Need help before I crash & burn

[Boulevard Billy]

Hello people! I have been riding (C50) for two years and have logged 20K kms in that time. Everything is great but I have started to have a problem that is going to become a disaster if I don't solve it soon. When taking off from a standing stop and in the proper position with my right foot on the brake and my left foot on the ground. When I pickup my left foot I am catching the kick stand and pulling it down slightly and killing the motor, I am going to be making a left hand turn and kill the bike at this rate. I have never had a problem until now and I don't know why it is happening - it is a subconscious thing.

I ride with high topped construction boots - concrete blocks on my feet but I like the safety and the armour on my feet. I just can't understand how I am catching the top of the boot on the tip of the kick stand when I pick my size 13 foot up and onto the floor boards

[blackie1491]

Just go in a parking lot and do some start and stops.
Kick your foot to the left as you raise it up to the flloorboards.
Just make the effort over a couple of days and it will become automatic.
We get lazy and short cut till we have a bad habit.

One pair of my boots has a narrow heel and I find I am not positive enough on some of my upshifts. I have been working on that the last few rides.
Some times it is hard to break bad habits.

[fotodude1]

did you recently buy new boots?

[fotodude1]

Or maybe different jeans?

[Dave Nadeau]

Originally Posted by Boulevard Billy

Hello people! I have been riding (C50) for two years and have logged 20K kms in that time. Everything is great but I have started to have a problem that is going to become a disaster if I don't solve it soon. When taking off from a standing stop and in the proper position with my right foot on the brake and my left foot on the ground. When I pickup my left foot I am catching the kick stand and pulling it down slightly and killing the motor, I am going to be making a left hand turn and kill the bike at this rate. I have never had a problem until now and I don't know why it is happening - it is a subconscious thing.

I ride with high topped construction boots - concrete blocks on my feet but I like the safety and the armour on my feet. I just can't understand how I am catching the top of the boot on the tip of the kick stand when I pick my size 13 foot up and onto the floor boards

Well you could ride with sandels like a Squid or buy a bigger bike...

[AZRyder]

Could also be a weak kickstand spring.

[Clint]

A couple points...

1. Construction boots aren't that great for motorcycling. As you've discovered, they're heavy and bulky. They don't offer much ankle protection, either. Most are just a layer of leather. That's good for abrasion, but ideally you'll have some twist and impact protection - which is what a real motorcycle boot can offer.

2. At a stop, consider keeping your left foot up. Unless you sit in gear the whole time, you won't be able to pull away quickly if needed. That would also solve your problem.

3. +1 to AZ. You could upgrade that spring.

[droopy170]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

A couple points...

1. Construction boots aren't that great for motorcycling. As you've discovered, they're heavy and bulky. They don't offer much ankle protection, either. Most are just a layer of leather. That's good for abrasion, but ideally you'll have some twist and impact protection - which is what a real motorcycle boot can offer.

2. At a stop, consider keeping your left foot up. Unless you sit in gear the whole time, you won't be able to pull away quickly if needed. That would also solve your problem.

3. +1 to AZ. You could upgrade that spring.

Not to hijack thread, but on #2, If I rember right from MSF classes, bike should be in gear when you stop, is this not correct?

Droopy

[IntruderCruiser]

bike does not always have to be in gear when stopped -- I just make sure no car is coming up behind me at a high rate of speed

I would check the side stand spring --- picking your foot up should in theory pull the stand up not push it down.

as far as boots -- choose to wear what gives good protection and are comfortable to you --- I personally like the work boot/shoe -- I think they best protection would be from lace up instead of slip on.

[p1zl3]

Hey Bill,
--Tighten that stand up! You should be able to give it a little knock without it killing the engine. I'm supprised with it that loose the vibration from riding doesn't cause it to hit the switch. If you leave the stand be, it won't be long before a speed-bump or man-hole cover drops your stand and puts you in a real compromising situation. Just tighten her up and save yourself future heart-ache and possably injury ...not to mention how dumb you probubly look killing it at a light in front of some chicks ... eeek!

cheers,
p1zl3

[Clint]

Originally Posted by droopy170

If I rember right from MSF classes, bike should be in gear when you stop, is this not correct?

You have a much bigger left forearm than I, my friend. There're some dang long stoplights in my town.

[Apertureguy]

I wear a size 12, and with regular work boots I also find them to be a bit big for the available space. Only if it's really cold will I wear them, normally I just wear a heavy leather shoe.

While I never hit the kickstand, I have shifted accidently while adjusting my foot on the peg. Thankfully I had the revs up & everything meshed well...but it still surprised the heck out of me.

I agree with the other posts to check the Stand...make sure it's not loose.

[Iceman99]

Originally Posted by droopy170

Not to hijack thread, but on #2, If I rember right from MSF classes, bike should be in gear when you stop, is this not correct?

Droopy

Your 100% correct Droopy. You need to be able to move out of the way quickly if you had too. But!!!! if there are cars already stopped behind me I usually keep it out of gear so I can rest my arms for a bit.

[ORBrit]

I had to ride in stop and go traffic for 25 minutes the other day - there was a wreck and we were crawling a few yards every 20 seconds. I had to be in gear, but had to have the clutch in most of the time. I covered about .5 miles in that time.
My left hand was cramping so badly at the end of that. I don't think being in neutral was an option - I had to go uphill onto an overpass then down around a cloverleaf.

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

You have a much bigger left forearm than I, my friend. There're some dang long stoplights in my town.

[NCBoulevard]

General thread related comments. Not directed at anyone in particular.
__________________________________________________ _______________

If there's no one stopped behind you and you're sitting in neutral you'd better hope that when the idiot who's about to run you down gets there you haven't taken your eyes off the mirror and you can pop it in gear and scoot before you die.

Additionally, if you're not strong enough to sit with the clutch lever pulled in through a stoplight maybe you should look into a Ridley or a scooter.

I also prefer the security of a steel toed heavy boot. I recently went down in a fairly slow speed accident (35-40) and rubbed the toe of my boot all the way down to the steel. If I'd been wearing a typical motorcycle boot I probably wouldn't have to worry about trimming that toenail for a long time to come.

[Texcowboy9]

When stopped in traffic I always have it in gear with the clutch pulled in and watch my mirrors.

[Graywolf]

Texcowboy9!

[Clint]

Originally Posted by NCBoulevard

If there's no one stopped behind you and you're sitting in neutral you'd better hope that when the idiot who's about to run you down gets there you haven't taken your eyes off the mirror and you can pop it in gear and scoot before you die.

General comments not directed at anyone named NCBoulevard:

I can shift into gear and be rolling as quickly as you can let the clutch out. It takes almost no time to stomp my toe down, which is positioned over the lever anyway. I've practiced hard starts for years and can blow away most riders. The real issues is not in gear or not in gear, it's paying attention to the situation around you or not. Don't kid yourself.

[EWChimp]

Check the cutoff switch sensor to the kick stand, also. If it's not the spring being worn, it could be a loose connector getting knocked.

[Rickster]

What's wrong with keeping your left foot up, and holding yourself in position with your front brake?

I know what they teach in the class, but I feel safest with both feet on the ground, clutch pulled in, bike in gear, front brake on.