Left foot down at stop. Always?
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
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From: Badlands of ND
Left foot down at stop. Always?
Yesterday I was bored and got to thinking.
Here in the USA it is common to put your left foot down when you stop. This is because the rear brake is operated with your right foot, and you need that to stop. Also because we ride on the right and the crown on the road, such as it is, means that if we put our left foot down it is easier to keep the bike more upright because it is a shorter reach to the ground on the left than on the right. But what about the people in countries that ride on the other side of the road? What about older bikes with right side shifters or older bikes with a hand shifter and a left foot clutch? Did people always and everywhere stop the same way? Or is a regional thing? I would like to hear from people in England or Australia or some folks that ride older bikes with alternate brake and shifter locations. Not that it makes any difference to anything, but I am just wondering.
Here in the USA it is common to put your left foot down when you stop. This is because the rear brake is operated with your right foot, and you need that to stop. Also because we ride on the right and the crown on the road, such as it is, means that if we put our left foot down it is easier to keep the bike more upright because it is a shorter reach to the ground on the left than on the right. But what about the people in countries that ride on the other side of the road? What about older bikes with right side shifters or older bikes with a hand shifter and a left foot clutch? Did people always and everywhere stop the same way? Or is a regional thing? I would like to hear from people in England or Australia or some folks that ride older bikes with alternate brake and shifter locations. Not that it makes any difference to anything, but I am just wondering.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
The OP nailed it.
When I rode my 71 Sportster, or Triumphs and BSAs, I put my right foot down, because the left was doing the braking. (they all shifted on the right)
Now I use my left.
So it's not the crown of the road, it's the foot that is available.
When I rode my 71 Sportster, or Triumphs and BSAs, I put my right foot down, because the left was doing the braking. (they all shifted on the right)
Now I use my left.
So it's not the crown of the road, it's the foot that is available.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 846
Likes: 13
From: Out there!
Depends really, turning right or left on the flat or uphill (I'm in the UK)
Generally right foot down and left ready to change gear rather than a cluster ***k at say a set of lights. Left foot down is taught at training schools for learners to pass their test.
Many people are happy to use the front brake on a incline but beware of any roll back, junction to the left generally best with left foot down, junction to the right generally best with right foot down. But other things to bear in mind such as road camber as its no good going to put a foot out and find the road is too low for you.
In essence and to sum up its all about thinking about it and doing what is best for the given situation
Generally right foot down and left ready to change gear rather than a cluster ***k at say a set of lights. Left foot down is taught at training schools for learners to pass their test.
Many people are happy to use the front brake on a incline but beware of any roll back, junction to the left generally best with left foot down, junction to the right generally best with right foot down. But other things to bear in mind such as road camber as its no good going to put a foot out and find the road is too low for you.
In essence and to sum up its all about thinking about it and doing what is best for the given situation
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 402
Likes: 30
From: Richland MI
I also ride on the otherside of the road, in Okinawa, and I put my left foot down if not both.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 3
From: Texas
I ride in Texas.
Both feet down.
Both feet down.
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