Handling Emergencies

Study questions with answers

12 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. An early warning that an engine is seizing from low oil is:

   Correct answer: a loss of power or a change in the engine's sound

   As the engine starts to lock up, squeeze the clutch to disengage it from the rear wheel and pull off the road.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

2. 2. Trying to accelerate out of a wobble will:

   Correct answer: make the motorcycle more unstable

   Accelerating only makes the motorcycle more unstable; close the throttle gradually instead.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

3. 3. To make the motorcycle swerve, you apply pressure to the handgrip:

   Correct answer: on the side of your intended escape direction

   Pressing the grip toward your escape leans the bike quickly that way; press the other grip to return to a straight path.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Crash Avoidance

4. 4. If your front tire suddenly goes flat while riding, the steering will feel:

   Correct answer: heavy

   A front flat makes the steering feel heavy, so hold the grips firmly and keep a straight course.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

5. 5. When a tire goes flat while you are riding, you should:

   Correct answer: ease off the throttle and keep a straight course

   Hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, and keep a straight course; brake gently on the good tire only if needed.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

6. 6. If your motorcycle begins to wobble, you should:

   Correct answer: grip the bars firmly and gradually close the throttle

   Do not brake or accelerate; grip the bars firmly, close the throttle gradually, and move your weight forward and down.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

7. 7. If you cannot avoid an animal while riding in traffic, the manual advises you to:

   Correct answer: stay in your lane, since hitting something small beats hitting a car

   Remain in your lane; hitting something small is less dangerous than swerving into a car.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Animals

8. 8. If a dog begins chasing your motorcycle, you should:

   Correct answer: downshift, approach slowly, then accelerate away as you reach it

   Downshift and approach slowly, then accelerate away as you reach the dog while keeping control and looking ahead.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Animals

9. 9. If the throttle sticks open and twisting it back and forth does not free it, you should:

   Correct answer: use the engine cut-off switch and squeeze the clutch

   Operating the engine cut-off switch while squeezing the clutch removes power from the rear wheel.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Mechanical Problems

10. 10. To ride over an unavoidable obstacle, you should approach it:

    Correct answer: as close to a 90-degree angle as possible and rise slightly off the seat

    Hit obstacles as squarely as possible, slow first, and rise slightly off the seat with weight on the footrests.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces

11. 11. The safest way to cross railroad or trolley tracks is usually to:

    Correct answer: ride straight within your lane across them

    Crossing straight within your lane is generally safer than angling toward the tracks and into another lane.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces

12. 12. If you cannot stop in time to avoid an obstacle, the alternative is to:

    Correct answer: swerve around it

    When there is not enough room to stop, a controlled swerve may be the only way to avoid a crash.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Crash Avoidance