Advanced rider training, Part 1

[raftn]

I recently attended a one on one training session. It was an ego busting experince!

I learnt a lot, and I hope to encouagre other riders todo the same. Here is my blog..it is a bit long winded but explains a lot of the stuff in detail.

http://rogerfleming-raftnn.blogspot.com/2011/03/advanced-ridingpart-1.html

[javawocky]

I recently attended a one on one training session. It was an ego busting experince!

I learnt a lot, and I hope to encouagre other riders todo the same. Here is my blog..it is a bit long winded but explains a lot of the stuff in detail.

http://rogerfleming-raftnn.blogspot.com/2011/03/advanced-ridingpart-1.html

Dare I asked if you were forced to use four finger braking :doh:

Generally a good write up, I'm not sure that pulling the clutch in damages the it, but I am no grease monkey.

My stopping at the light regime consists of holding it in gear with the front brake looked nervously peering into the mirrors till I know the car behind me has stopped. Then relaxing and slipping it into natural when I know I am relatively safe with the car stopped behind me.

If I do use the brake at this point its the front non of that unstable foot swapping, but I do concede that with the back engaged you could possibly use the front to steer with.

[raftn]

Dare I asked if you were forced to use four finger braking :doh:

Generally a good write up, I'm not sure that pulling the clutch in damages the it, but I am no grease monkey.

My stopping at the light regime consists of holding it in gear with the front brake looked nervously peering into the mirrors till I know the car behind me has stopped. Then relaxing and slipping it into natural when I know I am relatively safe with the car stopped behind me.

If I do use the brake at this point its the front non of that unstable foot swapping, but I do concede that with the back engaged you could possibly use the front to steer with.

Thanks for your comment, I posted this link on another forumn, and there seems to be very different views on it. I think your stance, which is some where in the middle is a farily accurate reflection of what I will settle into, only time will tell. Compared to not knowing anything it is a good start!

[Bassmatt]

Interestingly I was told the exact opposite about my feet position when attending California Superbike School. " Balls of feet road or track".

[Maha]

Feet postion for me is personal thing, I alternate.
My rear brake gets used often, those who say dont use the rear break are wrong, I dont care how long they have been riding.
I use it mainly on a downhill, in conjunction with the front, the bike sits better on the road. I have used this technique since being told about by Unit (from TGA) a number of years ago. Hill starts, slow riding etc are the other of times it gets used. I have also used the rear break in an emergency stopping situation on two occassions, so there is a place for it.

[sinfull]

Enjoyed the read, cheers

[raftn]

Interestingly I was told the exact opposite about my feet position when attending California Superbike School. " Balls of feet road or track".

My understanding that that is the standard position for racing.

[raftn]

Feet postion for me is personal thing, I alternate.
My rear brake gets used often, those who say dont use the rear break are wrong, I dont care how long they have been riding.
I use it mainly on a downhill, in conjunction with the front, the bike sits better on the road. I have used this technique since being told about by Unit (from TGA) a number of years ago. Hill starts, slow riding etc are the other of times it gets used. I have also used the rear break in an emergency stopping situation on two occassios, so there is a place for it.

Exactly! This is what I was taught.

[Newo]

I may not have the experience to back up my opinions, however I somewhat disagree with the feet on the ground when at the traffic lights.

In the beginning, I used to always have my left foot down, right foot on the rear break and the bike in first gear. That way, if I needed to, I was able to move the bike in an instant. Later on I started putting both feet on the ground. This is because when the bike is completely vertical you have less stress on your legs and a more relaxed position.

The way I understand it, swapping feet to change into first, then swapping back to the rear break before taking off seems far more time consuming should you need to move suddenly.

As for the bike lurching forward putting you in harms way should you release the clutch. Again my experience is limited however when ever I have stalled my bike (88' CBR250) it hasn't moved forward very far at all. Also if your covering the break as you should be and you were hit from behind you are more likely to grip harder from the shock than to release and therefor wouldn't go anywhere except fall to the ground?

As I said, limited experience here but some of this just doesn't quite make sense to me.

[Shadows]

I disagree with the foot position when stopped and position of the feet when riding.

At lights etc, I'm left foot down, bike in gear with clutch in, right foot on brake and right hand on throttle. This allows for a quick departure if something bad looms in the rear view mirror.

My feet are sometimes flat on the pegs in heavy traffic but I have the balls of my feet on the pegs at all other times. Nothing upsets mid corner trajectory more than a foot scraping the road unexpectedly and with your feet in the best position to exert pressure on the pegs it makes it easier to turn the bike quickly and go for the gap when necessary. Main brake and clutch is up on the handlebars, so no need for foot controls until a half second later, even in an emergency.

[bogan]

Good reading, makes me wonder what things I will be pulled up on when I finally get around to going to one of these. Currently I'm still working on getting all the stuff sorted from the california superbike school guy's book.

The feet at lights confuses me a bit though, why not the right foot down, and us the front brake. Quicker to get in and out of gear that way, and can't see brake choice making a difference if you get rear ended!

[Shadows]

The feet at lights confuses me a bit though, why not the right foot down, and us the front brake. Quicker to get in and out of gear that way, and can't see brake choice making a difference if you get rear ended!

If you've got your hand over the front brake and you get bumped from behind, you are almost guaranteed to go down because as the bike is propelled forward you will only brake harder and fold the front under. Use the rear, on the other hand (or is that foot?), and there's a chance you'll stay upright.

Both might result in being shunted into traffic but I'd rather not be lying down on the job in that case.

[raftn]

Clearly common sense needs to prevails, and I am sure there is times when different options are required. Obviously when doing hill starts the rear brake being covered and the left foot on the ground with the bike in gear shorty before pulling away are the only options, and I know some of my american readers disagreed with the bike being in neautral at the lights etc. The main key is to ensure that both feet are up as quickly as possiable once the bike is in motion. I dont belive though that both feet should be on the ground. Only one is required. It makes for far smoother and quicker exit.

I have since I have done the training , used both options, depending on what is behind me and my postion, and which I consider safest. Devloping the skills is what is important and can only make you a better rider.

Again I am no expert, but some of what I was taught has made a great deal of sense and logic.

[CookMySock]

Eh? I just belt around and enjoy myself! And when i'm riding my bike I do the same! :yes:

[bogan]

If you've got your hand over the front brake and you get bumped from behind, you are almost guaranteed to go down because as the bike is propelled forward you will only brake harder and fold the front under. Use the rear, on the other hand (or is that foot?), and there's a chance you'll stay upright.

Both might result in being shunted into traffic but I'd rather not be lying down on the job in that case.

Possible, but also possible is you stop a lot quicker using the front brake.


Clearly common sense needs to prevails, and I am sure there is times when different options are required. Obviously when doing hill starts the rear brake being covered and the left foot on the ground with the bike in gear shorty before pulling away are the only options

I hill start fine with the front brake, though we are talking palmy sized hills rather than welli sized hills.

An a related note, I often tap away at the brakes when stopped with a car coming up behind, reckon flashing the brake light must make me harder to miss.