Alberta Class 6 Motorcycle Test cheat sheet

A Class 6 licence is required to ride a motorcycle on Alberta roads; a Class 5 learner may ride only under the supervision and conditions set by the Class 6 learner stage.

A motorcycle rider and passenger must each wear a helmet that meets the standards set out in Alberta's Vehicle Equipment Regulation; the helmet must be properly fastened.

Motorcycles must be insured under Alberta's compulsory auto insurance and carry valid registration and a licence plate displayed as required.

A motorcycle may carry one passenger only if the bike is designed for two riders and has a proper passenger seat and footrests; lane splitting and riding between lanes are not permitted.

Riders must obey the same speed limits, traffic signals, stop signs and right-of-way rules as other vehicles, and must not ride on sidewalks or pedestrian crosswalks.

Following too closely is a contravention; motorcycles need at least the same following distance as cars and more when the road is wet, gravel-covered or windy.

Alberta's impaired driving laws apply to motorcycle riders; a Graduated Driver Licensing rider has a zero-alcohol condition.

A rider must signal intention to turn or change lanes, and must cancel the signal after completing the manoeuvre; hand signals are used if turn signals are not working.

Motorcycles must be equipped with a working headlight, tail light, brake light, horn and at least one rear-view mirror as required by equipment rules.

Use the two-second following rule at minimum; double it to four seconds in rain, gravel, strong crosswinds or reduced visibility.

Ride in the left portion of your lane to be seen in mirrors and to keep an escape path, but avoid the centre line where oil drips accumulate at intersections.

Target fixation is a hazard: look where you want to go, not at the obstacle, because the motorcycle follows the rider's gaze.

Scan 12-20 seconds ahead for gravel, sand, painted lines, metal grates, railway tracks and potholes; cross tracks and grates at as close to 90 degrees as possible.

In a curve, slow before the entry, look through the turn to the exit, and apply smooth maintenance throttle; braking hard mid-corner reduces traction and stands the bike up.

Cold tires and cold pavement have reduced grip; the first minutes of a ride and the first rain after a dry spell are the slickest conditions.

A rider's visible profile is narrow; use lane position, bright or reflective clothing and a headlight to increase conspicuity, and never assume a driver has seen you.

Group riding uses a staggered formation on straight roads and single file in curves, with each rider keeping their own following distance.

Fatigue, cold and alcohol all degrade balance and reaction time; reaction distance grows with speed, so total stopping distance is perception plus reaction plus braking.

The right hand controls the front brake and throttle; the left hand controls the clutch and turn signals; the right foot is the rear brake and the left foot the shift lever.

The front brake provides most of the stopping power; apply it progressively and use both brakes together for maximum straight-line stopping.

Countersteering: to turn right at speed, push the right grip forward; the bike leans right and turns right.

The friction zone is the range of clutch lever travel where power begins to transfer; it is used for slow-speed control and starts on a hill.

At slow speed, use the rear brake and clutch friction zone together to stabilize the bike; at higher speed, lean angle and throttle control the turn.

Squeeze the fuel tank with the knees, keep arms relaxed and look up and ahead; a tight grip on the bars transmits rider input and unsettles the bike.

Before riding, check tires (pressure and tread), controls, lights, oil and fuel, and the chain or belt; the pre-ride check is a legal and safety habit.

Engine braking by rolling off the throttle slows the rear wheel; downshift one gear at a time and match engine speed to road speed to avoid rear-wheel lockup.

A skid on the front wheel usually results from over-braking or braking on a slippery surface; release the brake smoothly to let the wheel regain rolling grip.

A red octagon means stop completely; a red-and-white triangle (yield) means slow and give way to traffic that has the right of way.

Yellow diamond signs warn of hazards ahead; orange signs mark construction zones, and reduced speed limits in those zones are enforceable when posted.

A solid yellow centre line means no passing in either direction; a broken yellow line on your side permits passing when it is safe.

A solid white line at the edge of the lane marks the shoulder; a broken white line separates lanes travelling in the same direction.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow means proceed with caution and yield as required.

At an uncontrolled intersection, the first vehicle to arrive has the right of way; if two arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.

A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right; pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right of way.

A stop line or crosswalk line marks where to stop; if there is no line, stop before the crosswalk or the edge of the intersecting road.

Railway crossbucks and flashing lights require a stop when signals are active; never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing.

A Class 6 licence is required to ride a motorcycle on Alberta roads; a Class 5 learner may ride only under the supervision and conditions set by the Class 6 learner stage.

A motorcycle rider and passenger must each wear a helmet that meets the standards set out in Alberta's Vehicle Equipment Regulation; the helmet must be properly fastened.

Motorcycles must be insured under Alberta's compulsory auto insurance and carry valid registration and a licence plate displayed as required.

A motorcycle may carry one passenger only if the bike is designed for two riders and has a proper passenger seat and footrests; lane splitting and riding between lanes are not permitted.

Riders must obey the same speed limits, traffic signals, stop signs and right-of-way rules as other vehicles, and must not ride on sidewalks or pedestrian crosswalks.

Following too closely is a contravention; motorcycles need at least the same following distance as cars and more when the road is wet, gravel-covered or windy.

Alberta's impaired driving laws apply to motorcycle riders; a Graduated Driver Licensing rider has a zero-alcohol condition.

A rider must signal intention to turn or change lanes, and must cancel the signal after completing the manoeuvre; hand signals are used if turn signals are not working.

Motorcycles must be equipped with a working headlight, tail light, brake light, horn and at least one rear-view mirror as required by equipment rules.

Use the two-second following rule at minimum; double it to four seconds in rain, gravel, strong crosswinds or reduced visibility.

Ride in the left portion of your lane to be seen in mirrors and to keep an escape path, but avoid the centre line where oil drips accumulate at intersections.

Target fixation is a hazard: look where you want to go, not at the obstacle, because the motorcycle follows the rider's gaze.

Scan 12-20 seconds ahead for gravel, sand, painted lines, metal grates, railway tracks and potholes; cross tracks and grates at as close to 90 degrees as possible.

In a curve, slow before the entry, look through the turn to the exit, and apply smooth maintenance throttle; braking hard mid-corner reduces traction and stands the bike up.

Cold tires and cold pavement have reduced grip; the first minutes of a ride and the first rain after a dry spell are the slickest conditions.

A rider's visible profile is narrow; use lane position, bright or reflective clothing and a headlight to increase conspicuity, and never assume a driver has seen you.

Group riding uses a staggered formation on straight roads and single file in curves, with each rider keeping their own following distance.

Fatigue, cold and alcohol all degrade balance and reaction time; reaction distance grows with speed, so total stopping distance is perception plus reaction plus braking.

The right hand controls the front brake and throttle; the left hand controls the clutch and turn signals; the right foot is the rear brake and the left foot the shift lever.

The front brake provides most of the stopping power; apply it progressively and use both brakes together for maximum straight-line stopping.

Countersteering: to turn right at speed, push the right grip forward; the bike leans right and turns right.

The friction zone is the range of clutch lever travel where power begins to transfer; it is used for slow-speed control and starts on a hill.

At slow speed, use the rear brake and clutch friction zone together to stabilize the bike; at higher speed, lean angle and throttle control the turn.

Squeeze the fuel tank with the knees, keep arms relaxed and look up and ahead; a tight grip on the bars transmits rider input and unsettles the bike.

Before riding, check tires (pressure and tread), controls, lights, oil and fuel, and the chain or belt; the pre-ride check is a legal and safety habit.

Engine braking by rolling off the throttle slows the rear wheel; downshift one gear at a time and match engine speed to road speed to avoid rear-wheel lockup.

A skid on the front wheel usually results from over-braking or braking on a slippery surface; release the brake smoothly to let the wheel regain rolling grip.

A red octagon means stop completely; a red-and-white triangle (yield) means slow and give way to traffic that has the right of way.

Yellow diamond signs warn of hazards ahead; orange signs mark construction zones, and reduced speed limits in those zones are enforceable when posted.

A solid yellow centre line means no passing in either direction; a broken yellow line on your side permits passing when it is safe.

A solid white line at the edge of the lane marks the shoulder; a broken white line separates lanes travelling in the same direction.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow means proceed with caution and yield as required.

At an uncontrolled intersection, the first vehicle to arrive has the right of way; if two arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.

A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right; pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right of way.

A stop line or crosswalk line marks where to stop; if there is no line, stop before the crosswalk or the edge of the intersecting road.

Railway crossbucks and flashing lights require a stop when signals are active; never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing.