How fast should you approach a turn from one street onto another?
Alberta Class 6 overview
Alberta Class 6: Turns, curves and skids
Turning at low speed, push-steering (counter-steering) through curves, and avoiding and recovering from skids.
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- 13 questions
- Topic drill
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Study reference: Rider's Guide (Spring 2023), Ch. 4 The Basics of Safe Operating and Riding — Turns and corners, Curves, Skids, pp. 33–35
All 13 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
How fast should you approach a turn from one street onto another?
- At the posted speed limit
- About 40 km/h
- Less than 10 km/h
- Less than 20 to 25 km/h
How does speed affect how much the motorcycle must lean in a curve?
- Higher speed needs less lean
- Lean is the same at any speed
- The greater the speed, the more it must lean
- Lean depends only on tire width, not on speed
Above about 20 to 25 km/h, what technique do you use to ride around a curve?
- Push-steering (counter-steering)
- Dragging your inside foot
- Turning the handlebars like a car
- Shifting your weight backward
Which gear should you be in for a turn at an intersection?
- First or second
- Neutral
- The highest gear
- Third or fourth
You are riding an unfamiliar winding road. How can you avoid getting into a skid?
- Follow the vehicle ahead closely
- Reduce your speed and plan ahead
- Brake firmly in every curve
- Ride in a higher gear
Where should you look while turning?
- At your mirrors
- At the curb or road edge beside you
- Down at the front wheel
- In the direction you want to go
Your motorcycle begins to skid. What should you do?
- Put both feet on the ground
- Brake as hard as you can
- Look and steer in the direction you want to go
- Look at the hazard you are avoiding so you can track it
You lose rear traction because you accelerated too hard. What should you do?
- Lean the motorcycle further over into the slide
- Ease off the throttle and steer your path
- Open the throttle even further
- Squeeze the front brake firmly
When should you gently accelerate in a curve?
- At the tightest point of the curve
- Never; coast all the way through
- When you are nearing the end of the curve
- Just before you enter the curve
You want to lean the motorcycle to the left to follow a left curve. What do you do?
- Pull back on both grips
- Turn the bars sharply right
- Push on the left hand grip
- Push on the right hand grip
What is a common mistake inexperienced riders make with curves?
- Slowing before the curve
- Entering the curve too fast
- Downshifting before the curve
- Looking through the curve
Which rider error commonly causes a skid?
- Looking well ahead of you
- Slowing down before a curve
- Keeping a steady, even speed through every turn
- Braking too hard, often with the rear
You must brake hard in a curve to avoid a hazard. What should you do first?
- Grab the rear brake hard
- Shift into neutral
- Lean further into the curve
- Bring the motorcycle upright
Turns, curves and skids: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Rider's Guide (Spring 2023), Ch. 4 The Basics of Safe Operating and Riding, pp. 33–35
- Approach a turn slowly: less than 20 to 25 km/h; shift before the turn; use first or second gear.
- Turn the front wheel and look where you want to go; coordinate clutch, throttle and rear brake; light firm grip.
- Above 20–25 km/h use push-steering (counter-steering): push left grip → lean and go left; push right grip → lean and go right.
- More push = more lean; higher speed needs more lean; you and the bike lean toward the inside of the curve.
- Near the end, release pressure; push opposite grip if needed to straighten.
- New riders often enter curves too fast: slow and downshift before; slow more in poor conditions; look through the curve.
- Avoid sudden slowing or accelerating while leaning; can brake in an emergency but bring bike upright first, avoid locking (threshold).
- Gently accelerate near the end of the curve.
- Causes: improper throttle/clutch/brake use, unsafe handling for conditions, steering too sharply, turning too fast, braking too hard (usually rear), accelerating too quickly, braking while turning; worsened by slippery surfaces, sand, gravel.
- Plan ahead; slow on unfamiliar roads.
- If skidding: don't panic; look and steer where you want to go.
- Over-acceleration skid: ease off throttle, look and steer where you want the front to go.
- Rear skidding: look and steer along intended path.
Other topics
- Road signsSign shapes and colours, regulatory, permissive and prohibitive signs, warning signs, school and playground zones, and construction signs.
- Traffic lights and signalsSolid, flashing and arrow lights, turns on a red light, pedestrian signals, lane reversal signals and flashing yellow beacons.
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, passing zones, two-way left-turn lanes, diamonds, painted islands, bicycle lanes, crosswalks and stop lines.
- Class 6 licensing and GDLLearning to ride, supervisors, Class 7 learner riding conditions, the knowledge and road tests, Class 6-GDL conditions, exiting GDL, mopeds and power bicycles.
- Helmets and protective gearApproved helmet standards, helmet types and fit, eye and face protection, jackets, pants, boots, gloves and hearing protection.
- Rider fitness and distractionsHypothermia, overheating and dehydration, alcohol, drugs and medication, fatigue, cell phones and other distractions.
- Controls and pre-ride inspectionChoosing a motorcycle that fits, learning the controls, the pre-trip inspection checklist and seasonal storage.
- Riding position, gears and parkingRiding position, starting, signalling, the clutch and friction zone, shifting gears, starting on a hill and parking.
- Braking, traction and stopping distanceTires and traction, using the front and rear brakes, threshold braking, and perception, reaction and braking distance.
- Lane position, space and being seenBlind spots, the space cushion, following distance, choosing a lane and lane position, and changing lanes.
- Intersections and passingLane position at intersections, a stalled motorcycle, passing emergency vehicles, when not to pass, passing on a two-lane highway and being passed.
- Night, weather and road surfacesRiding at night and in fog, wind and temperature extremes, hydroplaning, gravel, ice, metal gratings and railway tracks.
- Riding emergenciesEmergency braking, swerving around and riding over obstacles, a stuck throttle, wobble, tire blowouts, airborne objects and animals.
- Passengers, cargo and three-wheelersCarrying a passenger legally and safely, loading cargo, towing a trailer, three-wheeled motorcycles and sidecars.
- Group ridingGroup size, the staggered formation and following times, the lead rider's position, passing and changing lanes as a group, and single file.
- Sharing the roadPedestrians, cyclists, large trucks, school buses, snowplows, railway crossings and LRT, from Alberta's Driver's Guide.
- Demerits, impaired riding and penaltiesDemerit point limits for GDL and full licence holders, common demerit values, impaired driving limits and Alberta's Immediate Roadside Sanctions.