Which foot down when stationary?

[Jaco]

Good evening everyone.
So I've been riding on my CBT for a year and a half now; I'm waiting until next month when I turn 19 and can start going for my A2. After reading through some of the threads on BCF I decided to book myself in for my A1 Mod1 on the Vara just so I had prior experience of the Mod1 test before trying it on a bigger bike. I've been doing my research and I see in all videos of the Mod1 test that the pupils put down their left foot when they stop. Now, I've been riding for the last year and a half putting down my right foot at lights and whathaveyou. Now I'm a bit anxious that I might get penalised for it and I'm wondering if anybody knows if there's any rules on it or anything like that? It would be a massive help.

[Scythe]

Right foot on brake, left foot on floor for tests.

If I was nailing it from a start, left foot hooked under ready for 2nd gear, right foot on floor.
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2009 Yamaha YBR125 -> 2000 SV650S -> 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R 636

[map]

The point of left foot down is that the right is on the brake.
The clutch is held in, ready to move off.
Important bit is brake applied.
I believe this is the accepted way for the test.

However, if stopped for a long time (eg rail crossing) then acceptable to slip into neutral and keep front brake applied, right foot down. Then before moving off engage gear and do left foot down, keeping brake on with right foot (search for Hendon shuffle on here or Google).

hth
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Scythe]

[Llama-Farmer]

[biker7]

My boots wear down on the right foot more. I use left foot when necessary but in the practical real world, right foot is more natural and useful to me. Younger riders use left foot as a hang over from test. Many more mature riders use right but swapping to left when appropriate. In UK camber of road often makes right foot safer. Skillful riders are often seen using either. If you've got used to either - don't change. Left foot is probably safer but right foot makes more sense in town. The intelligent rider plans for either. I'm probably 90% right but see many good riders 90% left. Being able to 'shuffle' takes practice but is useful. Becoming too rigid can make for more non intuitive riding.
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[biker7]

My boots wear down on the right foot more. I use left foot when necessary but in the practical real world, right foot is more natural and useful to me. Younger riders use left foot as a hang over from test. Many more mature riders use right but swapping to left when appropriate. In UK camber of road often makes right foot safer. Skillful riders are often seen using either. If you've got used to either - don't change. Left foot is probably safer but right foot makes more sense in town. The intelligent rider plans for either. I'm probably 90% right but see many good riders 90% left. Being able to 'shuffle' takes practice but is useful. Becoming too rigid can make for more non intuitive riding.
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[toshpot]

I've always been left foot down, right foot covering rear brake, in gear, clutch in. Never really felt slow or tardy in the off. But as others say, it's probably left over habit from the test.
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Sometimes, I touch myself and smell my fingers.

[FriendlyEllis]

IAM favour right foot down for 2 reasons.

Due to camber, the centre (right) side of the road is generally higher and easier to get a good footing.

I once stopped at the side of a road, went to put my left foot down and beyond the kerb, the bank had eroded away.

If your right foots down then you can easily engage/disengage your gears without swapping feet over etc

Personally I think whichever feels most comfortable.
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Honda CB600F Hornet 2013 -> Kawasaki Z1000SX ABS Tourer 2015

[davebike]

Post test view from the IAM group I belong to is

Use whatever foot givers you the most stable / comfortable stop
When I was observing I would expect to see right foot down front brake hill starts if there was a nasty camber on the road and Yes i was know to arrange the route so there was !!

For the DSA test left foot down and Hendon Shuffle

Post test use the best foot for the situation
Front brake hill starts are a skill all riders should learn it not hard

Dave
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[pinkyfloyd]

No point elaborating on above so I'll just say.

Do it, and get used to doing it correctly (left foot down, right foot on rear brake and keeping it in 1st) until you have passed your test so as not to pick up the habit of doing it wrong.

After test, what ever you find more comfortable.
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[dydey90]

I think I Hendon Shuffle all the time. Force of habit!
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[MC]

I tend to put both feet down, bad habit yes but when you get a gust of wind your not gonna be blown over. On the test left foot down, but purely out of habit I was sometimes putting both down (on Mod 2) & wasn't penalised.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[stinkwheel]

I cover tyhe brake and put my other foot down.

Which foot this is depends on which side my brake lever is on.
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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.

[Rogerborg]

Advanced Riders^tm plan their rides so that they never have to put either foot down.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[daemonoid]

[biker7]

[thewhyoffry]

I was pulled up for this by the instructors when I was doing my DAS. I am a right foot down kind of guy. Don't ask me why but when I put my left foot down I do not feel as stable as with the right.

Wherever possible I will slow down and keep the engine ticking over just enough to crawl with both feet up so I can make a nice smooth acceleration when needed but coming to a full stop the right always goes down.

Did it throughout my test and didn't get a minor, so I guess as long as you are in full control you are okay.

Sounds a bit long winded but if I am coming to a stop on a hill for a long while I will Stop, Right foot down, Left foot kick into neutral, Both feet down, Right foot up on rear brake then quick change into 1st for move off.
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The why of fry

[tbourner]

I was taught that it's so you can keep your brakes on until you pull away, the shuffle/clog dance is the same so you switch to front brake as you go to right foot to put it in gear, then back onto back brake before pulling away.
On level ground you should really be able to keep the front brake on and right foot down - as long as your brake light is lit you should be OK.

Having said that, if you're using this MOD1 as a taster, then just ride as you normally would and see what they say at the end - you can then decide whether to do it on the big boy bike or not.
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[insomniac]

having not long passed I still remember the advice I was given (told to use).

LEFT foot down on ground, RIGHT on rear brake.
(when you came to a stop you should have already gone down though the gears and so you shouldn't need to do the shuffle [ha yeah sure ])

But this only works in the world of examiners and people that have never met other drivers on the road and have the gift of seeing into the future .

So basically for a test or anything like that, left down, right on brake, avoid the shuffle
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Most people seem to put in when they've past what so here goes.
CBT: 16/09/12; Theory: 20/02/13 MOD1:20/05/13 MOD2:29/05/13
Suzuki Marauder GZ125; Suzuki Intruder VL800

[G30]

Both feet down, sitting up with hands on the tank when I know the light sequence.

If not then either foot down has their advantage but whatever is most comfortable for you. I'd lean towards left foot down and right on brake.
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[m3-paul]

Left foot down for me purely on the basis that it feels more comfortable for me and therefore more stable.
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Yamaha TZR250 - love the smell of TTS!!!!
CBR900RR Fireblade - so much fun

[ADSrox0r]

Left down and clutch in if I know I'll be moving off soon, otherwise kick it into neutral and both feet down.

[Clanger]

I've got an old crush injury - so for me its both feet down, watch the lights, then just as they are about to change in my favour I'll use the right foot to hold the back brake at the last minute (if on an incline or hill). Either that or I'll drag the clutch as I let out the front brake.

Works for me.
Plus I don't take pillion.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[mailee]

Back in the 70's before I passed my test I used to right foot down due to the fact that the old British bikes had the gears on the right. Having recently passed my test (never passed back then as the limit was a 250 for a learner) I had to get out of the habit of right foot down and make sure I had my left foot down for the tests. since passing I use whichever is required for the circumstances.