Sunbeemer wrote:Do you guys with integrated brakes still use the rear brake to stop?
all ways use the rear break when stoping at slow speed it stretches the bike and makes it more stable. useing the front break shorten the bike makeing it more unstable in slow rideing
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
Either, usually left, right when left gets tired (had knee surgery and after long rides it feels rough), the fact that I have assisted brakes leaves right leg free to use :-)
Used to stop with left foot only. Now that I also had knee surgery two years ago and my legs and everything else is getting older (and older, and older) I stop with both feet down. This way there is no weight of the bike on the leg. What is important is to learn that when you have to stop on a leaning surface, lean the bike to the high side and put that foot down. Many bikes fell over when stopping on a incline and the leg wasn't long enough to reach the ground before the bike went over.
You don't stop riding because you get old - you get old because you stop riding!
I was taught left foot down right foot on the brake and NO front brake in case of a rear ending, The bike is less likely to go down with the front brake free.
16th you say Stan? See you there, do they floodlight the car park?
Good Advice Paul. Friend of mine went down when he stopped with the front tire of his full-dresser Harley on a speed bump and didn't find the ground wher he normally expected it to be . The bike fell on his knee compressing his lower leg between it and the ground causing spiral fractures in the fibia and tibia that took several pins and months to heal . Heavy bike that Harley, and he tried with more might than he had to keep it upright. Knowing what he knows now, he'll just let it drop next time .
MikeyD wrote:Right foot... I tend to be fiddling with the gear shift as I slow and stop... I like to leave it in neutral when stopped and then shift when the light goes green... is that a "not recommended" action? It's been a really really long time since I've been to classes...
Yes. Sitting in neutral is 'not recommended'
Imagine: You're waiting for the light to change and suddenly you hear screeching tires behind you as someone locks up the brakes... WHAT NOW????!!!! You'll lose enough time getting IN gear to get away, that you could be toast.
Chris wrote:I was taught left foot down right foot on the brake and NO front brake in case of a rear ending, The bike is less likely to go down with the front brake free.
16th you say Stan? See you there, do they floodlight the car park?
HI CRHIS yes car park well lit no probs with bike safety give me a call if you whant to meet up???
"DO the miles get the smiles" ? so many roads so little time. (silver is the fastest ok)
Lion_Lady wrote:
Imagine: You're waiting for the light to change and suddenly you hear screeching tires behind you as someone locks up the brakes... WHAT NOW????!!!! You'll lose enough time getting IN gear to get away, that you could be toast.
A good scenario to consider, for sure. I don't know if I would have the presence of mind to avoid stalling the engine or rear ending the vehicle in front (or driving into cross traffic) in such a situation.
Sounds like there is enough training covering both ways to put feet down (based on this thread) that everyone can basically do what they want.
"I love the feel of wind in my face and boobies against my back"
Taught this at the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Glasgow, Scotland.
Final stop from about 10mph on rear brake; left foot goes down. When stopped hold bike as required on front brake and keep brake light illuminated, put right foot down and select neutral. Stay this way until ready to move off, then select first gear, left foot down and right back up onto rear brake pedal, move off. Hence the shuffle in Hendon Shuffle
Stopping on the rear brake is said to leave the forks unloaded and gives more low speed control. It doesn't make much difference with telelever forks but it's a good habit to maintain IMO.
Continuously observe all around you and be prepared to select gear and move fast if necessary.
Covering the rear brake as you start away leaves your right hand free for best throttle control but still gives you immediate braking if the clown in front stalls or selects reverse.
Life is short but quality is always better than quantity
Thanks very much for describing the "Hendon Shuffle" clearly!!
Packer wrote:...still gives you immediate braking if the clown in front ... selects reverse.
Actually had that happen to me once...!! Unfortunately he backed right into me... fortunately I was in my car and he only lightly tapped my bumper before shifting into Drive and taking off...
"I love the feel of wind in my face and boobies against my back"
I don't totally agree with the above 'Hendon Shuffle' - although I did practise it. When I come up to a junction, if there is very little traffic, then I will go through the standard procedure, (whilst keeping an eagle eye behind) but if there is much traffic, then I will leave it in gear and make sure that I have an escape route until I have at least one car behind me.
Kinda funny, but when I took the MRC in Illinios back in the fall of 2000, the instructor taught us to use the left foot at a stop and cover the rear brake with out right, but he also said they were changing to teach riders to drop both feet.
The idea was that the rider was more stable at a stop and less likely to drop the bike if they set their left foot down on oil, coolant, or something else that would cause a slip.
all ways use the rear break when stoping at slow speed it stretches the bike and makes it more stable. 
useing the front break shorten the bike makeing it more unstable in slow rideing 
. The bike fell on his knee compressing his lower leg between it and the ground causing spiral fractures in the fibia and tibia that took several pins and months to heal 
. Heavy bike that Harley, and he tried with more might than he had to keep it upright. Knowing what he knows now, he'll just let it drop next time 
.
HI CRHIS yes car park well lit no probs with bike safety give me a call if you whant to meet up???
