Denmark Motorcycle Theory A1 cheat sheet

Danish speed limits unless signed otherwise: built-up areas 50 km/h, outside built-up areas 80 km/h, motorways 130 km/h, and 110 km/h on the sections signed accordingly.

Right-hand traffic; overtaking happens on the left. Overtaking on the right is only allowed in queues of traffic in the same direction or when the vehicle ahead signals a left turn.

Priority to the right applies at unsigned junctions in Denmark unless signs or road markings indicate otherwise; a give-way line or triangle overrides it.

A solid white centre line must not be crossed; a broken line may be crossed when it is safe. Yellow kerb lines mark stopping/parking prohibitions.

Roundabouts: traffic already on the roundabout has priority; entering riders give way. Signal left when leaving at or beyond the third exit is not required in Denmark - signal right when exiting.

Pedestrian crossings (zebra): riders must give way to pedestrians on or about to enter the crossing; overtaking a vehicle stopped at a crossing is prohibited.

Traffic light rules: flashing yellow means proceed with caution if the way is clear; a green arrow gives priority only in the indicated direction.

Railway crossings with a St Andrew's cross or barrier: stop if the signal shows red or the barrier is moving; never enter until the exit side is clear.

Riders must position themselves so they are visible in mirrors of cars ahead; avoid lingering in blind spots, especially alongside lorries and vans.

Overtaking a lorry: clear the blind spot quickly, do not stay alongside the cab, and never overtake on the inside of a turning heavy vehicle.

Signals are given before the manoeuvre, not during; cancel indicators after use and make eye contact at junctions where possible.

A motorcycle may filter between lanes only where traffic is queued and speeds are low; riding between moving lanes at speed is not permitted.

Pedestrians and cyclists have priority at crossings and when turning across their path; riders must yield when turning into a side road across a cycle path.

Group riding: keep a staggered formation, leave a two-second gap to the rider ahead, and never ride side-by-side on narrow roads.

When being overtaken, hold a steady line and speed; do not accelerate or move toward the overtaking vehicle.

Use the horn only to warn of immediate danger; flashing headlights to assert priority is not permitted and is interpreted as aggression.

Pre-ride check (T-CLOCS): tyres, controls, lights, oil/fluids, chassis, stands - verify tyre pressure cold against the manufacturer figure.

Legal minimum tyre tread for motorcycles in Denmark: 1 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread; check for cracks, bulges and embedded objects.

Chain: correct slack is typically 20–30 mm measured at the midpoint; lubricate when warm, and adjust so the rear wheel alignment marks match.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture; replace per the service schedule (commonly every two years) and never mix DOT grades.

A1 machines are limited to 125 cc, 11 kW and a power-to-weight ratio of 0.1 kW/kg; the licence and registration must match the machine.

Lights: a working headlamp, tail lamp, brake lamp and rear reflector are required; the headlamp must be on while riding.

Brakes: check lever and pedal free play and that both brakes return fully; a spongy lever indicates air in the hydraulic system.

Helmet must be approved (ECE 22.05/22.06) and fastened; a damaged or dropped helmet should be replaced because the shell may be compromised.

Countersteering: push the bar on the side you want to turn toward; at speeds above walking pace this initiates the lean.

Look through the corner to the exit; the head turns first, then the shoulders, and the bike follows the line of sight.

Braking: apply both brakes progressively, with more force on the front; release smoothly at low speed to avoid locking the front wheel.

Cornering: brake before the turn, hold a steady throttle through it, and accelerate gently once the exit is visible.

U-turns and slow manoeuvres: use the friction zone of the clutch, rear brake drag and counterbalance the body to the outside of the turn.

Emergency stop: straighten the bars, squeeze the front brake firmly and progressively, apply the rear brake lightly to keep the bike stable.

Riding over obstacles: approach at right angles, rise slightly off the seat, blip the throttle to unload the front, and keep a neutral grip.

Wet riding: reduce lean angle, increase following distance, and avoid painted markings and metal covers, which offer very little grip.

The two-second rule: maintain at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead; double it in rain, at night, or when following a lorry.

Scan 12–15 seconds ahead and check mirrors every few seconds; identify escape routes before they are needed.

Watch for the left-turn hazard: a car waiting to turn across your path may not see you; slow and cover the brakes.

Junction hazards: cars pulling out from side roads, cyclists emerging from behind parked cars, and pedestrians stepping between vehicles.

Rural roads: anticipate mud, gravel and farm machinery near field entrances, and slow before blind crests and bends.

Lane changes: a car indicating may not have seen you; do not assume the signal means the manoeuvre is safe.

Surface hazards: diesel spills near filling stations, wet leaves, tram rails, and manhole covers reduce grip sharply, especially when leaning.

Fatigue and visibility: ride so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear, especially at night and in fog.

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance; thinking distance grows linearly with speed, braking distance with the square of speed.

Rule of thumb at 50 km/h: about 15 m thinking distance plus about 13 m braking distance, roughly 28 m total on dry asphalt.

Doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance; at 100 km/h the total stopping distance is around 100 m or more.

Wet roads increase braking distance substantially; gravel, ice and wet leaves can multiply it several times over.

Speed must be adapted to conditions: the posted limit is a maximum, not a target, and lower limits apply in roadworks and near schools.

Following distance in metres at least equals half the speed in km/h as a minimum guide; two seconds is the practical minimum.

Braking on a bend: brake before the bend while upright; braking mid-corner reduces available grip and can cause a low-side fall.

Aquaplaning risk rises with speed and worn tyres; ease off the throttle and avoid sudden braking if the front feels light.

Denmark's general alcohol limit for motor vehicle drivers is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood (0.05 % BAC); stricter limits apply to young and professional drivers in some cases.

Alcohol impairs reaction time and judgement before any legal limit is reached; the safe riding limit is zero.

Drugs, including some prescription medicines, can impair riding; check the label and do not ride if warned about drowsiness.

Penalties include fines, licence suspension and, for serious cases, imprisonment; refusing a breath or blood test is itself an offence.

Fatigue: stop and rest at least every two hours on long rides; caffeine is a short-term mask, not a substitute for sleep.

Illness, injury and strong painkillers reduce fitness to ride; a rider must be fit and able to control the machine at all times.

Riding gear must not obstruct vision or hearing; tinted visors are not permitted at night or in poor visibility.

If taking medicine that may impair driving, the rider is responsible for checking with a doctor or pharmacy before riding.

At a crash: secure the scene - switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle, and wear high-visibility clothing if available.

Call 112 for ambulance, police or fire; state the location precisely, the number of casualties and any hazards.

Do not remove a rider's helmet unless the airway is blocked or CPR is required; suspected spinal injury makes removal dangerous.

Check responsiveness, breathing and circulation; if not breathing normally, start CPR at 100–120 compressions per minute.

Control severe bleeding with direct pressure and a dressing; do not remove an object embedded in a wound.

Keep the casualty warm and still, monitor breathing until help arrives, and never give food or drink.

Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty, unless a spinal injury is suspected.

Record what you saw and did for the emergency services; do not move the casualty unless there is immediate danger.

A1 category: motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of no more than 125 cc, power no more than 11 kW and power-to-weight ratio no more than 0.1 kW/kg.

Minimum age for A1 in Denmark is 18; a moped (AM) licence is available from 15/16 depending on the current rules.

A1 also covers three-wheeled vehicles up to 15 kW; a light motorcycle may not be modified to exceed A1 limits.

The licence must be carried when riding; the vehicle must be registered, insured and have a valid inspection where required.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory; riding without valid insurance is an offence and may lead to vehicle seizure.

A1 holders may not ride A2 or A machines; the category is printed on the licence and must match the machine.

Learner riders must comply with the conditions on the licence, including any restrictions on carrying passengers.

Registration papers and proof of insurance should be available; number plates must be legible and correctly mounted.