Which foot do you put down first at a stop?

[Moustache]

Is there a correct way?
Discuss

[Hawks_Nest]

Left one down after you made "full stop". Better keep the right one on the brake pedal always.

[ariwhiteboy]

Neither...

J/K  When I do plant my feet I usually drop my left or both. Depending on how I'm feeling/how long I'm sitting.  IMO it doesn't really matter which technique you prefer, what does matter is watching your mirrors for cagers getting ready to plow into you and being ready to bolt via your already planned out escape route.  That probable saved Bumblebee's life a few weeks ago.

[Laminar]

As i'm providing 75% of the stopping power with the front brake and 25% with the rear (sometimes I get crazy and go 66/34), when I come to a stop my right foot is busy, so my left foot goes down. As I slowed down I kept the bike in the ideal gear to take off if need be, so by the time I come to a halt I'm already in first.

[Bumblebee]

Ideally:
Put your feet down right as you come to a complete stop. Feet don't touch the ground until the wheels quit turning. It's all class when you come to a complete stop then wait about 1/4 second before casually putting your feet down and without being in a hurry about it..as in giving the impression that you're putting your feet down because you want to, not because you have to. It's something to aspire to..then dump your silly self when you get overconfident.

Pick your feet up as you start moving again. I typically roll no more than about 8-12 inches before my feet are on the pegs. NO dragging feet while stopping or starting like you forgot it was hanging there scraping along the ground. Feet dragging along the ground serve absolutely no purpose in a typical start/stop scenario other than maybe breaking your leg against the footpeg and ground. Feet down only serves a purpose when maneuvering at extreme slow speeds in places like obstructed garages or between trees, or while loading on trailers and such stuff. Otherwise get your feet up on the pegs where they belong. Besides, you look like a complete idiot when you drag your foot half a city block before picking it up.

Me typically:
Level ground: Full stop, both feet down.
Hills: Stop, left down, right on the rear brake as required.
Off level terrain: Step toward the closer ground. If you reach for ground on the downhill side, you're likely to dump your silly butt.
I practice balance whenever possible. If I can get away with it, I will keep my feet up on the pegs as long as possible.

what does matter is watching your mirrors for cagers getting ready to plow into you and being ready to bolt via your already planned out escape route.

LISTEN TO THAT IF NOTHING ELSE. THAT'S ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I am alive and uninjured because of that and remaining proficient...even then it was entirely way seriously too close. Someone tried to turn me into a motorcycle sandwich however I wasn't being very cooperative.

The writeup on attempted motorcycle sandwich on post #3776 here:
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,4036.3775.html
Avoid that no matter what foot you have on the ground.

[Burgi]

I usually try to keep it balanced as long as possible without touching down. By the time a foot is holding me up there really isn't much need for a the brake so it doesn't matter.
On some occasions your foot might hit oil, gravel, etc. May not be a problem for flat footers but if you only get one toe down you have to stay ready in case you slip. 

[Soupskin]

I'm in first gear before I stop and my left goes down first.

[muttstang]

yeah, doesn't really matter.  The important thing is that you are in 1st gear.

[LOKi]

left foot or both feet. But hardly ever the right foot. Make sure your in first before you come to a stop. This is important is you want to avoid a crash as BB did. If this is the case then the left foot is the only foot not doing anything when the bike comes to a full stop.

Sometimes I'll leave my feet hanging for a few seconds if I'm traveling. Stretches out the legs and relieves the knees. Just remember if you do dangle your feet when moving do not dangle them in front of the pegs. If your foot catches a bump or something it could break your leg against the pegs. If you dangle them behind the pegs then even if they are kicked back by something they won't get wedged between the pegs and the ground. Not that I ride very far like this or very often. More often if I'm on a 8+ hour trip.

[Brittles]

I've got strips of metal attached to the bottom of my boot heels. Usually put both feet down before coming to a stop and keep them down while taking off. Looks especially cool at night........the low spark of high heeled boys!!

I'm kidding of course. 

[rwilli1228]

Doesn't matter...

I always try to keep the bike upright as long as possible with my feet on the pegs after coming to a complete stop.  It's good balancing practice and helps you know your bike a little better.  So whichever way the bike wants to fall is the foot I put down first.

(My record is 4 mississippi on this)

I also like to balance the bike and put my feet on the pegs before I twist the throttle

As for the previous comment about watching mirrors.... that is most important I agree.  A few weeks ago I'm stopped at an intersection and I see an old guy in a Buick coming up pretty fast... so fast that I made sure nothing was coming and ran the light.  Turns out I did the right thing 'cause the old bag o bones ran the red light with me.  I would have turned off to the side but a car was turning right into the oncoming lane and on my right there was no space...just a big guard rail next to the white line.  There was no right turn so my only option was going straight (3 -way intersection)  If I had not gotten out of the way... BAM!   PHEW!

[Moustache]

The writeup on attempted motorcycle sandwich on post #3776 here:
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,4036.3775.html
Avoid that no matter what foot you have on the ground.

You know in the 4 or 5 days I've been riding around I have noticed so many more idiots on the road....

So insane cager lady did rear end the car in front of you?

Glad your still kicking.

[Bumblebee]

So insane cager lady did rear end the car in front of you?

I didn't go back to look but apparently it was a relatively high speed rear ending (50mph speed limit through there and everyone speeds) that involved several cages. Like I said, I didn't hang around to find out once my instincts screamed FLEE! There was a whole bunch of flashing red and blue lights back toward that intersection when I got back on the road. I hope that lady is still having bad emotional problems over what she thought she did. That would make it at least one cage safer for all of us.

Hmmm. I don't actually recall ever putting my feet up on the pegs when that happened. All I remember is both feet down then shifting into 2nd then braking for the turn. I guess that's what happens when you train until something is instinct.

[n5tbu]

Glad you made out ok Bee...wish I had come out like that 3 years ago,I did everything you did,except I took my eyes off the mirrors for a second.

[Bumblebee]

Glad you made out ok Bee...wish I had come out like that 3 years ago,I did everything you did,except I took my eyes off the mirrors for a second.

After thinking about it for a week, I'm coming to the conclusion that the actual difference between sandwiches and escapes have a lot to do with the setup conditions and variables which are often out of the riders control. Escape even under the best of conditions is at best a coin toss even if you're certain they're out to kill you and being suitably paranoid. The closure rates and decision time requirements happen too fast to think your way out of.
That doesn't mean drop your guard or give up. Do every damned thing you can as soon as you think you might be in trouble.

[timsgs]

 I'm a left foot down kinda guy myself, one poster said he put down the foot that the bike falls over on. Here is a tip that you maybe doing without knowing it, when your almost stopped completely, give the left grip a very small little bitty push and it will make the bike fall ever so gently to the left.

[green427]

You need a fourth option, "Both".

I always put both down immediately after a stop, and usually leave them there. I only use the left foot to hold the bike up on a hill.

[Moustache]

You need a fourth option, "Both".

*poof*
done

I'll try this pushing left technique, I have been falling right and am trying to move left, or both.  I like the idea of covering the brake.
Do they teach left at MSF?

[cmbutn2]

I always shift into first before stopping and then left foot down first. If I am on a hill the right foot stays on the brake, if not it goes on the ground usually. I believe this was how they taught it in MSF. The important part was to shift into first before stopping, which frees up the left foot to go down as soon as you stop.

[packetmangler]

I voted both but more and more I'm practicing putting my left foot down first.  Definitely helps with hills to keep that right foot up and on the brake. :)

Ray

[gammer]

Do they teach left at MSF?

They should.

Moustache, in the Ontario Motorcycle handbook says the proper way is left foot down at the stop, while you right foot is on the brake...clutch in and in gear.
The reason for left foot down first, is because you should be using your right foot to press the rear brake (in conjunction with the front brake) as you are approaching the stop.

[Bumblebee]

Interesting thread and answers.
I think I shall continue putting the foot, or feet, down that keeps me from toppling over in a heap on the ground.

[skramer360]

I voted "doesn't matter" but I usually put both down after the stop. I rarely use the rear brake at stops. I use three fingers on the front brake, I feel more in control that way. Just my $.02.

[Moustache]

Moustache, in the Ontario Motorcycle handbook says the proper way is left foot down at the stop, while you right foot is on the brake...clutch in and in gear.
The reason for left foot down first, is because you should be using your right foot to press the rear brake (in conjunction with the front brake) as you are approaching the stop.

I saw that, after I put this poll up, it makes sense, and I've definitely had to work against my natural inclination to put down right first. 

By the way Gammer, I'm living at CFB Kingston now, but have a lot of practice I need to do before I would feel I could ride competently with a veteran rider.
I rode out to Gananoque the other day, and bought some Seafoam at the Crappy Tire,  It's a nice area.

[gammer]

By the way Gammer, I'm living at CFB Kingston now, but have a lot of practice I need to do before I would feel I could ride competently with a veteran rider.
I rode out to Gananoque the other day, and bought some Seafoam at the Crappy Tire,  It's a nice area.

Hwy 2 out to Gan is definitely a nice ride. Even on the other side of Gan on the parkway is nice too. In fact I took this photo just as you get to Gan on Hwy 2 last fall for a game on the forum...


and to keep this on topic...I kept both feet down while taking this pic 

Shoot me a PM when you want to meet up. I think you said you were doing your MSF course this month. Perhaps when you are done it??