Questions for motorcyclists?

Question

I just started riding (taken my course, gotten the endorsement) but I have a few questions. Do you fully stop at stop signs or turning on a red light (feet down) if there is nobody else waiting or do you sit at an idle for a few seconds and take off? When you are stopped on a hill, do you use your front or back break? I currently put my feet down at every stop sign/yield (even if nobdoy is coming) and i find its easier to use the rear brake on hills. What is your personal preference? Thanks

Answer 1

congrats on the endorsement

When at a stop sign or a right turn with no approaching traffic I will put  my left foot down, even if for but a second.  When stopped on a hill I use my front brake to hold the bike, allowing for both feet down.

I have been riding for 40 years, I am confident with my skills but not with with everyone else on the road.  I take every ride with wide open eyes, watching ahead, side roads, stopped vehicles, passing vehicles, watch for blind spots and so on .   100 % confident is not 100% at ease - stay alert!

Answer 2

You know life is funny sometimes. Let's say you encounter a tailgater or you have to make a more quick or sudden stop, such as a light turning quick. You are now faced with a life threatening decision that requires split second thinking. At your level of driving experience or riding experience what's relevant is whether you are anticipating the situations far enough in advance. Everything before you should be something serious enough to demand your full attention well in advance and that includes even your ability to imagine things happening based on the potential of something happening. Expecting the unexpected to happen.

The last thing on your mind should be what other people tend to do, that's totally irrelevant to your own level.

YOUR RIDING SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON YOU AND THE THINGS YOU ARE FACING IN A REASONABLE AND PRACTICAL APPROACH. That's how you learn, live, and survive. If you ask the questions above like you have then the truth is you are seeking short-cuts and permission to take short-cuts.

The more you anticipate things in advance, the more you practice defensive driving, the more you expect and prepare yourself for the unexpected - the more trained you become. The more trained you become the more natural it becomes to scan and evaluate situations.

As a result your brain will process information more quickly through practice and time.

There are no short-cuts and what others do is absolutely none of your concern at your level.

You don't get my permission for anything but to follow the rules.

On a hill or in any braking situation use both brakes, when it's time for you to proceed, keep your foot on the brake and release the hand brake, you'll need to give it some throttle - release the foot brake last to prevent yourself from rolling backwards.

Who is 100% confident raise your hand?

That's a rhetorical question - don't answer  

Just keep practicing the rules and what you were taught it is a time tested way to learn and develop  the skills that make decision making come more natural.

Now take a lap

Mr. Woodcock

Answer 3

If anyone is confident after one month, they haven't a clue.  You never stop learning, even if you've been riding for 50 years.  In fact, the longer you've been riding and the more confident you get, the more dangerous you become.  It's the confidence that makes you not pay attention. Something will happen when you least expect it, and it's usually someone else's fault, but you will still be injured or even killed just the same.  I do what they told us in Driver's Ed-- always assume every other driver is an idiot and will do something stupid like pull into your lane or make a turn right in front of you.  Be prepared for anything, because they'll do it.

I always stop at red lights/stop signs, but don't always put both feet down.  If there's nobody coming and no cop around, I'll downshift to first and do sort of a balanced stop to where I'm not really moving but not off balance yet.  You can stop for a second that way and then accelerate without having to put both feet down.

Stopped on a hill-- I will use both brakes to stop and then just the front brake to hold it so I can put both feet down.

Answer 4

The real question is " why is a stop sign called a stop sign ? "

YES you stop at STOP signs, that why they are called STOP signs.

Answer 5

Good Job!

You are best to err on the precautious  side. Personally, I can momentarily stop without putting my feet down, but most people cannot, so I don't recommend that.  Going around a corner feet down is not good.  You need to slow down,counter steer, and throttle through.  By all means stop if you cannot see enough to judge if you can go.

I always use the front brake on a hill.  I prefer to have both feet down when I am stopped, and I usually put my bike in neutral when I am stopped at a light.  To pull off, I will hold the front brake, use the base of my hand to throttle up a little bit, let out the clutch, until you feel it grabbing, let off the brake, and you can go.

Answer 6

When I come to a stop sign I usually downshift all the way to first, continue to hold the clutch in, come to a slow creep, look both ways, then let the clutch out and continue on my way.  When I come to a red light I always shift all the way down to first and put both feet down, then turn right on red.

When I am stopped on a hill or stopped in general I always put both of my feet down.  This gives me the feeling of having the bike more balanced underneath me.  

I have been riding for about a half of a year now and I do not feel 100% confident at all.  I would say by the end of next summer I will feel close to 100%.

Answer 7

very good questions...first off i rarely fully stop, mostly a stop and

go thing, one foot down if any. I like to keep a foot on shift lever.

I use Front brake on a hill, so my feet are available for shifting

and balance..  A yield sign means just that, if clear i don't even

slow down for it...  lastly front brake accounts for 70 to 90%

of stopping,  when breaking your bike will dive forward and take

all the weight off rear wheel..  I know it takes practice but for

quick stops, front brake is best with help from rear brake.

and trust no one when riding..

Answer 8

I stop at stop sign only if there is traffic. If I can see that nobody is coming, I just slow down to a safe speed and roll through it. I keep my feet on the pegs.

When I do stop on a hill or where ever, I only put one foot down. At red lights I'm in neutral hands and arms resting with my right foot on the rear brake. The only exception is during heavy traffic times or areas where I stay in gear in case I got scoot out of danger from some cager on the phone who doesn't see me.

Answer 9

I f there is noone around I can stop for a second and go at a stop sign without putting my feet down. If its a light and im gonna be there awhile, I put the bike in first, hold the back brake and clutch. One foot on the ground. If I dont need the brake then sometimes I put both feet down. I always stop where required though. Never know when that other butthead is gonna blow the intersection.

Answer 10

Congrats on your endorsement.

Do you fully stop at stop signs or turning on a red light (feet down) if there is nobody else waiting or do you sit at an idle for a few seconds and take off?

You are supposed to stop like if you are in a car.

I do california stops at stop signs normally in 2nd gear. lol. If I'm turning on a red light, i go once in the clear.

When you are stopped on a hill, do you use your front or back break?

If I'm stopped for a short time I just just my front brakes with clutch in. If I'm stopped for a longer period of time and with cars behind me, i use back brakes with the bike in neutral, so I can let my hands free.

I currently put my feet down at every stop sign/yield (even if nobdoy is coming) and i find its easier to use the rear brake on hills. What is your personal preference.

I don't put my foot down (when it's clear). Like i said, I use both rear and front depending on the situation, but i like using the rear much better.  

Answer 11

I generally do come to a complete stop at stop signs. On hills I put both feet down and only hold the front brake with my index finger keeping the rest on the throttle for easier take off. Congrats!!!

Answer 12

  The law says a complete stop.

  Either brake will work.

  I was confident after 1 month of starting.

Answer 13

I rarely put both feet down at a stop. I like to keep the Clutch as well as front and rear brake covered in case some idiot comes barreling up from behind and I need to escape Quick. I use the front brake on hills because I find both feet are needed to balance the  bike. As for confidence, never 100% that I have riding mastered, that can get You hurt.