MSF BASIC RIDER COURSE EXAMPREP
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the choke control used for?
Answer: It provides an enriched fuel mixture to help start a cold
engine. It also raises the idle to permit the engine to warm quickly.
(pg. 5)
◉ Why does the motorcycle engine cutoff switch?
Answer: Allows the engine to be shut off without removing your
hand from the handgrip. (pg. 5)
◉ What are some common indicators that display information?
Answer: Speedometer, Odometer, Tachometer, indicator lights (pg. 5)
◉ What is important to know about a convex mirror?
Answer: They provide a wider view but make objects look farther
away. (pg. 5)
◉ What is the difference between a side stand and center stand?
Answer: Both wheels touch the ground with the side stand. The
center stand raises the rear wheel off the ground, as well as holds
the bike upright and more stable. (pg. 6)
,◉ Complete the controls quiz on page 7 and check your answers.
Answer:
◉ List the 5 steps of the engine pre-start routine.
Answer: FINE-C: Fuel, Ignition, Neutral, Engine Cut-off Switch,
Choke/Clutch. (pg. 8)
◉ What are the 3 steps to follow when shutting off the engine?
Answer: "Thumb, key, valve." Engine cutoff switch to off, turn the
ignition to "off", turn the fuel valve to "off". (pg. 8)
◉ What is the friction zone?
Answer: A small area in the travel of the clutch lever that controls
the connection between the engine and the rear wheel
(8)
◉ What does squeezing the clutch lever do?
Answer: Fully squeezing in the clutch lever removes power from the
rear wheel (pg. 8)
◉ What must you do if you start to lose control of the motorcycle in
this course?
,Answer: Squeeze the clutch lever fully and use the brakes as needed.
(pg. 8)
◉ What is the position of the right wrist for good riding posture?
Answer: Wrist should be flat to avoid making quick rotations of the
throttle. (pg. 8)
◉ What are the other elements of proper riding posture
Answer: Back straight and head and eyes up. Both feet on the
footrests and near controls. Arms relaxed and bent. (pg. 8)
◉ How do you initiate motorcycle lean at speeds higher than
walking speed?
Answer: Pressing (forward or down) the handgrip on the same side
of the intended turn to initiate countersteer. (pg. 9)
◉ What are the four action steps for making a basic turn?
Answer: Slow, look, press, roll. Consider 1. Speed-slow down 2.
where to scan-gauge the turn 3. handlebar movement-turn the bars
4. throttle use-keep speed consistent for handling (pg. 9)
◉ What is the three-step strategy for curves and what does each
step mean?
, Answer: Search-Setup-Smooth. Scan the curve on approach, adjust
speed and lane position, operate the controls so there are no jerky
movements. (pg. 9)
◉ In what type of turn does counterweighting help?
Answer: Slow, tight turns like a U-turn in a parking lot (pg. 9)
◉ What gear should you be in when coming to a stop and why?
Answer: First gear. Allows you to go immediately if you need to get
out of the way in an emergency. (pg. 10)
◉ What is the benefit of squaring the handlebars when coming to a
stop?
Answer: Makes the bike easier to hold up (pg. 10)
◉ Why does the front brake have more stopping power than the rear
brake?
Answer: Weight shifts towards the front tire while slowing, giving it
more grip. (pg. 10)
◉ How does the motorcycle's weight shift during braking?
Answer: It shifts mostly to the front and significantly lightens the
rear. (pg. 10)
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What is the choke control used for?
Answer: It provides an enriched fuel mixture to help start a cold
engine. It also raises the idle to permit the engine to warm quickly.
(pg. 5)
◉ Why does the motorcycle engine cutoff switch?
Answer: Allows the engine to be shut off without removing your
hand from the handgrip. (pg. 5)
◉ What are some common indicators that display information?
Answer: Speedometer, Odometer, Tachometer, indicator lights (pg. 5)
◉ What is important to know about a convex mirror?
Answer: They provide a wider view but make objects look farther
away. (pg. 5)
◉ What is the difference between a side stand and center stand?
Answer: Both wheels touch the ground with the side stand. The
center stand raises the rear wheel off the ground, as well as holds
the bike upright and more stable. (pg. 6)
,◉ Complete the controls quiz on page 7 and check your answers.
Answer:
◉ List the 5 steps of the engine pre-start routine.
Answer: FINE-C: Fuel, Ignition, Neutral, Engine Cut-off Switch,
Choke/Clutch. (pg. 8)
◉ What are the 3 steps to follow when shutting off the engine?
Answer: "Thumb, key, valve." Engine cutoff switch to off, turn the
ignition to "off", turn the fuel valve to "off". (pg. 8)
◉ What is the friction zone?
Answer: A small area in the travel of the clutch lever that controls
the connection between the engine and the rear wheel
(8)
◉ What does squeezing the clutch lever do?
Answer: Fully squeezing in the clutch lever removes power from the
rear wheel (pg. 8)
◉ What must you do if you start to lose control of the motorcycle in
this course?
,Answer: Squeeze the clutch lever fully and use the brakes as needed.
(pg. 8)
◉ What is the position of the right wrist for good riding posture?
Answer: Wrist should be flat to avoid making quick rotations of the
throttle. (pg. 8)
◉ What are the other elements of proper riding posture
Answer: Back straight and head and eyes up. Both feet on the
footrests and near controls. Arms relaxed and bent. (pg. 8)
◉ How do you initiate motorcycle lean at speeds higher than
walking speed?
Answer: Pressing (forward or down) the handgrip on the same side
of the intended turn to initiate countersteer. (pg. 9)
◉ What are the four action steps for making a basic turn?
Answer: Slow, look, press, roll. Consider 1. Speed-slow down 2.
where to scan-gauge the turn 3. handlebar movement-turn the bars
4. throttle use-keep speed consistent for handling (pg. 9)
◉ What is the three-step strategy for curves and what does each
step mean?
, Answer: Search-Setup-Smooth. Scan the curve on approach, adjust
speed and lane position, operate the controls so there are no jerky
movements. (pg. 9)
◉ In what type of turn does counterweighting help?
Answer: Slow, tight turns like a U-turn in a parking lot (pg. 9)
◉ What gear should you be in when coming to a stop and why?
Answer: First gear. Allows you to go immediately if you need to get
out of the way in an emergency. (pg. 10)
◉ What is the benefit of squaring the handlebars when coming to a
stop?
Answer: Makes the bike easier to hold up (pg. 10)
◉ Why does the front brake have more stopping power than the rear
brake?
Answer: Weight shifts towards the front tire while slowing, giving it
more grip. (pg. 10)
◉ How does the motorcycle's weight shift during braking?
Answer: It shifts mostly to the front and significantly lightens the
rear. (pg. 10)
