Indiana Motorcycle Permit Test flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Indiana motorcycle permit age

A rider must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid Indiana driver's license or permit before applying for a motorcycle learner's permit.

Permit daylight restriction

An Indiana motorcycle learner's permit limits riding to daylight hours only and prohibits carrying passengers.

Helmet age rule

Indiana requires riders and passengers under 18 to wear a DOT-compliant helmet; riders 18 and older may ride without one but need eye protection unless the bike has a windshield.

Skills test waiver

Completion of an approved Indiana motorcycle rider education course may waive the BMV riding skills test for riders 18 and older; the knowledge test is still required.

Endorsement letter

The motorcycle endorsement appears as an 'M' on the Indiana driver's license and is added to a valid license rather than issued as a stand-alone license.

Permit holding period

Riders under 18 must hold the motorcycle learner's permit for at least 30 days before scheduling the skills test.

T-CLOCS inspection

T-CLOCS stands for Tires and wheels, Controls, Lights, Oil and fluids, Chassis, and Stands; check all six before every ride.

Control layout

Right hand throttle and front brake, left hand clutch, left foot shift lever, right foot rear brake; the kill switch is on the right handlebar.

Friction zone

The range of clutch lever travel where the clutch partially engages; used for low-speed control and starting on hills.

Countersteering

At speeds above roughly 12 mph, push the handlebar on the side you want to turn toward; the bike leans and turns that direction.

Chain slack

Most street bikes need about 1/2 to 1 inch of chain slack; too tight damages bearings and too loose risks derailment.

Kill switch check

The engine cutoff switch on the right handlebar should be checked during the controls inspection; it cuts ignition without removing the key.

Cold tire pressure

Check tire pressure when tires are cold, per the owner's manual or sidewall; low pressure degrades cornering and braking.

Two-second rule

Maintain at least a 2-second following distance in ideal conditions, 3 seconds at night, and 4 seconds in rain or on gravel.

Front brake share

On dry pavement the front brake provides roughly 70 percent of stopping power; apply both brakes simultaneously for maximum stopping.

Slow, look, lean, roll

The four-step sequence for every curve: slow before the turn, look through to the exit, lean into the turn, and roll on the throttle.

Cornering line

Enter a single curve from the outside, apex near the inside, and exit toward the outside; brake before the curve, not during it.

Swerve technique

Separate the swerve from braking: brake first, release, then swerve; combining hard braking and swerving overloads available traction.

Target fixation

Looking at a hazard instead of the escape path causes the motorcycle to follow the rider's eyes; look where you want to go.

Rear wheel lock

If the rear wheel locks from over-braking, keep the rear brake applied and hold the handlebars straight until the bike stops.

Front wheel lock

If the front wheel locks, release the front brake lever immediately and reapply progressively to allow the wheel to regain traction.

Lane position left third

Ride in the left third of the lane to be visible in the mirrors of the vehicle ahead and to avoid oil drips in the center.

Legal BAC limit

Indiana's legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 percent for riders 21 and older; riders under 21 can be charged with OWI at 0.02 percent or higher.

Implied consent

Refusing a chemical test in Indiana results in license suspension and can be used as evidence at trial.

Lane splitting law

Lane splitting is not legal in Indiana; two motorcycles may share a lane only if both riders consent and it does not impede traffic.

Headlight requirement

Indiana requires motorcycles to have the headlight on at all times while operating on public roads.

Left-turn crash risk

A car turning left across the rider's path is the most common cause of motorcycle-car collisions; intersections are the highest-risk location for riders.

Truck mirror rule

When following a large truck, stay back far enough to see the truck's mirrors; if you cannot see the mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

DOT helmet standard

DOT certification is required by federal law for helmets sold in the U.S.; a novelty helmet offers no legal protection.

Eye protection rule

Goggles or a face shield meeting DOT standards are required for riders without a windshield, regardless of age.

Passenger requirements

A motorcycle must have a passenger seat and foot pegs to carry a passenger; carrying a passenger on a solo seat is illegal.

Group staggered formation

In a group, ride staggered: 1 second behind the rider on the same side and 2 seconds behind the rider directly ahead.