Sharing the Road — New Jersey
New Jersey motorcycle permit practice test: 566 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Sharing the Road: 12 questions.
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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 | Sharing the Road |
| License test | New Jersey Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 12 (2% of 566 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
Not yet verified
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Questions (12)
1. On which of the following surfaces does a motorcycle have the best traction?
- Dry pavement ✓
- Gravel
- Snow
- Leaves
Answer: A. Dry pavement
Dry pavement gives you the best traction of the choices listed. The manual explains that a motorcycle handles better on surfaces that allow good traction, and it lists the surfaces that give poor traction. Wet pavement, gravel roads, and places where sand and gravel collect are named as poor-traction surfaces. Gravel is called out directly as a surface with bad grip, and dry pavement is the opposite of the wet pavement the manual warns about. So of the four choices, dry pavement is the one that lets the tires grip best.
2. As you slow or stop, you should:
- Shift up through the gears.
- Shift down through the gears. ✓
- Take the bike out of gear.
- Stay in the same gear.
Answer: B. Shift down through the gears.
Shift down through the gears as you slow or stop. The manual says to shift down through the gears with the clutch as you slow or stop. Downshifting one gear at a time and easing out the clutch through the friction zone lets engine braking help slow the motorcycle. When you come to a stop, stay in first gear so you can move out quickly if needed.
3. When carrying a passenger, a motorcyclist should tell the passenger to:
- Sit as far back as possible.
- Hold onto the seat.
- Put their feet on the muffler.
- Mount the motorcycle after the motorcycle has been started. ✓
Answer: D. Mount the motorcycle after the motorcycle has been started.
Tell your passenger to get on the motorcycle only after you have started the engine with the transmission in neutral. The manual says to brief your passenger on the basics before you start the trip, even if that person already rides. One of those instructions is that the passenger mounts only after you have started the engine and put the transmission in neutral, and while the passenger climbs on, you keep both feet on the ground and hold the front brake. That sequence lets you control the bike during the weight shift of someone getting on.
4. If you are riding in traffic when a small animal enters your lane, you should:
- Do whatever you can, including swerving into other lanes, to avoid hitting the animal.
- Switch lanes as quickly as possible.
- Stay in your lane. ✓
- Flash your lights to try to scare the animal.
Answer: C. Stay in your lane.
5. When carrying a passenger on a motorcycle, you must:
- Have a seat that is large enough for two riders. ✓
- Only have one set of footrests.
- Not encourage the passenger to wear protective clothing.
- Put a sticker on the brake light to warn other motorists that a passenger is on the motorcycle.
Answer: A. Have a seat that is large enough for two riders.
You must have a seat on the motorcycle that is large enough to hold both you and your passenger without crowding. The manual's passenger section lists what the bike needs before you ride two-up. It says the motorcycle should have a proper seat, one big enough for you and your passenger without crowding, and it adds that you should not sit more forward than you normally do. The same passage also calls for passenger footrests and a strap or solid handholds. The seat size matters because the passenger needs room to sit properly behind you rather than squeezed against you.
6. A passenger on a motorcycle should:
- Mount the motorcycle before the engine starts.
- Mount the motorcycle after the engine starts. ✓
- Sit as close to the rear of the motorcycle as possible.
- Hold onto the seat.
Answer: B. Mount the motorcycle after the engine starts.
The passenger should mount the motorcycle after the engine starts, with the transmission in neutral. The manual tells the rider to have the passenger get on only after the engine is running and the transmission is in neutral. It also says the rider should keep both feet on the ground and hold the front brake while the passenger mounts. That procedure gives the passenger a stable motorcycle to climb onto and keeps the rider ready to control it during mounting.
7. If you are using an unfamiliar motorcycle, what should you do before riding?
- Ride like you would on your bike, since all bikes are about the same.
- Check the controls and shift pattern. ✓
- Take the owner’s word that everything is in working order.
- Assume you know where all the controls are located.
Answer: B. Check the controls and shift pattern.
Before riding an unfamiliar motorcycle, check the controls and the shift pattern. The manual tells you to operate all the controls before you start riding, and to know the gearshift pattern by working the throttle, clutch and brakes a few times. It explains that controls react differently on different motorcycles and their exact locations can vary slightly, so a borrowed bike needs the same checks you would give your own. You should also find the turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel valve and cut-off switch and operate them without hunting for them.
8. When crossing railroad tracks that are parallel to the road, you should:
- Cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle.
- Avoid crossing the tracks for any reason.
- Try to cross the tracks at a 45-degree angle. ✓
- Slowly inch across the tracks.
Answer: C. Try to cross the tracks at a 45-degree angle.
Cross railroad tracks that run parallel to your path by moving away from them and crossing at an angle of at least 45 degrees. The manual addresses tracks, ruts, and pavement seams that run parallel to your path directly: get far enough away from them to cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees, then make a deliberate turn so you are not thrown off balance. The same section notes that when you cross, you should hold a steady speed and go straight across. The manual also warns that swinging out to hit tracks at a full 90 degrees can be more dangerous because that direction may carry you into another lane of traffic.
9. When riding near stopped or slow-moving cars, a motorcyclist should:
- Pull over and wait until traffic begins to move.
- Ride on the shoulder to get through the area as quickly as possible.
- Weave between the cars to get through the area as quickly as possible.
- Not weave between the cars. ✓
Answer: D. Not weave between the cars.
Do not weave between the cars; stay in your lane rather than riding through the gaps between stopped or slow-moving vehicles. The manual warns that riding between two rows of cars that are stopped or creeping in one lane exposes you to surprises you cannot predict: a hand coming out of a window, a door opening, or a car turning suddenly. It says riders should discourage lane sharing rather than do it themselves. Because those dangers come from the cars around you, the handbook points to avoiding weaving between them near stopped or slow traffic. It does not recommend pulling over to wait, using the shoulder, or squeezing through.
10. The proper body position on a motorcycle:
- Allows you to sit far enough forward that your arms will be slightly bent when holding the handle grips. ✓
- Allows you to sit as far back as possible and have to stretch when trying to reach the handle grips.
- Makes you lean over the bike, requiring your arms to hold you up.
- Allows for your knees to be kept far from the gas tank.
Answer: A. Allows you to sit far enough forward that your arms will be slightly bent when holding the handle grips.
The proper body position lets you sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the handgrips. The manual says to sit far enough forward so your arms are slightly bent on the handgrips. Bent arms let you press on the handlebars without reaching too far, and a comfortable posture lets you work all the controls, steer well, and react quickly to hazards. Sitting too far back would force you to stretch for the grips, so the forward seat position with a slight bend in the arms is what the manual describes.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook