Bahrain Motorcycle Theory cheat sheet

Red octagonal sign means a full stop is mandatory at the stop line or before the junction, even when the road appears clear.

Yield (give way) signs require the rider to slow and stop only if traffic on the priority road would be affected.

Circular signs with red borders are prohibitions (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit); circular blue signs are mandatory instructions.

Triangular signs with red borders are warnings of hazards ahead such as bends, junctions, pedestrians or uneven road surface.

Solid white centre lines prohibit crossing or straddling; broken white lines permit crossing when it is safe and legal.

Yellow box markings mean do not enter unless the exit is clear; stopping inside the box is an offence.

Flashing amber at a pelican crossing means give way to pedestrians still on the crossing; steady red means stop behind the line.

A red circle with a white horizontal bar is no entry; a blue circle with a white arrow is a mandatory direction of travel.

At an uncontrolled junction, the rider must give way to traffic approaching from the right unless signs or markings indicate otherwise.

A vehicle already circulating on a roundabout has priority over vehicles entering it.

Overtaking is prohibited where a solid line is on the rider's side, at pedestrian crossings, and at junctions unless the other vehicle is a two-wheeler.

The default urban speed limit is 40 km/h and the default rural limit is 80 km/h unless signs state otherwise; motorways are signed separately.

Safe following distance in dry conditions is at least two seconds; double it in rain and triple it on wet or oily surfaces.

Filtering between lanes is only lawful when traffic is stationary or slow and the rider does not cross a solid line.

A rider must not carry a passenger unless the motorcycle is designed and registered for a pillion and the passenger wears a helmet.

Emergency vehicles with active sirens and lights have priority; other road users must make room without breaking the law.

The rider should scan 12-15 seconds ahead in urban areas and further on open roads to identify hazards before they develop.

Target fixation on a hazard increases collision risk; the rider should look toward the intended escape path, not at the obstacle.

Countersteering is the primary steering input above walking pace: push the left bar to lean left, push the right bar to lean right.

A front-wheel skid is corrected by releasing brake pressure and keeping the bars straight; a rear-wheel skid by keeping the rear brake applied until stopped.

Riders are less visible at junctions; adopting a position that places the motorcycle in a driver's mirror and using a headlight by day improves detection.

Wet road grip is roughly halved on painted markings, manhole covers and diesel spills; these should be crossed upright and without braking.

Fatigue degrades reaction time measurably after about two hours of continuous riding; a 15-minute break restores alertness.

Alcohol at the Bahrain legal limit of 0.00% BAC for drivers means any alcohol consumption is an offence.

A helmet must be securely fastened and of a type approved for road use; an unfastened helmet offers no protection in a fall.

Helmet replacement is due after any impact that crushes the shell or liner, even if damage is not visible.

Protective clothing should include abrasion-resistant jacket and trousers, gloves, and boots covering the ankle; shorts and sandals offer no slide protection.

Eye protection or a visor is required because wind and debris reduce vision and cause tearing at speed above about 30 km/h.

Riders must not ride while impaired by alcohol, drugs, illness or fatigue; prescription medicines can affect balance and reaction time.

Vision must meet the licensing standard; corrective lenses must be worn whenever the licence carries that condition.

High-visibility or reflective material on the upper body increases detection at night and in low light.

Dehydration and heat exposure in Bahrain's summer increase fatigue and reduce concentration; hydration before and during the ride is a safety control.

The pre-ride check covers tyres (pressure and tread), brakes, lights, horn, chain tension and lubrication, mirrors, and fluid levels.

Tyre pressure is checked cold; under-inflation increases heat build-up and reduces cornering stability.

The legal minimum tread depth for motorcycle tyres is 1 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.

Chain slack should be set to the manufacturer's specification, typically 20-30 mm; an over-tight chain damages bearings and can snap.

The front brake provides most stopping power; both brakes are applied together in a progressive, coordinated manner.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and should be replaced on the manufacturer's schedule, typically every two years.

The throttle should return freely to the closed position when released; a sticky throttle is a critical defect and the bike must not be ridden.

A worn or glazed tyre, leaking fork seal, or binding brake are defects that make the motorcycle unroadworthy.

A motorcycle licence is required before riding on public roads; riding without a valid licence is an offence carrying fines and possible vehicle impoundment.

Motorcycles must be registered and carry valid third-party insurance; riding uninsured is a serious offence.

The rider must carry the licence and vehicle documents and produce them on request by a police officer.

The legal blood alcohol limit in Bahrain is zero; any detectable alcohol while riding is an offence.

Seat belts do not apply to motorcycles, but helmet use is mandatory for both rider and pillion passenger.

Traffic fines escalate for repeat offences, and serious offences such as reckless riding can lead to licence suspension and vehicle confiscation.

Riders must obey police and traffic-warden signals even where these conflict with signs or signals.

The vehicle must display a valid registration plate that is legible and unobstructed; altering or hiding a plate is an offence.

In a skid, the rider should not grab the brakes; the correct response is to keep the bars steady and reduce throttle or brake pressure smoothly.

If a front tyre punctures, the rider should hold the bars firmly, avoid heavy braking, and roll off the throttle to a controlled stop.

If the throttle sticks, the rider should pull the clutch, hit the kill switch, and brake to a stop using both brakes.

After a collision, the rider should stop, switch off the engine, render first aid within their training, and call emergency services on 999.

A rider should not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or traffic.

If the motorcycle catches fire, the rider should stop, switch off the engine, move away upwind, and call the fire service.

A rider should not ride on after a crash if there is any doubt about the motorcycle's roadworthiness; the vehicle must be inspected.

If the rider becomes lost or stranded, they should move to a safe, visible location and call for assistance rather than walk along the carriageway.

Riders are over-represented in serious casualty statistics; the most common collision is a car turning across the rider's path at a junction.

Riding with the headlight on at all times increases daytime conspicuity and is required in many jurisdictions.

The rider's lane position should keep them visible in mirrors and away from blind spots, particularly behind large vehicles.

Riding between lanes, speeding, and stunting are high-risk behaviours that disproportionately contribute to rider fatalities.

A responsible rider leaves a margin for error by other road users and never assumes a right-of-way will be yielded.

Pillion passengers must be briefed on leaning with the rider and keeping feet on the pegs; an uncooperative passenger destabilises the bike.

Group riding should use a staggered formation with adequate spacing; the group must not block traffic or ride side-by-side illegally.

Respecting speed limits, pedestrian crossings and school zones is a legal duty and reduces the risk to vulnerable road users.

Tyres should be inspected for pressure, tread depth and sidewall damage before every ride; cold pressures follow the manufacturer's figures.

Brake levers should feel firm; a spongy lever indicates air or moisture in the hydraulic system and requires service.

Chain tension and lubrication are checked weekly; a dry chain wears rapidly and can fail under load.

Lights, indicators, brake light and horn should be tested before riding; a failed brake light is a common cause of rear-end collisions.

Mirrors must be adjusted so the rider sees the lane behind and the blind spot on each side without moving the head far.

The fuel tap, if fitted, must be set to the correct position; running out of fuel on a motorway is a serious hazard.

Steering head bearings should move freely without play; a wobble or notch indicates wear and requires attention.

A motorcycle with any defect affecting steering, braking or tyres is unroadworthy and must not be ridden until repaired.

A yellow box junction must not be entered unless the exit is clear; stopping inside it is an offence.

A red circle with a white horizontal bar means no entry for all vehicles.

A blue circular sign with a white arrow is a mandatory direction of travel.

A red triangle with a symbol inside warns of a hazard ahead, such as a bend, junction or pedestrian crossing.

A red octagon means stop; a red inverted triangle means give way.

Flashing amber at a pelican crossing means give way to pedestrians still on the crossing.

Broken white lines may be crossed when safe; solid white lines may not be crossed or straddled.

A speed limit sign in a red circle sets the maximum permitted speed in km/h.