Nebraska Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces Practice Test

Question 1

The front wheel and handlebars begin shaking from side to side. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Grip the bars firmly and ease the throttle closed — Hold the bars firmly without fighting the shake, close the throttle gradually, move your weight forward and down, and pull off as soon as you can. Do not brake — braking can make a wobble worse — and never try to accelerate out of it.

Answer

Brake firmly with both brakes

Answer

Let go of one grip to damp the shaking

Answer

Accelerate hard to ride through it

Question 2

What does the manual say about large animals such as deer, elk or cattle?

Accepted Answer

Brake and be prepared to stop, because they are unpredictable — They behave unpredictably, so brake and get ready to stop. In traffic generally, stay in your lane rather than swerving — striking something small beats hitting a car.

Answer

Sound the horn and hold your speed

Answer

Swerve into the oncoming lane if it looks clear

Answer

Accelerate past them as you would a dog

Question 3

What are the three keys to riding safely on a slippery surface?

Accepted Answer

Slow beforehand, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently — Cut speed before you reach it, make no abrupt change of speed or direction, and use both brakes — squeezing the front lever gradually, because it still works on a slick surface.

Answer

Slow after entering it, weave, and coast in neutral

Answer

Keep the front brake untouched and lean harder

Answer

Accelerate through it, stand up, and use the rear brake alone

Question 4

How should you normally cross railroad or trolley tracks that run across your lane?

Accepted Answer

Keep going straight within your own lane — Ride straight ahead within your lane. Swinging out to meet the rails at a right angle can be the more dangerous move, because the turn may carry you into another lane of traffic.

Answer

Cross with the clutch in and the engine off

Answer

Swing wide and cross at exactly 90 degrees

Answer

Stop, then walk the motorcycle across

Question 5

Which of these surfaces does the manual list as offering poor traction?

Accepted Answer

Painted lines, steel plates and surface covers — Painted lane markings, steel plates and surface covers are all slick, especially wet — and so is pavement right after rain starts, gravel, sand, mud, leaves, snow and ice.

Answer

Fresh dry asphalt

Answer

Concrete in cold weather

Answer

Gravel only when it is dry

Question 6

Tracks or pavement seams run the same direction you are traveling. How should you cross them?

Accepted Answer

Cross them at 45 degrees or more — Move far enough off the rail or seam that your crossing angle is 45 degrees or more, then make one deliberate turn so it cannot throw you off balance.

Answer

Cross at the shallowest angle you can manage

Answer

Ride along the seam until it ends

Answer

Cross with the front wheel braked

Question 7

Where is the best place to ride once rain begins to fall?

Accepted Answer

In the tire tracks left by other vehicles — Move into the tire tracks vehicles have left, often the left one, because the middle of the lane turns hazardous when it is wet.

Answer

Squarely in the middle of the lane

Answer

On the painted edge line, which drains fastest

Answer

On the shoulder until the rain stops

Question 8

Your motorcycle weaves as you ride over a bridge grating. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Relax, hold your speed and ride straight across — That wandering feeling is unsettling but generally harmless — relax, hold a steady speed and go straight across. Cutting across at an angle makes you zigzag to hold the lane, which is the greater danger.

Answer

Brake firmly until the weaving stops

Answer

Angle across the grating to shorten the crossing

Answer

Accelerate hard to lift the front wheel

Question 9

A dog runs out and chases your motorcycle. What does the manual tell you to do?

Accepted Answer

Slow as you approach, then speed up past it — Downshift and close on the animal slowly, then accelerate away as you reach it. Do not kick at it — keep control and keep your eyes where you want to go.

Answer

Stop and wait for it to lose interest

Answer

Swerve into the next lane around it

Answer

Kick at it to drive it off

Question 10

Which parts of a road ice over soonest?

Accepted Answer

In low or shaded spots and on bridges and overpasses — In low ground and shaded stretches, and on bridges and overpasses, because rain dries and snow melts at different rates along a road. Wet leaves are every bit as slick.

Answer

On the crown of a sunlit hill

Answer

Only on gravel shoulders

Answer

In the middle of intersections

Question 11

At what angle should you meet a small obstacle you cannot ride around?

Accepted Answer

As close to 90 degrees as possible — Come at it as near a right angle as you can manage, slowing as much as possible first and keeping the motorcycle straight.

Answer

As shallow an angle as possible

Answer

Angle makes no difference if you are slow enough

Answer

About 45 degrees

Question 12

If you cannot avoid a road covered with snow or ice, what does the manual advise?

Accepted Answer

Keep the motorcycle upright, go as slowly as possible, and stay off the brakes — Keep the motorcycle upright and move as slowly as you can. At a walking pace you may let your feet skim the surface; stay off the brakes and, if you can, squeeze the clutch and coast.

Answer

Maintain highway speed so the wheels keep gyroscopic stability

Answer

Ride with both feet on the footrests and the front brake covered

Answer

Lean into every correction and use the rear brake steadily

Nebraska Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces practice test

Study questions with answers

1. The front wheel and handlebars begin shaking from side to side. What should you do?

2. What does the manual say about large animals such as deer, elk or cattle?

3. What are the three keys to riding safely on a slippery surface?

4. How should you normally cross railroad or trolley tracks that run across your lane?

5. Which of these surfaces does the manual list as offering poor traction?

6. Tracks or pavement seams run the same direction you are traveling. How should you cross them?

7. Where is the best place to ride once rain begins to fall?

8. Your motorcycle weaves as you ride over a bridge grating. What should you do?

9. A dog runs out and chases your motorcycle. What does the manual tell you to do?

10. Which parts of a road ice over soonest?

11. At what angle should you meet a small obstacle you cannot ride around?

12. If you cannot avoid a road covered with snow or ice, what does the manual advise?

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