MSF Basic Rider Course
MSF Basic Rider Course Study Questions
with Correct Answers 2025
Name 2 primary differences between cars/trucks and motorcycles. -Correct Answer
✔Stability and visibility.
What are the problems that these differences cause? -Correct Answer ✔Motorcycles do
not have the stability of cars because they must be balanced, and motorcycles leave
you more vulnerable in a crash because there is less protection. Motorcycles are not as
readily seen as cars, trucks, or other motor vehicles because of their size.
Part of being responsible means to give a lot of thought to what? -Correct Answer ✔The
consequences of your riding behavior in traffic.
What is the primary cause of motorcycle crashes? -Correct Answer ✔There is rarely a
single cause; most crashes involve many variable factors.
How does the Handbook define a "good motorcyclist"? -Correct Answer ✔To have the
desire and motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding.
How does a rider reduce factors that lead to crashes? -Correct Answer ✔By applying a
strategy.
What does it mean to have a margin of safety? -Correct Answer ✔1) staying within
personal skill limits; 2) staying within your motorcycle's limits, especially its tire traction
limits; 3) staying within the available time and space to respond to traffic situations
before having to react to an emergency.
What is SEE, and what does each letter stand for? -Correct Answer ✔Search, Evaluate,
Execute is the strategy to help you understand what is going on in traffic and to be
constantly planning and implementing a course of action.
Name several purposes of protective riding gear. -Correct Answer ✔Providing comfort,
increasing visibility, and offering protection.
What's the difference between a full-face and three-quarter-coverage helmet? -Correct
Answer ✔The three-quarter helmet doesn't offer the face and chin protection of full-face
helmets.
Why aren't ordinary glasses or sunglasses sufficient eye protection? -Correct Answer
✔They may not seal out wind and dust that makes eyes water.
MSF Basic Rider Course
, MSF Basic Rider Course
What stickers are likely to indicate a well-made helmet? -Correct Answer ✔DOT and
Snell stickers.
What type of injury accounts for the majority of motorcycle deaths? -Correct Answer
✔Head injuries.
What is the value of appropriate footwear? -Correct Answer ✔Protection from road
hazards, burns from exhaust pipes, gripping pavement and footrests, and protection
from foot and ankle injuries.
What is the value of motorcycle specific clothing? -Correct Answer ✔Best combination
of fit and protection.
Define "hypothermia" and provide an example. -Correct Answer ✔A condition of
subnormal body temperature. Can cause loss of concentration, slowed reactions, and
lost of smooth, precise muscle movement.
What is the value of dressing in layers? -Correct Answer ✔Layers can be removed as
desired.
What is T-CLOCS and what does each letter stand for? -Correct Answer ✔A pre-ride
inspection checklist. T-CLOCS: Tires and Wheels; Controls; Lights and Electrics; Oil
and Other Fluids; Chassis; Stands.
What are the primary motorcycle controls? -Correct Answer ✔Handlebars, throttle,
clutch lever, gearshift lever, front brake lever, rear brake pedal.
What is the most common way to initiate and control motorcycle lean (for turns)? -
Correct Answer ✔The handlebars.
What is meant by "shift pattern"? -Correct Answer ✔The order of the gears (1-N-2-3-4-
5)
Where are the brake controls found? -Correct Answer ✔The right side of the motorcycle
(front brake lever and rear brake pedal)
What does the fuel valve do? -Correct Answer ✔Controls the flow of gasoline to the
engine.
What is the function of the tachometer? -Correct Answer ✔The tachometer indicates
engine speed.
What are some common indicator lights? -Correct Answer ✔Neutral, high beam, turn
signal indicators, oil pressure, side stand down, and possibly others.
MSF Basic Rider Course
MSF Basic Rider Course Study Questions
with Correct Answers 2025
Name 2 primary differences between cars/trucks and motorcycles. -Correct Answer
✔Stability and visibility.
What are the problems that these differences cause? -Correct Answer ✔Motorcycles do
not have the stability of cars because they must be balanced, and motorcycles leave
you more vulnerable in a crash because there is less protection. Motorcycles are not as
readily seen as cars, trucks, or other motor vehicles because of their size.
Part of being responsible means to give a lot of thought to what? -Correct Answer ✔The
consequences of your riding behavior in traffic.
What is the primary cause of motorcycle crashes? -Correct Answer ✔There is rarely a
single cause; most crashes involve many variable factors.
How does the Handbook define a "good motorcyclist"? -Correct Answer ✔To have the
desire and motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding.
How does a rider reduce factors that lead to crashes? -Correct Answer ✔By applying a
strategy.
What does it mean to have a margin of safety? -Correct Answer ✔1) staying within
personal skill limits; 2) staying within your motorcycle's limits, especially its tire traction
limits; 3) staying within the available time and space to respond to traffic situations
before having to react to an emergency.
What is SEE, and what does each letter stand for? -Correct Answer ✔Search, Evaluate,
Execute is the strategy to help you understand what is going on in traffic and to be
constantly planning and implementing a course of action.
Name several purposes of protective riding gear. -Correct Answer ✔Providing comfort,
increasing visibility, and offering protection.
What's the difference between a full-face and three-quarter-coverage helmet? -Correct
Answer ✔The three-quarter helmet doesn't offer the face and chin protection of full-face
helmets.
Why aren't ordinary glasses or sunglasses sufficient eye protection? -Correct Answer
✔They may not seal out wind and dust that makes eyes water.
MSF Basic Rider Course
, MSF Basic Rider Course
What stickers are likely to indicate a well-made helmet? -Correct Answer ✔DOT and
Snell stickers.
What type of injury accounts for the majority of motorcycle deaths? -Correct Answer
✔Head injuries.
What is the value of appropriate footwear? -Correct Answer ✔Protection from road
hazards, burns from exhaust pipes, gripping pavement and footrests, and protection
from foot and ankle injuries.
What is the value of motorcycle specific clothing? -Correct Answer ✔Best combination
of fit and protection.
Define "hypothermia" and provide an example. -Correct Answer ✔A condition of
subnormal body temperature. Can cause loss of concentration, slowed reactions, and
lost of smooth, precise muscle movement.
What is the value of dressing in layers? -Correct Answer ✔Layers can be removed as
desired.
What is T-CLOCS and what does each letter stand for? -Correct Answer ✔A pre-ride
inspection checklist. T-CLOCS: Tires and Wheels; Controls; Lights and Electrics; Oil
and Other Fluids; Chassis; Stands.
What are the primary motorcycle controls? -Correct Answer ✔Handlebars, throttle,
clutch lever, gearshift lever, front brake lever, rear brake pedal.
What is the most common way to initiate and control motorcycle lean (for turns)? -
Correct Answer ✔The handlebars.
What is meant by "shift pattern"? -Correct Answer ✔The order of the gears (1-N-2-3-4-
5)
Where are the brake controls found? -Correct Answer ✔The right side of the motorcycle
(front brake lever and rear brake pedal)
What does the fuel valve do? -Correct Answer ✔Controls the flow of gasoline to the
engine.
What is the function of the tachometer? -Correct Answer ✔The tachometer indicates
engine speed.
What are some common indicator lights? -Correct Answer ✔Neutral, high beam, turn
signal indicators, oil pressure, side stand down, and possibly others.
MSF Basic Rider Course
