Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am just learning to ride my bike, and i have a question: When stopping on an uphill grade, I always downshift to first, and grip the clutch lever. Which brake should I use (front or back) in order to keep the bike from rolling backward? I find it difficult to hold the front brake lever, and operate the throttle as I let out the clutch...What am I doing wrong?

Thanx,

J

Hold it on the foot /back brake.

Yep, hold the bike up with your left foot, hold the rear brake with right foot. When starting, make sure to give it plenty of gas!

I always use the rear brake to hold the bike. You can also use the friction zone of the clutch to hold it but the rear brake is easier.

If I am sitting at a light, I switch to using the friction zone when (if) I can see the other light turning yellow or red. This gets you ready for a quicker start as you have already released the brake and just need to give it gas and release the clutch all the way.

For now, just keep your right foot on the rear brake if you can manage it. Eventually you'll learn to apply the throttle while squeezing the front brake and, when you do, you can put both feet down at any intersection, lessening the chance your one foot will slip on oil or loose gravel causing you to fall over.

All the above is good advice, as you get a little more practiced you can learn to use only one or two fingers on the front brake instead of all of them. You can then control the throttle much better and just use the fingers on the brake. This helps if you need to flatfoot or the road camber needs you to put down your right leg. Practice, practice, pratice.