MSF BASIC RIDER COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS AND
QUESTIONS SET A+
Name 2 primary differences between cars/trucks and motorcycles. - ✔✔Stability and
visibility.
✔✔What are the problems that these differences cause? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔The
consequences of your riding behavior in traffic.
✔✔What is the primary cause of motorcycle crashes? - ✔✔There is rarely a single
cause; most crashes involve many variable factors.
✔✔How does the Handbook define a "good motorcyclist"? - ✔✔To have the desire and
motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding.
✔✔How does a rider reduce factors that lead to crashes? - ✔✔By applying a strategy.
✔✔What does it mean to have a margin of safety? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔Providing comfort, increasing
visibility, and offering protection.
, ✔✔What's the difference between a full-face and three-quarter-coverage helmet? -
✔✔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? - ✔✔They may
not seal out wind and dust that makes eyes water.
✔✔What stickers are likely to indicate a well-made helmet? - ✔✔DOT and Snell
stickers.
✔✔What type of injury accounts for the majority of motorcycle deaths? - ✔✔Head
injuries.
✔✔What is the value of appropriate footwear? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Best combination of fit and
protection.
✔✔Define "hypothermia" and provide an example. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Layers can be removed as desired.
✔✔What is T-CLOCS and what does each letter stand for? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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)? -
✔✔The handlebars.
✔✔What is meant by "shift pattern"? - ✔✔The order of the gears (1-N-2-3-4-5)
✔✔Where are the brake controls found? - ✔✔The right side of the motorcycle (front
brake lever and rear brake pedal)
✔✔What does the fuel valve do? - ✔✔Controls the flow of gasoline to the engine.
QUESTIONS SET A+
Name 2 primary differences between cars/trucks and motorcycles. - ✔✔Stability and
visibility.
✔✔What are the problems that these differences cause? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔The
consequences of your riding behavior in traffic.
✔✔What is the primary cause of motorcycle crashes? - ✔✔There is rarely a single
cause; most crashes involve many variable factors.
✔✔How does the Handbook define a "good motorcyclist"? - ✔✔To have the desire and
motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding.
✔✔How does a rider reduce factors that lead to crashes? - ✔✔By applying a strategy.
✔✔What does it mean to have a margin of safety? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔Providing comfort, increasing
visibility, and offering protection.
, ✔✔What's the difference between a full-face and three-quarter-coverage helmet? -
✔✔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? - ✔✔They may
not seal out wind and dust that makes eyes water.
✔✔What stickers are likely to indicate a well-made helmet? - ✔✔DOT and Snell
stickers.
✔✔What type of injury accounts for the majority of motorcycle deaths? - ✔✔Head
injuries.
✔✔What is the value of appropriate footwear? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Best combination of fit and
protection.
✔✔Define "hypothermia" and provide an example. - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Layers can be removed as desired.
✔✔What is T-CLOCS and what does each letter stand for? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔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)? -
✔✔The handlebars.
✔✔What is meant by "shift pattern"? - ✔✔The order of the gears (1-N-2-3-4-5)
✔✔Where are the brake controls found? - ✔✔The right side of the motorcycle (front
brake lever and rear brake pedal)
✔✔What does the fuel valve do? - ✔✔Controls the flow of gasoline to the engine.
