Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation — Alaska
Alaska motorcycle permit practice test: 339 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation: 129 questions.
Brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, seat belts, child seats and basic vehicle control.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation |
| License test | Alaska Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 129 (38% of 339 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
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Questions (129)
1. To help other drivers see you, you should wear:
- Darkly-colored clothes.
- Brightly-colored clothes. ✓
- Lights.
- A black jacket.
Answer: B. Brightly-colored clothes.
Wear brightly-colored clothes so other drivers can see you. The manual says most crashes happen in daylight, so the rider should wear bright-colored clothing to raise the odds of being seen. It points out that your body makes up half of what is visible of the rider and motorcycle together, which is why bright orange, red, yellow or green jackets and vests work best and any bright color beats drab or dark ones. Reflective, bright-colored gear on the helmet and jacket/vest is described as the best choice of all.
2. If using a sidecar to transport a load, you should:
- Allow the load to move freely.
- Secure the load so its weight does not shift. ✓
- Place the load unsecured in the seat.
- Secure the load near the front of the sidecar.
Answer: B. Secure the load so its weight does not shift.
Secure the load so its weight does not shift by fastening it firmly in place. The sidecar section of the manual says to secure a load firmly, because a load that shifts will affect how the motorcycle handles. The same section says sidecar loads should be placed toward the rear, which helps reduce the chance of the sidecar nose tipping in a sudden left turn. That guidance points to tying the load down so its weight stays put, rather than leaving it loose or unsecured.
3. If a tire goes flat while you are riding and you must stop, you should:
- Use both brakes and stop quickly.
- Shift your weight toward the good tire.
- Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road. ✓
- Relax on the handgrips.
Answer: C. Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road.
4. It is most important to flash your brake light when:
- Switching into a neutral gear.
- You will be slowing suddenly. ✓
- There is a stop sign ahead.
- Your signals are not working.
Answer: B. You will be slowing suddenly.
You should flash your brake light most when you are about to slow suddenly. The manual says a motorcycle brake light is often less noticeable than a car's, so flashing it before slowing helps people behind notice you. It especially recommends this before slowing more quickly than others expect or in places where they may not expect you to slow. Slowing suddenly fits that warning, because drivers behind may not realize you are about to reduce speed.
5. Which of the following is a poor reason to sound your horn?
- A driver in the lane next to you is too close to the vehicle ahead of them.
- A parked car has a person in the driver’s seat.
- You want people to look at your motorcycle. ✓
- You are passing someone who is in the street.
Answer: C. You want people to look at your motorcycle.
Wanting people to look at your motorcycle is a poor reason to sound the horn, because the horn is meant as a warning in a dangerous situation. The manual puts the horn in the emergency chapter: sound it loud and long when something is about to go wrong, and be ready to stop or swerve away from the danger. It also warns that a bike's horn is quieter than a car's, so you should use it but not count on it, and pair it with having room to maneuver. That makes the horn a warning tool for real hazards, not a way to get yourself noticed on the road.
6. A helmeted rider is _______ more likely to survive a crash than a rider not wearing a helmet.
- Two times
- Three times ✓
- Six times
- 20 times
Answer: B. Three times
A helmeted rider is three times more likely to survive head injuries in a crash than a rider who is not wearing a helmet. The manual's helmet section works through the crash numbers: head and neck injuries make up most of the serious and fatal injuries riders suffer, and a quality, properly fastened helmet reduces those injuries. At about 30 mph, helmets cut the number and severity of head and neck injuries by half, and at any speed a helmeted rider is three times more likely to survive head injuries. That is why the manual calls a securely fastened quality helmet the single most important thing you can do to improve your chances in a crash.
7. To accommodate a passenger, you may have to:
- Adjust the shocks. ✓
- Adjust the handlebars.
- Adjust the brakes.
- Adjust the throttle.
Answer: A. Adjust the shocks.
To carry a passenger, you may need to adjust the shocks so the suspension matches the extra weight. The manual ties suspension settings to the load on the bike: when you carry weight, the spring pre-load, air shocks and dampers should be set to what the manufacturer recommends for that weight. A passenger is added weight, so the rear shocks may need a different setting than when you ride alone. The manual also warns that improper loading can contribute to a wobble, which is another reason to get the suspension set up for the load before you ride.
8. A front tire blowout is especially dangerous because:
- It affects the steering. ✓
- The front part of the motorcycle will be lower than usual.
- The rear brake cannot be used.
- The front brake cannot be used.
Answer: A. It affects the steering.
A front tire blowout is especially dangerous because it affects the steering. The manual says a flat front tire makes the steering feel heavy, and it calls a front-wheel flat especially hazardous because it changes how you steer. Keeping your balance depends on being able to steer well, so a front flat threatens the control you need to stay upright. That is why the danger is tied to steering, not simply to the tire being flat.
9. Motorcycle riders should choose footwear with soles that:
- Are made of hard, durable, slip-resistant material. ✓
- Allow their feet to breathe.
- Have tall heels.
- Are made of soft, flimsy material.
Answer: A. Are made of hard, durable, slip-resistant material.
Choose footwear with soles made of hard, durable, slip-resistant material. The manual's clothing section describes what boots and shoes should do for you. It says they should be high and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles, and it spells out that the soles should be hard, durable and slip-resistant. It also tells you to keep heels short so they do not catch on rough surfaces, and to tuck in laces so they do not catch on the motorcycle. A hard, durable, slip-resistant sole fits the description the manual gives for riding footwear.
10. If your motorcycle begins to wobble, you should:
- Accelerate out of the wobble.
- Use the brakes gradually.
- Grip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually. ✓
- Downshift.
Answer: C. Grip the handlebars firmly and close the throttle gradually.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook