Riding Position - Right foot - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

meie · 07-12-2007, 02:49 PM

Hello everyone!!

I got a 94 CBR and when I ride, my right foot rests on the peg far back enough where my toes are not resting on the brake pedal. When I want to break, I have to move my front toe area forward a little to press down the brake pedal (maybe takes half a second). I'm wondering if this is the correct riding position, or should I be riding with my front toe area constantly resting on the brake pedal (not pressing down of course)? I would imagine doing this could reduce the braking reaction time, but I'm not sure if this is safe or not since I could accidently trigger the brakes as well.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS!!

palanon · 07-12-2007, 03:02 PM

Typically you should ride with the ball of your foot on the peg. When you brake, you scoot your foot forward enough to use the pedal. After awhile, you do it without even thinking. Once this happens, it really only takes a fraction of a second. Your front brake does the majority of the braking so, the half second lag time is actually good.

**intimid8er** · 07-12-2007, 03:03 PM

I always ride with the brake covered.

Is it proper? I don't know, but I sure as heck feel a lot safer that way.

**Clint** · 07-12-2007, 03:20 PM

I ride on the balls of my feet also, but experience and common sense dictate that I cover the brakes at certain times. Just keep your head in the game and do what's comfortable.

meie · 07-12-2007, 04:02 PM

Cool! Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I get it now. I guess there is no real right or wrong way. Use my head and ride comfortably...thanks Rowdy!

Easy Rider · 07-12-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intimid8er

I always ride with the brake covered.
Is it proper? I don't know, but I sure as heck feel a lot safer that way.

Which is, I believe, what they teach in all of the classes. The exception would be a person who can't seem to keep from dragging the brake. I think they even recommend "covering" the front brake too but I'm betting almost nobody does that all the time.

When my foot is on the peg (most of the time) my toe is over the brake.

fivepointnine · 07-13-2007, 09:18 AM

the only time I "cover" the front brake is when you get that sense that the moron in front of you is about to do something stupid, or in heavy traffic I ride with 1 or 2 fingers resting on the top of the brake lever, my rear brake I ride just barely off of, it takes nothing to scoot if forward...I dotn even think about it.

**Louis** · 07-13-2007, 09:48 AM

In my Experienced Rider Class, they scold us pretty badly for covering the brakes. I now don't cover the brakes (except as Rowdy said, when I feel I should be...), always the ball of the foot on the peg and scoot the foot forward when needed.

**inspiron** · 07-13-2007, 11:54 AM

Same here. If you are doing some serious cornering, you want the ball of your foot on the peg. If you have your foot forward, covering the brake, there is more risk of catching your boot on the pavement when the bike is leaned over. I ride with both feet back, "scooting" them forward when I need to shift or brake. The LAST thing you want is your left foot caught UNDER the shifter when you "dive" into a left turn. That's why most track racers have the reversed gearbox. One up, 5 down. That way, their foot is never UNDER the shifter when they are leaned over.

Easy Rider · 07-13-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

In my Experienced Rider Class, they scold us pretty badly for covering the brakes.

I can see that for the front as it compromises your grip and throttle control a bit. But why not cover the back..........for the "average" rider, that is (high perf. and racing differences noted)?

**intimid8er** · 07-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Considering the fact my feet are this big:

NOT covering the brake is not an option for me!

**Clint** · 07-13-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

I can see that for the front as it compromises your grip and throttle control a bit. But why not cover the back..........for the "average" rider, that is (high perf. and racing differences noted)?

Riding for hours at a time with my foot resting on the heel isn't an option. While it may be on some bikes, it just isn't necessary. You don't drive your car with your left foot hovering over the brake pedal, do you?

Easy Rider · 07-13-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Riding for hours at a time with my foot resting on the heel isn't an option. While it may be on some bikes, it just isn't necessary. You don't drive your car with your left foot hovering over the brake pedal, do you?

Is this one of "those" times?

allan4169 · 07-13-2007, 10:21 PM

I ride with the peg in that spot just in front of the heel. My toes are pointing down and if I need to brake I rotate my foot up and onto the brake pedal. I feel uncomfortable with the balls of my feet on the pegs. I feel that they could slide off when on the balls of my feet. But when the peg is in front of the heel, the boot feels like it is more secure. The only time that style gets in the way is when I am in the twisties and when the bike leans over, my toes will drag just before I get to maximum lean. Sort of a lean guage for me. When that happens I pull my toes up a bit to stop them dragging. But the important thing is that whichever way you ride, make sure you feel comfortable and secure.

**Clint** · 07-14-2007, 08:27 AM

I think it makes a difference whether you're a LD rider or not. I need to be able to shift my weight and flex my leg muscles when I'm on the bike for 4-600 miles in a day. Like riding a bicycle, this is best done on the balls of your feet. I sometimes do like Allan describes, though, just to get a change of position.

bostonjim · 07-17-2007, 11:56 AM

I ride with the peg about half way down my foot. The foot is just outside the pedal. When I need to brake, I simply rotate my foot over and push down on the pedal. When carving twisties, I do as Allen says, lift toes to stop them from dragging.

Jim

mvspeed101 · 07-19-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Riding for hours at a time with my foot resting on the heel isn't an option. While it may be on some bikes, it just isn't necessary. You don't drive your car with your left foot hovering over the brake pedal, do you?

Unless youre looking for a career in karting or F1...haha

07-12-2007, 02:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
meie Where Am I ? Joined: Jul 2006 Bike: 94 Honda CBR 600 F2 Location: Oregon Posts: 47	Riding Position - Right foot Hello everyone!! I got a 94 CBR and when I ride, my right foot rests on the peg far back enough where my toes are not resting on the brake pedal. When I want to break, I have to move my front toe area forward a little to press down the brake pedal (maybe takes half a second). I'm wondering if this is the correct riding position, or should I be riding with my front toe area constantly resting on the brake pedal (not pressing down of course)? I would imagine doing this could reduce the braking reaction time, but I'm not sure if this is safe or not since I could accidently trigger the brakes as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS!!

07-12-2007, 03:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
palanon No Significant Other Joined: Apr 2006 Bike: 2003 Bandit 1200S Location: Newmarket, NH Posts: 2,308	Typically you should ride with the ball of your foot on the peg. When you brake, you scoot your foot forward enough to use the pedal. After awhile, you do it without even thinking. Once this happens, it really only takes a fraction of a second. Your front brake does the majority of the braking so, the half second lag time is actually good. __________________ " In the name of the Speedo, the Tach and the Holy Throttle, amen. "

07-12-2007, 03:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 9,568	I always ride with the brake covered. Is it proper? I don't know, but I sure as heck feel a lot safer that way. __________________ Song Pick of the Week 09/03 Buckcherry - Too Drunk To F..... (NSFW) <Insert nothing original in this space>

07-13-2007, 09:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,652	In my Experienced Rider Class, they scold us pretty badly for covering the brakes. I now don't cover the brakes (except as Rowdy said, when I feel I should be...), always the ball of the foot on the peg and scoot the foot forward when needed. __________________ Louis

07-13-2007, 11:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 11,779	Same here. If you are doing some serious cornering, you want the ball of your foot on the peg. If you have your foot forward, covering the brake, there is more risk of catching your boot on the pavement when the bike is leaned over. I ride with both feet back, "scooting" them forward when I need to shift or brake. The LAST thing you want is your left foot caught UNDER the shifter when you "dive" into a left turn. That's why most track racers have the reversed gearbox. One up, 5 down. That way, their foot is never UNDER the shifter when they are leaned over. __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

07-12-2007, 04:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
meie Where Am I ? Joined: Jul 2006 Bike: 94 Honda CBR 600 F2 Location: Oregon Posts: 47	Cool! Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I get it now. I guess there is no real right or wrong way. Use my head and ride comfortably...thanks Rowdy!

07-13-2007, 09:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
fivepointnine Newbie Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: 1991 Suzuki VX800, 2000 KTM 400SXC, 2001 Honda CR80R Location: Oxnard, Ca Posts: 18	the only time I "cover" the front brake is when you get that sense that the moron in front of you is about to do something stupid, or in heavy traffic I ride with 1 or 2 fingers resting on the top of the brake lever, my rear brake I ride just barely off of, it takes nothing to scoot if forward...I dotn even think about it.

07-13-2007, 01:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 9,568	Considering the fact my feet are this big: NOT covering the brake is not an option for me! __________________ Song Pick of the Week 09/03 Buckcherry - Too Drunk To F..... (NSFW) <Insert nothing original in this space>

07-13-2007, 10:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
allan4169 Seat Tester Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 2001 Suzuki 1200 BanditS Location: Los Angeles (ex Aussie) Posts: 57	I ride with the peg in that spot just in front of the heel. My toes are pointing down and if I need to brake I rotate my foot up and onto the brake pedal. I feel uncomfortable with the balls of my feet on the pegs. I feel that they could slide off when on the balls of my feet. But when the peg is in front of the heel, the boot feels like it is more secure. The only time that style gets in the way is when I am in the twisties and when the bike leans over, my toes will drag just before I get to maximum lean. Sort of a lean guage for me. When that happens I pull my toes up a bit to stop them dragging. But the important thing is that whichever way you ride, make sure you feel comfortable and secure.

07-17-2007, 11:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
bostonjim In Training Joined: May 2006 Bike: Suzuki S83 Location: just south of boston ma. Posts: 146	I ride with the peg about half way down my foot. The foot is just outside the pedal. When I need to brake, I simply rotate my foot over and push down on the pedal. When carving twisties, I do as Allen says, lift toes to stop them from dragging. Jim __________________ Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints!!!

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