Safety and your motorcycle questions Motorcycle theory test
This topic has 77 practice questions. Here are 10 of them with the right answer and why.
What could happen if you ride your motorcycle when it has a very loose drive chain?
- The front wheel could wobble
- The ignition could cut out
- The brakes could fail
- The rear wheel could lockRight answer
Drive chains are subject to wear and need frequent adjustment to maintain the correct tension. Allowing the drive chain to run dry will greatly increase the rate of wear, so it's important to keep it lubricated. If the chain becomes very worn and loose, it can jump off the sprocket and lock the rear wheel.
What's the most important reason to keep your motorcycle well maintained?
- To accelerate faster than other traffic
- So the motorcycle does not struggle when carrying panniers
- To keep the motorcycle roadworthyRight answer
- So the motorcycle can carry a passenger
Whenever you use any motorcycle on the road, it must be in a roadworthy condition. Regular maintenance should identify any faults at an early stage and help prevent more serious problems.
How should you ride a motorcycle when new tyres have just been fitted?
- Slower-than-normal, until the shiny surface is worn offRight answer
- By braking hard, especially into bends
- Normally, but with higher tyre pressures
- By riding at faster-than-normal speeds
New tyres have a shiny finish, which needs to wear off before the tyre will give the best grip. Take extra care if the road surface is wet or slippery.
How will wearing brightly coloured clothing improve your safety while you’re riding a motorcycle?
- You'll blend into the background
- It will be easier for other road users to see youRight answer
- You'll distract other road users
- It will allow you to ride faster on unlit roads at night
For your own safety, you need other road users to see you easily. Wearing brightly coloured or fluorescent clothing will help you to achieve this during daylight. At night, wearing clothing that includes reflective material is the best way of helping others to see you.
What should you do when you're riding a motorcycle in very hot weather?
- Ride with your visor fully open
- Wear protective clothingRight answer
- Wear trainers instead of boots
- Slacken your helmet strap
Always wear your protective clothing, whatever the weather. In very hot weather it’s tempting to ride in light summer clothes, but it’s not worth the risk. If you fall from your motorcycle, you’ll have no protection from the hard road surface.
Why should you wear fluorescent clothing when riding a motorcycle in daylight?
- It reduces wind resistance
- It prevents injury if you're involved in an incident
- It helps other road users to see youRight answer
- It keeps you cool in hot weather
Motorcycles are smaller and therefore harder to see than most other vehicles on the road. You need to make yourself as visible as possible to other road users. Fluorescent and reflective clothing will help achieve this.
Why should motorcycle riders wear reflective clothing?
- To protect them from the cold
- To protect them from direct sunlight
- To be seen better in daylight
- To be seen better at nightRight answer
Fluorescent clothing will help others to see you during the day. At night, however, you should wear clothing that reflects the light. This allows other road users to see you more easily in their headlights. Ask your local motorcycle dealer about fluorescent and reflective clothing.
What should you do if your visor becomes very scratched?
- Polish it with a fine abrasive
- Replace itRight answer
- Wash it in soapy water
- Clean it with petrol
Your visor protects your eyes from wind, rain, insects and road dirt. It’s important to keep it clean and in good repair. A scratched visor can obscure your view and cause dazzle from the lights of oncoming vehicles.
Your motorcycle has an engine over 50 cc. What's the legal minimum depth of tread on the tyres?
- 1 mmRight answer
- 1.6 mm
- 2.5 mm
- 4 mm
If your motorcycle has an engine over 50 cc, the entire original tread must be visible, with a depth of at least 1 mm in a continuous band across at least three-quarters of the breadth of the tread. However, your tyres are your only contact with the road, so it's recommended that you replace them before they get to this level.
What can you wear to make it easier for other road users to see you?
- A black leather jacket
- A helmet fitted with a tinted visor
- A brightly coloured helmetRight answer
- A silk balaclava
Many incidents and collisions involving motorcyclists occur because other road users do not see them. Be aware that you're vulnerable and make yourself as visible as possible by wearing fluorescent clothing and a light or brightly coloured helmet.