helmet

Of the common styles, a full-face helmet gives the most protection to the back and sides of your head and to your face. Three-quarter and half helmets cover less.

Correct answer: In the first few minutes, before the rain washes the surface

Oil and dust build up on the road, and the first rain lifts them into a slick film before washing them away. Those opening minutes are the most treacherous, so slow down and add space.

Correct answer: By adding a motorcycle endorsement to your driver’s license

Maine does not issue a separate "Class M" license. Instead it adds a motorcycle endorsement to your existing driver’s license, which authorizes you to operate a motorcycle.

Correct answer: Prohibited by law

Maine law states that a person may not operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. Splitting or sharing lanes this way is illegal in Maine — cars and motorcycles each need a full lane.

Correct answer: Never saw the motorcycle at all

A motorcycle's narrow profile is easy to overlook in traffic. Because drivers so often simply do not see riders, your most important safety job is making yourself easy to see — ride as if you have not been noticed until you know otherwise.

Correct answer: Far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent at the handgrips

Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent when holding the grips. Bent arms let you press on the bars without stretching and reduce arm fatigue.

Correct answer: It carries a manufacturer-applied DOT label showing FMVSS 218 compliance

A helmet built to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 carries a DOT label applied by the manufacturer. That label is your assurance it meets the standard.

Correct answer: Slow before reaching it, then cross gently with little steering or braking

Loose gravel offers poor traction. Get your slowing done first, then ride across smoothly and upright — hard braking or turning on the loose surface is what causes a slide.

Correct answer: Obtain a motorcycle endorsement (or a motorcycle learner’s permit)

A regular driver’s license alone does not let you ride a motorcycle. You must earn a motorcycle endorsement, or ride under a motorcycle learner’s permit while you work toward it.

Correct answer: The full lane

Maine law says a motorcycle rider may fully use a lane. No other vehicle should be driven so as to deprive you of it, and you should claim the space you are entitled to rather than crowding one edge.

Correct answer: At all times, day and night

A headlight is one of the easiest ways for others to spot you, so keep it on day and night. Most motorcycles switch the headlight on automatically as soon as the engine starts.

Correct answer: Knees against the tank and feet firmly on the footrests near the controls

Keep your knees against the tank to help you balance and stay connected to the motorcycle, and keep your feet on the footrests near the controls, toes level so they do not catch.

Correct answer: It is not built to the federal standard and offers little real protection

Novelty helmets (thin "beanie" shells) are not built to the federal standard. They lack the padding and strength to protect your head in a crash.

Correct answer: Become slippery, especially when wet

Smooth surfaces like paint and metal offer far less grip than pavement and turn slick in the rain. Cross them upright, and avoid braking or turning while you are on them.

Correct answer: Mandatory before a permit, license, or endorsement can be issued

Maine law (29-A §1352) bars issuing a motorcycle permit, license, or endorsement to anyone who has not completed an approved rider-education course and examination. The course is mandatory for everyone.

Correct answer: No more than two

Maine law permits no more than two motorcycles to be operated abreast within a single lane. Even so, riding a full lane apart in a staggered formation is safer, because two riders side by side leave neither one room to maneuver.

Correct answer: Bright colors with reflective material

Bright and reflective gear stands out against traffic and pavement in every kind of light. Being seen matters more than looking sleek — dark clothing disappears against the road.

Correct answer: The range between the clutch being fully engaged and fully released

The friction zone is the range of clutch travel between fully engaged and fully released. Riding within it gives you fine control, especially at low speeds and in tight turns.

Correct answer: Fit snugly all the way around and be securely fastened

A helmet must fit snugly and be fastened, or it can come off your head in a crash before it can protect you. A loose, unfastened helmet is little better than no helmet.