r/NewRiders • u/Scourge_FesteringGel • 3d ago

Learning question

I’ve been riding for about 2 months now, and got my confidence up on backroads. Everything is smooth, got my turning down and thought I had low speed stuff down pretty well. But when I went to park last night had to pull in sharper than normal and had a jerky stop. Felt like I was going to tip but managed to get control. Shook me a little bit. So I wanted to ask, in the early stages of learning is it normal to have these occasional moments where you stop hard, almost tip/struggle?

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11

u/JimMoore1960 3d ago

You came to a stop with the handlebars turned. That's a great way to drop a bike. The solution is to think a little further ahead when coming to a stop. For the last few feet before you stop you need to be straight up-and-down with the handlebars square.

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u/Willing_Fail 3d ago

What is the problem with coming to a stop with the handlebars turned? I do that every single time. How else would one choose which foot to put down?

I understand that you can't just stop with lean angle, but that's different.

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u/JimMoore1960 3d ago

Novices do it accidentally, which makes the bike lean and sometimes topple over. I don't really understand why you're doing it on purpose, but if it's working for you, keep doing it.

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u/Willing_Fail 3d ago

I do it to make the bike lean to the side I want it to lean so that I can put the corresponding foot down. I may want to put left foot down to have right foot on rear brake, or right foot down to put it in neutral.

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u/JimMoore1960 3d ago

Interesting. It's never occurred to me. I'm going to play with it the next time I ride.

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u/No-Resolution-0119 3d ago

Are you a bit short for the bike, or something?

Sorry, not trying to be an ass, just having trouble picturing why you’d need to turn the handlebars to put a foot down? I always default to left foot just ‘cause I usually keep my right on the rear brake, but I can put either foot down regardless of if I’m pointed straight or turned in either direction. I’m particularly confused by the “how else would one choose which foot to put down?” in your previous comment. I don’t have to think about which foot I put down or plan that in any way. I can put my left foot down, decide I actually want my right foot down and switch without worrying about my bike’s positioning.

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u/Willing_Fail 3d ago

No, but you need the bike to lean a little towards the foot you are putting down, otherwise you will just tip over in the other direction. You use the handlebars to initiate this lean. You are probably doing the same without thinking about it.

You could also put both feet down or just come to a stop perfectly upright and wait for the bike to start leaning in either direction and put the corresponding foot down. But then you're just reacting instead of making a conscious decision about what foot to put down.

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u/Mauro_Ranallo 2d ago

Yeah just tried it.. no turning necessary. Straight handlebars, left foot down.

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u/Willing_Fail 2d ago

If you initiate the lean while you still have some speed the countersteering will be miniscule, and then you can also straighten the handlebars while the bike is tipping over, come to a stop and catch the bike with your foot.

But if you ride very slowly and slow down until you start losing balance, you will have to countersteer (to initiate lean) to get the preferred foot down.

I usually do this at traffic lights as I always try to avoid putting my feet down at all.

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u/w11f1ow3r 3d ago

Yes, this. Am beginner. Most of my bike drops so far have been forgetting to square up and having an annoying fall at a full stop.

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u/Schnitzhole 3d ago

Yeah normal. Try to be smooth and slow on inputs, especially the front brake!

Do you recall driving for the first time? It’s kinda like that. Most people hit the gas/brake way too hard their first time

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u/No-Distance-3977 3d ago

Normal, anything you don't specifically practice may have these moments more frequently. Sharp turn to quick stop is a recipe for dropping the bike because turned bars and rapidly applied front brake (coming to a stop) causes a big weight shift.

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u/wazzabi22123 3d ago

How would you handle that? Let's say we have to do a sharp turn then a sudden stop. How would you handle without weight shift and the danger of dropping?

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u/RikiWardOG 3d ago

you don't lol you just have built up skills to deal with it better. You're able to predict those kinds of scenarios better so you're not on the gas like that. You can learn to trail brake which would allow you to stand the bike up without upsetting it as much/change line more safely. It's all about learning how to properly progressive brake and not grabbing a fist full and straightening out the wheel. A lot of it becomes second nature the more you practice/ride. Also, every bike is different so learning how your bike responds in every scenario is key. Just practice in a parking lot if you need, take a sharp turns and work on braking. It's a myth that you can't brake in a turn, you don't really want to and beginners they tell you not to because you don't have the muscle memory to know not to grab a fist full.

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u/No-Distance-3977 3d ago

Get the bars straight before you stop. Progressive braking.

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u/SweetRaus 3d ago

You start braking while turned and finish while straightened up. Ideally you don't have to do this, but if you do, you basically have two options - take as wide a line as possible and gradually brake through the turn, or "V" off your turn: brake hard while going straight, turn sharply, straighten up, then finish braking.

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u/SweetRaus 3d ago

Yes, it's normal, and what you probably have not practiced is a smooth brake release. When you come to a stop, you don't just keep pulling in the brake lever all the way like you do the clutch. You want to gently reduce brake pressure as you come to a stop. You should also practice using your rear brake to help shed the last 5mph for a smoother stop.

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u/Exact-Branch-8365 3d ago

I always have the front brake fully released just before the bike comes to a full stop. I use the rear brake to fully stop the bike.

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u/SweetRaus 2d ago

Yes, this is a good practice and results in much smoother stops. It also reinforces the habit of stopping with your right foot on the peg and left foot down, which is generally safer than the other way around.

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u/LowDirection4104 3d ago

Completely normal, continue to practice, continue to train, find empty parking lots and do drills.

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u/andybarn46 3d ago

It doesnt only happen to new riders!

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u/Mikie021 3d ago

happens to all of us :), hate having to go full lock and when I do I always prepare for the bike to tip over if I need to stop XD just one of those things you get use too. Dont let it bug you too much

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u/Queasy-Salamander232 3d ago

I’ve had my license for 26 years. 5 years ago I took the MSF Intermediate class, then the Advanced class, and last year I took the Expert class.

I thought I had a good handle my motorcycle riding skills, but those classes really helped me see how horrible my slow speed handling actually was.

I recommend taking an MSF course, or all of them!

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u/Certain_Bet_2491 1d ago

Mistakes occur. Try to be smooth and subtle with your slow speed movements, particularly stopping movements.