Which foot do you put down when stopped?

[Nelly]

We can all remeber being taught to cover the back brake when we stop. I don't know if its me, being a right hander. I always go to put my right foot down and leave the rear brake uncovered. I have to do a bit of shuffling on the seat to make it comfortable for me to cover the brake and put my left foot down. It just dosn't feel comfortable or as balanced putting the left down first. Do any of you have any similar experience with this.

Neil

 

[DefyInertia]

Both feet!

I'm not familiar with the "cover rear brake" advice....care to explain the benefits?
________
Glass weed pipe

 

[DrBart2]

It depends on which way I start to fall. I really have no idea. I have never taken notice. I cover the brake with my hand. I think they both go down about the same time.

 

[Nelly]

Both feet!

I'm not familiar with the "cover rear brake" advice....care to explain the benefits?

I was thinking that you would say that, your a lanky fella. The principle of covering the rear brake whilst being stopped in traffic is to provide some safe guard if you get a slight nudge from behind. In case your hands come off the bars. The other rational is that it allows a smoother pulling away, particularly if parked on a hill. It allows the throttle to be clear. This was the explanation that we were told on a training awarness course that was run by the police.

 

[tolgatt]

i think it depends on how long i will stay like that,,if i dont wanna put the bike in neutral and just wait on clutch i use my left foot and cover the brake with right foot...but sometimes i put the bike in neutral even before i do a complete stop,,than i put my right foot on the ground and get ready to shift with my left foot when the light goes green..

for stop signs or if im gonna park the bike i definitely use the left foot on the ground

 

[reiobard]

I don;t put either foot down, i am a master of balance?

 

[Nelly]

The Hendon Shuffle

:thumbup:I just found this on a motorcycle training website in the UK.

Q I've heard about something called the Hendon Shuffle. What is it?

A Well, it's not a North London card sharping technique. It's something taught to trainees at the Hendon Police school which involves a right foot down, left foot up, change gear, left foot down, right foot up to cover brake to get out of gear at a standstill and the same procedure to get back into gear. The theory is that you are always covering a brake all the time you are stationary. It's something many experienced riders dispense with.


Q So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

A Assuming a standard left foot gear change, right foot brake...
Left leg down:


+ hill starts are much easier using the back brake
+ allows the use of the rear brake for improved stability and slow speed control, for instance when coming to a standstill or filtering at walking pace where you might have to stop suddenly, or descending a steep hill
+ allows you to show a brake light, improving visibility to traffic behind
+ holding the bike on the rear brake possibly reduces the risk of losing control if you are hit at low speed from behind
- you have to do the 'Hendon Shuffle' to get out of gear and back in to gear - rather tedious and often unnecessary, and in certain circumstances where you may need to move of smartly (eg if you have filtered to the front of a queue) potentially dangerous

Right leg down


+ you can get in and out of gear easily
+ you can gently hold the front brake for the visibility effect of the brake light
- you can't use the back brake so have to rely on the front brake only when coming to a halt, reducing stability and control when the bike is least stable
- hill starts are much more difficult using the front brake
- unless you are holding the front brake, a gentle tap from behind will send the bike shooting out from underneath you as you WILL put your footdown to recover balance

 

[Scorphonic]

The only way to stop on your bike is to apply both brakes as necessary, before you come to a complete stop release the front brake and use back brake to bring the bike to a smooth stop (if you continue to use front brake you will cause the front end to jerk as the front forks take the final braking strain...which isn't great for control purposes). When you release the front brake and you have the back brake applied, pull in the clutch when you have to!! and keep back brake covered while the LEFT leg goes to ground to keep the bike stable. This is the ONLY way you should ride your bike as it is the safest. If a car threatens to rear end you then you have a good chance to get away as you are still in first gear and you just have to move off as normal. Also if a car does rear end you, chances are you wont be thrown over the handlebars as the front brake is not applied. You will move forward and fall off but as your not thrown over the handlebars there is less risk that the bike will fall on top of you and crush you to death. Finally, it is NOT bad on the engine to keep the clutch pulled in for long periods, but if you find that a few cars have come to a stop behind you it is safe then to apply front brake, pur right foot down, bring left foot up to knock bike into neutral, put left foot down to ground, bring right foot back to the rear brake and release the front brake. Just do the reverse when the lights are about to turn green.

I know some of you will say this is rediculous but this is the correct way to ride your bike. Its a pain in the arse with all the foot switching but you will find that any descent motorcycle Police officer/ cop/ Garda will do this. I was taught this by a man who instructs the UK police how to ride at an advanced level.

EDIT: just noticed that what I have explained is in the post above!! at least what i have said backs up the technique that every biker should know and practice!

 

[Nelly]

I don;t put either foot down, i am a master of balance?

LMAO or you got training wheels on.

 

[Nelly]

The only way to stop on your bike is to apply both brakes as necessary, before you come to a complete stop release the front brake and use back brake to bring the bike to a smooth stop (if you continue to use front brake you will cause the front end to jerk as the front forks take the final braking strain...which isn't great for control purposes). When you release the front brake and you have the back brake applied, pull in the clutch when you have to!! and keep back brake covered while the LEFT leg goes to ground to keep the bike stable. This is the ONLY way you should ride your bike as it is the safest. If a car threatens to rear end you then you have a good chance to get away as you are still in first gear and you just have to move off as normal. Also if a car does rear end you, chances are you wont be thrown over the handlebars as the front brake is not applied. You will move forward and fall off but as your not thrown over the handlebars there is less risk that the bike will fall on top of you and crush you to death. Finally, it is NOT bad on the engine to keep the clutch pulled in for long periods, but if you find that a few cars have come to a stop behind you it is safe then to apply front brake, pur right foot down, bring left foot up to knock bike into neutral, put left foot down to ground, bring right foot back to the rear brake and release the front brake. Just do the reverse when the lights are about to turn green.

I know some of you will say this is rediculous but this is the correct way to ride your bike. Its a pain in the arse with all the foot switching but you will find that any descent motorcycle Police officer/ cop/ Garda will do this. I was taught this by a man who instructs the UK police how to ride at an advanced level.

EDIT: just noticed that what I have explained is in the post above!! at least what i have said backs up the technique that every biker should know and practice!

Thats the Hendon Shuffle mate, I was under the impression that we were all taught it.
I do find it hard to do instinctivley. It is the way I was taught though.

 

[Scorphonic]

when i started off biking initially it was both feet, all the time with the front brake applied!!! Then I got training and never did anything else but this technique. I must say that I rarely do that Hendon Shuffle...I dont mind holding in the Clutch as it doesn't have to be held in that far anyways!

I was always worried that by holding in the clutch I will wear it out but my instructor reassured me that if he can hold in the clutch of his Ducati every day during his instruction lessons for 2 years and not suffer any clutch problems then any bike will be fine.

 

[jsteinb95]

both feet!!!!

 

[reiobard]

in all honesty though, i go from right to both and never cover the brake unless i am on a steep uphill.

 

[grommit]

If you judge it right you should not need to come to a full stop. :Flip:

 

[Numpty]

I was taught left foot down and straight to cover brake.so i stuck with it.

 

[sportrider]

I downshift as slow down, as I come to a stop I'm already in 1st gear. I put my left foot down. if the light changes I'm gone, if I caught the light just as it turned red once I get a few cars stopped behind me I normally will put my right foot down so I can shift into neutral then relax tell the cross light turns yellow. while relaxing I normally have both feet down as well as my hands off the bars. most of the ground around here is relatively flat so holding the bike is not an issue. if I am stopped on a hill, once in neutral I'll cover the rear brake to give my hands a rest. I found that is my norm and it keeps me ready if I had to accelerate before I have a space cushion behind me, and gives my hands a chance to relax if I'm going to be sitting for a few minutes.

 

[christod1]

Never thought of this one before. I've been riding for 12 years and no one had ever told me this one. I think basicly from instict I alsways put the left foot down and cover the rear brake. Good question....:thumbup:

 

[Mattberkshire]

At a standstill I always ride the clutch for too long. I always stop with both brakes but at a set of lights I am right foot down ready for the lightning upchange to 2nd. I don't cover the rear at a standstill because, as I said, I ride the clutch. I hate traffic lights with a passion and am always at the front of the queue ready to go. My feeling is if I have barged to the front and am sat in front of a car it is only fair that I bugger off straight away. Don't want to keep anyone waiting whilst I hop from leg to leg. First - zoooooooooooooooooom, 2nd - zoooooooooooom, calm down, 3rd, 4th, 5th - cruise

 

[Nelly]

At a standstill I always ride the clutch for too long. I always stop with both brakes but at a set of lights I am right foot down ready for the lightning upchange to 2nd. I don't cover the rear at a standstill because, as I said, I ride the clutch. I hate traffic lights with a passion and am always at the front of the queue ready to go. My feeling is if I have barged to the front and am sat in front of a car it is only fair that I bugger off straight away. Don't want to keep anyone waiting whilst I hop from leg to leg. First - zoooooooooooooooooom, 2nd - zoooooooooooom, calm down, 3rd, 4th, 5th - cruise

Were you taught the shuffle lugs? Of topic, how was the interview?

 

[Mattberkshire]

No I wasn't. 1 day CBT. 6 lessons. Never taught the shuffle. If I can afford it I would like some advanced riding lessons or track time to improve t'skills.