How Many Questions Are on South Dakota's Motorcycle Permit Test?
South Dakota's motorcycle knowledge test has 25 questions, requiring 20 correct (80%) to pass.
What the test covers
The 25 questions are drawn from the South Dakota Motorcycle Manual, covering topics like protective gear, braking technique, cornering, and sharing the road with other vehicles.
The minimum age for a motorcycle instruction permit is 14, matching the state's minimum age for a car instruction permit.
A shortcut through an approved course
Completing an approved Basic Rider Course automatically grants a South Dakota rider an M endorsement, without needing to take the state's own knowledge and skills tests separately.
A full motorcycle license still requires a minimum age of 16 and passing both car/truck and motorcycle knowledge tests plus a driving test if you skip the course route.
How our practice tests are structured
dmvwrittenexam.com's South Dakota motorcycle bank covers both nationally-consistent riding fundamentals and South Dakota-specific rules like its under-18 helmet requirement.
Each question includes an explanation and a source reference, so you learn why an answer is correct instead of just memorizing a letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on South Dakota's motorcycle knowledge test?
25 questions, requiring 80% (20 correct) to pass.
What is the minimum age for a South Dakota motorcycle instruction permit?
14, the same as the state's car instruction permit.
Can I skip the state's knowledge test entirely?
Yes — completing an approved Basic Rider Course automatically grants an M endorsement.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free South Dakota motorcycle practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24