RTT Cheat Sheet

The essentials of the Riding Theory handbook (2026) on two pages. The test: 50 questions in 50 minutes, pass with 45 correct.

Key numbers

<200ccClass 2B petrol motorcycles (electric: below 15 kW)p.3

1 yrto pass the practical test after the RTTp.4

1 yrholding Class 2B before the Class 2A testp.3

10minimum age of a child pillion passengerp.88

10-20 mmclutch lever free playp.18

15-20 mmfront brake lever and rear pedal free playp.17

20 mmmaximum drive chain slackp.25

1.6 mmminimum tyre tread depthp.16

120°angle of your arms on the handlebarp.20

0-20 km/hspeed range for 1st gearp.34

3,000-4,000rpm to change up a gearp.35

¾ saverage rider reaction timep.44

3 s / 6 sfollowing gap; 6 s when tailgated, wet, at nightp.43

12 sscan ahead; clear road needed to overtakep.53, 81

6 s / 8 sgap to turn left / right from a minor roadp.45-47

11 memergency brake course stop from about 30 km/h (wet)p.97

Controls and gears

Left hand	clutch lever	Right hand	throttle, front brake
Left foot	gear pedal	Right foot	rear brake

Twist the throttle towards you for more engine speed. Front brake: pull gradually with four fingers. Rear brake: press gently; hard locks the wheel. p.27-28
Neutral is between 1st and 2nd (green 'N' light). Lower gear = more pulling power: use it to move off and go uphill. p.28
Changing gear: clutch in fully, close the throttle, move the pedal once, release the clutch gradually. p.36
Vibrating because you are too slow for the gear: change down. p.35

Checks before riding

Tyres: tread, damage, pressure. Wrong pressure makes the motorcycle unstable. p.14-16
Engine oil: check cold, on level ground. Chain slack no more than 20 mm. p.16, 25
Mirrors: adjust while seated, not on the main stand; you see the tip of your shoulder. p.26
Throttle, clutch and brakes work smoothly. A stuck throttle: clutch in, engine off, brake. p.26
Removing the catalytic converter or other unapproved changes: illegal modification. p.18

Posture and riding gear

Knees grip the fuel tank lightly; arms at about 120°, elbows slightly bent; arches of the feet on the footrests. p.20
Helmet: rider and pillion, chin strap fastened. Bright or reflective clothing; a white helmet at night; gloves. p.19-20
Headlight on at all times, day and night. p.62
Pillion: hold your waist with both hands, feet on the footrests. Adjust your mirrors after they sit. p.88

Braking

Emergency stop: both brakes hard without locking, body straight, knees on the tank; clutch in just before you stop. p.38
Engine braking: close the throttle in gear with the clutch out. Useful on wet roads and long slopes (2nd gear on steep descents). p.37
Clutch in too early: you free-wheel and take longer to stop. Brakes overheating: brake fade. p.37-38
Wet road: about twice the stopping distance. Stopping distance = reaction + braking distance. p.38, 44

Lanes, junctions and overtaking

Changing lane: mirrors, signal (3 s), blind spot. A growing image in your mirror is closing in on you. p.49-51
Keep left; riding slowly in the right lane is road hogging. Ambulance: pull in left or right. p.49
Uncontrolled junction: straight across, give way to straight traffic from the right; turning right, give way to straight traffic from all directions. p.56-57
Roundabout: give way to traffic on your right. Yellow box: do not block it. Flashing amber: lights out of order. p.57-60
Overtaking: one vehicle at a time, never near crossings or junctions. On the left only when the vehicle ahead turns right, you turn left, or on one-way roads. p.53-55, 85
U-turn only where a U-turn sign allows it. Filter lane: give way to pedestrians and traffic from the right. p.46-48

Defensive riding

Know, Slow, Show, Go at junctions. Give-way rules give nobody the right of way. p.82-83
Two-vehicle crashes are the biggest category. Rear-ending someone: usually your fault. p.78
Tailgated? Widen the gap in front. Oncoming car drifting over? Move left and slow; leave the road as a last resort. p.79-82
Heavy vehicles have blind spots at the front, sides and rear: do not ride in them. p.9
Pass parked cars about 1 m away; cyclists and pedestrians with their backs to you 1.5 m. p.71-76
Do not ride tired, angry, on drowsy medicine or after drinking. p.6, 68

Bends, weather and expressways

Bends: slow down and change gear before; steady speed through; speed up on the exit. Lean with on gradual bends, lean out on sharp, slow corners. p.65-66
Rain is most slippery at the start. Steel plates, manhole covers and road paint are slippery. Aquaplaning: ease off the throttle. Skid: steer into it. p.9, 63, 69
Strong wind: slow down, lower gear, firm grip. After a flood, brake on and off to dry the brakes. p.64
Expressways: no learners; build up speed on the slip road. Breakdown: shoulder, hazard lights, sign 20 m behind, wait behind the guardrail. p.66-67

Emergencies

Front brake fails	rear brake and change down to 2nd
Puncture	grip firmly, steer against the pull, brake gently
Engine seizes	clutch in at once, brake gently to the side
Accident, no injury	move aside, settle it or tell your insurers
Bus lane hours	enter only to avoid a collision

p.89-90; engine seizure: general advice, not in the handbook

Circuit courses

Crank course: look along your path, not at the obstacle. Slalom: rear brake without fully closing the throttle. p.92-94
Narrow plank: look beyond its end, half-clutch, rear brake for speed. p.95
Stalled on the slope: brake at once, Neutral, restart. Emergency brake: stop within 11 m. p.96-97

Page numbers refer to the Riding Theory handbook (2026), free from the Traffic Police Online Learning Portal.
Practise questions, mock tests and flash cards at www.sgdriving.net

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