[Spike45]

Hey guys,

So after riding around town all day yesterday, and for a good while today, I have an observation and a couple of questions.

First the observation: After riding for about a hour, trying to write something as simple as my name immediately after getting off the bike is pretty much impossible.

The scenario: I was riding around town for a bit, got fuel, then went to get a haircut. At this particular barber shop, they make you sign in with your name and the time you showed up. I attempted to write my simple 4 letter name and utterly failed! It looked like something a 2 year old would write. I laughed at my own handwriting fail, and now the barber thinks I'm crazy. I am ok with that.


1st question: While riding around today, I came to a stop sign that is on a slight incline. It is steep enough that I cannot keep the bike from rolling back on me without the brake. At the BRC, they told us to have both feet down for stability, and use the front brake to hold the bike in place while we work the clutch and throttle. My question is how is this done? I stalled the bike like 8 times before I finally gunned it, let go of the brake, and released the clutch resulting in me taking off like a bat outta ****! There has got to be a better way!

2nd question: Stop signs in general... Do you guys fully stop at stop signs, or just slow down enough to clear the intersection and go? I feel safer not stopping to be completely honest.

 

[CntryUSMC]

On the incline: I will hold the front brake and then ease out on the clutch until the bike is steady. I sometimes end up rocking it just a little bit. There is enough power with no throttle to hold it on a moderate incline.

For the stops I usually just a rolling stop. As long as traffic is clear I will go through. I have done this a few times in front of cops and haven't been pulled over for it yet.

 

[SmokenJoe]

On the incline: I will hold the front brake and then ease out on the clutch until the bike is steady. I sometimes end up rocking it just a little bit. There is enough power with no throttle to hold it on a moderate incline.

For the stops I usually just a rolling stop. As long as traffic is clear I will go through. I have done this a few times in front of cops and haven't been pulled over for it yet.

Yep, exactly what I do.

Practice in your driveway or off the road. Let the clutch out enough to hold the bike, no brake, but not enough to move.

 

[Jazz86]

For me it depends if I am 2 up or not. If not I tend to do as smoke and USMC. If I'm 2 up I use the rear brake so I can roll on the throttle smoothly. I did take the BRC and they did say use the front brake and clutch. I think it's just a personal preference.

 

[CntryUSMC]

If ya cant truck it, F**k it
Give a Marine 3 bowling balls and lock him in a room.
In 1hour he will have;
Lost one, broke one and f**ked one

Really Jazz? LMAO the truth does hurt.

 

[Stryker2012]

On hills I use the rear brake. Much easier to clutch and throttle than trying to play patty-cake with your front and throttle at the same time, and less wear on the clutch. . I don't mean to dis' bike courses, they're great, but you have to remember they will teach you the ideal way in how to do everything. If you can't one leg your bike........
. I don't think they even had rider coursed when I started riding, so I'm exempt from having to keep both legs down. :biggrin1:

...and unless I have a clear view of traffic from the sides, I stop. There's been a few times in my car I just didn't see a car coming for some reason and was ready to pull out and had to stop short. Don't want to do that on my bike.

I don't understand why you would adhere to the BRC advice of keeping both feet down, and yet would prefer to roll through a stop sign

 

[WOLFStryke]

I use the rear brake on hills, much easier & generally slowly go through stop signs

 

[Dewd]

On inclines and right turn I try to just roll through , but if I have to stop I may use the front to stop but I ll switch to the rear while I m stopped .(I don't ride two up ) some of the hills around here there is no way you can take off without throttle . I know they are ot as bad as some places . Anyway I just lean a little to the left and hold the rear brake while on the hill it's just smoother for me .

 

[gerdawg]

Hey guys,
1st question: While riding around today, I came to a stop sign that is on a slight incline. It is steep enough that I cannot keep the bike from rolling back on me without the brake. At the BRC, they told us to have both feet down for stability, and use the front brake to hold the bike in place while we work the clutch and throttle. My question is how is this done? I stalled the bike like 8 times before I finally gunned it, let go of the brake, and released the clutch resulting in me taking off like a bat outta ****! There has got to be a better way!

2nd question: Stop signs in general... Do you guys fully stop at stop signs, or just slow down enough to clear the intersection and go? I feel safer not stopping to be completely honest.

1) Hold the front brake until you can feel the clutch engage as you feather it out. Then feather the brake out while starting to give gas and feather the clutch out. If it's REALLY steep I usually use the rear brake if I can and give gas while feathering the clutch.

2) I stop...but I still don't put my feet down unless I have to . I'm usually good for about 3-5 seconds at a dead stop before I have to put my foot down. On the stryker though it's a bit harder due to the rake of the front wheel.

 

[wayne]

I sometimes use the front, sometimes the rear. Slip the clutch a little while letting of the front brake and you off. If there is a lot of traffic I'll stop with the front and switch to the rear while I'm waiting to pull out. I try to make a habit of always stopping for stop signs and even on a yellow light. My reasoning is it much safer to be sure than to trust a quick glance as I rolling through. I've had to many idiots come out of no where try to run me over. I can take a few seconds and know what's coming.

 

[nogard]

On inclines and right turn I try to just roll through , but if I have to stop I may use the front to stop but I ll switch to the rear while I m stopped .(I don't ride two up ) some of the hills around here there is no way you can take off without throttle . I know they are ot as bad as some places . Anyway I just lean a little to the left and hold the rear brake while on the hill it's just smoother for me .

This is how the safety class taught is. Always use the rear break in an incline.

 

[ryderjay]

Gotta learn how to use that rear brake. The rider courses sometimes steer people wrong imo. I feel like the can dissuade people from using their rear brakes. I rarely have the front brakes depressed when I'm at a stop. Also as mentioned before, practice your clutch control... it's a very useful and powerful skill along with rear brake usage.

Look up articles from sport rider, motorcycle mag, etc concerning rear braking skills and the benefits of using your rear brake while riding.

 

[Spike45]

I don't understand why you would adhere to the BRC advice of keeping both feet down, and yet would prefer to roll through a stop sign

I have been rolling through stops when I can clearly see the that the intersection is clear and that there are no cars nearby, or when there is a car following me closer than I'd like. As for adhering to brc doctrine for incline starts, I don't have any experience of my own to start with other than what they taught. I went to that stop sign intentionally in order to try out what they taught me. It didn't work as well as I'd hoped, but now I have some more insight as to what i should do and another technique to try. The rear brake seems to make more sense to me...

 

[gunny]

On a steep incline, rear brake! On just an incline, either one. I generally roll thru stop signs when safe. In addition I practice my slow speed skills at stop signs especially when there are cars in front of me. I will feather the clutch and ride the rear brake to see how slow I can go keeping my balance and feet up.

 

[gerdawg]

This is how I stop at signs.

 

[Stryker2012]

This is how I stop at signs.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iw1JCdMnE0Y

I was looking for that link!!! A new rider posted about not knowing if they would ever be able to do slow maneuvers with the Stryker. I wanted to post this video for them :thumb:

 

[Stryker2012]

I have been rolling through stops when I can clearly see the that the intersection is clear and that there are no cars nearby, or when there is a car following me closer than I'd like. As for adhering to brc doctrine for incline starts, I don't have any experience of my own to start with other than what they taught. I went to that stop sign intentionally in order to try out what they taught me. It didn't work as well as I'd hoped, but now I have some more insight as to what i should do and another technique to try. The rear brake seems to make more sense to me...

No problem

...and just to clarify further, and it probably goes along with everyone else, after seeing their posts. I'll hold the bike with the front brake while I'm waiting, just because it's more comfortable, but when it's time to move, I'll shift onto my left leg, and apply the rear brake to hold the bike. That way three hands aren't needed Yeah...you can do the front brake thing when taking off...but why when using the rear is just so much easier??? :decision:

 

[1304cc]

Rear brake, always. You need to have your hand free to work the throttle. Also provides more control at low speed when you're in a line of traffic.

 

[Silkentek]

1) Hold the front brake until you can feel the clutch engage as you feather it out. Then feather the brake out while starting to give gas and feather the clutch out. If it's REALLY steep I usually use the rear brake if I can and give gas while feathering the clutch.

I do all of the above =)
Basically you need to go to a parking lot and practice learning your friction zone. If you have good clutch and throttle control you should be able to get your bike going from a standstill no matter the conditions.
It is something I myself have had to really work on. I did the same thing, with my 950, got flustered at a stop on a hill where they were doing road work and stalled quite a few times with the guy holding the traffic sign snickering at me all the while...
Toby taught me how to one foot my bike, and use the rear brake to keep steady while I got things synchronized in the controls to get going lol
with the stryker I actually find myself just naturally 'one footing' the bike during some stopping situations since quite often my feet do not reach the ground because I haven't had the money to get a lowering kit yet lol
Today I was blithely sitting at a road work stop, left foot down, right foot swinging in the breeze because the road sloped away on that side lol
Surprisingly this did not bother me on the stryker, where as on the 950 it would have flustered me.
I also like that the stryker really doesn't need a lot of throttle to go from a stop. That is where getting a feel for your friction zone helps a lot.
I tend to do full stops without putting my feet down in our local small town. I have gotten to the point of being able to come to a full stop, look in all directions and get underway again without putting my feet down. I never even knew I was doing it til Toby said one day "Hay were you aware that you were..." LOL

 

[Silkentek]

I was looking for that link!!! A new rider posted about not knowing if they would ever be able to do slow maneuvers with the Stryker. I wanted to post this video for them :thumb:

I should take a video sometime of the slow maneuvers toby does with his stryker ... he walks that bike like the guy in this video. makes it do tricks lol