Motorcycle Practice Test

Motorcycle Preparing to Ride Practice Questions

Preparing to Ride makes up 7 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Motorcycle practice test. Here are 10 of the 28 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Based on the MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual used by nearly every state. Check your state's handbook for local rules.

1. 1. What is the best type of helmet for a motorcycle rider to wear?

   • A.A decorative novelty helmet without DOT labeling
   • B.A DOT-compliant helmet
   • C.Any helmet sold at a sporting goods store
   • D.A bicycle helmet with a chin strap

   Answer: B. Choose a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. Novelty and bicycle helmets are not built to absorb motorcycle crash forces.

2. 2. Which type of helmet gives a rider the most protection in a crash?

   • A.Half helmet
   • B.Shorty helmet with a visor
   • C.Three-quarter open face
   • D.Full-face

   Answer: D. A full-face helmet covers the head, face and chin, giving the most protection. Three-quarter and half helmets leave the face and jaw exposed.

3. 3. A new rider says a helmet is only needed for long highway trips. According to crash research, when do most motorcycle crashes happen?

   • A.On short trips, minutes after starting out
   • B.On long trips after several hours of riding
   • C.Mostly on interstate highways at high speed
   • D.Only during bad weather at night

   Answer: A. Most crashes happen on short trips of less than five miles, just a few minutes after starting out, so a helmet is needed on every ride.

4. 4. Most riders are traveling below what speed when a crash occurs?

   • A.55 mph
   • B.15 mph
   • C.30 mph
   • D.45 mph

   Answer: C. Most riders are riding slower than 30 mph when a crash occurs. At these speeds helmets can cut the number and severity of head injuries by half.

5. 5. Compared with a helmeted rider, how much more likely is a rider without a helmet to die from a head injury?

   • A.About the same likelihood
   • B.Slightly less likely
   • C.About three times more likely
   • D.Only about ten percent more likely than a helmeted rider

   Answer: C. Riders without helmets are about three times more likely to die from head injuries than riders who wear helmets.

6. 6. You are trying on a helmet in a store. How should a properly fitting helmet feel on your head?

   • A.Snug all around, with no loose spots
   • B.Tight only at the forehead
   • C.Resting high on the head to allow airflow underneath
   • D.Loose enough to rotate easily

   Answer: A. A helmet should fit snugly all the way around and be securely fastened. A loose helmet can shift or come off in a crash.

7. 7. Your helmet fell off your motorcycle seat onto concrete and took a hard hit. What should you do with it?

   • A.Keep using it if the shell is not cracked
   • B.Tighten the chin strap and keep riding
   • C.Repaint the shell to cover any scuffs
   • D.Replace it, even if no damage is visible

   Answer: D. A helmet that has taken a hard impact may have a crushed inner liner you cannot see. Replace it rather than trusting it in a crash.

8. 8. A rider has a windshield on their motorcycle. Do they still need eye protection?

   • A.Only when riding on gravel roads
   • B.Yes, a windshield does not replace eye protection
   • C.No, the windshield protects the eyes
   • D.Only when riding above posted highway speed limits

   Answer: B. A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles. Wind, dust and debris can still reach your eyes over or around it.

9. 9. Which is a requirement of good eye or face protection for motorcycle riding?

   • A.Sealed so no air can pass through
   • B.Fastened securely so it does not blow off
   • C.Tinted dark for riding at night
   • D.Narrow enough to block your view to either side

   Answer: B. Eye protection must be free of scratches, resist penetration, give a clear view to both sides, fasten securely and let air pass to reduce fogging. Tinted protection should not be used at night.

10. 10. A rider plans to ride home after sunset wearing a dark tinted face shield. What is the problem with this plan?

    • A.Tinted shields fog only in daylight
    • B.Tinted shields are illegal to wear in every single state
    • C.There is no problem with this plan
    • D.Tinted eye protection reduces vision at night

    Answer: D. Tinted eye protection cuts the light reaching your eyes and makes it harder to see at night. Use a clear shield or goggles after dark.