MSF BASIC RIDERS CORE EXAM MANUAL UPDATED
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔What are some common indicator lights? - ✔✔Neutral, high beam, turn signal
indicators, oil pressure, side stand down, and possibly others.
✔✔What are the steps in starting the engine? - ✔✔FINE-C: Fuel supply valve; Ignition;
Neutral; Engine cut-off: on; Choke/clutch.
✔✔What is the friction zone? - ✔✔The area in the travel of the clutch lever that begins
where the clutch starts to transmit power to the rear wheel and ends just before the
clutch becomes fully engaged.
✔✔Describe good riding posture. - ✔✔Keep your back straight, and head and eyes up.
Keep both fee on the footrests near the controls. Keep the knees and elbows
comfortably in. Arms should be relaxed and bent. The wrist should be positioned flat on
the throttle.
✔✔List the 4 steps in turning. - ✔✔Slow, look, press, roll.
✔✔When is the counterweight technique used? - ✔✔Slow, tight turns.
✔✔Why do you change gears? - ✔✔To match the engine speed with road speed.
✔✔What is the 3-part shift process? - ✔✔1) roll off the throttle as the clutch is
squeezed; 2) lift (shifting up) or press (shifting down) the shift lever firmly as far as it will
go; 3) smoothly ease out the clutch and adjust the throttle.
✔✔What is engine braking? - ✔✔Shifting to a lower gear.
✔✔How much of a motorcycle's stopping power is available from the front brake? -
✔✔70% or more.
✔✔Why should both brakes be used simultaneously? - ✔✔To develop the habit of using
both brakes so your reflexes will be ready to respond quickly and properly when an
emergency situation occurs.
✔✔What's the purpose of the range safety rules? - ✔✔To provide a low risk and
positive learning environment.
✔✔How will the RiderCoaches communicate with you on the range? - ✔✔Hand signals.
✔✔What does it mean to have a space cushion? - ✔✔Putting space between yourself
and the traffic around you.
, ✔✔How does a motorcyclist utilize lane positions? - ✔✔Choose a positions that allows
you to see problems ahead and allows other drivers to see you.
✔✔Name some ways to be more visible to others in traffic. - ✔✔Clothing, headlight,
signals, brake light, horn.
✔✔What are the 3 "lead times" (RiderRadar)? - ✔✔2-second following distance, 4-
second immediate path, and 12- second anticipated path.
✔✔Why is the 2-second following distance considered minimum? - ✔✔It is considered
to be a minimum distance when conditions are ideal.
✔✔Name the 3 components of total stopping distance. - ✔✔Perception distance,
reaction distance, and braking distance.
✔✔What does it mean to Search? - ✔✔Scan aggressively for potential factors and
hazards.
✔✔What is the characteristic of a convex mirror? - ✔✔Allows the rider to see farther to
the sides, but also distort depth perception.
✔✔Where is the greatest potential for conflict? - ✔✔At intersections.
✔✔What 4 steps should you follow when around an intersection? - ✔✔Check for traffic
behind, check for oncoming traffic, check traffic to the left, check traffic to the right.
✔✔What are some hazards between intersections? - ✔✔Blind spots, vehicles pulling
away from parked positions, and pedestrians.
✔✔What is the No-Zone? - ✔✔Areas around a truck to avoid because the driver cannot
see you.
✔✔How should you respond to a tailgating driver? - ✔✔Flash your brake light; gradually
reduce speed to create more space in front; maintain a lane positions that discourages
sharing the lane; turn at the next opportunity to allow the tailgater to pass.
✔✔What are some factors to search for when approaching a curve? - ✔✔What is its
radius and slope? What is the surface composition and condition? What other traffic is
involved? Is the entire curve visible? What happens beyond the curve?
✔✔How can an outside-inside-outside path of travel help you in curves? -
✔✔Decreases turning radius.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔What are some common indicator lights? - ✔✔Neutral, high beam, turn signal
indicators, oil pressure, side stand down, and possibly others.
✔✔What are the steps in starting the engine? - ✔✔FINE-C: Fuel supply valve; Ignition;
Neutral; Engine cut-off: on; Choke/clutch.
✔✔What is the friction zone? - ✔✔The area in the travel of the clutch lever that begins
where the clutch starts to transmit power to the rear wheel and ends just before the
clutch becomes fully engaged.
✔✔Describe good riding posture. - ✔✔Keep your back straight, and head and eyes up.
Keep both fee on the footrests near the controls. Keep the knees and elbows
comfortably in. Arms should be relaxed and bent. The wrist should be positioned flat on
the throttle.
✔✔List the 4 steps in turning. - ✔✔Slow, look, press, roll.
✔✔When is the counterweight technique used? - ✔✔Slow, tight turns.
✔✔Why do you change gears? - ✔✔To match the engine speed with road speed.
✔✔What is the 3-part shift process? - ✔✔1) roll off the throttle as the clutch is
squeezed; 2) lift (shifting up) or press (shifting down) the shift lever firmly as far as it will
go; 3) smoothly ease out the clutch and adjust the throttle.
✔✔What is engine braking? - ✔✔Shifting to a lower gear.
✔✔How much of a motorcycle's stopping power is available from the front brake? -
✔✔70% or more.
✔✔Why should both brakes be used simultaneously? - ✔✔To develop the habit of using
both brakes so your reflexes will be ready to respond quickly and properly when an
emergency situation occurs.
✔✔What's the purpose of the range safety rules? - ✔✔To provide a low risk and
positive learning environment.
✔✔How will the RiderCoaches communicate with you on the range? - ✔✔Hand signals.
✔✔What does it mean to have a space cushion? - ✔✔Putting space between yourself
and the traffic around you.
, ✔✔How does a motorcyclist utilize lane positions? - ✔✔Choose a positions that allows
you to see problems ahead and allows other drivers to see you.
✔✔Name some ways to be more visible to others in traffic. - ✔✔Clothing, headlight,
signals, brake light, horn.
✔✔What are the 3 "lead times" (RiderRadar)? - ✔✔2-second following distance, 4-
second immediate path, and 12- second anticipated path.
✔✔Why is the 2-second following distance considered minimum? - ✔✔It is considered
to be a minimum distance when conditions are ideal.
✔✔Name the 3 components of total stopping distance. - ✔✔Perception distance,
reaction distance, and braking distance.
✔✔What does it mean to Search? - ✔✔Scan aggressively for potential factors and
hazards.
✔✔What is the characteristic of a convex mirror? - ✔✔Allows the rider to see farther to
the sides, but also distort depth perception.
✔✔Where is the greatest potential for conflict? - ✔✔At intersections.
✔✔What 4 steps should you follow when around an intersection? - ✔✔Check for traffic
behind, check for oncoming traffic, check traffic to the left, check traffic to the right.
✔✔What are some hazards between intersections? - ✔✔Blind spots, vehicles pulling
away from parked positions, and pedestrians.
✔✔What is the No-Zone? - ✔✔Areas around a truck to avoid because the driver cannot
see you.
✔✔How should you respond to a tailgating driver? - ✔✔Flash your brake light; gradually
reduce speed to create more space in front; maintain a lane positions that discourages
sharing the lane; turn at the next opportunity to allow the tailgater to pass.
✔✔What are some factors to search for when approaching a curve? - ✔✔What is its
radius and slope? What is the surface composition and condition? What other traffic is
involved? Is the entire curve visible? What happens beyond the curve?
✔✔How can an outside-inside-outside path of travel help you in curves? -
✔✔Decreases turning radius.
