PermitPal
New Hampshire Motorcycle Permit Practice Test
20 real questions from our manual-verified New Hampshire motorcycle bank · Updated July 12, 2026
The official New Hampshire motorcycle knowledge test runs 25 questions at 80% to pass (miss more than 5 and you retake it). New Hampshire offers the motorcycle knowledge test in Spanish. These 20 questions come from the same bank the PermitPal app ships — verified against the state's official motorcycle manual, covering the riding-specific material the car test never touches: lane positioning, counter-steering, braking distances, carrying passengers, riding impaired.
The real New Hampshire motorcycle exam format — scored against the same 80% bar.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. What is the purpose of good posture on a motorcycle?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: So your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up
Sit so your arms are used for steering, not for holding yourself up. That keeps your steering inputs precise and reduces fatigue.
2. The manual describes a helmet as the single most important thing a rider can do to improve their chances of:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Surviving a crash
The manual teaches that wearing a quality, securely fastened helmet is the single most important step a rider can take to improve their odds of surviving a crash.
3. When is a paved road usually most slippery during rain?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: In the first few minutes, before the rain washes the surface clean
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.
4. To earn a New Hampshire motorcycle endorsement, you must prove your riding fitness by doing one of two things. Which?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Completing a Basic Rider Course or passing the DMV motorcycle skills test
Besides a vision test and the written knowledge test, New Hampshire proves your on-cycle fitness in one of two ways: complete an approved Basic Rider Course, or pass the DMV motorcycle skills test.
5. In New Hampshire, riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles ("lane splitting") is:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Prohibited by law
New Hampshire law states that no person shall drive a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. Lane splitting is prohibited — always ride within a single lane of traffic.
6. The most common cause of a car-versus-motorcycle collision is that the driver:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Never saw the motorcycle at all
A motorcycle's narrow profile is easy to miss in traffic, and drivers routinely fail to see riders. Because of that, your biggest safety job is making yourself visible — ride as if you have not been seen until you know otherwise.
7. How far forward should you sit on the seat?
Show answer & explanation
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 press on the bars without stretching and reduce arm fatigue.
8. Which helmet does the manual recommend a rider wear?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A DOT-compliant helmet
The manual recommends a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. A Snell Memorial Foundation label offers further assurance of quality.
9. You are approaching a patch of gravel or sand on the road. You should:
Show answer & explanation
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.
10. According to the motorcycle manual, earning your license requires you to pass:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A knowledge test and an on-cycle skill test
The manual states that to earn your license you must pass both a knowledge test and an on-cycle skill test. Knowledge-test questions are based on the information, practices, and ideas in the manual.
11. Traffic has slowed to a crawl. You want to ride up between the stopped rows of cars to get ahead. Under New Hampshire law you should:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Stay in your lane — riding between rows of vehicles is illegal
New Hampshire prohibits driving a motorcycle between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, even in slow or stopped traffic. Wait in your lane like any other vehicle.
12. When should a motorcycle ride with its headlight on?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: At all times, day and night
A headlight is one of the easiest ways for others to notice you, so keep it on day and night. Most motorcycles turn the headlight on automatically once the engine is started.
13. Where should your knees be while riding?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Against the gas tank to help you balance and stay connected to the motorcycle
Keeping your knees against the gas tank helps you balance and stay connected to the motorcycle as you steer and turn it.
14. Which helmet style gives the most protection?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A full-face helmet
A full-face helmet covers the whole head and face and offers the most protection. Three-quarter and half helmets protect less; novelty helmets are not designed to meet DOT standards at all.
15. Painted lane markings, steel plates, and manhole covers are hazards for a rider mainly because they:
Show answer & explanation
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.
16. What score must you reach to pass the New Hampshire motorcycle knowledge test?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: 80%
Every New Hampshire knowledge exam, including the motorcycle test, requires a passing grade of 80%.
17. Under New Hampshire law, how many motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Two
New Hampshire law permits two motorcycles to ride abreast in a single lane, but no more than two. This is one of the few times two riders may legally share a lane side by side.
18. Which clothing choice makes you easiest for other drivers to see?
Show answer & explanation
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.
19. What is the correct position for your feet while riding?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Firmly on the footrests, near the controls, toes level
Keep your feet firmly on the footrests for balance and near the controls. Do not drag your feet or point your toes down — they could catch and cost you control.
20. You get the most protection from a helmet that:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: Fits snugly all the way around and has no obvious defects
A protective helmet fits snugly all the way around and is free of obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps.
📱 PermitPal in your browser has the full 146-question New Hampshire motorcycle bank plus car and CDL tracks — mock exams in the real format, spaced repetition on what you miss. Free to start, $29.99 once. Also on the App Store and Google Play.