Chapter 3: Knowing Your Motorcycle

The “Knowing Your Motorcycle” chapter in the Alberta motorcycle practice test is designed to familiarize riders with their bike’s mechanics and features.

Alberta Motorcycle Test - Chapter 3: Knowing Your Motorcycle

1 / 30

The engine cut-off switch must be checked to ensure it:

Locks the steering

Activates the horn

Changes the headlight beam

Stops the engine when used

2 / 30

The battery inspection should confirm that:

The terminals are covered in corrosion

The connections are hanging slightly free

The battery is loose so it can move freely

The battery is secure, terminals are clean, and connections are tight

3 / 30

A proper mirror inspection includes:

Aiming mirrors at the ground

Ensuring mirrors are clean, properly adjusted, and securely fastened

Ignoring mirror adjustment if you can turn your head

Folding mirrors in for better aerodynamics

4 / 30

Proper wheel condition includes:

Cracks in the rim to save weight

Loose bearings so the wheel turns more freely

Rusted bearings to hold grease better

No damaged or cracked wheels/rims and properly lubricated bearings

5 / 30

If you find nails, metal, or glass that have punctured a tire, you must:

Push it in deeper so it doesn’t fall out

Remove the object and repair the tire

Ignore it if the tire is still holding air

Only let out some air and continue riding

6 / 30

When inspecting lights and electrical components, you must ensure:

Only the tail light is working

Only the headlight is working

Only the signal lights are working

All lights and reflectors are clean, securely mounted, undamaged, and working

7 / 30

During a wheel and rim inspection, you should:

Check for loose, damaged, missing, or broken spokes

Add grease to the tire sidewalls

Only check the colour of the rim

Spin the wheel as fast as possible with the engine

8 / 30

The throttle should be checked to ensure that it:

Only works when the engine is off

Stays open when released

Moves freely and returns to the closed position easily without assistance

Feels sticky and hard to move

9 / 30

Before riding on the road, you should be familiar with:

Only the fuel valve and starter button

Only the horn and turn signals

Only the throttle and front brake

The location, operation, and function of all controls and gauges

10 / 30

Why is a pre-trip inspection important before every ride?

It is only necessary once a year

It is mainly to make the motorcycle look newer

Problems with tires, lights, or brakes can lead to collisions causing injury or death

It is required only to keep the motorcycle clean

11 / 30

For a liquid-cooled engine, you must:

Check coolant only in hot weather

Check coolant is at the recommended level and that hoses are not leaking or cracked

Overfill the coolant reservoir

Ignore small hose cracks

12 / 30

When checking the clutch lever and cable, you should confirm that:

The cable moves freely and feels tight, and hydraulic fluid (if equipped) is at the recommended level

The cable is rusted and stiff

The lever is very loose with no resistance

The hydraulic reservoir is empty

13 / 30

When checking fluids, engine oil should be:

At the recommended level, with colour yellow (good) rather than black or dark

Dark black to show it has been used

Never changed if the level is correct

Above the maximum mark for safety

14 / 30

When using a motorcycle you are not familiar with, you should first:

Read the owner’s manual and learn where all the controls and gauges are

Only check where the ignition key goes

Assume all motorcycles have identical controls

Ride at low speed in traffic until you figure out the controls

15 / 30

To become familiar with the brakes before riding, you should:

Use only the front brake at all times

Lock both wheels immediately to see how it feels

Use only the rear brake at all times

Move the motorcycle slightly and use front, then rear, then both brakes to stop

16 / 30

To coordinate throttle and clutch before riding, you should:

Fully open the throttle with the engine off

Practice only with the engine running at high speed

Only practice shifting into first gear

Go through the motions of rotating and releasing the throttle with the clutch and gear selector, without moving the throttle

17 / 30

For the drive system, depending on type, you should:

Over-tighten the belt so it cannot move

Check chain or belt for lubrication/wear and proper tension, and shaft for oil leaks

Never lubricate the chain

Ignore small oil leaks from the shaft

18 / 30

The exhaust system inspection should include:

Checking that the muffler is in good condition and securely attached

Making sure the exhaust is as loud as possible

Removing any muffler baffles to increase noise

Ignoring small holes in the muffler

19 / 30

The licence plate must be:

Securely attached, clearly visible at the rear, with its light working and clean (if equipped)

Mounted on the front wheel

Hidden under the seat

Removable while riding

20 / 30

When choosing a motorcycle, what is the most important overall consideration?

That it matches the colour of your riding gear

That it has the largest possible engine

That it is the newest model available

That you can handle it at your level of experience and skill

21 / 30

When inspecting tire tread, you should look for:

Tread that is completely smooth

Adequate tread depth and signs of uneven or worn tread

Only the brand name on the sidewall

Only the colour of the rubber

22 / 30

When storing your motorcycle for winter, you should:

Store it with a full tank and battery connected, with no other steps

Only wash it and then ignore it until spring

Leave it outside without any preparation

Protect the tires, handle remaining fuel, remove the battery, protect from weather, and address storage concerns

23 / 30

Before starting the engine, you should practice gear changes by:

Using only the rear brake and ignoring the clutch

Squeezing and releasing the clutch lever while operating the gear selector

Pushing the bike in neutral only

Revving the engine and shifting without the clutch

24 / 30

When checking the general condition of the tires, you should look for:

The brightest shine after cleaning

Cuts, bulges, cracks, and sidewall damage

Only small stones on the surface

Only the age printed on the tire

25 / 30

Tire pressure should be checked to ensure:

It is lower than recommended for comfort

It is as high as the tire will allow

It is whatever was in the tire last ride

It matches the pressure recommended in the owner’s manual

26 / 30

Your posture on the motorcycle should allow you to:

Keep your arms fully locked straight at all times

Lean far forward to reach the controls

Stretch to reach the hand grips

Reach and operate all controls without straining or stretching

27 / 30

Objects stuck in the tire tread, such as rocks, should be:

Removed during the inspection

Left in place to improve traction

Painted so they are more visible

Ignored unless the tire goes flat

28 / 30

The brake light must:

Work only with the foot brake

Be checked only at night

Be activated easily by both the foot and hand brake controls

Work only with the hand brake

29 / 30

To test the brakes during inspection, you should:

Test the brakes only while riding at high speed

Test only the rear brake

Apply front and rear brakes separately to ensure each holds the motorcycle still when pushed

Test only the front brake

30 / 30

While sitting on the motorcycle, which of the following indicates a proper fit?

Only your toes can touch the ground on both sides

You should not be able to touch the ground at all

Both feet must be flat on the ground at all times

You can place one foot flat on the ground while the other is on the brake

Your score is

It underscores the importance of understanding the motorcycle’s controls, such as brakes, throttle, and clutch, ensuring smooth operation. This chapter teaches riders how to perform routine maintenance checks, including inspecting tires, brakes, and fluid levels. It also highlights the significance of adjusting mirrors and seat positions for optimal comfort and visibility. By mastering these aspects, riders can enhance their safety, efficiency, and confidence on the road, laying a strong foundation for responsible motorcycle operation.