Nebraska Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering Practice Test

Question 1

Where should you be looking as you ride through a curve?

Accepted Answer

Through the curve to where you want to go, turning your head only — Look through the curve toward where you intend to come out. Turn your head only, leave your shoulders square, and hold your eyes level with the horizon.

Answer

In your mirrors until the curve straightens

Answer

At the pavement just ahead of the front tire

Answer

At the center line, turning your head and shoulders together

Question 2

Why does the manual warn you to read each curve as you approach it?

Accepted Answer

Because a curve may hold steady, widen, tighten or turn into several curves — Curves are not all alike — one may hold a steady radius, another widens, another tightens up, and some string several turns together — so the line and speed that suit one will not suit the next.

Answer

Because the best path always follows the curve of the road

Answer

Because every curve in Nebraska is banked the same way

Answer

Because advisory speeds are always accurate for motorcycles

Question 3

Why does the manual tell you to roll on the throttle through a turn?

Accepted Answer

It steadies the motorcycle through the corner — Holding or slightly increasing speed with the throttle steadies the motorcycle as it goes around.

Answer

It shortens the distance you need to stop

Answer

It reduces the lean angle you need

Answer

It warms the rear tire so it grips better

Question 4

When should your speed be reduced for a turn?

Accepted Answer

Before you enter the turn — Get the slowing done before you get there, closing the throttle and using both brakes if you need them, rather than braking once the machine is already leaned over.

Answer

Only if the corner is marked with an advisory speed

Answer

Halfway through the corner

Answer

As you begin to straighten up at the exit

Question 5

On a motorcycle with a sidecar, which turn most tempts the sidecar wheel to lift, and what makes it worse?

Accepted Answer

A right turn, made worse by an empty or lightly loaded sidecar — A right turn shifts the center of gravity enough to lighten the sidecar wheel, and the lift is greater when the sidecar is empty or carrying very little.

Answer

A left turn, made worse by a loaded sidecar

Answer

Either turn, but only above highway speeds

Answer

A left turn, made worse by braking in a straight line

Question 6

How should you handle the brakes when turning a three-track motorcycle?

Accepted Answer

Slow with the brakes, then release them before the turn — Roll off the throttle before the turn, brake down to a speed you can safely carry through it, and let the brakes go before you actually turn — then add a little throttle for stability.

Answer

Avoid the brakes entirely and use engine braking only

Answer

Hold the rear brake lightly all the way around

Answer

Brake hardest at the apex of the turn

Question 7

How does body position differ between a normal turn and a slow, tight turn?

Accepted Answer

Lean the motorcycle only and stay upright yourself in slow, tight turns — In an ordinary turn the rider and the machine lean as one. In a slow, tight turn you counterbalance instead — let the motorcycle lean while you stay upright.

Answer

Stand on the footrests for tight turns

Answer

Slide back in the seat and lean away from the turn

Answer

Lean your body further than the motorcycle in every turn

Question 8

How does lean angle change as a turn gets faster or tighter?

Accepted Answer

More lean is needed — More speed or a sharper corner calls for more lean, which is why entering too fast leaves riders unable to hold their line.

Answer

Lean angle has nothing to do with speed

Answer

The lean must stay under 10 degrees in all cases

Answer

Less lean is needed

Question 9

What tends to go wrong when riders enter a curve too fast?

Accepted Answer

They cross into another lane or leave the road, or they overbrake and skid — Unable to hold the turn, they drift into another lane or off the road entirely — or they panic, brake far too hard, and skid.

Answer

The headlight aims too high to see the exit

Answer

The engine seizes from the extra load

Answer

The rear tire lifts off the pavement

Question 10

What are the four steps the Nebraska manual gives for taking a turn?

Accepted Answer

Slow, look, press, roll — Slow, look, press and roll: cut your speed before the turn, look through it to where you want to end up, press the handgrip on the side you are turning toward, and roll on the throttle through the corner.

Answer

Downshift, lean, brake, straighten

Answer

Signal, slow, swerve, recover

Answer

Brake, coast, steer, accelerate

Question 11

Why can a conventional three-wheel motorcycle not be countersteered?

Accepted Answer

Because it cannot lean the way a two-wheeler does — With three wheels down it cannot lean, and leaning is what countersteering produces. You steer one instead by pointing the front wheel where you want to go.

Answer

Because its front tire is too wide

Answer

Because the rear wheels always steer as well

Answer

Its handlebars are geared in reverse

Question 12

To make a two-wheel motorcycle go left at riding speed, which handgrip do you press?

Accepted Answer

The left grip — Press the left grip: pressing on a grip leans the machine that way, and the lean is what turns it. Press left to lean left, press right to lean right.

Answer

Both grips, pulling evenly

Answer

The right grip

Answer

Neither — you shift your weight instead

Nebraska Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering practice test

Study questions with answers

1. Where should you be looking as you ride through a curve?

2. Why does the manual warn you to read each curve as you approach it?

3. Why does the manual tell you to roll on the throttle through a turn?

4. When should your speed be reduced for a turn?

5. On a motorcycle with a sidecar, which turn most tempts the sidecar wheel to lift, and what makes it worse?

6. How should you handle the brakes when turning a three-track motorcycle?

7. How does body position differ between a normal turn and a slow, tight turn?

8. How does lean angle change as a turn gets faster or tighter?

9. What tends to go wrong when riders enter a curve too fast?

10. What are the four steps the Nebraska manual gives for taking a turn?

11. Why can a conventional three-wheel motorcycle not be countersteered?

12. To make a two-wheel motorcycle go left at riding speed, which handgrip do you press?

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