Motorcycle Permit Practice Test

What should you do to maintain control while making a turn?

1. Accelerate hard through the turn

2. Lean into the turn as needed

3. Shift your weight to the right

4. Steer only with your hands

The correct answer is: Lean into the turn as needed

Maintaining control while making a turn on a motorcycle involves leaning into the turn as needed. This technique allows the motorcycle to balance properly against the forces acting on it, particularly centripetal force, which pulls the bike outward from the curve. When you lean into the turn, you align your center of gravity with the motorcycle, helping to keep it stable and allowing for smoother cornering. Leaning appropriately helps to counteract the natural tendency of the bike to want to stand upright due to its momentum. It also reduces the risk of losing grip on the tires, which is essential for maintaining traction. By adjusting your lean angle according to the sharpness of the turn, you can better control your speed and trajectory. Other actions, like accelerating hard through the turn, can lead to a loss of traction, while steering solely with your hands does not allow for proper weight distribution and lean control. Shifting weight is also important, but it must be done in conjunction with leaning. Therefore, leaning into the turn is the fundamental technique to ensure proper control during a motorcycle turn.