Pennsylvania Motorcycle practice
Pennsylvania Motorcycle: Handling Emergencies practice test
What to do when things go wrong — brake failure, tire blowouts, skids, and stalling on railroad tracks.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
9 questions · pass with 7 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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9 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
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1. If your front tire suddenly goes flat while riding, how will the motorcycle behave?
Correct answer: The steering will feel heavy
A front-tire flat makes the steering feel heavy and is especially hazardous because it affects your ability to steer and keep balance.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Tire Failure
2. If your motorcycle develops a front-wheel wobble, you should:
Correct answer: Close the throttle gradually and avoid braking
Do not try to accelerate out of a wobble; grip the bars firmly without fighting it, close the throttle gradually to slow, avoid braking, and shift your weight forward and down before pulling off.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Wobble
3. If a flying object such as a pebble or insect strikes you while riding, you should first:
Correct answer: Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the bars
Keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the handlebars; once it is safe, pull off the road to deal with any damage.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Flying Objects
4. If a tire goes flat while you are riding, your first actions should be to:
Correct answer: Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, and stay straight
Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, and keep a straight course; brake only with the good tire if braking is needed, then edge off the road and stop.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Tire Failure
5. What happens if the drive chain breaks while you are riding?
Correct answer: You lose power to the rear wheel all at once
A broken chain causes a sudden, complete loss of power to the rear wheel; close the throttle and brake smoothly to a stop.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Drivetrain Problems
6. An engine that locks up or freezes while riding is most often caused by:
Correct answer: Running too low on oil
Engine seizure usually means the engine is low on oil; squeeze the clutch to disconnect the rear wheel and pull off the road, since a seized engine acts like a locked rear wheel.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Engine Seizure
7. If your throttle sticks open while riding, the correct response is to:
Correct answer: Squeeze the clutch and use the engine cut-off switch
First try twisting the throttle back and forth to free it; if it stays stuck, operate the engine cut-off switch while pulling in the clutch to remove power from the rear wheel, then pull off.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Stuck Throttle
8. What are the two most important crash-avoidance skills a rider must have?
Correct answer: Stopping quickly and swerving
Knowing when and how to stop quickly and when to swerve are the two critical skills for avoiding a crash.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Crash Avoidance
9. If your rear tire suddenly goes flat while riding, you are most likely to notice that:
Correct answer: The back of the bike jerks or sways side to side
A rear-tire flat usually causes the back of the motorcycle to jerk or sway from side to side.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Mechanical Problems: Tire Failure
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Every Pennsylvania question is written from the official Pennsylvania driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free