New Mexico Motorcycle Permit Test cheat sheet

New Mexico requires a DOT-compliant helmet for every rider and passenger; eye protection is required unless the motorcycle has a windshield.

Minimum protective gear set: helmet, eye protection, jacket, full-finger gloves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots; bright or reflective material increases being seen.

T-CLOCS pre-ride check: Tires and wheels, Controls (levers, cables, throttle), Lights and electrics, Oil and fluids, Chassis (frame, suspension, chain/belt), Stands.

Tire check includes tread depth, sidewall cracks, and cold inflation pressure per the owner's manual or the placard; check pressure before riding, not after.

Chain slack is measured at the midpoint of the lower run and adjusted to the manual's spec; a dry or kinked chain is a failure item, not a maintenance note.

Control layout is standardized: right grip twists for throttle and holds the front brake lever; left grip holds the clutch lever; right foot is the rear brake; left foot is the shift lever.

The engine cut-off switch sits on the right handlebar and must be in the RUN position before the starter will crank on most motorcycles.

The friction zone is the band of clutch lever travel where the clutch partially engages; it is the tool for low-speed control and smooth starts.

Countersteering: above roughly walking speed, press the grip on the side you want to turn toward; the motorcycle leans and turns in that direction.

At very low speed, turn the handlebars in the direction of the turn and keep the bike upright; above walking speed, lean the bike and press the grip.

Braking rule: apply both brakes at the same time, with the front brake providing most of the stopping power on pavement; squeeze progressively rather than grabbing.

In a curve, brake before the turn and use a steady or slightly increasing throttle through it; braking hard while leaned reduces available traction.

Shift down one gear at a time and match engine speed to road speed; downshifting smoothly lets you accelerate out of a hazard instead of lugging.

Lane position is a choice, not a fixed rule: the left third gives the best view of oncoming traffic and oncoming drivers' view of you; the center third collects oil drips at intersections.

Start-up sequence: clutch in, shift to first, confirm neutral indicator off, check the kill switch, then ease out to the friction zone while adding throttle.

When stopping, downshift as you slow so you are in first gear and ready to move if a vehicle approaches from behind.

Lane splitting (riding between moving traffic lanes) is not authorized in New Mexico; ride within a single lane and do not share a lane side by side with another motorcycle.

Following distance: use the 2-second rule minimum in good conditions, 3 seconds at night or in rain, and 4 or more in fog, heavy rain, or on gravel.

Intersections are the highest-risk location; scan left-right-left before entering, and check for left-turning vehicles that may cross your path.

Do not linger in a vehicle's blind spot; if you can see the driver's face in the mirror, the driver can more likely see you.

Before changing lanes, signal, check mirrors, turn your head to check the blind spot, then move; a mirror check alone leaves a gap.

When passing, complete the pass promptly, avoid riding beside a vehicle, and do not return to the lane until you see the passed vehicle's headlights in your mirrors.

Choose lane position to maximize space from hazards and to stay visible; avoid riding directly beside a car's door or in its blind quarter.

At a stop, leave enough room behind the vehicle ahead to maneuver around it, and watch mirrors for traffic approaching from behind.

Large trucks have deep blind spots directly behind and along both sides; if you cannot see the truck's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

Trucks need far more distance to stop and swing wide when turning right; never pass a truck on the right as it prepares to turn.

Avoid riding in the center of a lane behind a truck or bus; turbulence and the driver's inability to see you both increase risk.

New Mexico law requires drivers to give bicyclists at least 5 feet of clearance when passing where practicable; treat cyclists as vehicles with the same road rights.

Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way; slow and be ready to stop, and expect pedestrians to step out from between parked cars.

Passing parked cars: watch for opening doors and for people stepping out; ride outside the door zone when space allows.

When following a large vehicle, stay back far enough to see its mirrors and to be seen, and watch for the driver's turn signals and brake lights early.

Animals, farm equipment, and slow-moving vehicles share rural New Mexico roads; reduce speed and pass only with clear sight distance.

In a quick stop, keep the motorcycle upright, apply both brakes firmly and progressively, and keep the front wheel straight; do not lock the front brake.

If the front wheel locks, release the front brake lever immediately and reapply smoothly; a locked front wheel causes a fall.

Swerving is a separate maneuver from braking: swerve to avoid an obstacle, then brake once the bike is upright and straight; combining hard braking and swerving risks a slide.

To swerve, press the grip on the side you want to go toward, keep your body aligned with the bike, and do not brake during the swerve.

Surface hazards to scan for: gravel, sand, wet leaves, painted road markings, steel plates and bridge grating, tar snakes, and oil at intersections.

Cross railroad tracks at as close to a 90-degree angle as possible; never brake or accelerate hard while on the tracks.

In rain, reduce speed and increase following distance; the first minutes of rain are the slickest because oil and dust float on the water.

If a crash is unavoidable, stay with the motorcycle and brake as much as possible; separating from the bike reduces your protection.

After any crash, get off the road, check for injuries, and call for help; do not move an injured rider unless there is immediate danger.

New Mexico's per se limit for riders 21 and older is a BAC of 0.08; for riders under 21, any detectable alcohol is a violation under the state's zero-tolerance law.

An arrest for DWI can occur below 0.08 if the officer has evidence of impairment; implied consent means submitting to a chemical test or facing license sanctions.

Alcohol reduces balance, throttle control, and judgment, and its effects are magnified on a motorcycle because the rider must balance the bike.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including antihistamines and sleep aids, can impair riding; combining them with alcohol multiplies the effect.

Fatigue signs: drifting in the lane, missing signs, heavy eyelids, and slow reactions; the fix is to stop and rest, since caffeine and loud music only mask symptoms.

New Mexico requires a motorcycle endorsement (M) on a valid driver's license or a separate motorcycle-only license; riding without the endorsement is a violation.

A permit holder must ride under the restrictions on the permit, and New Mexico requires riders and passengers to wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards.

Motorcycles must be insured to New Mexico's minimum liability limits; carry proof of insurance and registration when riding.