Michigan Motorcycle Permit Exam Simulator

A full-length mock motorcycle knowledge test: Michigan does not publish the count or pass mark; we use 30 questions at 80%. New questions every attempt.

How this simulator works

  • Knowledge test: 30 questions, 24 correct to pass.
  • No time limit, like the real test. Take your time.
  • You won’t see whether you were right until the end, just like at the Michigan test. Then you can review every answer with its explanation.
  • Questions are drawn fresh from the full Michigan bank each time.

Sample questions

  1. Your friend has a valid Michigan operator's license but no CY endorsement. May he ride his two-wheeled motorcycle on a public street?

    • A No, he must first add a motorcycle endorsement to his license
    • B Yes, a valid operator's license covers any motor vehicle
    • C Yes, as long as he stays on streets posted at 35 mph or less
    • D Only if another licensed motorcyclist rides with him as a passenger
    Show answer

    A. No, he must first add a motorcycle endorsement to his license

    Michigan law says that before anyone operates a motorcycle (other than an autocycle) on a public street or highway, they must have a motorcycle endorsement, the CY, on their operator's or chauffeur's license. The endorsement shows you have proven the extra knowledge and skill a motorcycle demands.

    Source: Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116), page 17

  2. During a quick stop, why do you gradually increase pressure on the front brake lever instead of grabbing it all at once?

    • A Weight shifts onto the front tire, so it can take more braking as the stop goes on
    • B The front brake is weak, so it needs time to warm up
    • C Squeezing gradually keeps the engine from stalling
    • D It lets the rear brake do most of the stopping
    Show answer

    A. Weight shifts onto the front tire, so it can take more braking as the stop goes on

    When you brake, the motorcycle's weight transfers forward, pressing the front tire into the road and giving it more grip. Squeezing gradually matches braking force to that growing traction, so you stop hard without locking the wheel.

    Source: Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116), page 52

  3. A 19-year-old has held a CY endorsement for three years and carries extra medical insurance. Must she wear a helmet when riding in Michigan?

    • A Yes, every rider under 21 must wear a helmet
    • B No, holding the endorsement over two years exempts her
    • C No, extra medical insurance exempts riders of any age
    • D Only when she rides on a limited access highway
    Show answer

    A. Yes, every rider under 21 must wear a helmet

    Michigan requires a helmet for anyone under 21, and for anyone taking a state-approved rider course or rider skills test. Riders under 21 cannot qualify for the helmet exemption no matter how much experience or insurance they have.

    Source: Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116), page 19

  4. When used correctly, about how much of your total stopping power does the front brake provide?

    • A About 25 percent
    • B About 50 percent, the same as the rear
    • C 70 percent or more
    • D Very little, so the rear brake should do most of the work
    Show answer

    C. 70 percent or more

    The front brake can supply 70 percent or more of your stopping power, because braking shifts the motorcycle's weight forward onto the front tire. That is why the front brake is needed for effective speed reduction, and using both brakes shortens your stopping distance.

    Source: Michigan Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS-116), page 40