Your thoughts...

**Autech** · 30th March 2010, 20:39

So I sat my restricted today, passed

.
The lady who tested me made a comment which I believe is nit picking...
While executing my U-turn I left my feet hanging out rather than lifting them onto the pegs. I always do this just in case the bike does a bit of a wonky.
Well she in her infinite wisdom is of the opinion that they should be up.
Who's right, and more to the point, does it really matter?

**CookMySock** · 30th March 2010, 20:44

They should be up. It's not nit-picking. The wheels, steering, and throttle hold your bike up while you're moving - not your feet - a lesson you are best to learn on your 250 and not a much larger bike.

Steve

**Genie** · 30th March 2010, 20:45

Apparently, it does matter, it's all about your control of the bike in a slow manouve....I think it might matter, but then again I am only a learner.

Though I do practice some very slow riding as I know for testing purposes it "matters".

I also think it makes you a far better rider if you have control.

**p.dath** · 30th March 2010, 20:45

+1. If the bike is moving, your feet should be on the pegs.

Imagine if your foot got caught on something ...

**steve_t** · 30th March 2010, 20:47

Probably doesn't really matter but I'm told you're less likely to 'do a wonky' if you give the tank a squeeze with your thighs

**2wheeldrifter** · 30th March 2010, 20:49

Originally Posted by p.dath

Imagine if your foot got caught on something ...

like a hedgehogs butt!

All about bike control and your confidence

**Jonno.** · 30th March 2010, 20:50

Try using your rear brake a bit, make it a lot easier to control a u turn and can make a lot tighter.

**Grubber** · 31st March 2010, 06:07

Definitely up! The moment my bike moves my feet are up on the pegs. Best ya learn!

**Nasty** · 31st March 2010, 06:13

Its your call to treat the advice as shit ... or nit picky ... but truth be told she has probably seen a damn sight more riders than you and actually knows what she is talking about. You can choose to learn from her ... or wait until you learn that she was right on your own.

**CookMySock** · 31st March 2010, 07:39

Originally Posted by Nasty

... or wait until you learn that she was right on your own.

Usually right after you drop your heavy 650 on the forecourt of some service station.

Tip the bike in to the low-speed turn, and if it rolls in too deep then steer into the turn to pick it up as per usual, or alternatively add throttle to increase the centrifugal(sic) force.

Practice in a wide open space by intentionally rolling the bike in "too far" and firmly powering up to pick the bike up.

Practice also, full steering-lock turns (bars held hard against steering-stop), managing large corrections of balance with your body weight, and small corrections only with tiny variations of the throttle.

Curiously, doing this on a large and heavy bike isn't much more difficult - its just much more intimidating for the uninitiated. You must be able to do this though - if you can't, you are doomed to having a low-speed drop eventually.

Steve

**MSTRS:Me** · 31st March 2010, 07:46

Originally Posted by Nasty

Its your call to treat the advice as shit ... or nit picky ... but truth be told she has probably seen a damn sight more riders than you and actually knows what she is talking about. You can choose to learn from her ... or wait until you learn that she was right on your own.

Actually, it's more likely that the tester simply goes by what the book says...
BTW the book is right.

**Autech** · 31st March 2010, 08:04

It's not a matter of lack of control, I'm very experienced as a rider (20000ks in my learner period) and have never dropped a bike (touching wood right now). My feet were out and never touched the ground after I'd pulled off, maybe if I'd dragged them along the ground it may have warranted a comment... I agree with all the comments about how it would show rider confidence/competence, but really can't see how it would matter for a license test, there's no danger in your feet being out, even if you hit a hedgehogs butt! Has anyone ever seen a rider drop a bike due to their feet causing the bike to lose control?

Jonno, this is something I've never done, might give it a try and see the result, cheers

**The Stranger:Me** · 31st March 2010, 08:07

She is and yes.
1) There's a lot of weight in your legs. Having them moving about destabilises the bike.
2) As noted it goes to confidence and competence - I would have failed you on that alone.
3) WEIGHT YOUR OUTSIDE PEG!

**The Stranger:Me** · 31st March 2010, 08:10

Originally Posted by Autech

Has anyone ever seen a rider drop a bike due to their feet causing the bike to lose control?

Yep, last RRRS course, though that was emergency braking.

**Autech** · 31st March 2010, 18:41

Originally Posted by The Stranger

She is and yes.
1) There's a lot of weight in your legs. Having them moving about destabilises the bike.
2) As noted it goes to confidence and competence - I would have failed you on that alone.
3) WEIGHT YOUR OUTSIDE PEG!

Haha, have you SEEN my legs?! But all of this I will take into account, cheers