MSF Basic Riding Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When riding in a curve, where should you position your eyes?
- Directly at the road in front of your wheel
- Through the curve toward your exit point (Correct answer)
- At the center line of the road
- At the edge of the lane
Correct answer: Through the curve toward your exit point
Looking through the curve toward the exit point allows your body and bike to follow your vision naturally.
Question 2: What is the correct body position when making a slow-speed turn?
- Lean your body with the motorcycle
- Keep your body upright and let the motorcycle lean (Correct answer)
- Lean your body opposite to the motorcycle lean
- Crouch down low over the tank
Correct answer: Keep your body upright and let the motorcycle lean
At slow speeds, keeping your body upright while the motorcycle leans gives you better control and balance.
Question 3: What does 'covering the brake' mean?
- Applying light pressure to the brake lever at all times
- Resting your fingers on the brake lever without squeezing (Correct answer)
- Keeping your foot near the rear brake pedal
- Using your palm to cover the brake lever
Correct answer: Resting your fingers on the brake lever without squeezing
Covering the brake means resting fingers on the lever so you can apply it faster when needed without actually activating it.
Question 4: Which braking technique provides the shortest stopping distance on a motorcycle?
- Using only the front brake
- Using only the rear brake
- Using both brakes simultaneously with proper pressure (Correct answer)
- Pumping the brakes rapidly
Correct answer: Using both brakes simultaneously with proper pressure
Using both brakes simultaneously — with more pressure on the front — provides maximum stopping power and the shortest stop.
Question 5: When should you downshift gears on a motorcycle?
- Only when coming to a complete stop
- When your engine speed drops and you need more power (Correct answer)
- Only on downhill sections
- Before entering any curve
Correct answer: When your engine speed drops and you need more power
Downshift when engine RPM drops too low and you need more power to maintain or increase speed.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the friction zone on a motorcycle clutch?
- To fully disengage the engine from the transmission
- The range where the clutch partially engages for smooth starts and slow-speed control (Correct answer)
- To lock the rear wheel during braking
- To engage the engine at full power immediately
Correct answer: The range where the clutch partially engages for smooth starts and slow-speed control
The friction zone is where power begins transferring partially, allowing smooth takeoffs and precise slow-speed maneuvering.
Question 7: How should you approach a curve that is tighter than expected?
- Brake hard mid-curve to scrub speed
- Apply brakes before the curve and look through the turn (Correct answer)
- Lean further and accelerate through
- Move to the outside of the lane and straighten up
Correct answer: Apply brakes before the curve and look through the turn
Slow before the curve, then look through the turn; a motorcycle can handle more lean than most riders expect if speed is managed beforehand.
MSF Basic Riding Skills 2
When riding in a curve, where should you position your eyes?