Motorcycle permit study guide: your state’s manual

The official manuals

What’s inside

The state manuals are very alike, because most build on the same safety research. You’ll find chapters on protective gear, checking your motorcycle, basic control, lane position, intersections, hazards, passengers, group riding and alcohol. California’s handbook also explains its license classes, M1 and M2. For California, test questions come from the motorcycle handbook and the regular driver’s handbook.

How to study it

1. Read the sections on license rules for your state first, so you know what tests you face.
2. Work through the riding chapters, and note every number: following distance, angles and percentages.
3. Take your DMV’s sample test, if it has one.
4. Try our practice test, then reread the sections behind any question you miss.

Don’t forget the road rules

Some states also test general driving knowledge. California has riders under 21 pass the regular driver’s knowledge test too. New York’s motorcycle test includes road-sign questions. Florida’s Motorcycle Only license uses the regular Class E knowledge test.