Braking, Curves & Swerving
Stop short, hold a line through a curve, and swerve without going down.
These are the three things a rider does when something goes wrong, and all three punish a late or rough input. Study how the front and rear brakes share the work, the slow-look-press-roll sequence that carries you through a curve, and why braking and swerving have to happen one after the other rather than at the same time.
The rules that matter
- The front brake gives about 70 percent of your stopping power — use both brakes together, and if the front wheel locks, release and reapply smoothly rather than grabbing harder.
- A motorcycle turns by countersteering: at speed, press the handgrip on the side you want to go — press left to lean and go left.
- Take curves in one sequence — slow before the turn, look through it to where you want to be, press to lean, then roll on gentle throttle through the exit.
- In a corner or on a hazard, brake before the turn — braking hard while leaned over is how riders lose the front end.
- Brake or swerve, not both at once: shed the speed you can, release the brakes, then swerve — the tires cannot deliver maximum grip in two directions at the same time.
- A swerve is two quick presses, one to go around the hazard and one to straighten up, with your body loose and the bike doing the leaning under you.
The lessons in this module
Each lesson is one short set of questions. If you've missed questions in this module before, a few come back at the start. Progress saves automatically; sign in only if you want cross-device sync.
Lesson videos
1 lesson · See all →Read this in the handbook
Look for these sections: Braking, Turning, Emergency.
This content comes from the MSF operator manual, not a state handbook, so the rules are the same nationwide. Your state agency may add its own endorsement requirements on top.
Where these rules come from
We do not copy official handbooks — most states do not allow it. What we do instead: state the rule in our own words, then name the official document behind it. 35 questions in this module cite 2 official documents, none checked earlier than 2026-06-07.
| Official document | Sections cited |
|---|---|
Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual ↗ National · Checked 2026-06-14 | Controlling The Motorcycle - Braking Systems, Controlling The Motorcycle - Covering The Brake, Cornering |
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Rider Course ↗ National · Checked 2026-06-07 | Braking, Cornering, Road Hazards |
Opening a source takes you to the agency's own site, never to a copy of ours. If a source is out of date or broken, say so from any question.
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Review these questions
If a tire goes flat while riding, you should:
- A. Slowly close the throttle, hold the bars firmly, and ease off the road
- B. Apply the brakes hard immediately to stop before losing control
- C. Speed up to keep the motorcycle stable on the flat tire
- D. Let go of the handlebars and let the motorcycle coast
Show answer
A. Slowly close the throttle, hold the bars firmly, and ease off the road — Gradually reduce speed without sudden braking. Hold the handlebars firmly as the flat tire may cause pulling. Ease off the road.
Universal rule · checked against Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual — Ride Within Your Abilities - Crash Avoidance · verified 2026-05-17
On a right curve, starting in the left portion of the lane gives you:
- A. A shorter path through the curve, letting you carry more speed
- B. Less visibility
- C. A broader view of the curve ahead and more reaction time
- D. A place to park
Show answer
C. A broader view of the curve ahead and more reaction time — Riding the outside of a curve (left in a right curve) gives you a wider view of what's ahead and more time to react.
Universal rule · checked against Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual — Ride Within Your Abilities - Cornering · verified 2026-05-17
On a motorcycle equipped with linked or integrated brakes:
- A. Only the front brake ever works, misunderstanding how linking works
- B. Applying one brake control also applies some braking to the other wheel
- C. The brakes only work below 10 mph
- D. You must pump the brakes to stop
Show answer
B. Applying one brake control also applies some braking to the other wheel — Linked systems automatically distribute braking to both wheels, so knowing your bike's setup helps you brake predictably.
Universal rule · checked against Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual — Controlling The Motorcycle - Braking Systems · verified 2026-06-13
If your front tire goes flat while riding, you should:
- A. Brake hard with the front brake
- B. Let go of the handlebars
- C. Accelerate
- D. Grip firmly, ease off throttle, use the rear brake
Show answer
D. Grip firmly, ease off throttle, use the rear brake — Hold handlebars firmly but don't fight them. Ease off throttle, use engine braking and gentle rear brake. Avoid front brake.
Universal rule · checked against Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual — Ride Within Your Abilities - Crash Avoidance · verified 2026-05-17
A wobble (tank slapper) is best handled by:
- A. Gripping firmly, easing off throttle, and letting bike stabilize
- B. Applying the front brake hard to settle it
- C. Fighting it with steering
- D. Accelerating quickly
Show answer
A. Gripping firmly, easing off throttle, and letting bike stabilize — Don't fight the handlebars. Grip firmly, ease off throttle gradually, keep your weight low, and let the bike settle. Do not brake.
Universal rule · checked against Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Operator Manual — Ride Within Your Abilities - Crash Avoidance · verified 2026-05-17