Massachusetts RMV Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2025

You cannot be certain that others will see you or yield the right-of-way. Adapt your riding so you won't crash as a result of someone else's negligence.

When you’re hydroplaning, you will often skid uncontrollably due to your tires ‘surfing’ on top of the water.

High speeds, low tread depth, and low air pressure increases the risk of hydroplaning.

Increase the following distance in bad conditions or whenever it’s hard to see the road ahead. In all conditions, you must maintain a sufficient following distance to the vehicle in front to avoid rear-end collisions.

The added weight of the passenger will mean it takes longer to accelerate, slow down, or stop. Because of this, you need to adapt your speed, following distance, space cushion, corner speed, etc.

Use your motorcycle's horn anytime you need to get the attention of someone else on the road. Don't be afraid to use it if you have to. In an emergency, press the horn long and loud.

When group riding, you should never ride directly alongside another rider as there will be no place to go if you spot a hazard on the road. You can either ride in a staggered formation (like a zig-zag line) or a single-file formation. These formations are good for different things, so you may have to shift formation frequently.

The most important thing to do after passing or being passed by a larger vehicle is to ensure you are able to see hazards and that others can see you. Create a space cushion around your motorcycle immediately after passing or being passed.

Anytime you see a hazard ahead, you need to know how traffic behind you is acting so you can determine a proper response to the hazard. For example; if traffic behind you is coming at full speed and driving close to you it may be safer to swerve around the hazard rather than to use your brakes to come to a full stop.

Enter only when there is a safe gap, and yield the right-of-way to all vehicles already in the roundabout.

Always make it as easy as possible for other drivers to merge. When approaching an acceleration lane, you should either change lanes or leave a large-enough gap in front of your vehicle for traffic to merge into.

You should increase the following distance at night - allow for a three or four-second following distance at a minimum. Distances will be much harder to judge when it is dark outside, and your eyes will have a harder time determining speed and distance.

A leak in the suspension forks will lead to an ineffective suspension. The oil can also find its way to the brakes or tires which can result in you losing control of your motorcycle.

You can mislead other road users if you don’t cancel your signals. If they are still activated, other drivers may drive directly across your path expecting you to turn again in the direction your signals are indicating. For example; if you are signaling left but riding straight ahead, another vehicle may turn in front of you.

The overall condition of your vehicle will affect the stopping distance. Fully functioning brakes and good tires are two factors that determine the stopping distance.

There is no best lane position that works for all situations. You have to position yourself in the lane position that works best for the conditions you are in and change your lane postion as traffic situations change. Try to maximize your space cusion while being visible to others. For example; the center portion of the lane is usually best to be seen in the rearview mirror of a passenger vehicle, but not when following a truck. A truck driver won't have a rearview mirror so you must place yourself where you can be seen.

A staggered formation is not suitable at all times. It should not, for example, be used when riding in curves or when entering or exiting a highway. In those situations, move into a single line instead.

Riding with the clutch pressed in is called coasting. When coasting, you'll have reduced control over your vehicle and won't be able to use engine braking to help control your speed.

The two major causes of rider crashes in turns/curves are caused by (1) taking the turn/curve too fast so the rider ends up crossing into another lane or going off the road, and (2) braking too hard causing a skid and loss of control. Slow down and downshift before the turn, not in the turn.

When you approach any intersection, you must make sure that you can see other vehicles and that they can see you. Try to maintain a space cushion around your motorcycle that permits you to take evasive action if needed.

If you need to leave the road to check the motorcycle, get as far off the road as you can. Motorcycles that are stopped by the side of the road can be very hard to see, so you want to give yourself as much space as you can to the road.