Massachusetts Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering Practice Test

Question 1

What does the manual say about using the front brake while the motorcycle is leaned into a corner?

Accepted Answer

It can be used with the right technique, but leaning leaves less grip for it — Part of the tire's grip is already being spent holding your line round the bend, so less is left in reserve, and asking too much of the brake there can break traction.

Answer

It must never be touched once the machine is leaning

Answer

It bites better leaned over than it does upright

Answer

It should be given up entirely in favor of engine braking

Question 2

To make a motorcycle lean into a turn, how should you use the handgrips?

Accepted Answer

Press on the grip in the direction you want to turn — Countersteering is used: pressing on the grip toward the turn makes the bike lean that way. Press left to lean and go left, press right to lean and go right.

Answer

Pull the grip on the outside of the turn toward you

Answer

Push both grips forward at the same time

Answer

Release both grips and shift your weight only

Question 3

The manual describes a swerve to avoid an obstacle as what kind of maneuver?

Accepted Answer

A sudden, quick change of direction — A swerve is a quick change of direction — either two fast turns or a rapid lean to one side — made by pressing the grip toward where you want to go.

Answer

A slow, sweeping lane change

Answer

A hard stop followed by a turn

Answer

A gradual drift toward the shoulder

Question 4

When taking a curve on a motorcycle, which four-step sequence does the Massachusetts manual recommend?

Accepted Answer

Slow, look, lean, and roll on the throttle — The manual teaches riders to slow before the curve, look through it to where they want to go, lean the bike, and then roll on the throttle to hold a steady line.

Answer

Brake hard, coast, straighten, then accelerate

Answer

Look, brake, downshift, and hold the clutch in

Answer

Lean first, then brake, then look, then coast

Question 5

What decides how far a motorcycle has to lean in a turn?

Accepted Answer

Greater speed and a tighter bend both call for more lean — Lean angle goes with speed and with how sharp the bend is: the faster you travel and the tighter the corner, the further over the machine must come.

Answer

Lean should be the same for every corner

Answer

Only the width of the roadway matters

Answer

Heavier machines need less lean than light ones

Question 6

In a slow, tight turn, how should the rider's body relate to the motorcycle's lean?

Accepted Answer

Keep your body upright and lean only the motorcycle — For slow, tight turns you lean only the machine while keeping your torso upright; in normal turns the rider and bike lean together at the same angle.

Answer

Lean your body farther than the motorcycle

Answer

Lean the bike and your body in opposite directions

Answer

Stand on the pegs and lean forward over the bars

Question 7

When is the right moment to change gear for a corner?

Accepted Answer

Before you enter it — Gear changes belong on the approach, because an abrupt change in drive reaching the back wheel while you are leaned can make that wheel lock or spin and start a slide.

Answer

Halfway round, once the bike is leaned over

Answer

At the exit, while you are accelerating hard

Answer

Only after the machine is fully upright again

Question 8

Why does the manual tell newer riders to hold their speed down in curves?

Accepted Answer

It lowers the risk of drifting into oncoming lanes, running wide, or skidding — Bends give inexperienced riders the most trouble, and keeping the speed in check makes it less likely that they will cross into oncoming traffic, run off the pavement, brake too hard, or lose grip altogether.

Answer

It stops the engine from overheating in a bend

Answer

It keeps the turn signal from cancelling early

Answer

State law sets a special limit for every curve

Question 9

In the 'look' part of the manual's cornering routine, what should you turn?

Accepted Answer

Just your head, with your eyes held level with the skyline — Swinging the shoulders round upsets your line, so riders are told to look through the bend using the head alone while holding the eyes level with the skyline.

Answer

Your head and shoulders together toward the exit

Answer

Your whole upper body into the bend

Answer

Your eyes down toward the front wheel

Question 10

What should the throttle be doing while you are riding through a turn?

Accepted Answer

Holding an even speed or opening a little at a time — The last of the four steps is to roll on: hold your speed even or build it gently, and do not let the machine slow down while you are still in the bend.

Answer

Closing steadily so you keep slowing all the way round

Answer

Snapping open and shut to settle the suspension

Answer

Staying fully shut until the bike is upright again

Question 11

How does the manual say you should shed speed for the 'slow' part of a turn?

Accepted Answer

Roll off the throttle, and add both brakes if you still need them — Rolling off the throttle usually does the job on its own, with both brakes there if more slowing is needed, but the speed has to come off before you reach the bend.

Answer

Pull the clutch in and coast to the entry point

Answer

Drag the rear brake all the way through the bend

Answer

Shift up a gear and let the engine slow you

Question 12

You have swerved clear of an obstacle. How do you bring the motorcycle back onto your original line?

Accepted Answer

Press gently on the other handgrip — A swerve is really two quick steering inputs: light pressure on one grip carries you around the hazard, and the same light pressure on the other grip brings you back on course.

Answer

Pull hard on the grip you pressed the first time

Answer

Sit up straight and wait for the bike to right itself

Answer

Hold the rear brake on until the machine stands up

Massachusetts Motorcycle: Turning & Cornering practice test

Study questions with answers

1. What does the manual say about using the front brake while the motorcycle is leaned into a corner?

2. To make a motorcycle lean into a turn, how should you use the handgrips?

3. The manual describes a swerve to avoid an obstacle as what kind of maneuver?

4. When taking a curve on a motorcycle, which four-step sequence does the Massachusetts manual recommend?

5. What decides how far a motorcycle has to lean in a turn?

6. In a slow, tight turn, how should the rider's body relate to the motorcycle's lean?

7. When is the right moment to change gear for a corner?

8. Why does the manual tell newer riders to hold their speed down in curves?

9. In the 'look' part of the manual's cornering routine, what should you turn?

10. What should the throttle be doing while you are riding through a turn?

11. How does the manual say you should shed speed for the 'slow' part of a turn?

12. You have swerved clear of an obstacle. How do you bring the motorcycle back onto your original line?

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