PA Motorcycle Permit Test cheat sheet

A Class M learner's permit is required before riding on public roads; applicants must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid PA driver's license or learner's permit.

Applicants under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the consent on the DL-180 application form; without that signature the permit application is rejected.

The motorcycle knowledge test is taken at a PennDOT Driver License Center; a passing score is 80 percent (16 of 20 questions) on the Class M knowledge exam.

A learner's permit is valid for one year and may be renewed; it authorizes riding only during daylight hours and only when accompanied by a licensed motorcycle rider 21 or older.

Permit holders may not carry passengers and may not ride on limited-access highways; both restrictions end when the Class M license is issued.

The Class M skills test covers cone weave, U-turn, normal stop, sharp turn, swerve, and quick stop; riders must supply a street-legal motorcycle and protective gear.

Riders who complete an approved Basic Rider Course (MSF) may have the skills test waived and receive a 90-day Class M license by mail after passing the knowledge test.

Out-of-state motorcycle licenses transfer without a skills test if the license is valid; a motorcycle-only permit from another state does not transfer as a full license.

A Class M license is required to operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or moped above 50 cc; a regular Class C license alone does not authorize motorcycle operation.

Follow the SIPDE process: Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute; apply it continuously rather than only at intersections.

Use the two-second following rule in normal conditions; increase to four seconds or more in rain, gravel, or at night.

Position in the lane to be seen and to keep an escape path: left third for visibility to oncoming traffic, right third when a left-turning vehicle threatens.

Countersteer above roughly 12 mph: press the handgrip on the side you want to turn toward, and the bike leans and turns that way.

Apply both brakes together, with more front-brake pressure; the front brake provides about 70 percent of stopping power on dry pavement.

In a swerve, do not brake and swerve simultaneously; brake first, then swerve, or swerve and then brake once upright.

Avoid target fixation: look through the turn toward the exit, and the motorcycle will follow your line of sight.

Riding under the influence is illegal at a BAC of 0.08 percent for riders 21 and older; Pennsylvania's DUI law applies to motorcycle operation.

Fatigue and alcohol are leading contributors to single-vehicle motorcycle crashes; most single-vehicle crashes involve a run-off-road or cornering error.

A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane; no other vehicle may share the lane with a motorcycle, and lane splitting is not permitted in Pennsylvania.

Two motorcycles may ride side by side in a single lane only if both riders consent; three abreast is illegal.

Headlights must be on at all times while a motorcycle is operated in Pennsylvania; daytime headlight use is required by law.

Turn signals are required for lane changes and turns; signal at least 100 feet before the turn in normal traffic.

Pennsylvania's helmet law requires an approved helmet for riders under 21 and for all riders with a learner's permit, regardless of age.

Riders 21 and older may ride without a helmet only if they have two years of riding experience or have completed an approved rider course, unless the motorcycle is equipped with a helmet exemption.

Passengers must have a seat and footrests designed for a passenger; carrying a passenger on a solo seat is illegal.

Following too closely, speeding, and failure to yield at intersections are the most common contributing factors in multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes.

Riders must obey all traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings; a motorcycle may not proceed through a red light even if no traffic is present.

A motorcycle must have at least one headlamp, a taillight, a brake light, a license plate lamp, and a rear reflector visible at 500 feet.

Turn signals are required on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1973; older bikes may use hand signals.

Brakes must be capable of stopping the motorcycle within 30 feet from 20 mph on a dry, level surface.

Tires must have at least 1/32 inch of tread depth and no cuts, bulges, or exposed cords; check tire pressure cold before each ride.

A rearview mirror is required on the left side; a second mirror on the right is recommended but not mandatory.

The exhaust system must have a muffler and may not be modified to increase noise above legal limits; straight pipes are illegal.

A horn audible at 200 feet is required equipment, and the handlebars may not rise more than 15 inches above the seat.

Pre-ride inspection covers tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis, and stands (T-CLOCS); a failed item means the bike should not be ridden.

A motorcycle must pass an annual safety inspection at an approved station; the inspection sticker is displayed on the fork or frame.