Bike Test Question - Which Foot

[UpTheIron]

Google doesn't give me a definitive answer on this, what is the correct behaviour from a Bike Test point of view in terms of "which foot down?"

It's obvious for a hill start, but what is the correct way otherwise (at traffic lights etc)?

As per this: http://home.clara.net/survivalskills/riding_skills... I am more likely to be "right foot down" and ready to engage first and move off, rather than "left foot down" covering the brake.

Edited by UpTheIron on Monday 11th February 19:57

[anonymous-user]

Left for me on the brake giving my hands a little rest!

[m3evo2]

Id try and get used to using your left foot always and right to cover the rear brake. That way traffic lights on a incline wont come as a surprise

Edited by m3evo2 on Monday 11th February 19:55

[uriel]

Link doesn't work for me.

But I've just done my DAS and I was told always left foot down. Right foot up allows you to cover the brake and keeps it out of the way of traffic. I'm not sure how it is in 'real world' riding (only had my licence a couple of weeks) but if I was coming to a stop, I'd always be in first anyway so there'd be no need to be covering the gears.

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

[UpTheIron]

uriel said:

...but if I was coming to a stop, I'd always be in first anyway so there'd be no need to be covering the gears...

Another question then...if coming to a stop and you end up in first, is it OK to sit at a set of lights for a minute or so in first, or should you do right foot down, left foot up, change to neutral, then swap back to left foot down (and then reverse the procedure to engage first before moving off)?

PS. Link fixed.

[sjtscott]

UpTheIron said:

Google doesn't give me a definitive answer on this, what is the correct behaviour from a Bike Test point of view in terms of "which foot down?"

It's obvious for a hill start, but what is the correct way otherwise (at traffic lights etc)?

As per this: http://home.clara.net/survivalskills/riding_skills... I am more likely to be "right foot down" and ready to engage first and move off, rather than "left foot down" covering the brake.

While moving and stopping you are expected to cover your rear brake. When I learn't I was told that you had to do the shuffle between feet as you had to use your left foot down. Anyway this seemed to work during the test. You are not supposed to leave the bike in gear at all when stopped.. so the shuffle comes in with swopping feet to ensure your bike is in neutral and then in gear.

However in reality once the test is done its easier to use your right foot down first as your left is available for selecting first. I've found the front brake works to hold the bike in the majority of situations stopped on any inclines where you don't need to use your hands for anything.

Edited by sjtscott on Monday 11th February 20:03

[sjtscott]

uriel said:

Link doesn't work for me.

But I've just done my DAS and I was told always left foot down. Right foot up allows you to cover the brake and keeps it out of the way of traffic. I'm not sure how it is in 'real world' riding (only had my licence a couple of weeks) but if I was coming to a stop, I'd always be in first anyway so there'd be no need to be covering the gears.

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

Try right foot down now you have the test done its much more practical, read my other post. Also you'd only need to stop in first if you were travelling at very low speed. When coming to a stop just tap it out of 2nd into neutral rather than first if you have to stop for any period of time (e.g. lights). Most of us use the right foot down simply as it works in reality.. it generally easy for me to see the newbies as they all use the 'wrong' foot.

[uriel]

sjtscott said:

uriel said:

Link doesn't work for me.

But I've just done my DAS and I was told always left foot down. Right foot up allows you to cover the brake and keeps it out of the way of traffic. I'm not sure how it is in 'real world' riding (only had my licence a couple of weeks) but if I was coming to a stop, I'd always be in first anyway so there'd be no need to be covering the gears.

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

Try right foot down now you have the test done its much more practical, read my other post. Also you'd only need to stop in first if you were travelling at very low speed. When coming to a stop just tap it out of 2nd into neutral rather than first if you have to stop for any period of time (e.g. lights). Most of us use the right foot down simply as it works in reality.. it generally easy for me to see the newbies as they all use the 'wrong' foot.

That's really interesting. So, everyone is in neutral when at juntions or traffic lights etc? I'm always in first with the clutch disengaged. That just seemed the most natural way to do it for me, I suppose the way that I'd do it in a car. Is it for safety reasons (I can imagine that gettinh hit or something while stopped that could cause you to drop the clutch could be a real problem) or mechanical reasons, something to do with bike clutches?

[sjtscott]

uriel said:

sjtscott said:

uriel said:

Link doesn't work for me.

But I've just done my DAS and I was told always left foot down. Right foot up allows you to cover the brake and keeps it out of the way of traffic. I'm not sure how it is in 'real world' riding (only had my licence a couple of weeks) but if I was coming to a stop, I'd always be in first anyway so there'd be no need to be covering the gears.

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

Try right foot down now you have the test done its much more practical, read my other post. Also you'd only need to stop in first if you were travelling at very low speed. When coming to a stop just tap it out of 2nd into neutral rather than first if you have to stop for any period of time (e.g. lights). Most of us use the right foot down simply as it works in reality.. it generally easy for me to see the newbies as they all use the 'wrong' foot.

That's really interesting. So, everyone is in neutral when at juntions or traffic lights etc? I'm always in first with the clutch disengaged. That just seemed the most natural way to do it for me, I suppose the way that I'd do it in a car. Is it for safety reasons (I can imagine that gettinh hit or something while stopped that could cause you to drop the clutch could be a real problem) or mechanical reasons, something to do with bike clutches?

Be it car or bike I don't sit stationary in gear with the clutch in or down for any length of time. Quite how you pass a test on either vehicle by doing so amazes me. I wouldn't put it in neutral for a junction thats just bloody stupid lol Mechanical sympathy on your bike or cars clutch is a pretty good reason.

Edited by sjtscott on Monday 11th February 20:38

[catso]

uriel said:

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

Because it saves doing the 'hokey-cokey' when you want to select 1st to pull away........

[rsv gone!]

catso said:

uriel said:

Though, while learning to ride I'd drive about enviously scrutinising bikers and I'd notice that a large number of them do put their right foot down.

Because it saves doing the 'hokey-cokey' when you want to select 1st to pull away........

And with a little practice, you can easily use your right hand to operate the brake and the throttle - for hill starts.

Right foot down was the recommended way from a RideDrive course I did a few years ago.

[robstvr]

If the bike sits stationary, but not in neutral, the clutch fluid is spinning about, and can overheat... I'm told. This is why if your sitting for any length of time, you should be in neutral. So, as you are in neutral, you really want your left foot covering the gears so you can pop into first and get away from the lights asap, before the prick behind in the BMW can cause you any grief.

Once you've been biking for a bit, your hands won't need the rest/stretch when you stop, so you can just hold the bike on the front brake.

My tuppence.

[Hooli]

I did my test Jan '07 & i was told left foot down for the test as its a requirement to hold it on the rear brake.
within weeks id swopped to right foot down so i could sit in netural. just seems cruel to the clutch to sit in gear for ages to me. and i had a heavy loaded bike run away from me when the clutch got to hot & still transmitted drive with the lever right in.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Left foot down, to cover the rear brake with the right foot.

You can argue the toss about it, but that's the correct way.

If you can't see it, how do you manage to wipe your own backside..

Strewth.

[m3psm]

If it's a pedestrian crossing or something quick I'll cover the rear brake, leave the bike in 1st and put the left foot down (as required for the test.... back when I did it).

If it's a slow set of lights though I'll put the bike in neutral and hold it on the front brake with my right foot down leaving my left to select a gear when needed.

For the test, left foot down is definately the correct way. In real life though, especially in heavy city centre traffic, you'll want to give your left hand a rest from the clutch.

If rear ended at a junction with right foot down, the bike will be in neutral, the shock/impact will release your grip from the front brake and you'll fly into oncoming traffic. With the left foot down when rear ended you'll stall the bike and not run forward if the rear brake is covered. That's the theory as it was explained to me back in the olden days

[SplatSpeed]

just done CBT and was told left and to use rear brake and not the front

[rsv gone!]

As you get more experienced, you'll be able to do either - depending on the camber.

[UpTheIron]

Back to the original question...

I can do either, and can see the benefits of both. But if I predominantly use right foot down will this result in test failure?

If not, it's one less thing for me to worry about, and I'll carry on as usual which is using whichever foot is appropriate, depending on if the surface is level, how long I'm likely to be there, whether I'm going to get shunted from behind etc etc

Hooli is the only person who suggests it is a test requirement, which is good enough for me, but can anyone advise otherwise - for the test, not for any other situation.

Edited by UpTheIron on Tuesday 12th February 08:27

[rsv gone!]

UpTheIron said:

Back to the original question...

I think Hooli is correct.

[Chilli]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Left foot down, to cover the rear brake with the right foot.

You can argue the toss about it, but that's the correct way.

If you can't see it, how do you manage to wipe your own backside..

Strewth.

And I was taught to always put in neutral at the lights.