Author Topic: Decisions (Read 7555 times)

ZenMan · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2007, 10:30:52 AM »

I agree it's not necessary to flat-foot your bike. I'm sure most of us have ridden plenty of tall-suspension dirt bikes to know this, and my V-Strom was one-foot at a time, too. Most of the time coming to a stop I lean my bike to the right, putting my right foot down so I can mess with the shifter on the left side. Whatever, everybody has their own "technique".

HOWEVER.... it is a consideration for me when test-riding a bike, for three reasons:

1. Flat-footing both sides makes it easier to "pedal" the bike around when parking, backing up, etc...

2. It's much more stable when your passenger gets on and off...

3. The lower seat makes it easier for me to get on and off... (bad leg)

I don't want to open up a whole new can of worms about how everybody does their own thing when it comes to stopping, passenger on-off-loading, etc... or which way is best. I'm just saying that a seat height that allows me to flat-foot a bike is a plus for me.

SteelD · « **Reply #16 on:** June 26, 2007, 11:39:10 AM »

Either bikes have become taller or my legs have shrunk but while my B1250 seems tallish, I do recall that I could flat-foot on that great muscle bike from the 1970s - the 900cc Kawasaki Z1.

Red01 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 26, 2007, 02:58:36 PM »

Having always had enough inseam to flat-foot any bike I'd ever riden, I did find it a little unnerving to swing my leg over my "new" XR650 and a) have to take a second swing because I failed to swing my leg high enough and then b) find that if I put both feet down, I'm on my tip-toes. With a 37" seat height, man, this thing is TALL. But then my dirt bike experience is pretty much with old dirt bikes, with a '76 Yamaha IT-400 being the most modern suspension dirt bike I've ever had until now.

stormi · « **Reply #18 on:** June 26, 2007, 02:59:35 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

I agree it's not necessary to flat-foot your bike. I'm sure most of us have ridden plenty of tall-suspension dirt bikes to know this, and my V-Strom was one-foot at a time, too. Most of the time coming to a stop I lean my bike to the right, putting my right foot down so I can mess with the shifter on the left side. Whatever, everybody has their own "technique".

Ha! I'm not saying that people should ride like I do,... hell I probably shouldn't ride like I do.

I've just adapted, due to being height challenged. For instance, I always ( ok,.. mostly) try to make sure I'm in first by the time I roll up to the light. It saves me the weird tilt to the right, shift to first, tilt to the left, put left foot on the ground thing. I feel like I'm doing the "cruiser wobble" when I do that.

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HOWEVER.... it is a consideration for me when test-riding a bike, for three reasons:

1. Flat-footing both sides makes it easier to "pedal" the bike around when parking, backing up, etc...

Agreed! This is a pain for me, and enough to make me choose the car on days I know I have to make a number of stops. Of course it's worth it to have a bike I like to ride. At my height, I can only flat foot some of the beginner bikes and cruisers.

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2. It's much more stable when your passenger gets on and off...

I always put the bike on it's kickstand and brace with my leg before someone gets on or off the bike. That way I'm not relying on the strength of my legs alone. Again, a short person adaptation.

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3. The lower seat makes it easier for me to get on and off... (bad leg)

This is one thing I do miss with riding the Bandit vs the 919.
I have a little arthritis in my hip, and spending time on the bike makes me stiff, and getting on and off can be a challenge after a while. That tail is -way- higher than Dita's. I can't even count the number of times I've kicked him in the ass trying to get on.

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I don't want to open up a whole new can of worms about how everybody does their own thing when it comes to stopping, passenger on-off-loading, etc... or which way is best. I'm just saying that a seat height that allows me to flat-foot a bike is a plus for me.

Hey! If I could get a bike that I could flat foot on that I thought would last me more than a year til I was frustrated with it, I would. I thought long and hard about the Hyosungs and the Ninja 650 because of that, but having had the 919 now, I'm not sure I could go "back" to a high strung 600 just for 2" of seat height. Of course if I had a double wide shed... or one of them new fangled garages... and an excess of cash...

ZenMan · « **Reply #19 on:** June 26, 2007, 03:31:13 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

Having always had enough inseam to flat-foot any bike I'd ever riden, I did find it a little unnerving to swing my leg over my "new" XR650 and a) have to take a second swing because I failed to swing my leg high enough and then b) find that if I put both feet down, I'm on my tip-toes. With a 37" seat height, man, this thing is TALL. But then my dirt bike experience is pretty much with old dirt bikes, with a '76 Yamaha IT-400 being the most modern suspension dirt bike I've ever had until now.

Remember when you were a kid, getting on your bicycle with the ol' "pedal-start"? Left foot push down on the pedal, swing the right leg over the seat as the bike starts moving.

You can do the same with tall dirt bikes. Once you get it running, put both hands on the bars, pull in the clutch, kick it into 1st, left foot on left peg, than slip the clutch as you push off with the right foot and swing your right leg over as the bike starts moving. Like getting on a skittish horse.

Takes a little practice to get smooth at it, but you should be able to get it the first try.

ZenMan · « **Reply #20 on:** June 26, 2007, 03:40:41 PM »

Quote from: "stormi"

For instance, I always ( ok,.. mostly) try to make sure I'm in first by the time I roll up to the light. It saves me the weird tilt to the right, shift to first, tilt to the left, put left foot on the ground thing. I feel like I'm doing the "cruiser wobble" when I do that.

Just curious... why do you need to lean left again to put your left foot down?

Once I'm stopped at a light with my right foot down, my left stays on the peg. That way it only takes a fraction of a second to slip it in or out of neutral... if it's a long light, then it's neutral, let out the clutch, flip up my shield, scratch my nose, etc.... then when I see it about to go green just pull in the clutch and click 'er back into 1st. Left foot never leaves the peg.

stormi · « **Reply #21 on:** June 26, 2007, 03:47:03 PM »

For some reason if feels more natural to take off with my left foot on the ground than the right. I was also taught during rider training to cover the brake, not the gears.

Red01 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 26, 2007, 04:30:24 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

Remember when you were a kid, getting on your bicycle with the ol' "pedal-start"? Left foot push down on the pedal, swing the right leg over the seat as the bike starts moving.

You can do the same with tall dirt bikes. Once you get it running, put both hands on the bars, pull in the clutch, kick it into 1st, left foot on left peg, than slip the clutch as you push off with the right foot and swing your right leg over as the bike starts moving. Like getting on a skittish horse.

Takes a little practice to get smooth at it, but you should be able to get it the first try.

Yeah, I suppose I could do that.

So far, it's always been parked on firm enough ground that I can just put the kickstand down, climb on, flip the stand up and take off. I'm sure once I get it out into the woods, that convenience will be gone though.

stormi · « **Reply #23 on:** June 26, 2007, 04:42:52 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

Yeah, I suppose I could do that.
So far, it's always been parked on firm enough ground that I can just put the kickstand down, climb on, flip the stand up and take off. I'm sure once I get it out into the woods, that convenience will be gone though.

Naw,.. there you just look for "landscape advantages". Park the bike in a rut, find a rock to deploy to kick stand on, find a ledge to stand on...

I'm very well versed at this,.. I ride a KTM in the dirt. Austrians must be giants!

ZenMan · « **Reply #24 on:** June 26, 2007, 08:47:33 PM »

Quote from: "stormi"

For some reason if feels more natural to take off with my left foot on the ground than the right. I was also taught during rider training to cover the brake, not the gears.

Hey, whatever your used to.

I cover my brake with my right hand, always 2 fingers. Don't use the rear brake much on the street.

Red, I'm looking for something like that XR of yours... maybe an XT600 or DR650, vintage 90's... as long as it has electric start.

stormi · « **Reply #25 on:** June 27, 2007, 12:23:52 AM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

Hey, whatever your used to.

I cover my brake with my right hand, always 2 fingers. Don't use the rear brake much on the street.

I use the rear brake a ton, but not as my primary brake, mostly for stabilization. I think the idea is that you can hold the bike's position with the rear brake, and rest your right for a moment. Or at least that's what I use it for. :)

I've tried taking off from a light with my right foot on the ground and left up, but it felt so awkward to me... I guess I'm just left footed.

salvate · « **Reply #26 on:** June 27, 2007, 02:43:56 PM »

30 inch inseam here, I cannot completely flatfoot both feet at the same time on my 2007 1250. The bike only has 300 miles on it so no sagging yet. The footing Isnt a problem though unless I bring my foot down in a 3 inch hole. That little mistake cost me a right signal and front brake lever

Live, Learn, Ride again.

mademiriam · « **Reply #27 on:** June 27, 2007, 04:49:56 PM »

Quote from: "salvate"

Live, Learn, Ride again.

With the busa shock I can just flat foot the 1200 on level ground, my driveway is of the steep littered with pot holes variety so backing it in to my 'spot' can be interesting. Always had long monkey legs, don't know how you guys do without!

dgm0967 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 29, 2007, 11:45:15 PM »

Quote from: "stormi"

Quote from: "Red01"
Yeah, I suppose I could do that.
So far, it's always been parked on firm enough ground that I can just put the kickstand down, climb on, flip the stand up and take off. I'm sure once I get it out into the woods, that convenience will be gone though.

Naw,.. there you just look for "landscape advantages". Park the bike in a rut, find a rock to deploy to kick stand on, find a ledge to stand on... I'm very well versed at this,.. I ride a KTM in the dirt. Austrians must be giants!

Being of short inseam I know of what you speak. At stop lights find the tire ruts. When parking, try to turn the bike down hill. Never put yourself in a position where you have to leg it backwards uphill. I'm a 29" inseam and I'm talking stock suspension on a Bandit. The KTM takes it to another level. (pardon the pun)

Sven · « **Reply #29 on:** June 29, 2007, 11:54:05 PM »

Quote from: "stormi"

For some reason if feels more natural to take off with my left foot on the ground than the right. I was also taught during rider training to cover the brake, not the gears.

Trying to recall what MSF said:

When stopping, downshift to 1st (not neutral) and put left foot down and leave right foot on brake, and your left foot should hit the pavement exactly as you stop (that is, no need to move your foot once it's down).

Once stopped, BOTH feet on the ground, with engine in 1st and ready to roll to safety if needed.

As for taking off, it was start bike moving and lift BOTH feet up immediately, as soon as the bike had any motion.

I pretty much follow as taught other than I will put the bike in neutral at a long light so I can drum on the gas tank. And of course, if trying to use my hands for something important (like a crucial picture or applying lip balm!), lean on left foot to use right foot on brake since hand not available.