Alabama Braking, Control, and Curves Practice Questions

Braking, Control, and Curves questions

1. 1. How should a motorcycle be stopped in the shortest distance?

   1. A. Both brakes together, firmly
   2. B. Use the rear brake alone
   3. C. Use the front brake alone

   Answer: A — Both brakes together, firmly

   Both brakes used together provide maximum stopping power; the front supplies most of it.

2. 2. Which brake provides most of a motorcycle's stopping power?

   1. A. The rear brake
   2. B. Engine braking
   3. C. The front brake

   Answer: C — The front brake

   Weight transfers forward under braking, loading the front tyre and giving it most of the available grip.

3. 3. What happens if you lock the rear wheel during a stop?

   1. A. The front brake becomes more effective
   2. B. The rear can slide out from behind you
   3. C. Steering becomes more precise

   Answer: B — The rear can slide out from behind you

   Releasing a locked rear wheel while the bike is out of line can cause a high-side; the standard advice is to keep it locked until stopped.

4. 4. How should a rider brake in a curve if it becomes necessary?

   1. A. Straighten the bike first, then brake
   2. B. Apply the front brake hard while leaned over
   3. C. Use only the rear brake at full lean

   Answer: A — Straighten the bike first, then brake

   Braking demands grip that a leaned-over tyre is already using for cornering.

5. 5. What is the safest way to brake on a slippery surface?

   1. A. Use the front brake alone, applied hard
   2. B. Use the rear brake alone and lock it
   3. C. Use both brakes gently and avoid abrupt inputs

   Answer: C — Use both brakes gently and avoid abrupt inputs

   Gentle, progressive braking keeps the demand within the limited grip a slippery surface offers.

6. 6. What is the correct sequence for riding a curve?

   1. A. Brake throughout the entire curve
   2. B. Slow, look, press, then roll on
   3. C. Accelerate in, brake mid-corner, coast out

   Answer: B — Slow, look, press, then roll on

   Slow-look-press-roll is the standard cornering sequence taught in rider training.

7. 7. Where should a rider look while going through a curve?

   1. A. Through the curve toward where they want to go
   2. B. Directly at the road just ahead of the wheel
   3. C. At the vehicle ahead throughout the turn

   Answer: A — Through the curve toward where they want to go

   A rider goes where they look, so the eyes should lead the bike through the turn.

8. 8. What is countersteering?

   1. A. Turning the bars away from the turn to slow down
   2. B. Steering with body weight only
   3. C. Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to lean toward

   Answer: C — Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to lean toward

   Above walking pace a motorcycle is steered by pressing the grip on the side you wish to lean toward.

9. 9. You enter a curve too fast. What is the best response?

   1. A. Straighten up and run wide
   2. B. Look through the turn and lean more
   3. C. Brake hard immediately

   Answer: B — Look through the turn and lean more

   Most bikes can lean farther than the rider expects; hard braking mid-corner is what causes the crash.

10. 10. How should a rider handle a decreasing-radius curve?

    1. A. Enter slower than it appears to require
    2. B. Accelerate on entry to settle the suspension
    3. C. Take the widest possible line throughout

    Answer: A — Enter slower than it appears to require

    A curve that tightens punishes an optimistic entry speed, so ride to what you can see.

11. 11. What is the correct throttle input through a curve after the entry?

    1. A. Sharp acceleration at the apex
    2. B. Closing the throttle completely
    3. C. A smooth, gradual roll-on

    Answer: C — A smooth, gradual roll-on

    Steady or slightly increasing throttle keeps the suspension settled through the turn.

12. 12. How should a rider use the clutch and throttle when starting from a stop on a hill?

    1. A. Use the rear brake only and slip the clutch fully out
    2. B. Find the friction point as the throttle comes on
    3. C. Release the clutch fully and add throttle after

    Answer: B — Find the friction point as the throttle comes on

    Coordinating the friction point with throttle prevents rolling back or stalling.

13. 13. What is the correct riding posture?

    1. A. Back straight, arms relaxed, knees in
    2. B. Arms locked straight for stability
    3. C. Leaning far forward with elbows out

    Answer: A — Back straight, arms relaxed, knees in

    Relaxed, bent arms allow the steering to work; locked arms fight the motorcycle's natural stability.

14. 14. When should a rider downshift?

    1. A. Only after the corner has been completed
    2. B. Only when the engine begins to labour
    3. C. Before a corner or before needing acceleration

    Answer: C — Before a corner or before needing acceleration

    Downshifting mid-corner can upset the rear tyre; shift before the lean begins.

15. 15. What is the correct way to swerve around an obstacle?

    1. A. Lean the body without touching the bars
    2. B. Press the handgrip on the side you want to go
    3. C. Pull the handgrip on the side you want

    Answer: B — Press the handgrip on the side you want to go

    A swerve is two quick countersteering presses; combining it with braking exceeds available traction.

16. 16. If you must both brake and swerve, what is the correct order?

    1. A. One then the other, but never both at once
    2. B. Do both simultaneously for maximum effect
    3. C. Brake only, since swerving is never safe

    Answer: A — One then the other, but never both at once

    Tyre grip must be spent on one task at a time; separating the actions keeps each within the limit.

17. 17. How does braking distance change when carrying a passenger?

    1. A. It decreases because of extra weight on the tyres
    2. B. It is unchanged
    3. C. It increases because of the extra weight

    Answer: C — It increases because of the extra weight

    More mass means more energy for the brakes to dissipate over a longer distance.

18. 18. What is the correct way to apply the front brake?

    1. A. Apply it only after the rear brake
    2. B. Squeeze it progressively, not abruptly
    3. C. Grab it hard for the shortest stop

    Answer: B — Squeeze it progressively, not abruptly

    Progressive squeeze loads the front tyre before the peak braking force arrives, preventing a lock-up.

19. 19. What should a rider do if the front wheel locks during braking?

    1. A. Release it and reapply more gently
    2. B. Hold the brake and steer
    3. C. Apply the rear brake harder

    Answer: A — Release it and reapply more gently

    A locked front wheel gives no steering and the bike falls almost immediately, so release is instant.

20. 20. How does a wet road change braking technique?

    1. A. Only the rear brake should be used
    2. B. Braking distance is unchanged
    3. C. Both brakes, gently and earlier

    Answer: C — Both brakes, gently and earlier

    Less available grip means the same braking force must be spread over more distance.

21. 21. What is the benefit of anti-lock brakes on a motorcycle?

    1. A. They remove the need for the rear brake
    2. B. They help prevent a lock-up when braking
    3. C. They shorten every stop

    Answer: B — They help prevent a lock-up when braking

    ABS is about maintaining control, particularly on surfaces where a rider might otherwise lock a wheel.

22. 22. Where should a rider do most of their braking when approaching a stop?

    1. A. While upright and travelling straight
    2. B. In the last few feet
    3. C. While turning into the space

    Answer: A — While upright and travelling straight

    An upright, straight bike has full grip available for braking.

23. 23. What is the correct entry line for a right-hand curve?

    1. A. Start on the right edge
    2. B. Start in the centre and stay there
    3. C. Toward the left of the lane

    Answer: C — Toward the left of the lane

    An outside entry opens the sight line into the curve and straightens the effective radius.

24. 24. What should a rider do if gravel appears mid-corner?

    1. A. Lean further to maintain the line
    2. B. Reduce lean gently and avoid braking hard
    3. C. Brake hard immediately

    Answer: B — Reduce lean gently and avoid braking hard

    Straightening the bike restores grip; hard braking at lean is what causes the fall.

25. 25. Why should a rider avoid crossing the centre line in a left-hand curve?

    1. A. Oncoming traffic may be closer
    2. B. It wears the tyres unevenly
    3. C. It is permitted only above 40 mph

    Answer: A — Oncoming traffic may be closer

    A blind left-hand curve can put an oncoming vehicle right where the rider's line takes them.

26. 26. How does a rider judge safe entry speed for an unfamiliar curve?

    1. A. By the posted speed limit for the road
    2. B. By the speed of the vehicle ahead
    3. C. By what can actually be seen ahead

    Answer: C — By what can actually be seen ahead

    Riding to the sight distance is the only reliable rule where the exit is not visible.

27. 27. What should a rider do before changing lanes?

    1. A. Move first, then signal the change
    2. B. Check mirrors, signal, then head check
    3. C. Signal and move at the same time

    Answer: B — Check mirrors, signal, then head check

    A head check is essential on a motorcycle because the mirrors cover even less than a car's.

28. 28. How should a rider cross a slippery painted crosswalk while turning?

    1. A. Straighten the bike before crossing
    2. B. Lean harder to maintain the line
    3. C. Brake while crossing

    Answer: A — Straighten the bike before crossing

    Paint offers much less grip than pavement, particularly when wet.

29. 29. What is the risk of riding with the clutch pulled in through a corner?

    1. A. Fuel consumption rises
    2. B. The engine can stall
    3. C. The bike becomes less stable

    Answer: C — The bike becomes less stable

    A driven rear wheel settles the chassis; coasting through a corner makes it more easily upset.

30. 30. Why should a rider avoid resting a foot on the rear brake pedal?

    1. A. It improves brake response
    2. B. It can drag the brake unnoticed
    3. C. It is more comfortable that way

    Answer: B — It can drag the brake unnoticed

    A dragged rear brake heats the brake and lights the lamp with no actual slowing.