How do you get moving on your bike?

[Lucy]

Hill starts weren't covered in my BHS course. I read about using the back brake for them in the roadcode. But I like to think that I would have worked it out, having driven a car for many years. Having said that, with old cars in the 80s handbrakes were a luxury that usually didnt work so riding the clutch and front brake is often easier for me to start on a hill, as when I use the back brake I often get the revs wrong and over rev it for fear of stalling.

[delusionz]

The BHS course I attended had scooters. Anyways, Hill start - index and middle finger on front brake, right foot down, left foot on gear & select 1, roll throttle with palm and thumb wrapped around, release clutch until catch then release front brake, start rolling forward, right foot on peg, clutch fully out & go.

[PuppetMaster]

[*]Put your left foot down first and cover the bike with the back and front brake while stopped, reason being if shunted you don't roll into the traffic ahead as easily.[*]While taking off always cover the back brake as you leave, regardless of whether or not you're on a hill. Conduct the appropriate over the shoulder/under the skirt head checks, etc.

I dont agree with these.
firstly, how can you cover the rear brake if you also have your left foot down ? thats pretty good balance.
Having the rear brake engaged aint gonna help jack shit if you get shunted. Your better off watching the mirrors and getting ready to get out of the way if it looks like some mutha aint stoppin. (seems like a good reason to lane split)
I take my foot off the back break and put it on the ground, that way I can flip it into neutral and stop at the same time-ish. Usually I will only have my right foot down, unless it is windy, or im facing downhill, I will use the rear break to stop rolling and take both hands off the bars most of the time until ready to move, then i swap back to right foot on ground, left changes gear etc.

Why would I want to cover the rear brake when taking off ? I dont want any break, Im leaving, and If im going to brake its gonna be 90% front anyway. Too much emphasis is put on the rear brake.

[Squiggles]

isnt front brake on while sitting on a slope a bad idea? warped disks and all... (have noticed mention of its use in a couple of posts)

[discotex]

isnt front brake on while sitting on a slope a bad idea? warped disks and all... (have noticed mention of its use in a couple of posts)

I'd heard that too. Probably only applicable when riding hard rather than pottering around town though.

It's just habit to sit in first with the clutch in and my foot on the brake. I like being able to make a quick getaway if someone looks like they're going to hit me while I'm at the lights or whatever.

The only exception is when stopped side on to a hill or when it's windy. Then I'll sit on the front brake.

Not risking warping my rotors is just a bonus really.

[carver]

I'm more worried about what ride instructors are telling new riders.

teaching n00bs

the big part is to tell them to look up as they take off, and ride the throttle and clutch by feel...
il take credit for teaching sidewinder how to ride!

[scumdog]

I got the hill start technique from the road code, plus a bit of common sense. The only lessons I had were the 2 hours before my BHS, and hill starts were not touched on. They didn't come up in either of my practical tests, either.

In my lessons, I was (initially) told to start with both feet down, and pick them up as I started to move. I don't remember being told any more than that later. Now, I often still do the same thing, or sometimes put my right foot up (especially if I need it on the brake, of course). I almost never start with my left foot up - which means I'm almost always sitting at the lights with the bike in gear, which I've heard isn't so good for it. I think most of my reason is that that is how I always started on a pushbike - push down on the pedal with the right foot, while pushing off with the left.

Richard
(riding about 1 year now - with a 3 month gap with no bike (almost the whole of my 6R))

Sheesh, 21 posts before this thread even STARTED being on topic - is this the 'new' KB way of doing things??

[slowpoke]

At the risk of straying back on topic, why would you use your right hand to control both throttle and brake when your right foot is sitting there doing nothing?
I've never ridden with anyone who slips their bike into neutral when they pull up to a set of traffic lights, I certainly don't. This means the bike is already in gear if you want to get out of some arse bandits way, which leaves you free to have your left foot on ground and right foot on brake.
If nothing else, this both feet on the ground then both feet onto the pegs manouveur looks fuggin' naff when you're following someone.....unless you are a chick in which case I don't care what you do so long as I am allowed to follow you....
As for the clutch actoion it goes something like this: sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip' cos my poor old slapper of an R1 had all the mid range of a an RGV250.......but that is all about to change BUAHAHAHA BUAHAHAHA (evil laugh)

[breakaway]

I always throw it in neutral when I've stopped at the lights. Can't be bothered holding the clutch in, and I like to get a bit of a stretch when I stop as I'm hunched over when riding.

There's usually stationary cars in front, behind, to my lef and to my right, so there is never a need to take off quickly. If I am at the front of the queue, the guy behind me can wait till I throw it in gear and ride off.

[sunhuntin]

i get on the bike, start her up and flip the stand up. put into first, and let the clutch out slowly at the same time as rolling the throttle. i do it all at once, pretty much. usually, i start off with both feet on the ground.

lights/intersections, i stay in first with the clutch in. either foot or both down. im trying to learn to stop with one foot on the ground. getting ok with it, but often i end up with both down, specially in the wind. if the lights are going to take ages, ill flick into neutral and have a rest.

havent really had many down hill starts, or up hill either!
down hill, i hold the back brake and then just let the clutch out slowly as i start moving, and move the revs up to meet. fun moment going down a gravel hill with the clutch in, wondering how the hell to get moving on my own speed without fucking up big time! [that was at a camping ground near paeroa last year.]
up hill, i do a mix of holding the front brake, my legs behind the pegs or holding the tank, and the clutch slipped just a tad. dont have to slip it much now, cos my legs are strong enough to hold the bike forwards. with that, both my feet are on the ground. when i move off, i lift my right foot to take over the braking so i can operate the throttle. once it grabs and i know itll move, then i lift my other foot and move off.

kinda hard to type it out, cos i do it all by instinct now!

[delusionz]

I don't agree with rear brake from a stop either. Your right foot has to be down when you're ready to hit 1st, and when you're ready to go it's faster and easier starting off with only 1 foot on the ground than 2. Theres really no point in swapping feet when you're about to go thats just stupid.

Try using the front brake when the front wheel is an inch off the ground

Theres something wrong with your bike if your front wheel is off the ground before you're about to get moving unless you mean pulling a wheelie in which case you're in the wrong thread, or maybe you are in the right thread depends how you look at it.

[scumdog]

If nothing else, this both feet on the ground then both feet onto the pegs manouveur looks fuggin' naff when you're following someone.....unless you are a chick in which case I don't care what you do so long as I am allowed to follow you....

Hmmm, well that's how I take off.
Let out clutch until the 'slack' is taken up.
Then lift feet, open throttle and ride off.
You can do that sort of thing on a Harley

[babyblade250rr]

hmm i taught myself to ride i jumped on the bike stuck it in first gear and roll down a hill with the clutch in to gain momentum first, May sound silly but had a chance to get a good feel for the clutch squeezing in and out in first gear down a hill, Still have the momentum of going downwards so did'nt fall over and did'nt have to worry about a stall.

[FROSTY:Me]

I don't agree with rear brake from a stop either. Your right foot has to be down when you're ready to hit 1st, and when you're ready to go it's faster and easier starting off with only 1 foot on the ground than 2. Theres really no point in swapping feet when you're about to go thats just stupid.

Dude Im no expert but I almost always rest my right foot on the back brake when stopped at intersections. 99 times out of a 100 yep totally a waste of time --But tell ya what when the 100th time comes along its a bitch

[Rhino]

I think that this comes down to horses for courses. Some people (me included) find it more comfortable to use the front brake and release it while rolling on the throttle, while others (like Frosty) prefer to use the rear brake.

From my own point of view, I find it easier, because I normally stop with only my right foot down, ready to select first gear and go, although I can use the rear brake when necessary (ie stopped uphill on a road that is also sloping down to the right, left foot on the ground.)

In short, a learner rider should use the method that is easiest for them normally, but must be able to use either.