Motorcycle licence (A1, A2, A): free practice, theory and problems

1. Motorcycle classes, age and gear

The classes

• A1 from 16: light motorcycle, at most 125 cc and 11 kW.
• A2 from 18: motorcycle of at most 35 kW.
• A from 24, or from 20 if you have held A2 for 2 years: heavy motorcycle.

Protective gear

• A helmet is mandatory for rider and passenger.
• Wear gloves, jacket, trousers and boots made for motorcycling. Bright colours and reflectors make you easier to see.
• The motorcycle must always be ridden with lights on.

Training

Like for cars: the basic traffic course, practice riding, mandatory courses and a theory test with 45 questions (at most 7 mistakes).

Practise motorcycle classes, age and gear in the app →

2. Riding technique and balance

Countersteering

Above walking speed you steer the motorcycle by pushing the handlebar in the direction you want to turn: push the right grip, and the bike leans right and turns right.

Looking technique

Look where you want to go, far ahead and through the bend. You end up where you look.

Riding position

• Knees against the tank, relaxed arms and a light grip.
• A steady or slightly increasing throttle through the bend stabilises the bike.

Low speed

Use the clutch friction point, a little throttle and the rear brake to keep your balance at low speed and in U-turns.

Practise riding technique and balance in the app →

3. Braking and stopping distance

Front and rear brake

• When you brake, weight shifts forward. So the front brake gives most braking force, often around 70%.
• Use both brakes together for the shortest braking distance.
• With ABS you can brake fully without the wheels locking.

Braking in a bend

If you brake hard in a bend, the bike stands up and goes straight on. Straighten the bike and brake, or brake before the bend.

Stopping distance

Like for cars: stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance. Double the speed gives about four times the braking distance.

Practise braking and stopping distance in the app →

4. Bends and positioning

Positioning for visibility

Position yourself in the lane so that you see as much as possible and are seen:

• Left-hand bend: keep to the right part of the lane before the bend for a better view.
• Right-hand bend: keep more towards the middle of the lane (never over the centre line).
• Use a late turn-in: wait to steer in until you can see through the bend.

Safety margin

Keep away from the centre line in left-hand bends. Your body and helmet stick out beyond the bike when it leans.

Riding in a group

Ride staggered in a group, with good distance to the bike directly in front.

Practise bends and positioning in the app →

5. Visibility and interaction

Be seen

One of the most common motorcycle accidents is a car turning left in front of the motorcycle because the driver did not see it or misjudged its speed.

• The motorcycle is narrow and easy to overlook. Use lights, visible clothing and good positioning.
• Be ready to brake when cars are waiting to turn or pull out.
• Many motorcycles have indicators that do not cancel themselves. Remember to switch them off.

Interaction

• Keep a good distance and be predictable.
• Avoid the blind spots of cars and lorries.

Practise visibility and interaction in the app →

6. Grip, road surface and weather

What gives poor grip?

• Gravel in bends and at junctions.
• Road markings, manhole covers and rails, especially when wet.
• The first rain after a dry spell lifts oil and dust and makes the road slippery.
• Cold tyres grip less. Ride carefully for the first few kilometres.
• Leaves, diesel and patched asphalt.

Wind and weather

Strong crosswinds can push the motorcycle. Keep a relaxed grip, and be prepared on bridges and when leaving tunnels.

Practise grip, road surface and weather in the app →

7. Maintenance and checks

Before the ride

Check the tyres (pressure and wear), lights, brakes, chain and oil level. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Chain

The chain must be lubricated and have the correct slack according to the manual. A chain that is too tight or too loose wears quickly and can come off.

Tyres

Measure tyre pressure when the tyres are cold. Wrong pressure gives worse grip and unstable handling.

Practise maintenance and checks in the app →

8. Passenger and load

Passenger

• The passenger must wear a helmet, sit on an approved seat and keep their feet on the footrests.
• The passenger should lean with the bike and hold on.
• With a passenger the motorcycle is heavier: longer braking distance and slower acceleration.
• Adjust tyre pressure and suspension according to the manual.

Load

Place the load low and close to the centre. Heavy load high and at the back makes the bike unstable.

Practise passenger and load in the app →

9. Right of way

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Who must give way?

Giving way means driving so that the person you give way to does not have to change speed or direction suddenly. Show clearly and in good time that you will give way (slow down).

The right-hand rule

At junctions without signs, markings or lights, you give way to traffic coming from the right.

Signs that control right of way

• Give way (triangle pointing down): give way to traffic on the road you are entering. Stop if needed at the give-way line ("shark teeth").
• Stop (octagon): stop completely at the stop line, then give way.
• Priority road (yellow diamond): traffic from side roads must give way to you. The sign with a black stripe means the priority road ends.

Other rules

• When driving out of a car park, yard, petrol station, footpath/cycle path or across a pavement, you give way to everyone.
• When turning left, you give way to oncoming traffic going straight on or turning right.
• In a roundabout with give-way signs, you give way to those already in the roundabout.
• Give way to emergency vehicles with blue flashing lights.
• Let pedestrians who are on or stepping onto a pedestrian crossing cross.

Practise right of way in the app →

10. Signs and road markings

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Groups of signs

The shape and colour tell you what kind of sign it is:

• Warning signs: triangle with a red border pointing up. Warn of danger.
• Prohibitory signs: round with a red border. Something is forbidden.
• Mandatory signs: round and blue. Something is required.
• Information signs: blue rectangle. Give information (pedestrian crossing, parking, dead end).
• Supplementary plates: small plates under another sign that add information or limit the sign.
• Temporary signs, for example at roadworks, have a yellow background.

Road markings

• A yellow line separates traffic in opposite directions. A white line separates lanes in the same direction and marks the edge of the road.
• Solid line: must not be crossed or driven on.
• Warning line (long dashes, short gaps): warns of a solid line or danger ahead.
• Guide line (short dashes, long gaps): marks the centre or lanes; may be crossed when safe.
• Stop line (solid line across) and give-way line (shark teeth).

Practise signs and road markings in the app →

11. Positioning, changing lanes and overtaking

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Positioning

• Keep to the right of the carriageway, but not so far out that you endanger vulnerable road users.
• Plan your position before junctions: the right lane to turn right, furthest left in your direction to turn left.
• Signal in good time before changing lanes, turning or pulling out from the kerb.

Changing lanes

Check your mirrors and over your shoulder (the blind spot) before changing lanes. The one changing lanes must give way to traffic in that lane.

Overtaking

• Overtake on the left. You may overtake on the right when the vehicle you pass is turning left and has positioned itself for it.
• Overtaking is forbidden where visibility is too short, for example before hilltops and on blind bends, and where signs or a solid line forbid it.
• Do not overtake a vehicle that has stopped to let pedestrians cross at a pedestrian crossing.
• When you are being overtaken, do not speed up.

Roundabouts, merging and parking

• Signal right before leaving the roundabout.
• When two lanes become one, merge alternately (zip merge).
• On two-way roads, park on the right side. Do not stop on a pedestrian crossing or less than 5 metres before it.
• On motorways it is forbidden to turn around and reverse.

Practise positioning, changing lanes and overtaking in the app →

12. Lights, signals and traffic lights

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Lights on the car

• In Norway you must always drive with lights (dipped beam or daytime running lights) when the car is moving.
• Full beam must be dipped for oncoming traffic, when driving close behind others, and when it may dazzle pedestrians and cyclists.
• Rear fog light is only used when visibility is greatly reduced by fog or precipitation, because it dazzles in normal weather.
• Hazard lights are used when the car is stationary and a hazard, for example after an accident or when stopping in a queue on a motorway.
• The horn is only used to warn of danger.

Traffic lights

• Red: stop. Red and amber: the light will soon turn green, but you must still not go.
• Amber alone: stop if you can do so safely.
• Green: go, but give way to pedestrians and oncoming traffic when turning. Green arrow: go in the direction of the arrow.
• Flashing amber: take special care; signs and right-of-way rules apply.

Practise lights, signals and traffic lights in the app →

13. Alcohol, fatigue and attention

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Alcohol and drugs

• The blood alcohol limit is 0.2 per mille. Driving under the influence of other drugs is also forbidden.
• The body burns about 0.15 per mille per hour. Coffee, a cold shower or food do not make you sober faster.
• Medicines marked with a red warning triangle can impair your ability to drive.

Fatigue

Tiredness slows your reactions and can make you fall asleep. Stop, take a break or have a short sleep. Music and an open window do not help.

Attention

• Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is forbidden.
• At 80 km/h you travel over 40 metres in 2 seconds with your eyes elsewhere.
• Stress and anger lead to worse judgement. Plan your trip and allow plenty of time.

Practise alcohol, fatigue and attention in the app →

14. Winter, darkness and difficult conditions

🔗 Shared curriculum with Car licence (class B). The questions are the same, but your progress counts separately for each subject.

Darkness

• A pedestrian without a reflector is seen at about 25–30 metres with dipped beam. With a reflector you can see her at about 140 metres.
• Use full beam when you can, and dip it in good time.
• If dazzled by oncoming traffic, look towards the right edge of the road and slow down.

Slippery roads

• Ice can be extra slippery on bridges, in shade and where there is frost. Around 0 °C is especially slippery.
• Clear all windows, lights and the roof of snow and ice before driving.
• With ABS: press the brake hard and keep it pressed; you can still steer.
• Slow down and increase the distance.

Wildlife

• Moose and deer often come several together. Where there is one animal, more may follow.
• You must report to the police if you hit a deer-family animal (moose, red deer, roe deer, reindeer).

Practise winter, darkness and difficult conditions in the app →