Total Motorcycle Community Forums

(he said that he's signed up for the course)

If you continue to practice on your own before the MSF course, you'll want to use the left foot ONLY to come down first at a stop (assuming that it is the MSF course you're taking). You will be graded on this for the maximum braking exercises. They want you to downshift during braking, ending at 1st gear, left foot down, while the right foot remains on the brake. Only after a complete hault are you to put your right foot down.

Once you're done with the course, you might develop a better way that works for you, but during the course, you'll need to pay attention to what they're telling you and do it their way.

Cheers,
Loonette

Thanks, all. I'll keep plugging away. Maybe I can ride up to the college this evening and practice on their parking lot.

Loonette, how do you like your Kawasaki Vulcan 1600? I'd like to take a look at them in a few years after I'm ready for a bigger bike (just bought a Vulcan 800B.)

Ditto to what everyone said........and hats off to you for doing the course!!

I took the course and it was a huge help. They will tell you to put your left foot down first, because the right is covering the brake.

Something that no-one seemed to mention that's invaluable to riding slow is looking where you want to go and not at the ground. As an example, if you're doing a U-turn instead of watching the road just in front of your tire keep your head at 90 degrees and look as far ahead into your turn of where you want the bike to go as is comfortably possible. This will help you keep your balance and your turns tight!!!

BTW this is on the course too:)

Good luck!

Laurence

Like motorcycles????...check out my Bike Blog!!!