Pennsylvania Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering Practice Test

Question 1

When and how should you shed speed for a curve?

Accepted Answer

Before you reach it, by closing the throttle and using both brakes if needed — Get the slowing done before you reach the bend by rolling the throttle shut and, if that is not enough, using both brakes while you are still upright and running straight.

Answer

Halfway through, using the rear brake only

Answer

At the exit, by downshifting sharply

Answer

You should not slow at all; speed keeps the machine stable

Question 2

What is a primary cause of single-vehicle motorcycle crashes in curves?

Accepted Answer

Running wide and drifting off the intended path — Riders running wide in a curve or turn and hitting the roadway edge or a fixed object is a leading cause of single-vehicle crashes.

Answer

Braking too gently on the straightaway

Answer

Riding too far behind other traffic

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Using turn signals in the curve

Question 3

How should braking and swerving be combined when you need to do both?

Accepted Answer

Keep them separate: brake before or after, never during the swerve — Never brake and swerve at the same time; separate the two by braking before or after the swerve, not during it.

Answer

Brake hard throughout the swerve

Answer

Brake only with the rear brake while swerving

Answer

Use the front brake while leaning into the swerve

Question 4

As you go through a curve, where should your eyes be and how should you move to see there?

Accepted Answer

Through the curve toward where you want to end up, turning only your head — Aim your vision along the curve to the place you intend to end up, moving only your head rather than swinging your shoulders, and hold your eyes level with the horizon.

Answer

On the centerline, turning your shoulders with the machine

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On the pavement just in front of your front tire

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On the guardrail at the outside of the curve

Question 5

When no traffic is present, a good line through a curve is to start at the outside because it:

Accepted Answer

Improves your view and widens the turn's radius — Starting at the outside of the curve increases your line of sight and the effective radius of the turn; you then move toward the inside and back out to exit.

Answer

Forces you to brake harder mid-turn

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Keeps you closest to oncoming traffic

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Makes the turn sharper than it is

Question 6

How does a slow, tight turn differ from a normal one?

Accepted Answer

You let the machine lean while keeping your body upright — At walking pace you counterbalance: let the machine tip while your own body stays vertical, which keeps the whole package steady through a tight, slow turn.

Answer

You lean your body harder than the machine

Answer

You keep both perfectly upright and steer with the bars alone

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You lock the rear brake to pivot the machine

Question 7

In an ordinary turn taken at normal speed, how should rider and machine lean?

Accepted Answer

Together at the same angle — Both should tip over together at the same angle, so your body stays in line with the motorcycle rather than leaning against it.

Answer

The rider leans much further than the machine

Answer

The machine leans while the rider stays upright

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Neither should lean at all

Question 8

What should you do with the throttle once you are leaned over in a turn?

Accepted Answer

Roll it on to hold or slightly raise your speed — Feed in a little throttle to hold your speed or gain a touch, which steadies the machine through the bend. Chopping the throttle mid-corner upsets it.

Answer

Close it fully and coast to the exit

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Snap it open hard to stand the machine up

Answer

Alternate on and off to keep the tires warm

Question 9

Instead of the outside-inside-outside line, a rider may take the middle of the lane through a curve and hold it. The main benefit is that it:

Accepted Answer

Lets you spot approaching traffic early and leaves room for debris or a vehicle over the line — Holding the middle of the lane the whole way round lets you pick up oncoming traffic at the earliest moment, and leaves you room to react to a vehicle crowding the centerline or debris on part of your lane.

Answer

Removes the need to slow for the curve

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Keeps you out of the wind

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Reduces how much the machine has to lean to zero

Question 10

How does the speed you carry into a turn affect how far the motorcycle must lean?

Accepted Answer

More speed calls for a deeper lean — The faster you go through a given turn, the deeper the lean the machine needs, which is one more reason to shed speed before you tip in.

Answer

Speed makes no difference to lean angle

Answer

More speed calls for less lean

Answer

Lean angle depends only on tire width

Question 11

To make the motorcycle lean quickly into a swerve, you should:

Accepted Answer

Press the grip on the side you want to go — Press on the handgrip on the side you want to go; that quick press leans the bike toward your escape route while you keep your body upright.

Answer

Lean your whole body far off the seat

Answer

Pull hard on both handgrips

Answer

Stand up on the footpegs

Question 12

Which four steps describe the correct way to take a turn or curve?

Accepted Answer

Slow, look, press, roll — Slow, look, press and roll: shed speed first, aim your eyes where you are going, press the handgrip to lean, then feed in throttle to settle the machine.

Answer

Stop, signal, shift, steer

Answer

Brake, coast, lean, accelerate

Answer

Search, evaluate, execute, recover

Pennsylvania Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering practice test

Study questions with answers

1. When and how should you shed speed for a curve?

2. What is a primary cause of single-vehicle motorcycle crashes in curves?

3. How should braking and swerving be combined when you need to do both?

4. As you go through a curve, where should your eyes be and how should you move to see there?

5. When no traffic is present, a good line through a curve is to start at the outside because it:

6. How does a slow, tight turn differ from a normal one?

7. In an ordinary turn taken at normal speed, how should rider and machine lean?

8. What should you do with the throttle once you are leaned over in a turn?

9. Instead of the outside-inside-outside line, a rider may take the middle of the lane through a curve and hold it. The main benefit is that it:

10. How does the speed you carry into a turn affect how far the motorcycle must lean?

11. To make the motorcycle lean quickly into a swerve, you should:

12. Which four steps describe the correct way to take a turn or curve?

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