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When you stop, which foot/boot do you usually put on the ground?

This seems like a stupid question, but with my Honda I put my left foot down, but on the Beemer I use my right to counteract the torque of accelerating the in-line crankshaft!

Left foot because my right foot is on the brake pedal.

Left for me too. That was how I was taught - so I could keep the right foot on the rear brake - even though I rarely use the rear brake.

Left foot first, then the right foot while I hold the front brake with my right hand.

Funny, I just noticed this today. I touch down with my right. I was also taught to put your left down first. Somewhere along the line, I forgot. I slow with my rear brake but do the final bit of stopping with my front I guess. Anyway, Right for me.

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...

Left foot first. I'm usually either in 1st or neutral already by the time I come to a complete stop. If not, I'll switch feet and get it into neutral once stopped. If I'm on a flat, I'll hold the bike up with the right foot down so I'm ready to go with a downshift. If I'm on a slope I'll hold in place with left foot down and right foot on rear brake to give my right hand a break on the brake lever.

The only thing I don't like about the beemer is the constant whine of the ABS when I'm stopped. It just feels like the bike is working too hard when it just should be .... stopped.

neither.

i balance it on two wheels whilst waiting for the light to turn.

actually, i've done that a few times...actually made it to 10 sec....right next to a cop. thought i might get a ticket since i heard a foot must come down for the bike to be at a complete stop.

Another for the left foot down with the right on the brake...

BigC wrote:Another for the left foot down with the right on the brake...

you should allway,s come to a dead stop with your right foot covering the rear break.

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...

I always leave it in first gear just in case....

Interestingly enough, last night I was in my car(automatic) waiting at a light behind another car. As I usually do, I left plenty of space just in case....

Well lo and behold, I see in my rearview mirror a car coming at me at a too high rate of a speed, I hear screeching brakes as I swerve all the way to the left. Between me doing this and him swerving all the way to the right, we avoid collision. I just shook my head, what an idiot. Boy it sure makes me think about being on my bike when an idiot like him comes barreling down on my rear end!

My fellow riders, when waiting at a light, please leave it in 1st gear and please leave enough room to make a collision avoidance manuever.

I was always taught the left-foot-down approach (ease to a halt with the rear brake), but for the the UK's Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists test they prefer you to put your right foot down.

The idea is that you can hold the bike on the front brake and slip into neutral with your left foot. Then select first again ready to pull away.

It's OK-ish, but my servo front brake is a bit grabby for losing those last few miles an hour and I never did get the hang of rolling on the throttle while easing the front brake off for a hill start!

But never mind, once you're through the test you're out of sight and the left foot comes into its own again!

There was a long thread about this on the BMW Sport Touring forum. Seems like riders with larger bikes ( RT's and LT's ) often put both feet down at the same time. I find when I'm riding my RT, that's what I do. On my R-bike, I usually put my left foot down and then the right after a full stop. I leave it in gear and allow room to move if the guy behind me looks like he isn't stopping. Basically, that's how we were taught in the MSF courses.

I was taught the Advanced Riding technique which Beemer mentioned. I'm not sure that it is universally known as such, but we called it the 'Hendon Shuffle' (After the police driving school?)

Ride safely,

Rog

Beemer1150 from the UK said:

The idea is that you can hold the bike on the front brake and slip into neutral with your left foot. Then select first again ready to pull away.

I failed the UK driving license (rather, licence) test for putting my vehicle in neutral before coming to complete stop and waiting the requisite time - still not exactly sure how long that is.

But as far as putting feet down, I usally put the left, then right because of the foot brake. And I still kick it into neutral just as I stop.

Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales wrote:I was taught the Advanced Riding technique which Beemer mentioned. I'm not sure that it is universally known as such, but we called it the 'Hendon Shuffle' (After the police driving school?)

Ride safely,

Rog

HI Rog(uk) as taught by the york i.a.m group it's the (hendon hoakeykokey) left foot down shake it all about. keep bike in gear clutch in ready for quick escape . but cover rear break
DONT FORGET tuesday the 16.01.07 bmw meet at squires cafe from 7ish if you ride a brick or a box it,s great

I use my left foot, right foot is helping me stop

Do you guys with integrated brakes still use the rear brake to stop?

I use my left foot, right foot holds the bike in place with the brake if needed. I have integrated brakes, but still use the rear as I ride my wife's bike some times and she does not have integrated, just want to keep the habit. I also leave bike in gear, line up to the left side of the car in front and watcht the mirrors until I have 2 or more cars stopped behind me. Saw a fallen rider this past summer that got rear ended and killed. Witnesses said he tried to get his bike going and get out of the way, but was not fast enough, got squished between the two cars. Several of the motor guys at work had similar stories, but were able to pull out of the way and were missed, and it happened to me last week on way to work. Traffic slowed, watched cars in my mirror, started to pull away again and wham! car behind me got nailed and pushed forward and partly into on coming traffic. I was already rolling and was spared the hit.

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