Vehicle knowledge, controls and technical requirements (bifhjól: tæki, búnaður og stjórn)
What this domain tests
Whether you know what a roadworthy motorcycle is, what must work before you ride, and how to spot a defect that makes the machine illegal or dangerous.
The pre-ride check
Work round the machine the same way every time:
- Tyres - pressure set cold to the handbook figure, legal tread, no cuts, bulges or embedded objects.
- Brakes - both work, the lever and pedal feel firm, pads have material left.
- Lights - dipped beam, brake light from both controls, indicators, number-plate light, reflector.
- Chain - correct slack, lubricated, no tight spots or hooked teeth on the sprockets.
- Fluids and leaks - oil, coolant, brake fluid, anything pooling under the bike.
- Steering, throttle, mirrors, horn, stand springs.
Legal equipment
A motorcycle must have two independent braking systems, a headlamp that is switched on while riding (Iceland requires lights at all times), a legal exhaust within the noise limits, secure seat and footrests, and at least one properly adjusted mirror. Anything that fails this list makes the machine unroadworthy, and riding it can invalidate your insurance.
Worked example
After winter storage the front brake lever comes back almost to the grip and feels spongy. That is not "normal" - it points to air or moisture in the hydraulic circuit, and the brake can fade or fail completely under hard use. The correct response is not to ride it gently to a garage but to bleed the system and re-test before riding at all.
Traps
Checking tyre pressure after a ride, when the tyres are hot. Ignoring a worn chain - it can jump the sprocket and lock the rear wheel. Believing ABS removes the need for progressive, planned braking. Adjusting chain tension and forgetting the rear brake and wheel alignment.