Handling Emergencies

Study questions with answers

12 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. Just before your front wheel contacts an obstacle you must ride over, what helps lighten the front end?

   Correct answer: Rolling on the throttle slightly

   Rolling on the throttle slightly just before contact lightens the front end, while rising off the seat lets your knees and elbows absorb the shock.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles

2. 2. For larger animals such as deer, elk, or cattle in your path, what does the manual advise?

   Correct answer: Brake and prepare to stop

   Larger animals are unpredictable, so you should brake and prepare to stop rather than trying to speed past or swerve around them.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Animals

3. 3. To swerve to the left around an obstacle, what should you press first?

   Correct answer: The left handgrip

   To swerve, press the handgrip on the side of your intended escape; to go left you press the left grip to lean quickly left, then press the right grip to recover.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Crash Avoidance: Swerving or Turning Quickly

4. 4. If the chain or belt breaks while you are riding, what will you notice and do?

   Correct answer: An instant loss of rear-wheel power; close the throttle and brake safely

   A broken chain or belt causes an instant loss of power to the rear wheel; close the throttle and brake to a stop in a safe area, since a slipping chain or belt could also lock the rear wheel and cause a skid.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Mechanical Problems: Drive Train Problems

5. 5. Before turning off the road onto a soft or uncertain shoulder, what should you do?

   Correct answer: Slow way down first and signal your change

   Check that the roadside surface is firm enough; if it is soft grass, loose sand, or you are unsure, slow way down before turning onto it, and signal your slowing and change of direction.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Getting Off the Road

6. 6. What is usually the safer way to cross railroad or trolley tracks?

   Correct answer: Ride straight within your lane across them

   It is usually safer to ride straight within your lane to cross tracks; turning to take them exactly head-on can be more dangerous because your path may carry you into another lane.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Railroad Tracks and Pavement Seams

7. 7. Studies show most crash-involved riders make which braking mistake?

   Correct answer: They underbrake the front and overbrake the rear

   Most crash-involved riders underbrake the front tire and overbrake the rear, and they often fail to separate braking from swerving or to swerve when it was the better choice.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Crash Avoidance

8. 8. If you cannot avoid an animal while riding in traffic, what does the manual advise?

   Correct answer: Stay in your lane, since hitting something small beats hitting a car

   If you are in traffic, remain in your lane, since hitting something small is less dangerous to you than swerving into something big like a car.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Animals

9. 9. What usually causes an engine to seize, and what is the first sign?

   Correct answer: Low oil; the first sign is lost power or a change in engine sound

   An engine that locks or freezes is usually low on oil and overheating; the first sign may be a loss of engine power or a change in the engine's sound, so squeeze the clutch and pull off.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Mechanical Problems: Engine Seizure

10. 10. What is a swerve?

    Correct answer: A sudden change in direction to avoid an obstacle

    A swerve is a sudden change in direction, which can be two quick turns or a rapid shift to the side to get around an obstacle you cannot stop for in time.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Crash Avoidance: Swerving or Turning Quickly

11. 11. For maximum straight-line braking, where should your eyes be directed?

    Correct answer: Well ahead, not down

    Keep your body centered over the motorcycle and look well ahead, not down, which helps you keep the bike straight and minimizes lean angle and traction loss.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Crash Avoidance: Maximum Straight-Line Braking

12. 12. What is the immediate danger of a front-wheel skid?

    Correct answer: It causes an immediate loss of steering control and balance

    A front-wheel skid causes immediate loss of steering control and balance; you must fully release the front brake at once and then reapply it smoothly, or you will crash.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Crash Avoidance: Front-Wheel Skids