I've heard this argued both ways over the years, for both manual cars and bikes. Why is sitting stopped in first gear better/safer than neutral?
So you can quickly get out of the way of the cement mixer with no brakes behind you.
I've heard this argued both ways over the years, for both manual cars and bikes. Why is sitting stopped in first gear better/safer than neutral?
So you can quickly get out of the way of the cement mixer with no brakes behind you.
Correct, it's for negatively accelerating.
Guys ... y'all making it sound complicated.
Rear Brake
start giving some gas while releasing the clutch..... before you release the rear brake
you will feel the bike wanting to pull forward, at this point let go of the rear brake.
On a car it is the same thing with the hand brake.... although it isn't usually necessary if you have enough experience. I can usually be fast enough from brake to gas, while releasing the clutch with my feet, to not roll back (car).
There seems to be an entire generation of riders that have no clutch control or feel for the friction zone.
First - my automatic car also has a handbrake. So the person that said Auto Cars don't have hand operated brakes - is dead wrong. Also, when starting in my manual car - on a hill - I never use the hand brake, I engage the clutch until I hit the friction zone - then depending on the hill - and the feel - I left my right foot off the brake - the car does not go backwards. In fact you should be able to hold the car still with only the clutch - and not brake - and no gas.
You should be able to do the same on the bike. In fact, if you know your friction zone - you can literally not even twist the throttle, and if you are carefull enough - you can get moving - on flat ground by letting the throttle out - don't give it gas - and let it out slowly and gradually until you have forward momentum. Let it out too fast and you'll stall.
I suggest developing better clutch control.
Using the rear brake to keep from rolling back while you try to get started... please. You guys that do that really need to practice a bit more.
Guys ... y'all making it sound complicated.
Rear Brake
start giving some gas while releasing the clutch..... before you release the rear brake
you will feel the bike wanting to pull forward, at this point let go of the rear brake.
On a car it is the same thing with the hand brake.... although it isn't usually necessary if you have enough experience. I can usually be fast enough from brake to gas, while releasing the clutch with my feet, to not roll back (car).
I learned how to drive a manual while living in the UK. Some of the hills there are intense and the people behind you don't give you an inch to roll back. Definitely every person I was in a vehicle with there, on a steep enough hill would use the hand brake. (Some would clutch stand, or be quick enough with their feet on some hills). It saved me from rolling into some pretty expensive cars while driving there!I grew up in the UK where it's a part of the driving test, and although I never drove there, my Dad taught me to always use the handbrake.
There seems to be an entire generation of riders that have no clutch control or feel for the friction zone.
I suggest developing better clutch control.
Using the rear brake to keep from rolling back while you try to get started... please. You guys that do that really need to practice a bit more.
Is there a distance by law that the car behind you has to give?
With all due respect, I'm not sure your first sentence is necessarily true. The technique that you prefer to use certainly does take practice (as with anything). I've tried it and right now, I find it much easier to use the rear brake.
Again, to go back to the time I was stranded going up Dewit Rd. I vividly remember trying to let out the clutch, use the throttle and slightly release the front brake. It's a technique not to be tried the first time you get stranded going up a hill. But, I did try, believe me.
Perhaps there is no "right or wrong" way; just different?
Not sure where you are in Mississauga, but if you really want to get practice starting and stopping on either or both the incline and decline just off Speakman drive it's a parking lot to the building that says "body coat technologies" it's on the north side pretty much across the street from the school. If you go in there there is a really big hill that you can get practice going down then up the other side. good place to learn and get as much practice as you want.
Oh, Gawd, NO. This is called how to stall your bike at an intersection and get rear-ended. Bad idea.
A suggestion that may raise some eyebrows that can take some careful practice.
With bike in gear, clutch in, front brake on, and either foot down, palm the throttle open a bit to raise the revs, but still have your fingers on the front brake. Then smoothly coordinate the release of the clutch and front brake as you ease on the throttle.
You then have your options open on which foot or feet you are comfortable with on the ground.
Practice can make it work. Hope this helps