New Zealand Motorbike Driving Test New Zealand Motorbike Driving Basic Handling Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When riding over a pothole you cannot avoid, what is the best technique?
- Brake hard and stop before reaching it
- Rise slightly off the seat and grip the tank with your knees to absorb impact (Correct answer)
- Steer into the pothole at a sharp angle
- Accelerate sharply to skip over it
Correct answer: Rise slightly off the seat and grip the tank with your knees to absorb impact
Rising slightly off the seat lets your legs act as shock absorbers, reducing the impact transferred to the bike and rider.
Question 2: What effect does under-inflated rear tyre pressure have on motorcycle handling?
- Improves grip in wet conditions
- Makes the bike feel sluggish and increases the risk of tyre failure (Correct answer)
- Reduces braking distance
- Makes counter-steering more effective
Correct answer: Makes the bike feel sluggish and increases the risk of tyre failure
An under-inflated tyre flexes excessively, generates heat, and can lead to a blowout while also making the bike feel unstable.
Question 3: How should you adjust your riding technique when following a vehicle on a gravel road?
- Follow very closely to benefit from the vehicle's tracks
- Increase following distance to avoid stones and reduce dust obstruction (Correct answer)
- Move to the left edge of the road for better traction
- Use only the rear brake to avoid front-wheel washout
Correct answer: Increase following distance to avoid stones and reduce dust obstruction
A greater following distance on gravel protects you from flying stones and gives you more space to react on the lower-traction surface.
Question 4: What is the recommended approach when your throttle sticks open?
- Immediately apply maximum braking
- Pull the clutch in to disengage drive, then brake to a safe stop (Correct answer)
- Turn the ignition off while at speed
- Counter-steer aggressively to the side of the road
Correct answer: Pull the clutch in to disengage drive, then brake to a safe stop
Pulling the clutch in instantly removes drive power to the rear wheel, allowing you to brake and stop safely with the engine still running.
Question 5: When should you use engine braking as a primary speed-reduction tool?
- During emergency stops only
- On long downhill descents to manage speed and reduce brake heat (Correct answer)
- Only in first gear below 20 km/h
- Whenever you wish to stop quickly
Correct answer: On long downhill descents to manage speed and reduce brake heat
On long downhill sections, engine braking helps control speed while reducing reliance on the friction brakes, which can overheat with continuous use.
Question 6: What is 'low-side' vs 'high-side'? Which is generally more dangerous?
- Low-side is when the front washes out; high-side is the rear, and low-side is more dangerous
- High-side is when a sudden rear-tyre grip recovery flicks the rider off; high-side is generally more dangerous (Correct answer)
- Both are equally dangerous and occur only at high speed
- Low-side occurs uphill; high-side downhill, and high-side is less dangerous
Correct answer: High-side is when a sudden rear-tyre grip recovery flicks the rider off; high-side is generally more dangerous
A high-side crash occurs when the rear tyre suddenly regains grip after a slide, violently flipping the rider off the bike — typically more severe than a low-side.
Question 7: When riding in a group, what is the recommended lane formation?
- Single file with each rider directly behind the one ahead
- Staggered formation, with each rider offset in the lane (Correct answer)
- Side-by-side pairs throughout the lane
- Riders alternate between left and right lanes
Correct answer: Staggered formation, with each rider offset in the lane
A staggered formation gives each rider more space to react and brake, while still keeping the group close enough to stay together.
New Zealand Motorbike Driving Test New Zealand Motorbike Driving Basic Handling Skills 5
When riding over a pothole you cannot avoid, what is the best technique?