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About This Quiz
Since the motorcycle's invention, riders have used it to declare their independence from conventionality, represented by riding more safely in an enclosed car. This became even more the case in America after the Vietnam War, when veterans who returned from the war took to the open road to escape -- or perhaps to express -- feelings of no longer fitting into society.Â
So it's only natural that the bike world has traditions and a language all its own, even if riding is just an enjoyable hobby, not a statement of outsiderhood. For example, do you know what "ape hangers" are, and how they change a bike? You've undoubtedly heard the word "chopper," made famous by customization businesses like West Coast Choppers -- but does that refer to any motorcycle or a specific type? What is "motorcycle armor"? And why do bikers wear gloves and boots? Is it just to look cool?
As with a long Saturday afternoon ride, there's a lot of ground to cover here, but we've got it covered, with a 35-question quiz. If the weather's too lousy to gear up and go ride, do the next best thing -- settle in and take our quiz! You can prove your motorcycle savvy, or learn a thing or two that will earn you respect at the rest stop or the bike shop. Enjoy!
What is the back door in a group ride?
The last rider
When you have a group ride, someone has to be in the very rear, or the back door. You want your most experienced rider back there, in case anyone else gets into trouble, so they can help and nobody becomes stranded.
The person who pays for gas
An escape route
The tailpipe
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What are ape hangers?
Where you tie monkeys
A place to dry your gloves
High handlebars
Also called monkey bars by some, ape hangers can make controlling a motorcycle a little more challenging. Some people think they look cool, and they show off that you're not some amateur rider.
An enclosure in a zoo
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When people are talking about motorcycle armor, what does that usually refer to?
Protective clothing
Any clothing that has reinforcements, padding, or other features that will protect you while riding your bike, especially if you crash, qualifies as armor. There's a huge range of armor styles, whether you want to look sleek and modern, or want a more classic biker gang vibe, so you have no excuse for not riding protected.
Steel plating
Shield, helmet, etc.
Medieval knight rides
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What is a dual sport motorcycle?
One you can use on the track and road
One you can use to drag race and slalom
One you can use for soccer and baseball
One that can be used on and off the road
These used to be referred to as enduro motorcycles, or models that have been designed to be ridden on trails as well as public roads. If you like to do both, getting one of these bikes can be worth the compromises.
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What is a motorcycle stoppie?
Stopping with the rear wheel up
Also referred to as an endo, this is an advanced stunt new riders shouldn't try to do, because it can result in a pretty bad crash. Generally, it involves just applying the front brakes, but it's more complicated than that, and requires a considerable amount of skill to pull off.
Stopping on a dime
Stopping at an intersection
Stopping when your mom says so
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What are drag bars?
A towing mechanism
Motorcycle tow truck
Low and straight handlebars
Basically the opposite of ape hangers, drag bars are at the same height as the risers. You'll see plenty of factory bikes with this design, since it suits a wide range of riders, and makes controlling the bike straightforward.
Biker bars
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What makes a motorcycle a cruiser?
Long and low
Think about your typical Harley Davidson, and you're likely picturing a cruiser. They're longer than most, plus sit closer to the ground, making them great for just cruising along at high speeds. Even though they usually weigh quite a bit, a larger engine makes them anything but slow.
Lightweight
High ground clearance
Upright riding position
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What makes a motorcycle a chopper?
Missing a wheel
No seat
The tank chopped off
Steeper and longer front end
Thanks to West Coast Choppers and Orange County Choppers, plenty of people have heard this term, but know little about it. A chopper's front end extends out further and is at a more dramatic angle than what you see from factory bikes. These modifications make it so the bike doesn't turn as well.
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Where is the clutch located on a motorcycle?
In front of the right handgrip
Under the seat cushion
On your right foot
In front of the left handgrip
If you squeeze the lever, it will disengage the clutch, which means no power goes to the rear wheel. As you slowly release it, power will once again flow to the rear wheel.
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Which handgrip is the throttle on a motorcycle?
Left
Right
If you want your motorcycle to move forward at all, turn the handgrip towards you. If you roll it the other way, that will decrease speed, without applying the brakes. Letting go of the handgrip should set the throttle to the idle position.
Center
Both
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Where is the rear brake control?
Behind the left footrest
In front of the left footrest
On the left handlebar
In front of the right footrest
You must press down on the pedal in front of the right footrest to engage the rear brake. Just like with car brakes, stomping on or pushing the pedal down hard will cause you to stop abruptly, which not only isn't comfortable, but also could cause an accident.
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Where is the front brake lever on a motorcycle?
In front of the right handgrip
You engage the front brakes by squeezing this lever. Again, just like the rear brake pedal, you want to squeeze this lever slowly and smoothly, or you'll stop too suddenly, which could make you loose control even more than applying the rear brakes hard.
On the left saddlebag
On the left footrest
On the left handgrip
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Where is the gear shift lever on a motorcycle?
In front of the right footrest
In front of the left footrest
Most motorcycles have a ratchet shifter, with neutral being between first and second gears. Shift up by lifting the lever up with your toe. Shift down by pressing down on the lever. You can only shift one gear at a time, so plan ahead.
On the gas tank
Next to the speedometer
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When riding in the rain, you should avoid making sudden what?
Purchases
Votes
Movements
Because the rain will make road surfaces slick, you really shouldn't stop, turn, or accelerate suddenly. That also means you should slow down, and pay especially close attention to everything going on around you, and further down the road.
Song changes
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Why should you wear gloves?
To protect your hands
With a huge range of glove styles, you can find ones that really suit your personal preferences, so you really have no excuse for not getting a pair. When you fall, automatically you put out your hands. Without gloves, your hands can get seriously torn up, making wearing them well worth it.
Look cool
To not leave behind fingerprints
To be called the gloved one
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What kind of support do good boots provide?
Moral support
Fashion support
Ankle support
Bikers wear boots not because they look cool, even though they do, but because they need the extra ankle support if they have to push up a bike that weighs more than them. Most boots also have reinforced toes, hardened soles, and other extra protection.
Head support
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Bikers know that where you look is where you often what?
Go
Paying attention to where you're going is essential on a motorcycle. You can't just be staring at things on the side of the road, because often that means you lean that way, and might even turn the handlebars away from your course, So, look where you want to go, and not other places.
See
Do
Don't
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You should enter turns doing what?
Slowing down and leaning in
Racers will tell you that entering a turn too hot is a good way to wreck out. Save the speed for when you're exiting a turn, and don't forget to lean in, or in the direction of the turn, so you stick it without incident.
Speeding up and leaning out
Picking your nose
A burnout
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What's another name for a sport bike?
Snake rocket
Rocket face
Sporty
Crotch rocket
Sport bikes are extremely powerful for their weight, and so they can move really fast, hence the analogy with a rocket. Sure, you don't need something like that, but driving a bike that's so quick can be a lot of fun. Just remember to watch your speed, or you could get a ticket or be in a horrible accident.
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Adventure bikes allow you to go where?
Off the road
If you want the ability to leave the road behind you and head down trails, an adventure bike is the right fit. These feature better ground clearance, plus the right kind of suspension travel to deal with the rigors of trails. Just remember to get the right tires for good grip on the dirt.
Your mom's house
On water
To the moon
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What could happen if you store your bike on its tires for the winter?
The tires go home
The bike explodes
Flat spots form
Flat spots on your tires are annoying, and they can really put you at risk of crashing. If your bike has a center stand, put that up so the tires aren't touching the ground. If not, you can buy a stand, or support the frame with wood blocks for the winter.
The tires melt
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Who should teach a new rider how to use a motorcycle?
Their dog
A professional instructor
The smart move is to look up an instructor through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. That will ensure the new rider learns everything necessary to be safe on the road, which could save a life.
A neighbor
A relative
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What keeps your motorcycle upright as you're rolling down the road?
The turning wheels
Despite what most people think, your body isn't keeping the motorcycle balanced as you're moving. Sure, that's the case when it's stopped, but as the bike is rolling along, the wheels act like giant gyroscopes, keeping it upright and moving. You can counter that by leaning too much, but your weight isn't the thing that keeps your bike upright.
Your keen sense of balance
The moon
Magic
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Countersteering means you turn the handlebars to the left to turn to which way?
Right
This is an advanced technique, but it's how you turn a bike at speed. Most riders don't get it down for about a year. You should practice countersteering with extreme caution, because not doing it correctly can lead to a huge crash.
Left
Neither
Either way
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If you hit the rear brake while turning, what happens?
You crash
You stop
You turn more sharply
More advanced riders know that when they need to make a U-turn or navigate a tight turn, the rear brake can really help them stick it perfectly. Practice this, and you'll be able to maneuver your bike through all sorts of areas with no problem.
Nothing
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You perform a burnout with what?
Rear tire
Burnouts look cool, and in races, they heat up the rear tire so you get better traction and, in turn, a better launch. The problem is that a burnout can severely wear down the tread on your tire, so know that going into burnouts and keep an eye on your tire afterward, just in case.
Front tire
Your mom
The tailpipes
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Before storing your bike for the winter, what should you do with the cooling system?
Remove it
Ditch it
Burn it
Flush it
Just like with a car's cooling system, freezing water in your bike's cooling system can ruin it. To ensure everything will be alright, flush the system and put in fresh coolant, using the exact mix that your bike's manufacturer recommends. This is a good preventative measure.
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What should you cover your bike with when storing it?
A plastic tarp
An old shower curtain
Something cotton
Using anything plastic to cover your bike could trap in moisture, plus form condensation on the underside. Whether it's an old sheet, large towel, or a purpose-made cover, something cotton that breathes and is soft will preserve your bike, instead of making it rust and smell gross.
Garbage bags
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What does a catwalk mean?
Popping a wheelie
Most people don't use this term much anymore, but you might hear it. Just know it's referring to popping a wheelie, and maybe you can ask an old-timer where it came from. There are lots of conflicting stories on that, and most are entertaining to hear.
Doing a burnout
Riding gingerly
Riding on all fours
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On long group rides, the chase vehicle is used for what?
Support
The chase vehicle is usually a van or pickup truck, and should be stocked with some common parts, gas, and tools. In a pinch, it can transport a broken-down bike and the rider, if your attempts at repairs don't work.
Chasing the last rider
Chasing away the cops
Chasing down fast food
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When a person talks about the binders on a bike, what are they referring to?
The handlebars
Handcuffs
The brakes
If you think about it, this name makes a lot of sense. The brakes bind or tie up the wheels on your bike, if you apply them hard enough, which is what makes you slow down or stop completely.
The exhaust
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What does ballistic nylon do for riders?
Adds protection
Developed by Dupont, ballistic nylon is a nylon fabric that resists tearing and abrasion, like if you were to fall off your bike at speed. If your pants, jacket, etc. hold up to the road, you're less likely to be seriously injured, which is why so many riders love this type of fabric for their clothes.
Looks cool
Costs them money
Nothing
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While traveling through rural areas, bikers might talk about corn snakes. What are they?
A type of snake
Dry cornstalks
As the corn is harvested in fields, the dry stalks will often blow onto the road. These can look like snakes, and will reduce the bike's ability to grip the road surface, so roll over them with caution and avoid making turns on them, if you don't want to take a dip.
Rattlers
Illusions
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If a bike has duals, what does that mean?
It has two wheels
It has two rear wheels
It has two seats
The two exhaust pipes are separate
Duals are dual exhaust pipes, which are possible when you have two cylinder banks. That means the engine is in a V configuration, no matter how many cylinders it may have. Duals look cool and can be good for performance.
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Grabbing a handful means you do what?
Grab the other person on the bike
Grab onto yourself
Hit the brakes or throttle hard and quickly
Some people think this refers to only hitting the brakes hard, or only laying on the throttle hard. But the term can be used for either, since you control the front brakes and the throttle with your hand.
Hold onto the handlebars super tight
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You Got:
/35
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