MSF Emergency Maneuvers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When swerving to avoid an obstacle, when should you brake?
- During the swerve for maximum effect
- Before or after the swerve, not during (Correct answer)
- Simultaneously with the swerve for faster stops
- Only with the rear brake during the swerve
Correct answer: Before or after the swerve, not during
Braking during a swerve shifts weight in a way that can cause a loss of control; brake before or after the swerve when the bike is upright.
Question 2: Which body action initiates a quick swerve on a motorcycle?
- Shifting your body weight off the seat
- Pressing firmly on the handlebar in the direction of the swerve (Correct answer)
- Turning the front wheel sharply by hand
- Leaning your torso away from the obstacle
Correct answer: Pressing firmly on the handlebar in the direction of the swerve
Counter-steering — pressing the handlebar on the side of the desired turn — initiates a rapid lean and swerve at speeds above 12 mph.
Question 3: An animal darts into your path. You cannot stop in time. What is the MSF-recommended approach?
- Accelerate to jump over the animal
- Brake hard and swerve simultaneously
- Brake firmly to reduce speed as much as possible before impact (Correct answer)
- Lay the bike down intentionally
Correct answer: Brake firmly to reduce speed as much as possible before impact
Reducing speed as much as possible before contact lessens the severity of the impact when a collision cannot be fully avoided.
Question 4: What does MSF mean by a 'two-second swerve'?
- A swerve that should be completed in under two seconds (Correct answer)
- Leaving a two-second gap before swerving around a car
- Checking mirrors for two seconds before changing lanes
- Delaying the swerve two seconds for maximum effect
Correct answer: A swerve that should be completed in under two seconds
The MSF teaches that an effective emergency swerve should be executed quickly — typically within about two seconds — to clear a hazard.
Question 5: After successfully swerving around a hazard, what is the next critical action?
- Immediately accelerate back to original speed
- Look for and steer toward a safe path while smoothly straightening the bike (Correct answer)
- Look back to assess the hazard you avoided
- Apply both brakes to regain full control
Correct answer: Look for and steer toward a safe path while smoothly straightening the bike
After the swerve, you must look ahead toward a safe path and smoothly return the bike to an upright position without over-correcting.
Question 6: Which factor most affects how quickly you can perform an emergency swerve?
- Engine displacement
- Your ability to recognize the hazard early (Correct answer)
- Tire brand and tread pattern
- The bike's weight
Correct answer: Your ability to recognize the hazard early
Early hazard recognition gives you the maximum time to react and execute any emergency maneuver effectively.
Question 7: When riding over an unavoidable obstacle like a pothole, what is the best technique?
- Brake hard just before the obstacle
- Rise slightly off the seat and grip the tank with your knees to absorb the impact (Correct answer)
- Turn sharply to hit the obstacle at an angle
- Accelerate over the obstacle for momentum
Correct answer: Rise slightly off the seat and grip the tank with your knees to absorb the impact
Lifting slightly off the seat and gripping with the knees lets your legs absorb the shock and prevents the jolt from launching you off the seat.
MSF Emergency Maneuvers 3
When swerving to avoid an obstacle, when should you brake?