Carrying Passengers and Cargo on a Motorcycle

Carrying Passengers and Cargo on a Motorcycle questions with answers

1. What must a motorcycle be equipped with before it can safely carry a passenger?

   1. A windshield and a luggage rack fitted behind the rider's seat
   2. A seat large enough for two people and a set of passenger footrests
   3. A backrest and a pair of highway pegs mounted on the engine guard bars
   4. A set of saddlebags mounted on both sides of the rear wheel
   Show answer

   Answer B: A seat large enough for two people and a set of passenger footrests

   A passenger needs a seat with room for both people without crowding and firm footrests to brace against.

   Source: wisconsindot.gov

2. What protective gear should a passenger wear?

   1. Only a helmet
   2. Whatever the passenger finds most comfortable
   3. The same protective gear recommended for the operator
   4. None, because the operator shields the passenger from the wind
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   Answer C: The same protective gear recommended for the operator

   A passenger is exposed to the same crash forces, weather and road debris as the operator, so the same head, eye, hand, body and foot protection applies.

3. When should a passenger get on the motorcycle?

   1. Before the operator mounts
   2. While the motorcycle is rolling slowly
   3. Only after the motorcycle has been put in gear
   4. After the engine has been started and the operator is ready
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   Answer D: After the engine has been started and the operator is ready

   Mounting after the engine is running and the operator is settled keeps the motorcycle stable and spares the operator a long balancing act with the extra weight aboard.

4. Where should a passenger sit on the motorcycle?

   1. As far forward as possible without crowding the operator
   2. As far back on the seat as the seat allows
   3. Sideways, facing the curb
   4. On the fuel tank in front of the operator
   Show answer

   Answer A: As far forward as possible without crowding the operator

   Sitting well forward keeps the passenger weight close to the center of the motorcycle, which helps it handle closer to normal.

5. What should a passenger hold on to while the motorcycle is moving?

   1. The rear fender behind the seat, gripping the edge of it with both hands
   2. The operator's waist, hips or belt, or a handhold provided for the passenger
   3. The operator's shoulders, holding on to them with both hands
   4. Nothing at all, so that the operator is never disturbed or unbalanced while riding
   Show answer

   Answer B: The operator's waist, hips or belt, or a handhold provided for the passenger

   Holding the operator's waist, hips or belt, or a handhold designed for the passenger, keeps the passenger secure under acceleration and braking without pulling the operator off balance.

   Source: dmv.ny.gov

6. When must a passenger keep both feet on the footrests?

   1. Only while the motorcycle is actually moving along the road
   2. Only while going through turns and tight curves
   3. At all times, including while the motorcycle is stopped
   4. Only while the motorcycle has been left in gear
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   Answer C: At all times, including while the motorcycle is stopped

   Feet stay on the footrests even at a stop, because a foot put down or swung out can unbalance the motorcycle or be caught by the road.

   Source: dmv.ny.gov

7. What should a passenger be told about where to keep their legs?

   1. To let them hang down loosely so that they can absorb the bumps
   2. To grip the operator's legs tightly in order to gain some extra stability
   3. To rest them back against the rear tire and the rear fender
   4. To keep them away from the muffler, the chain and other moving parts
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   Answer D: To keep them away from the muffler, the chain and other moving parts

   Exhaust pipes get hot enough to burn and exposed drive components can catch a loose leg, so the passenger must keep legs in and clear of them.

8. What should a passenger do when the motorcycle leans into a curve?

   1. Lean with the operator, staying directly behind them
   2. Sit upright to keep the motorcycle level
   3. Lean toward the outside of the curve to balance the motorcycle
   4. Slide their weight to the back of the seat
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   Answer A: Lean with the operator, staying directly behind them

   A passenger who leans with the operator lets the motorcycle follow its natural line, while leaning against the lean fights the operator's control inputs.

   Source: dmv.ny.gov

9. How should a passenger behave through a turn?

   1. Turn around in the seat to check for traffic coming up behind the motorcycle
   2. Look over the operator's shoulder in the direction of the turn and avoid sudden movement
   3. Shift the weight quickly from side to side in order to help the motorcycle turn more sharply
   4. Stand up on the footrests in order to see over the operator's shoulder
   Show answer

   Answer B: Look over the operator's shoulder in the direction of the turn and avoid sudden movement

   Looking over the operator's shoulder into the turn keeps the passenger aligned with the motorcycle, and avoiding sudden movement prevents unexpected changes in balance.

10. What should be adjusted on the motorcycle before carrying a passenger?

    1. Nothing, because the motorcycle already comes set up for two people
    2. Only the mirrors
    3. The suspension and the tire pressure, following the owner's manual
    4. The final drive gearing
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    Answer C: The suspension and the tire pressure, following the owner's manual

    The extra weight compresses the suspension and loads the tires, so both should be set to the values the manufacturer specifies for riding with a passenger.

    Source: wisconsindot.gov

11. Why may the mirrors and the headlight need readjusting when a passenger is carried?

    1. Because passengers are required by law to see the mirrors
    2. Because the extra electrical load dims the headlight
    3. Because passengers block the view in the mirrors
    4. Because the added weight changes the angle at which the motorcycle sits
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    Answer D: Because the added weight changes the angle at which the motorcycle sits

    Weight on the rear of the motorcycle raises the front, which aims the headlight and the mirrors higher than the rider intends.

12. How should a rider take curves while carrying a passenger?

    1. More slowly than when riding alone
    2. At exactly the same speed as when riding alone
    3. Faster, so the extra weight does not slow the motorcycle down
    4. With the clutch pulled in through the curve
    Show answer

    Answer A: More slowly than when riding alone

    The extra weight raises the center of gravity and makes the motorcycle respond more slowly, so curves have to be taken at a lower speed.

13. How should space management change with a passenger aboard?

    1. Follow more closely so the passenger can see the road ahead
    2. Allow a greater following distance and wait for larger gaps in traffic
    3. Space management does not change with a passenger
    4. Treat the shoulder as an extra escape path
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    Answer B: Allow a greater following distance and wait for larger gaps in traffic

    A loaded motorcycle accelerates and stops more slowly, so it needs more room ahead and bigger gaps to merge, to pass or to cross traffic.

    Source: wisconsindot.gov

14. What should the operator do before a bump, a sharp turn or a sudden stop?

    1. Say nothing, so the passenger is not distracted
    2. Ask the passenger to lean forward and hold the fuel tank
    3. Warn the passenger so they can brace for it
    4. Have the passenger lift their feet off the footrests
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    Answer C: Warn the passenger so they can brace for it

    A warning lets the passenger tighten their grip and prepare, which keeps the passenger weight from shifting unexpectedly at the worst moment.

15. How should cargo be carried on a motorcycle?

    1. As high as possible so it stays clean and dry
    2. Strapped across the handlebars
    3. Tied loosely so it can move with the motorcycle
    4. Kept low, in saddlebags or at about seat level
    Show answer

    Answer D: Kept low, in saddlebags or at about seat level

    Keeping the load low preserves the center of gravity and the normal handling of the motorcycle, while a high load makes it top heavy and unstable.

    Source: wisconsindot.gov

17. Where should the weight of a load sit in relation to the rear axle?

    1. Over the rear axle or in front of it
    2. As far behind the rear axle as it will fit
    3. Directly on the tip of the rear fender
    4. It makes no difference where the weight sits
    Show answer

    Answer A: Over the rear axle or in front of it

    Weight placed behind the rear axle acts as a lever against the steering and can make the motorcycle wobble and handle and brake poorly.

    Source: dmv.ny.gov

18. How should a load be distributed between the two saddlebags?

    1. All of the weight in the left bag
    2. Evenly, so the weight is balanced from side to side
    3. All of the weight in the right bag
    4. It does not matter as long as both bags are closed
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    Answer B: Evenly, so the weight is balanced from side to side

    An uneven load pulls the motorcycle toward the heavy side and makes it behave differently in left turns than in right turns.

19. What is the correct way to secure a load on a motorcycle?

    1. Rest it loosely on the seat behind you and steady it with one hand whenever it starts to move
    2. Tie it down with one loose knot so that it can be undone again quickly
    3. Fasten it with elastic cords using several attachment points and check it at every stop
    4. Hang it from the handlebars in a plastic bag where you can keep an eye on it
    Show answer

    Answer C: Fasten it with elastic cords using several attachment points and check it at every stop

    Several attachment points hold the load tight so it cannot shift or fall into the wheel or the chain, and checking at stops catches a load that has worked loose.

    Source: dmv.ny.gov

20. A friend wants a ride, but their feet do not reach the passenger footrests. What should you do?

    1. Do not carry them, since they cannot hold a stable position
    2. Carry them anyway, provided they hold your waist tightly for the whole trip
    3. Carry them and tell them to rest their feet on the frame instead of the pegs
    4. Carry them but keep to quiet streets and stay below the posted speed limit
    Show answer

    Answer A: Do not carry them, since they cannot hold a stable position

    A passenger who cannot plant both feet on the footrests cannot brace or stay in place, and dangling legs can reach the chain, the exhaust or the wheel.

21. What should the operator do while a passenger climbs on board?

    1. Sit with both feet on the footrests and let the side stand hold the weight
    2. Stand beside the motorcycle and hold it upright by the handlebars only
    3. Rev the engine slightly to keep it from stalling under the added weight
    4. Sit on the machine with both feet planted and the front brake held on
    Show answer

    Answer D: Sit on the machine with both feet planted and the front brake held on

    The added weight arrives suddenly and off center, so the operator braces the motorcycle with both feet down and the front brake applied to keep it still.

22. Why does a motorcycle feel less stable at very low speed when a passenger is aboard?

    1. The extra weight lowers tire pressure enough to change the way it steers
    2. The passenger's weight sits high and to the rear, so balance is easier to upset
    3. The engine must run at higher rpm, which makes the handlebars vibrate more
    4. The passenger blocks airflow that would otherwise help hold the machine upright
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    Answer B: The passenger's weight sits high and to the rear, so balance is easier to upset

    A second person adds mass above and behind the rear axle, so slow speed maneuvers such as pulling away, walking pace turns and stops demand more care.

23. You are about to carry a passenger for the first time. Where should you begin?

    1. On a busy highway, where the steady speeds make the handling easier to judge
    2. On a winding country road, so the change in cornering is learned right away
    3. In a quiet area away from traffic, at low speed
    4. In stop and go city traffic, where the low speeds limit what can go wrong
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    Answer C: In a quiet area away from traffic, at low speed

    A passenger changes balance, braking and steering feel, and those differences are best learned somewhere there is nothing else to deal with.

24. What should a passenger be told about moving around on the motorcycle?

    1. To stay directly behind the operator and avoid sudden or unnecessary movement
    2. To shift their weight to the outside of the machine every time it leans over
    3. To sit as far back as possible and stretch the legs out on long straight roads
    4. To turn around and check behind the motorcycle whenever it changes lanes
    Show answer

    Answer A: To stay directly behind the operator and avoid sudden or unnecessary movement

    Unexpected movement by a passenger upsets the balance of the machine, most of all at low speed and while the motorcycle is leaned over in a turn.

25. Your passenger wants to carry a bag in one hand during the ride. What should you tell them?

    1. It is fine as long as the bag is light and is held down below the seat
    2. No, both hands are needed to hold on, so the bag must be secured on the machine
    3. It is fine as long as they change hands whenever the arm becomes tired
    4. No, unless the bag can be held between the two riders during the whole trip
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    Answer B: No, both hands are needed to hold on, so the bag must be secured on the machine

    A passenger needs both hands on the operator or the handholds, and anything carried loose can be dropped into the wheel or pull the passenger off balance.

26. Why should a load never be fastened to the handlebars or the front forks?

    1. The weight will wear out the front tire far faster than the rear tire wears
    2. The load will block the beam of the headlight and reduce the light ahead
    3. The load will vibrate loose long before the end of an ordinary day of riding
    4. The weight upsets the steering and makes the front end handle unpredictably
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    Answer D: The weight upsets the steering and makes the front end handle unpredictably

    Anything hung on the steering moves with it and changes how the motorcycle turns, which is why loads belong low and behind the rider instead.

27. Why should baggage be kept as low as possible on a motorcycle?

    1. A low load keeps the exhaust pipes clear of the fabric of the luggage
    2. A low load is easier for other drivers to see behind the rider at night
    3. A high load raises the center of gravity and makes the machine unstable
    4. A high load blocks the airflow and makes the engine run hotter than it should
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    Answer C: A high load raises the center of gravity and makes the machine unstable

    Weight carried high changes the balance of the motorcycle and makes it feel top heavy in turns and in crosswinds.

28. You have tied a load down with cords that are longer than you need. What should you do with the loose ends?

    1. Leave them hanging, since the airflow will hold them away from the wheel
    2. Tie them to the rear turn signal stalks so that they stay out of the way
    3. Wrap them around the passenger footrests and knot them under the machine
    4. Secure the loose ends so nothing can reach the chain, the wheel or the road
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    Answer D: Secure the loose ends so nothing can reach the chain, the wheel or the road

    A dangling cord can be caught by the rear wheel or the chain and jam it, which can lock the wheel without any warning to the rider.

29. When is a rider ready to start carrying passengers?

    1. As soon as a license or endorsement to ride has been issued
    2. After enough solo experience to handle the machine without thinking
    3. Once the motorcycle has covered its first scheduled service
    4. Whenever a passenger says that they understand and accept the risk involved
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    Answer B: After enough solo experience to handle the machine without thinking

    A passenger changes how the machine accelerates, brakes and turns, and only a rider who no longer has to think about the basics has attention to spare for that.

30. Besides fitting the machine, what else must a passenger be capable of?

    1. Riding a motorcycle without help if the rider is unable to continue
    2. Following the rider's instructions throughout the ride
    3. Judging the traffic behind and warning the rider about it
    4. Operating the rear brake pedal from the passenger footrest
    Show answer

    Answer B: Following the rider's instructions throughout the ride

    Instructions such as staying still, holding on and not getting off until told are what keep the pair balanced, and a passenger who cannot follow them is unsafe.

31. Why is it better for a passenger to hold the rider's waist or hips rather than the rider's shoulders?

    1. Weight held low is less likely to disturb the rider's steering
    2. The rider's shoulders are the first area to become tired on a long ride
    3. A grip on the shoulders leaves the passenger unable to see the road ahead
    4. Holding the waist stops the passenger from sliding forward when braking
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    Answer A: Weight held low is less likely to disturb the rider's steering

    Pulling on the shoulders feeds the passenger's movement straight into the rider's arms and handlebars, while a grip at the waist keeps that weight low and central.

32. Your motorcycle has a grab rail behind the passenger seat. What should the passenger know about using it?

    1. It replaces the need for footrests once the machine is moving
    2. It is only meant to be used while the motorcycle is being pushed
    3. It is fine to hold, but they must still brace against acceleration
    4. It should be held with one hand while the other rests on the seat
    Show answer

    Answer C: It is fine to hold, but they must still brace against acceleration

    A rail behind the passenger gives a secure grip but does nothing to stop them sliding backward, so they still need to expect the machine to pull away.

33. You are about to accelerate hard to merge with traffic. What should you have arranged with your passenger?

    1. That they lean back to keep the front wheel on the ground
    2. That they take their hands off you so you can steer freely
    3. That they slide backward on the seat to put more load on the rear tire
    4. That you warn them beforehand so they can tighten their grip
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    Answer D: That you warn them beforehand so they can tighten their grip

    A passenger who is not expecting a burst of acceleration is thrown backward, and the sudden shift of weight upsets the machine just when the rider needs it settled.

34. What happens if a passenger leans the opposite way to the rider in a curve?

    1. The motorcycle straightens up and slows down all by itself
    2. The motorcycle becomes harder to steer and may run wide in the curve
    3. The extra weight on the outside improves grip at the rear tire
    4. Nothing changes, because the rider's input controls the machine entirely
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    Answer B: The motorcycle becomes harder to steer and may run wide in the curve

    A passenger leaning against the turn fights the lean angle the rider has set, forcing extra steering effort and pushing the machine toward the outside of the curve.

35. When may a passenger get off the motorcycle?

    1. As soon as the motorcycle has slowed to walking pace at the destination
    2. Whenever the sidestand has been put down, whatever the rider is doing
    3. Once the engine has been switched off, without waiting to be told
    4. Only after the rider has stopped, braced the machine and said so
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    Answer D: Only after the rider has stopped, braced the machine and said so

    A passenger climbing off before the rider is ready removes weight from the back of a machine the rider is still holding upright, which can drop it.

36. How should a rider and passenger arrange to communicate during a ride?

    1. By agreeing on simple signals or taps before the ride starts
    2. By having the passenger shout instructions over the rider's shoulder
    3. By stopping every few miles to ask whether everything is all right
    4. By having the passenger tap the rider's helmet whenever they want to talk
    Show answer

    Answer A: By agreeing on simple signals or taps before the ride starts

    Wind and engine noise make speech unreliable, so a short set of signals agreed in advance is the dependable way for a passenger to say they need to stop.

37. A passenger is getting on at the roadside. Which side should they use if the exhaust and the sidestand allow it?

    1. Whichever side the passenger finds easier to swing a leg over
    2. The side away from moving traffic, clear of the hot exhaust
    3. The traffic side, where the rider can watch them more easily
    4. From directly behind the machine, stepping over the rear wheel
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    Answer B: The side away from moving traffic, clear of the hot exhaust

    Getting on and off away from passing vehicles keeps the passenger out of traffic, and the side chosen must also keep their leg clear of the hot exhaust.

38. How should a passenger swing their leg when getting off the motorcycle?

    1. Forward over the fuel tank and the rider's shoulders
    2. Downward between the rider and the passenger seat
    3. Sideways across the rider's back, using the seat for support
    4. High and clear of the exhaust and the rear of the machine
    Show answer

    Answer D: High and clear of the exhaust and the rear of the machine

    A leg dragged low across the back of the motorcycle can catch the seat or the luggage and will find the hot exhaust, so it is lifted well clear.

39. What happens to a motorcycle's ground clearance when a passenger is carried?

    1. It is reduced, so parts touch down at a smaller lean angle
    2. It is unchanged, because the suspension takes up the extra load
    3. It increases, since the suspension is compressed evenly at both ends
    4. It only changes when the passenger and the rider lean in opposite ways
    Show answer

    Answer A: It is reduced, so parts touch down at a smaller lean angle

    The extra load compresses the suspension and lowers the machine, so footrests and other parts can drag on the road sooner in a turn.

40. What limits how much weight a motorcycle can carry?

    1. The load limit given by the manufacturer for that machine
    2. The size of the passenger seat and the saddlebags fitted to it
    3. The strength of the elastic cords used to tie the luggage down
    4. The weight the rider can still hold upright with both feet on the ground
    Show answer

    Answer A: The load limit given by the manufacturer for that machine

    The manufacturer's figure covers the rider, the passenger and everything carried, and going over it overloads the tires, the brakes and the suspension.

41. You are pulling away from a stop with a passenger for the first time. What should you expect?

    1. The clutch will engage sooner than usual because of the extra weight
    2. The machine will roll away on idle alone, with no throttle needed at all
    3. The front wheel will lift unless you keep your weight over the tank
    4. You will need a little more throttle and a slower clutch release
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    Answer D: You will need a little more throttle and a slower clutch release

    The extra weight makes the motorcycle harder to get rolling, and a rushed clutch release with a passenger aboard is a common way to stall or lurch.

42. Your passenger keeps leaning out to one side to see the road ahead. What should you do?

    1. Allow it, since it gives the passenger a better view of the hazards
    2. Ask them to stay in line with you and look over your shoulder instead
    3. Ask them to lean out on the other side as well, to balance the effect
    4. Ride further from the center line so their view is no longer blocked
    Show answer

    Answer B: Ask them to stay in line with you and look over your shoulder instead

    Leaning out shifts the combined weight sideways and unsettles the machine, and a passenger can see far enough by looking past the rider's shoulder.

43. Your passenger has ridden on other people's motorcycles before. What should you do before setting off?

    1. Brief them anyway, because your machine and your instructions differ
    2. Skip the briefing, since an experienced passenger already knows the rules
    3. Ask them how the last rider they went with preferred to do things
    4. Give them a shortened briefing that covers only the emergency signals
    Show answer

    Answer A: Brief them anyway, because your machine and your instructions differ

    Handholds, footrests, exhaust position and the signals a rider uses all vary from machine to machine, so every passenger is briefed on the machine they are about to ride on.

44. What must you check about a load before riding away with it?

    1. That the load is heavy enough to stay put without needing to be tied
    2. That the load rests against the passenger seat rather than on the rack
    3. That it does not cover the tail light, the brake light or the signals
    4. That the load can be reached and adjusted by the rider while under way
    Show answer

    Answer C: That it does not cover the tail light, the brake light or the signals

    Luggage that hides the lights leaves drivers behind with no warning that the motorcycle is slowing or turning.

45. A load has been packed onto the seat behind you. What else must it not do?

    1. Restrict how you move on the seat or reach the controls
    2. Sit lower than the top of the passenger seat on either side
    3. Touch any part of the frame or the rear of the passenger seat
    4. Weigh more than the passenger who normally rides on that seat
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    Answer A: Restrict how you move on the seat or reach the controls

    Baggage that pins the rider in place or gets in the way of the handlebars and levers takes away the control the rider needs in an emergency.

46. Where should the hooks of an elastic luggage cord be attached?

    1. To the rear turn signal stalks, which are the easiest points to reach
    2. To the exhaust pipe, which is the strongest fitting at the back
    3. To a cable or a wiring loom, since these are flexible and forgiving
    4. To solid points on the frame or the rack that will take the pull
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    Answer D: To solid points on the frame or the rack that will take the pull

    Hooking a cord to bodywork, a signal stalk or a cable can break the part or damage the wiring, and the load is loose the moment the anchor fails.

48. You are fitting a tank bag to your motorcycle. What must you check?

    1. That it is tall enough to shield your chest from the wind at speed
    2. That it does not foul the handlebars or block your view of the instruments
    3. That it can be unclipped and lifted off with one hand while riding
    4. That it rests firmly against the seat so it cannot slide forward at all
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    Answer B: That it does not foul the handlebars or block your view of the instruments

    A bag that catches the bars at full lock or hides the instruments interferes with control of the motorcycle exactly where the rider needs it most.

49. Why must a tank bag be strapped down properly rather than simply laid on the tank?

    1. Because a loose bag will scratch the paint on the fuel tank
    2. Because an unstrapped bag adds weight to the front of the machine
    3. Because the fuel filler cannot be opened while a bag sits on it
    4. Because a bag that slides can reach the controls or your hands
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    Answer D: Because a bag that slides can reach the controls or your hands

    Braking pushes anything loose on the tank forward toward the handlebars, where it can jam the steering or interfere with the levers.

50. What should you confirm about your saddlebags before riding away?

    1. That both are latched shut and neither is overloaded
    2. That the heavier of the two is fitted on the left hand side
    3. That each one is packed until it is completely full and firm
    4. That they hang low enough to sit level with the rear axle
    Show answer

    Answer A: That both are latched shut and neither is overloaded

    An unlatched or overstuffed bag can swing open or sag into the rear wheel or the exhaust, either of which can wreck the machine's handling at once.

51. Why does a passenger often feel the cold sooner than the rider on a long ride?

    1. The rear of the motorcycle receives none of the heat from the engine
    2. A passenger sits still and does not have the fuel tank to shelter behind
    3. The passenger seat is normally mounted higher up and so catches much more wind
    4. A passenger is not working the controls and so generates no warmth
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    Answer B: A passenger sits still and does not have the fuel tank to shelter behind

    The rider has a screen or a tank to break the wind and is busy operating the machine, while a passenger sits exposed and inactive and chills faster.