Few riding questions

[Blitz_]

May be i should have asked that question in New Bikers forum, but then thought that if i get replies from people like me it wont help me much. So the question is for experienced riders. Generally.

Ok, i've got NSR125RR (2-stroke).

1. When i see the red light quite far ahead and i go around 50mph, is it right that i just press clutch and shift straight from gear i'm in (5th or 6th) down to neutral, and then keep on rolling and brake in the end?

2. Is it right that i generally use my front brake? Most of the time. When i'm supposed to use my rear one?

3. When i stop, which leg i should put down? Cause my instructor (not the CBT guy, the private instructor) told me to put down the right one, so i dont waste time to get into 1st gear off the cross lights?

4. Should i stop in neutral? Or should i hold clutch and be in first gear at crosslights?

I think this is it. Just if have any other advice about gear changing, clutch holding and shifting down, tell me. Cause i think i ride well enough and yeasterday got a bit confused when met AD from this forum and he 've been riding totally different from what i'm used to.

Thanks for help guys,
Ana

[8316]

everything seems fine, bar the 1st gear at the lights. snick it into neutral. it doesnt damage your bike like that. you seem ok to me!
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Now own a Fireblade!! Speed Limits? Bah!

[nc30 chick]

Well I only know the way i was taught and that was good enough for me.

1. When i see the red light quite far ahead and i go around 50mph, is it right that i just press clutch and shift straight from gear i'm in (5th or 6th) down to neutral, and then keep on rolling and brake in the end?

You dont have complete control of the bike then, stay in gear till you stop, going down the gears as you slow down. As you are about to come to a stop then put it into 1st.

2. Is it right that i generally use my front brake? Most of the time. When i'm supposed to use my rear one?

Your front brake is the most effective, however if its wet then you use both brakes. I was taught to use around 80% front brake and 20% back brake in normal conditions, 50/50 in the wet.


3. When i stop, which leg i should put down? Cause my instructor (not the CBT guy, the private instructor) told me to put down the right one, so i dont waste time to get into 1st gear off the cross lights?

You should put your left foot down so the rear brake is covered at all times, you should already have sorted out your gears.

4. Should i stop in neutral? Or should i hold clutch and be in first gear at crosslights?
You should be in first gear ready to go!

Hope this helps

[dainesefreak]

It's usually left foot down and right for applying the rear brake for the "Safety Position".

Front brake is ok really, although CBT/Instructors generally say 75% front, 25% rear and about 50 - 50 in the wet. I'm not sure whether that's something a DSA instructor would look for in a test though.

[Rob W]

When braking it's best to apply the front brake slightly before the rear, to aviod too much dive and even out the braking, and I'd recommend sticking it in neutral when your at the lights or whatever, I always do. I pretty much always put my right foot down, leave my left sat under the gear lever in case traffic starts moving.

Other than that you seem OK .
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'90 TS50 > '04 Senda 125 > '91 ZXR400 > '90 CB-1 > '04 GSX-R1000 > '96 Bandit 600 > '89 ZXR750 H1 > '96 GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > '98 T595 Daytona > '03 Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > '16 GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[Marc_Buck]

I think instructors tell you to have left foot down at lights, so you can have right foot on brake.

I keep it in 1st at lights with my clutch in, but if i am to be there a while i go to neutral, so i can have a stretch etc.

Generally i ride how i feel comfortable, i know on my test i will have to adjust to their riding styles, so i should start to get into the habit.
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94 fzr600r

[Keith]

[Villers]

Hi!

Im not an expert but ive been riding about a year now so its not long since I was in the same position as you!

If the lights are a good stretch away it may be best to go down the gears somewhat, but not all the way to first. On my old RS125 If i was in 6th doing 50 towards ared light I would prob drop the box as far as third or second then coast to the line with the clutch in and the bike in 1st. This way if the lights change as you approach you are in a better position to roll on the throttle.

Most braking is done on the front brake, but remember that as your braking you are loading the front which can cause a possible slip in the wet. On damp/wet or greasy roads try feathering the back brake slightly and use the two progressively. If leaned over on a bend and you want to shave of a few mph's use the rear as its possible the front will sit you up! Obviously using the back brake for slower manouvers is better as you have full throttle control and the bike wont nosedive on braking!

I think the guys talking out of his @rse on that one. For my test I was taught that if stationary it was neccessary to cover the back brake in case anything hit you from behind or if you started rolling or something. Basically as a handbrake is in a car. On a 125 I wouldnt bother fighting it into neutral for a short wait at the lights, if you have your left foot down, your right on the brake and your clutch pulled in your ready to go. Once past the test though use your feet as you see fit, if you are turning right on a junction and feel more comfortable leaning the bike right ready for take off, do it!

hope this helps!

[Blitz_]

Thnks guys/girls

Thats a pity - i've just got used to ride the way i do and now it is wrong way =(( Now have to get used to put my left foot down, keep the first gear, and steadily slow down...

Ohhh...

[Marc_Buck]

I would not go to 1st from doing 50 eg, unless holding the clutch in.
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94 fzr600r

[mchaggis]

As far as braking goes, do whatever you feel comfortable with. At the moment anyway, I'm tending to use the front brake hardly at all, unless I need to stop. I use engine braking, changing gears and the rear brake to shave off a little speed if letting off the throttle won't get enough.

If I were on a faster bike and wasn't concerned with just keeping my average speed up and riding smoothly, but riding quickly and stopping suddenly, then perhaps I'd use my front brake more.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[nc30 chick]

I go down to first when im almost stopped (if 1 went to 1st at 50 it would most likely blow up my baby!), if i see a red light ahead I slow down and go down 1 gear at a time.

[binge]

When I took my CBT they told me to have left foot on the ground so if another bike or a car comes too close, your right leg is on the bike and out of the way

I see alot if bikers stop at lights, Sort gears out, left foot down and then right foot up ready to go...

<|Binge|>

[stinkwheel]

Just to go over it one more time:

[Dan 4RR]

When I took my CBT test the instructor told us that if you need to stop at some traffic lights, etc that you should put your left leg down because for example if for some reason your leg just suddenly gave way or your foot slipped then you would fall away from the traffic and hopefully fall towards the kerb or footpath.

[jamie192]

I would go from experiance as i have only been riding 2 weeks but my cbt instructor answered em all these questions and i remember all his responses.


1. When i see the red light quite far ahead and i go around 50mph, is it right that i just press clutch and shift straight from gear i'm in (5th or 6th) down to neutral, and then keep on rolling and brake in the end?

For this, you can do that no harm in it (from my own experience i find that if i switch right down then the lights change i have ot change back up before setting off or engine breaking almost throwns me over the handle bars)

2. Is it right that i generally use my front brake? Most of the time. When i'm supposed to use my rear one?

Use what ever break you like they say you should use 75% front and 25% back but i use my front normally.

3. When i stop, which leg i should put down? Cause my instructor (not the CBT guy, the private instructor) told me to put down the right one, so i dont waste time to get into 1st gear off the cross lights?

Right, here at the lights you should be in first gear holding in the clutch with your back break on so you dont roll, you should have your left foot down on the road ( reason is if a car decides to over take they will do so on the right and if your right legs sticking out its gonna get hit if its tight) u keep the bike in first and hold in the clutch with your back break on.

4. Should i stop in neutral? Or should i hold clutch and be in first gear at crosslights?

You will find with some bikes because of bikes gearboxes you cannot always change into neutral easily, sit at the lights in first same thing less hassle and means you dont have to change to set off and saves your right leg.
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Ride Fast, Brake hard, don't fall off!

[Rob W]

I agree with haggis to be honest, I only ever really use my front to stop, and it'll be my back if I need to scrub off speed or just let the throttle off a touch as that usually suffices. I'm not a big fan of using my front to lose some speed while cornering, really unsettles my bike, so I avoid that at all costs and just dab the back.
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'90 TS50 > '04 Senda 125 > '91 ZXR400 > '90 CB-1 > '04 GSX-R1000 > '96 Bandit 600 > '89 ZXR750 H1 > '96 GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > '98 T595 Daytona > '03 Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > '16 GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[stinkwheel]

One last time:

DO NOT COAST ON YOUR MOTORBIKE!

Dangerous, not in control, fail your test etc.


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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Villers]

whys everyone repeating each other?

If your engine breaking throws you over the handlebars then surely you are down changing at the wrong time?

[Rob W]

[Blitz_]

Just went to bank in the city and then went for a small ride to try what you all said. Its fine with being in first gear at the traffic jam or at crosslites - much easier to start and stop.

However i didnt like that when you hold the damn clutch, it is impossible to reach out for the indicator switch... Hm How do you sort that out?

Going down through gears is a bit sloooooow... I try not to rush through them now, but can i just switch them down to 2nd in a row holding the clutch and stedily breaking? Cause then its almost the same as release clutch after each change - my speed anyways goes down as it is needed.

Left foot down make me feel a bit weird. Cause then if i wannachange to neutral, i have to put my right foot down, and then change. Feels stupid jusmping on the bike like that...

Just the last questions - why cannot i stand at the crosslights and use my frontbrake? And why i have no control over bike when its in neutral? I can always slip into gear and speed up or break?

[Bendy]

[mchaggis]

[Fortuna]

Regarding the leg question thingy.
Remember you can actually put either foot down to stop safely as long as your right foot is then used to cover the brake straight away.
What happens if you stop on a gradient sloping to the right? You'd fall off if you always had to use your left foot on the floor.

[r1_lad]

To be honest I was told in my CBT to always put my left foot down but I put down whichever is most comfortable especially if there is a gradient in the road. I'm always covering the front brake anyway so it's not an issue.

I also very rarely put it into neutral at traffic lights, only because I don't mind holding the clutch in at lights and it means I don't have to mess around changing gears before pulling away.
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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard