GA Motorcycle Permit Test​: Braking & Handling

Proper Brake Application

Use both brakes. Always. On the Georgia written exam, you’ll see questions that hint at “front brake only” or “rear brake only” as a safe habit. It isn’t. In most normal stops, the front brake provides most of your stopping power because weight shifts forward as you slow down. That forward shift increases traction on the front tire. The rear still helps stabilize the bike and shorten stopping distance when used correctly.

Go smoothly.

A common test trap is wording like may vs must. DDS questions love that. In real riding, you should apply both brakes in a controlled, progressive squeeze, not a grab. Grabbing can lock a wheel, especially on painted lines or metal plates in downtown Augusta or Macon construction zones.

If you’re practicing for a georgia motorcycle permit practice test​, keep these points straight:

• Squeeze the front brake progressively, don’t snatch it.
• Press the rear brake smoothly to help keep the bike settled.
• Downshift as you slow, but don’t rely on engine braking alone.
  This one trips people up.

Also remember the simple idea behind it all: traction is limited. If the road is wet and your headlights are on because wipers are on, braking distance grows. That’s not just a car rule. It’s a motorcycle survival rule too.

Shorter stops win.

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Handling Curves Safely

Curves are where new riders lose confidence. And points. On the permit exam, handling questions often come down to one big concept: countersteering. At speeds above a walking pace, you initiate a turn by pressing the handlebar in the direction you want to go. Press right, go right. Press left, go left. It feels backward until it clicks. Then it feels obvious.

It’s real.

Georgia roads give you every kind of curve. Quick bends on GA 400 near Sandy Springs, tight turns on older two lane routes outside Roswell, and long sweeping ramps around the Downtown Connector in Atlanta. The test wants you to know how to set up for all of them.

Slow first.

A safe curve strategy is often described as slow, look, press, roll. Slow before the turn, look through the curve, press to lean, then roll on a little throttle to stabilize. The “slow before” part matters because braking hard while leaned over can overwhelm traction. Some questions will offer an answer that says “brake in the turn to control speed.” That can be risky, and two answers look right if you’re rushing. Time pressure makes you misread.

Look far.

Lane position shows up too. In many curves, the best path is the one that gives you the best view and the most space cushion, not the one that hugs the centerline. On rural roads near Johns Creek or South Fulton, you also have to plan for oncoming drivers cutting the curve, plus deer at dawn and dusk.

Stay calm.

If you enter too fast, don’t panic and stand the bike up into the other lane. Instead, keep your eyes up, press more, and lean the bike as needed while staying in your lane. That’s the kind of “what should you do” question DDS likes.

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Emergency Maneuvers

Emergency questions are common because they’re simple to test and easy to miss. You’ll see quick stops and obstacle avoidance, sometimes in the same scenario. The key is knowing which action fits which problem. If you need to stop, brake hard and straight. If you need to miss something, swerve first, then brake if needed after you’re clear.

Decide fast.

For a quick stop, the goal is maximum braking without locking either wheel. That means firm, progressive front brake with steady rear brake, keeping the bike upright. Practice matters because your hands learn the feel. In Columbus, for example, traffic can bunch up near Fort Moore shifts, and sudden stops happen. On I 20 near Augusta during Masters week, it’s the same story.

Straight line.

For obstacle avoidance, most test questions expect you to know that swerving is a press and go action, not a lean and hope action. You countersteer quickly, move around the hazard, then straighten up. Braking while swerving is advanced and not the basic answer DDS usually wants.

Pick one.

Watch for these exam patterns:

• “Best” answer is usually swerve if there’s no time to stop.
• “Safest” answer is usually stop if you have space and traction.
• “Avoid” answers often include locking the front wheel or staring at the obstacle.
  This one trips people up.

And yes, Georgia law matters in emergencies too. Lane splitting is illegal, so “slip between cars” is never the correct choice on your permit test. Also remember Georgia’s fast traffic culture, especially around Atlanta interchanges. Leave space.

Breathe. Then act.