Bikers need to STOP DOING THIS!!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Bikers need to STOP DOING THIS!!! My biggest pet peeve I see on a regular basis is motorcycle riders that ride with their feet down at low speeds. It's dangerous, and it's a terrible habit that can be broken. As you start preparing for warmer weather, go out and practice your low speed maneuvering, and that includes popping your feet up on your footpegs or floorboards as soon as the motorcycle starts moving, and don't put them down unless the motorcycle comes to a complete stop.
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I constantly challenge myself to keep my feet on the pegs as long as possible. How slow can I go without having to put them down is the game. It's definitely something we should all practice. You'd be surprised how slow you can actually go without needing to put your feet down.
I do that as often as possible, just because the light is red doesn't mean my feet have to go down
@@jerlaine1638 Had a traffic cop book me for haveing my feet up stopped at a red light.
Dumbass watched me balance for a couple mins then decided to book me.
oHH. Its on bitch..
Had my day in court and go-pro vid showed him up as the ignorant prick he was. Judge decided he needed to have some re-education time lol.
Covered my court costs and a days lost wages.
Worked great, he went to dickhead cop kindergarten and I got a payed day off to ride 😏😎
100%. The "Slow roll" balancing game is a good one to play at lights.
That's always been the game. I like a perfect balance at a four way stop. Makes you look like a pro
Absolutely 100% agree with you. I moved from a VROD to a Road Glide 1 year ago and I watched everything I could about it as I've never ridden one when it got delivered. But I knew I wanted it. And the biggest thing I learned was - if the bikes moving, get your damn feet up. Never drag them. And I promise you, it is 100% better. Yes, it took me a few months to get used to a much larger, heavier bike. But I love it. And your dinky legs are not going to hold up the bike. If it leans, it's gonna fall. Let it fall, pick it up and keep riding. But your 1 leg is not going to hold up 1000 pounds guys. Thanks for the reminder
We practice with "slow races" when we are waiting for others.
What he said - please stop, don't drag / hang your feet off the boards when you're running slow. Now I will say that Main Street during Daytona Bike Week in March shows the worst of the worst skills. All of us snowbound Yankees pull our bikes down to the warm FLA weather and many haven't touched their bikes in 4 to 6 months. And many get hopped up and crack that throttle right out of the gate. Most forget that riding an MC is a perishable skill and that's obvious during Daytona bike week. I've seen more crashes during that rally than any other rally.
Thanks Monkey, this was drilled into me 45 years ago and i've never forgotten , but i see people doing it all the time .
Wisely spoken, and explained well. Even in my first year of riding motorcycles (1971) I wondered why some of the dudes take off at the green light, outriggers out, and then dragging their boot tips behind them for half a mile. One of the manuals that came with a motorcycle worded it well also: "Your ankles are a very complicated construction. Protect them."
I live in new Orleans Louisiana and I still go take a ride to find a empty parking lot to practice slow motion movements
Both feet off, front break, front end dumps, off balance stops.
I've tried doing the foot drag, and it just feels weird to me. I guess that I've developed a good practice through the fact that I find the bad habit uncomfortable.
As a beginner rider ( started in July of 2022 ), I totally agree. I find the bike easier to control with both feet up and on the pegs or floorboards. Before knowing better, I did this a little. It didn't take me long to realize it was making me more unbalanced so I quickly quit doing it and never really picked it up as habit.
Look up Ride like a pro Jerry Palladino on YT.
Absolutely Correct!!!... Thank you... Happy New Year... From Glendale Arizona...
Fantastic! I am guilty and have never really thought about it. I appreciate bringing awareness.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! This is one of my major pet peeves when I see people doing this. When I'm coming to a stop my bike stops moving before my feet come off the pegs and when it's time to start moving again my feet come up as the bike starts moving I watch people constantly at slow speeds dragging their feet and it drives me freaking insane!!
Exactly!
Definitely one of my pet peeves. I use to see it all the time in downtown Chicago. I'm sure there are legit safety concerns as you mentioned, but to me it just looked lazy and amateurish.
Also, if I'm on my way to or from the gun range or liquor store on a Saturday or Sunday morning, there are a ton of large empty parking lots available and it never hurts to take a minute or two to dive into one and crank out some figure-eights. 👍
When I first got in the trades and old timer told me once " never underestimate the difference between 30 yrs of experience and 1 yr of experience 30 times" you always gotta be workin at getting better
I love practicing my slow speed skills! Watched a lot of Robert Simmons and Motoman vids and really enjoy it 👍
Good information, practice your slow rolling a must
I wholeheartedly agree. I practice 'slow racing' in stop and go traffic, it drives the four wheelers nuts though. You don't have to be in a parking lot to practice everything. However, it's best to start there. Great video. Thanks!
New to your channel. Great stuff. Re-rider here (rode many moons ago, jumped off for 15yrs & just got back in the saddle). Thanks for doing these vids man, it's good learning material.
Welcome back!
Thanks for the reminder. Just got back. Pretty rusty.
Picked up my Street Glide back in October and before that, it was two years since I've ridden due to moving and life. I've been riding every opportunity I can get out since then and every time I go out, I pop into an empty parking lot at some point during the ride and practice my slow maneuvers because it's always a good skill to improve. I'm always looking for ways to learn something that will help me keep the rubber side down and me in the saddle.
I have never been a foot dragger but I have been riding for 40 plus years and found a lot of help from taking a riding course with Jerry. I have always wanted to whip a bagger around like you see on the police rodeos. Not that good yet but I am a hell of a lot better at slow speed maneuvers
LOVE THIS VIDEO! It needs to be said. Foot draggers drive me nuts. Also, kudos for talking about taking a riding class. I've been riding almost 50 years (fuck I'm old!), I'm a daily rider, but I still take riding classes every decade or so just to knock the stupid habits I formed out of my head. I learned to ride as a kid and my Dad taught me. He was an NYPD Motorcycle cop. His first lesson was, "Any asshole can hold onto a bike at 70. A rider does it at 5." That's so true and a great reason to take riding classes every now and then to remember that and ace those skills again. Thanks again for a great video.
👍thank you. Keep up the great work. I have ridden with guy's that wear out a set of boots before Tyers.
Agree. It serves no purpose other than cause a potentially hazardous situation. Additionally, it further delays your time to get to the rear brake.
Great advice I agree with you I practice to get better. Great video have a great week 👊👊👍👍👍
Once saw an Old Biker Gift a Young Rider one year a set of Training Wheels for a Bicycle and told him to put those on his bike until he could learn to drive it
Bought my second bike 2 years ago, (my first bike was 40 years ago, had it for 6 weeks, got T-boned and Haven’t ridden since the crash…) have now done 30,000 fresh kms (Ontario, Canada) and still feel like a noob. I have more seat time than many of my biker buddies but they think “Years” makes their experience supersede my seat time. I always listen to any advice given from them. NEVER do I drag my feet and I practice (almost) EVERY time I go out. 5 - 10 mins in a parking lot before or after highway rides.. After 2 years I am at about a 22’ u-turn targeting 18’ this year on my 2016, 915 lb full bagger Road Glide Ultra… Looking forward to May when the weather warms up enough to start practicing again!! Great advice, wish more would listen!!!
I like your description of the roads in Florida. 100% spot on!
I agree with you about the feet. I've given up on trying to explain to people why it's stupid.
People saying there are no hills or curves in Florida is another thing that needs to stop.
People that say that, clearly have not explored the state. 🤦♂️
Good rant! Thank you. The foot dragging drives me nuts, just like bad form in the gym and the shooting range.
Good video, glad you came back to this. My bikes are in an insulated garage finally, up here on the frozen tundra, for the first winter ever... they are happier. Next a work table for one so I can tinker the hell out of em.
Still have a few months up here. Been keeping the snow shoveled away from the shop for easier access.. great time for thorough maintenance thorough.
Stef from Toronto here. I dragged feat for 20 years. Totally stopped that over the last couple of years as I train slow speed maneuvers
Absolutely can’t agree anymore. Thanks for the reminder.
Thx for sharing your wisdom. I ride an ultra classic. Been riding for 15 yrs. I live in Wisco. Lucky to ride in November most yrs, and don't get bike out until Mid April or May.
I took a riding safety class and they preached against " duck walking at stop signs, and dragging your feet. Took an advanced riders class 3 yrs ago and they had us do like a Slow bike race 2 or 3 times just to show everyone how much more control you have with ur feet on the boards vs trying to hold yourself up.
I enjoy ur videos as I live vicariously thru you from Dec thru March
I took MSF course when I was 19 and I learned so much. I’ve recently switched from a ‘21 KTM SMC-R to a road king which weighs about 650lbs more. Whole other set of skills. I didn’t need a back brake on the smc-r. Grab the front brake of a road king at 15 mph while the bars are turned and see what happens. Who would have thought the “slow bikes” would have taught me to ride the right way.
So True, i as you know have been riding since i was 5 years old, and i have ridden and raced all sorts of motorcycle and little over 25 years into my riding experience i was a member of the Seacoast HOG chapter in 1992 and the chapter needed a certain number of Member to take the Beginner Riders Class with the MSF to get an Award for the Chapter, so i went thinking what are they going to teach me............They Taught me i didn't have a Clue How to Ride, and i was So Impressed with what they taught i then took the intermediate class, and the Advanced class and the class at Loudon Raceway the Penguin Racing School, i became an MSF Coach and a Harley Riders Edge Instructor, my job at a service manager kept me from teaching many classes but i still loved it, and in 2023 i will have 59 years in the Saddle and a Friend is an instructor for the Pro Rider Class Police riding coarse and i am hoping to take it in 2023 (was supposed to in 2022 but my bikes were in the shop most of the summer) I'm a Strong believer in Rider Education and learning NOT TO CRASH !!
12 year riding academy coach from Michigan. 100% agree. if the bike is moving at a walking speed or above, it is trying to balance itself. Get your feet up on the footrests. Basic Rider course has several chances to get this concept into new riders' heads.
I see it a lot with small scooter riders and it bugs the crap out of me. Even on a small, lightweight machine, your foot catches a rock or a crack in the pavement wrong and you are going to damage your foot or ankle and probably end up going down.
Also agree on the importance of dusting off your skills in a "safe" environment before you go play in traffic if you haven't ridden in a few months.
"You can do something wrong for twenty-five years"..Great statement dude! As a sporty bike rider for thirty-plus years, I have been to probably a dozen track day instructional classes. I learn something new from every single instructor because none of us think the same. You and I live in different worlds on similar vehicles, I really like your videos because it gives me a glimpse into a subculture of motorcycling that I know nothing about. Keep up the good work!
I fully agree with you on this point.
45 in St. Louis today, rode for two hours with both feet up!✌️❤️🎣
Absolutely 1,000,000% agree! I see that a lot over here in AZ as well.
I do the same every spring with the fig 8’s and low speed maneuvers.
Glad someone else called this out.
I shattered my knee in a dirt incident a bunch of years back and have lost a lot of strength in that leg. Getting back aboard after a few years away took a little empty carpark practice, but def needed to reset those habits built over decades.
I clocked over the 60yrs mark, only 160lb ringing wet so i need every bit of leverage i can muster. feet on the pegs give that extra. Never drag my feet.
Plus it looks goofy as F.
Kind of a point of pride to have my feet up within an inch or so of movement, and down at dead stop.
Duck walking in inching traffic instead of constant working the clutch is a different story.
I rode mini bikes, and dirt bikes as a kid and when I was finally old enough ta get a license(1976)the instructor asked how long I had been riding? Said: you did everything great but... get your feet on the pegs! I still remember. I also practice slow ride, even took 2nd at a Rodeo once. lol Being from St Louis do you remember "Humpin to Please"?
Great point ! I have been binge watching, Be the boss of your motorcycle , and how to preload for slow speeds , its a great class to watch on TH-cam
Right on!
Best advice yet.
Oh man.....I have always preached this. Been riding sportbikes most of my life and bashed other riders for the same thing. Great to hear and put it out there!!
I stopped riding several years ago. I raised 2 kids to high school graduation, before I got me another bike a little over a year ago. It did not take me long ( about 20 ft out of the driveway) to realize that all of my riding skills had rusted away. In most cases I don't drag my feet. Unfortunately we all have these people who want to creep up on a stop light. Well that's when I am guilty of dragging my feet. Those people in my area will open up 2 to 2 and 1/2 car lengths between me and them, and I'll drag soles while taking up the gap. Otherwise I try my best to not do it any other time.
I always try to keep my feet up. When stopping I keep my right foot on the brake and plant my left foot. I don’t care if I’m just sitting in traffic and only moving 5 foot forward, my feet are on the floorboards.
Been riding since I was a kid. Every winter is shut down from Nov 1st to mid April at best. I go on vacation or rent a bike while traveling for work to get some seat time in the long dark Alaskan winter. I watched the Jerry and Robert vids religiously before riding the twisties in Maui. Preloading, trusting the centrifugal force, working the clutch and back brakes in slow turns kept me off the rocks and out of the ocean on the Cliffside.
Iron mountain was an awesome ride!!! and so much better by keeping control under power and not fighting the bike. I'm 6'2" 320 lbs and I can't benchpress a bagger if hard pressed in a tight turn. Learning never ends, practice is never over. keep the relationship with your ride fresh!
One tight turn uphill on an Indian Pursuit in the gravel.... grabbed the front brake... and was catapulted off when it over on the guards. Nothing hurt but my pride and jeans, but I learned!!!
You were lucky to not get hurt!!!
I rode with a rc for a few years an there was a couple guys that would leave their feet down till it was time to shift into 2nd drove me nuts.. my dad always drilled it into my head at a young age to get your feet up as quick as possible
Mark from lowell ma.
love ya videos and most important learn ya friction zone on the clutch. helps with the feet from touching ground.
I couldn't even think of what you meant before you actually showed it lol never even thought to have my feet like that, wow
Jes sir! Ju are so right! I took class last jeer & da dude say, do not do it!
Great info PM!
Thank ju sir!
I agree with you 100%. Even though I live in Florida I'm always practicing so I can be a better Rider, So get out there have fun and be safe Enjoy 2023.
Well said!
Slow speed riding skills are absolutely essential to riding big bikes. Also, the bikes wheels act as two gyroscopes. Above 5-7 miles per hour, the bike WANTS to stay up.... Plus, during slow speed maneuvers you WANT to ride the clutch and the rear brake, it acts to help keep the bike UP. You can also shift yer a$$ in the seat to help counter steer. It's just practice,practice,practice... Ankles and knees are NOT designed as landing gear.... My .02 cents.....
That is funny because there is a local sheriff motorcycle patrol in my area that I see on a regular basis that drags his feet at highway speeds.
Thank you. I have told my sons this. But what kid listens to their parents.
Ultimately it comes down to training, most people don't have anywhere near enough and would benefit from a parking lot class or two. A local instructor said if you have 25 years of experience and no training then you have 1 year of experience repeated 25 times.
My bikes up for the season due to a destroyed primary/clutch gearing and shaft...I also as the season resumes go to the local parking lot where they hold rider classes and put some skills time on before I go on any long rides
I’m so glad you made this video, I’ve been bitching about this for years, and my wife even said, “that sounds like you” pick your damn feet up!
Thanks Monk', pet peeve of mine also, feet come up as soon as the revs hit the friction zone, then a sharp 90 to stay on the driveway and miss the car. Then when I'm out, I practice keeping them up at stop signs, stoplights, parking lots and the like. I'm too old, and my body is too stiff to not be on top of my game every moment that I'm riding. Can't do it like the pro law-dogs in the contests, but slow speed control separates the "wheat from the chaff"...as they say.
I know this is gonna be a little bit long, but you were absolutely correct. I remember about 15 years ago. This new guy came in to ride with us. And usually when we have a new guy, I fall back a little bit to keep an eye on them until I trust his riding, and on the back road, going through Chuluota, Florida at 55 mile an hour through a right hand turn, not a sharp curve, more like a dog leg that you didn’t even need to slow down for, he put his right foot down and let it drag the ground. And all I could think was what is this guy doing? I see it in parking lots in low speed quite often, but then just a few months ago when we were in Laconia for the rally. I decided to test ride one of the new BMWs. And the ride leader did the same thing on the back road of the racetrack. At well over 50 mile an hour, dragging his feet in the turns, I just rode behind him, shaking my effing head.
Maybe they are dirt riders.
The only good thing about winter in Canada is that I had time to watch everyone of your videos listed and hit the like on them keep up the great work!!! I'm 70 years old now have been ridding for 52 years! I can't wait for spring when I can get back on my Ultra Limited and ride...
You're the best!
And I find it actually funny that you put this video out because I was considering doing a video on this topic just a few days ago.
Great minds!
popping those feet up will make you a much better rider. Keeping those feet down, well if you ever get a foot caught under a footrest will break an ankle at best and maybe a leg or worse. Keep em up....down on stop and up when moving. Great tip on finding a vacant parking lot and practicing.
Preach it man, I agree with you 100% on this subject. I am recommending to many people that I see ride towatch this video.
Great advise! You are so right it needs to stop being done.
Exactly!
So true, rode for years self taught from my Dad. Moved to California, took a course to get legal, and because of that course, I'm alive.
Do a course, learn the emergency and riding maneuvers. This may save your life one day!
I agree I was an instructor for 4 years I have yelled at many classes" put your feet up" I am a big fan of doing parking lot practice hone those skills.
Ha. Finally made it to Sturgis last year. I saw a whole lot of extended outriggers. You could almost hear the shoes scraping. Every intersection in every town. Deadwood, Custer, spearfish, rapid city, Sundance. Everywhere. Not gonna lie I did it from time to time and had to consciously retrain my brain and bring myself back out of it. All the stop signs and stoplights and the constant fear of the overzealous cops. It's hot as balls. Traffic just crawls. No breeze. Full sun. Its frustrating. Maybe you're tired, thirsty and hungry, too. You're looking around praying for a parking spot (Deadwood) that never appears. You just got cut off from your buddies in town so you're going through scenarios in your head about where they went or where you should go. I bet you if you could film anybody for long enough under those conditions, you're gonna catch them dropping their hooves sooner or later. It's just important to realize it sooner than later and re correct yourself.
None of that has anything to do with riding and controlling your motorcycle, correctly. Since there is ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFIT to dragging your feet, there is no reason any person should do it. It doesn't make riding easier, it doesn't help in any way. Whether you're tired, frustrated, hot, cold, mad, happy, lots of traffic, no traffic, or any other situation, ever.
It's like saying when I'm feeling a certain way, sitting in traffic, my A/C isn't working, I can't find a parking space, and my wife just left me, I open the door and stick my foot out.
I was told this by numerous professional, L.E. motor officers "once the bike is moving your feet are on the boards". THANKS P-MONK!
Riders don’t practice slow riding. You can practice by seeing how long you can keep you feet on the pegs or boards when coming to a stop. Practice, practice, practice!
We are from st. Louis too, just moved to central Florida...love the year round riding and your content...
Lmao no hills or corners, miss the ozark hills already...
@@jorgjorgensen7527 absolutely. You can only go in a straight line for so long.
Sound advice I had an 85 cast iron sportster with 8” extended forks and drag bars with risers, I went to a riding school in NYC, the instructor would run you through for what felt like endless L/R circles and figure 8’s which helps improve your balance, he gave logical advice to constantly practice:
-Practice often, get the muscle memory to be reflexive
-Look into your turning direction
-Use push/pull on your handle bars during turning easier with drag bars I found for slow speed maneuvers
-Right foot on brake /pegs or boards
-Your left on the pavement when stopped, and immediately onto the pegs as soon as you start rolling forward.
-Utilizing both front and rear brakes when stopping, (Pre-ABS systems) practicing being comfortable stopping your bike with either front or rear or both with gradual even pressure, unless emergency stopping or evasive action requires you to hit the brakes hard and fast for safety. Please advise if these are good practices based on what I was taught back in the 80’s. Great channel always good advice
Good video bud. I think some riders think it makes them look cool. It actually makes them look like amateurs.
Right on
Loved the video. You mentioned counter steering. My son asked me what you're talking about. And I have a feeling you can explain this better than I could. Can you do a video on this topic?
100% accurate Monk, I did the Ride Like a Pro course and always practice, Legs up boys or you will get hurt and we can call you peg leg, Peace !!
💯 percent agree. Safety first. I'm a new rider about a year and a half in and I watch both Jerry and Robert simmons and drastically changed my style of riding and I actually feel confident riding slow now. In the beginning I had a fear of being unstable and falling but with alittle rear brake and throttle your golden.
My cousin is a Motor officer and they train to instantly raise your feet to the boards. Cause he says he can’t explain it it but the road becomes like Velcro and you feet can stick to the pavement and then bad things happen.
So true! As stated practice it and break that bad habit! Thanks!
That's 100 percent true! Ive been riding for 50 years and I can't stand seeing someone do that!
And duck walking. The wife and I were in our first big group ride last summer and we slow rolled into a little town. Little incline and everyone was turning. This is my first Harley (RK standard) and basically our first full summer with this bike. Three or four others, some two-up and some solo, were duck walking. My wife is no munchkin, I'm not quite 5'8" and weigh a bit less. I have had to do some parking lot riding to adjust to this thing, definitely something that helps to refresh your skills. Feet up and clutch and throttle work makes for a much safer and enjoyable experience. I'm not saying I haven't had to drag or duck walk on occasion but it's something I've worked on and have improved drastically on.
Safe rides everyone
Worse is walking the horse…coming to a stop or taking off slow…
Weekend Warriors
I have ridden for decades, and have often left my feet dragging. Not because I think I need my feet to help me do anything... I just like it. It's like letting my foot trail in the water when going slow in a boat. I don't think, "if the boat sinks, I'm already halfway in the water!" I just like how it feels.
But, a few years ago I left a gas pump without picking my right foot up. I wasn't watching closely enough, and found out that "curb" bumped out a bit at the end of the isle. The curb caught my toe and dragged it backwards, which wouldn't have been a problem if I didn't have rear crashbars right in front of my saddle bags. The crashbar made sure my ankle kept moving forwards, but the curb made sure my toe DID NOT move forwards. It stretched my foot away and back in a way that it was never designed to do. I didn't break anything, but it was "tender" for about 3 weeks. I consider myself lucky. Now, no matter how much I enjoy the "foot dragging" fun, I don't do it.
Call it lesson learned.
I 100% agree These are ones that need a refresher. I know when you take the Test at the Illinois DMV you put your foot down you Fail the test. They will not let you retake the Riding portion of the test same day. There is absolutely NO excuse for foot dragging unless you are wanting to be an Amputee. I have taken the MSF beginner and the MSF advanced rider courses. I have also seen a few guys who brag the have been riding for years (dirty of course) fail the MSF beginner course.
AND, if you’re dragging your feet, you’re only using the front brake. Front brake only can put you down very quickly in some slow riding situations.
Seriously great advice. Practice is always good 👍
GREAT idea on practicing skills every spring for those who experience some level of winter. I never thought of that.
Seeing my dad ride when I was a kid is what inspired me to ride correctly. I don't put a single foot down until I'm stopped and I only put one foot down. I put the foot down towards the outside of the lane to avoid any slick spots in the center. Once I take off, I lift the foot up and then ride as usual. Slow or actually riding.
That's embarrassing man. My right foot never leaves my foot board and brake even slow rolling in a parking lot!
Ur absubluply 100% korekt. Keep feets up. And practice makes , not perfect, but better anyways. Thanx 4 the much needed lekture.
This is very true. Thanks for posting
great advise !
Thank You for this info. I"m guilty. I certainly don"t need a broken leg!
I'm dusting mine off here in NC on Wednesday
Agreed, as soon as the clutch grabs my feet are off the ground.
Congrats on 80K!! My favorite you tube channel!!! Keep up the great work!!
Wow, thanks!