How are most mopeds started?
Ontario M1 overview
Ontario M1: Mounting, starting and shifting
Getting on and off the stands, starting a motorcycle, moped or scooter, using the clutch and gears, riding posture, starting on a hill and parking.
- No sign-up
- Every answer explained
- Independent · not a government site
- 15 questions
- Topic drill
0/15
Study reference: MTO Motorcycle Handbook (online edition, 2026), Ch. 3 Basic motorcycle and moped driving skills — Getting on, starting, shifting, driving along, parking
All 15 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
How are most mopeds started?
- By pedalling first, then turning the key
- By rolling downhill in gear
- By kicking a lever above the right footrest
- By pulling a cord under the seat
What does the handbook recommend you do with your knees while riding?
- Let them hang loosely to relax
- Hold them firmly against the gas tank
- Point them out in turns
- Keep them spread wide for balance
Your motorcycle is on its kickstand. From which side should you get on?
- Either side
- The left side
- The right side
- From behind the bike
How can you tell a motorcycle is not too big or heavy for you?
- You can reach the handlebars standing beside it
- You can put both feet flat on the ground when seated
- You can lift the front wheel off the ground
- You can touch the ground with one toe
What is the purpose of the gears in a motorcycle transmission?
- To match engine speed with road speed
- To set the headlight angle
- To reduce tire wear on corners and curves
- To keep the brake light on
Why should you keep your wrists low while riding?
- So you can reach the horn quickly
- So your arms do not get tired
- So the mirrors stay in position
- So you do not speed up by mistake
When is the best time to shift gears for a turn?
- Right after you brake in the turn
- Before you enter the turn
- In the middle of the turn
- As you lean the furthest
You park on the kickstand. Which way do you lean the motorcycle?
- To the right
- Forward
- To the left
- Straight up
What gear should the transmission be in when you start a motorcycle?
- First gear
- Second gear
- Top gear
- Neutral
You are downshifting with the clutch pulled in. What should you do with the throttle to avoid a jerk?
- Close it fully until the clutch is out
- Leave it alone and use the rear brake
- Hold it wide open through the shift
- Twist it slightly to raise engine speed
Your motorcycle will not start. Which switch should you check, since it can be turned off by accident?
- The turn signal switch
- The high-beam switch
- The engine kill switch
- The horn button
You rock your motorcycle forward off its centre stand. How do you stop it from rolling on?
- Put both feet down hard
- Apply the rear brake with your hand
- Drag your boot on the ground
- Apply the front brake
You are putting a motorcycle on its centre stand. Which foot lowers and pushes down on the stand?
- Your right foot
- Your left foot
- Both feet together
- Either foot
When should you shift up to a higher gear?
- Whenever you start to lean the bike into a sharp turn
- When the engine is turning too fast for your speed
- When the engine is turning too slowly
- Right before you come to a stop
Why should you keep your toes up while riding?
- So your boots stay dry in the rain
- So they do not catch between the road and footrest
- So you can drag them to slow down
- So you can reach the shift lever and rear brake faster
Mounting, starting and shifting: 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 ↗
Getting on your motorcycle or moped
- Practise off the road first. Safety courses recommended.
- Bike must not be too heavy or large: feet flat on the ground when seated.
- Kickstand: mount from the left, straighten with the handlebars, kick the stand up with the left heel.
- Centre stand: mount, rock forward until it rolls off; stop it with the front brake. Raise stands fully before riding.
Starting
- Motorcycle: ignition on, kill switch not "off" (can happen by accident), neutral, choke as needed, clutch in, press starter and release when the engine fires; or kick-start lever above the right footrest.
- Then first gear, ease clutch out with feet down, raise feet, add throttle to avoid stalling.
- LSMs: most have a continuously variable automatic transmission and start with the key. Mopeds: most start by pedalling, then the key.
Using clutch controls and shifting gears
- Shift up as speed increases, down as you slow. Gears match engine speed (tachometer) with road speed (speedometer) and give power to accelerate.
- Shift up: pull clutch, lift lever with toe until it stops, ease out the clutch and roll on throttle.
- Downshift is harder: add a little throttle as you downshift with clutch in, or the bike may jerk.
- Do not shift while turning; jerky downshift can lock the rear wheel; too much power can break traction. Shift before the turn.
- Shift up when the engine is turning too fast for road speed; shift down when too slow or to slow down.
Driving along
- Fairly straight posture, arms slightly bent, firm grip, wrists low (avoid accidental throttle), knees against the tank, feet on footrests, never drag a foot, toes up, keep the bike vertical, especially when accelerating.
Parking
- Kickstand: push it down with your foot, lean the bike left.
- Centre stand: stand at the left holding both grips, lower stand with right foot, hold frame under the saddle, push down on stand with right foot while pulling back.
Study the Mounting, starting and shifting rules as flashcards →
Other topics
- Regulatory signsStop, yield, school zone and railway crossbuck shapes, green-ring and red-slash signs, turn and lane controls, stopping, standing and parking zones, community safety zones and HOV lanes.
- Warning, construction and guide signsYellow diamond warning signs for curves, hills, lane endings, crossings and hazards, orange temporary condition signs in work zones, green guide and exit signs, and the slow-moving vehicle sign.
- Traffic lights and pedestrian signalsGreen, yellow and red lights, turns on red, advance green and turn arrows, flashing lights and beacons, blank signals during a power failure, transit priority signals and pedestrian walk signals.
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, solid and broken lines for passing, continuity lines, stop lines, crosswalks, lane arrows, pedestrian crossovers and markings around fixed objects.
- M1, M2 and M licensingWho needs a class M licence, the M1 and M2 conditions, minimum times at each level, licence expiry, safety courses, L and M conditions for mopeds, scooters and three-wheelers, and rules for visitors and new residents.
- Helmets and protective gearOntario's helmet law, what makes a helmet approved and well fitted, and choosing jackets, pants, rain suits, boots and gloves that protect you and help others see you.
- Alcohol, drugs and fatigueZero blood-alcohol for novice riders, how alcohol and medication affect balance and judgment, cellphone and screen rules, fatigue, cold and strong emotions.
- Controls and pre-ride checkThe six primary controls, secondary controls such as the kill switch, choke and fuel valve, and the checks to make before every ride: tires, brakes, lights, mirrors and stands.
- Turning, cornering and brakingSlowing before a turn, leaning and looking through it, counter-steering, using both brakes, the front brake's share of stopping power, and choosing speed and tire track in curves.
- Seeing, being seen and signallingScanning ahead, mirror checks and shoulder checks, making yourself visible, collisions at intersections and with left-turning cars, horn use, turn signals and flashing your brake light.
- Space cushion and sharing the roadThe two-second following distance, space when stopped, side space and passing vehicles, tailgaters, and riding near trucks and buses: blind spots, wide turns, roll-back, spray, turbulence and bus bays.
- Lane positionTire-track blocking positions, which track to use in the curb, passing and centre lanes and in turns, slower mopeds and scooters, lane changes, lane sharing, lane splitting and passing on the shoulder.
- Freeway drivingWho may use freeways, safe speed and scanning, following distance, entering from a ramp, changing lanes near ramps and leaving at an exit.
- Road hazards, night and weatherLeft-turning cars, starting on a hill, riding at night and overdriving your headlight, slippery and uneven surfaces, gravel, gratings, railway crossings, rain, fog, cold and black ice.
- Group riding, passengers and cargoStaggered formation and single file, passing as a group, who may carry a passenger, adjusting the motorcycle and your riding for a passenger, and loading cargo safely.
- EmergenciesEmergency braking and ABS, swerving, running wide in a turn, riding over objects, animals, tire blowouts, stuck throttle, wobble, broken chain, engine seizure and pulling off the road.
- Insurance, registration and maintenanceCompulsory insurance and fines, plates and permits, the six-day reporting rules, buying and selling a used motorcycle, safety standards certificates, weekly maintenance checks and risky modifications.