Stops signs and stop lights

FLHTbiker · Apr 21st, 2008, 10:07 AM

There was some good info on another thread about things everyone does or doesn't do at stops. Putting the clutch in neutral at long lights is good but like said man watch the mirror for idiots and cover the clutch lever. Another big thing I didn't see mentioned is an escape route. When I pull up at a stop sign or light and their is one or even several vehicles in front of me I always leave enough room for a quick escape if needed. I used it once when a big 4X4 was wheel hopping coming up behind me and I wound up beside the guy in front of me and the 4X4 was in my spot. I always leave a gap now with the front wheel pointed towards the best way to escape quick.

wvak47 · Apr 21st, 2008, 11:19 AM

I'm way new but learned to do this early on. Now it is just a habit. If I can get in the front at the light I will do it everytime. If not I try to leave room and point the front tire toward the biggest hole available. VERY rarely will I put the bike in N, normally 1st and hold the clutch. Most lights aren't that long that I can't hold the clutch for it. I can rest my arm and hand once I am moving again.

Stop signs are another story. Around here cops are (male body parts), and anything close to a rolling stop will get you a ticket. Money hungry, c*cksmooches. I always drop my left foot with bike in 1st. That way I have the clutch and both brakes covered and ready to go. If I have to set for anytime at all (3 others at a 4 way before me) I will hold the rear brake and let off the front.

Haven't had any trouble at lights or signs yet, it is tailgaters that royally bug me. That is when lights and signs bother me, when Johnny Dumass is already too close on my tail as I approach one.

SPORSTERBOY · Apr 21st, 2008, 01:04 PM

I Very Rarely Put The Bike In N, I'll Put About 2 Or 3 Car Lenths Behind The Guy In Front Of Me. I Don't Have A Front Brake So It's A 1 Foot Slide To A Stop. At A Stop Sign I'll Do A Complete Stop And Put Both Feet Down To Be Safe, Don't Want Any Reason To Be Pulled Over, Because I Can Make A Nice List Of The Things On My Bike I Can Be Harrassed For, Not To Mention Our State Has A Law That They Can Pull Over A Bike For Random Inspections, Prob. Not The Local Boys Will, But Mostley The State Boys.

FLHTbiker · Apr 21st, 2008, 01:11 PM

Sporsterboy-----I live in Oregon and have rode through Washington many times and never knew that about pulling over a bike. That sucks!

Art_NJr · Apr 22nd, 2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

There was some good info on another thread about things everyone does or doesn't do at stops. Putting the clutch in neutral at long lights is good but like said man watch the mirror for idiots and cover the clutch lever. Another big thing I didn't see mentioned is an escape route. When I pull up at a stop sign or light and their is one or even several vehicles in front of me I always leave enough room for a quick escape if needed.

Excellent point & I always do the both feet down @ a stop too - if you're leaned a bit one way, you may very well need to go the other - like right now. Allow me to expand on the escape route deal if I may - reminds me of the instructor I had as a teenager (loooong time ago) - used to drive me nuts with, "Whatcha gonna do ??"

You're tooling along in the middle lane on a street that's 3 lanes wide (on either side) in a big city & there are cars/trucks/vans all around. Van in front of you slams on the brakes - "Whatcha gonna do ?" Become the meat in a sandwich that's what - 'cause you've got nowhere to go. Better to be in the left or right lane so @ least you can run off into the median or somebody's parking lot or front yard. Same thing @ a stoplight - go right or left a few feet if need be, but being in the middle lane you don't have that option.

Cruising along in the right lane, light's green for you @ the next cross-street - see that car coming from the right? He's not going to stop @ the red light for him - "Whatcha gonna do?" Cruising along in the left lane, the guy with his left turn-signal on starts to pull into the left-turn lane @ the next light - but he's going to change his mind & pull right back in front of you - "Whatcha gonna do?"

The most important saying I took away from all that is, "Always expect everyone on the road to do the STUPIDEST thing they could possibly do." And believe me they will - after 1.25 million accident-free miles in a semi I thought I'd seen it all - nope - still amazes me what people will do.

And a gal who used to post on another list had a tagline I liked - "Ride like you're invisible - to them you are." How many times have you seen a news story about a car/truck/van driver who hit a motorcyclist & said, "I didn't see him"?

Having bright lights & clothing is no guarantee either - few years back a rider on a bright yellow sportbike with dual headlamps, wearing yellow leathers & full-face helmet got run over by a truck. Driver said the same thing - didn't see him - but you could have seen that bike 1/4 mile away in the pouring rain. Maybe the driver didn't look in the mirror before changing lanes, maybe the rider wasn't looking for the truck to switch lanes - but we can't ask the rider his viewpoint 'cause he didn't survive.

FLHTbiker · Apr 22nd, 2008, 09:11 AM

Some good points Art.
I think I saved another cagers life one morning a couple years ago at a stop light. Two lane with both lanes turning left and I'm in the right lane first one at the light. The light turns green and I was already watching this log truck approaching and was not slowing down for his red light. The guy to my left was simply watching the lights waiting for our lights to turn green. He didn't see the log truck coming at full speed (55-60) so I laid on the horn which made him stop and about that time the log truck comes roaring by. That guy in the car kept thanking me all the way down the road.
Being on a motorcycle we all need to be more aware of our surroundings than others do and I think it makes better drivers out of us when we drive our cage.

maxpower_hd · Apr 22nd, 2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art_NJr

The most important saying I took away from all that is, "Always expect everyone on the road to do the STUPIDEST thing they could possibly do." And believe me they will

I couldn't agree more. I ALWAYS look both ways at green lights, look for morons on cell phones, check my mirrors at stops and for people making left hand turn out of no left turn areas.

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way, by getting T-Boned by the lady making the left turn out of the no left turn area to cut across traffic to get into Dunkin Donuts. Long story short, I was bouncing around Dunkin's parking lot like a rag doll before I even knew what hit me.

Amazing how a few broken bones and a little surgery can make you so aware of your surroundings.

AZroaddust · Jul 6th, 2008, 05:57 PM

Complete stops at Red lights are natural, but I always thought a stop SIGN meant to slow down until you are just about forced to put your foot/feet down or lose your balance, then drive off. NO?

ringo912 · Jul 12th, 2008, 01:26 PM

One thing I don't do is pull out in the middle of an intersection when I'm in the left turn lane waiting for traffic clear. Never know when some knuklehead not paying attention will run the red light on the cross street. When I'm in the left turn lane, I stay behind the curb line of the cross road until traffic clears and I can make my turn.

voodoo1 · Jul 13th, 2008, 12:22 PM

I put both feet down(don't walk/waddle with the bike ever) ever seen a foot go into a AC moisture puddle and down goes the bike? Not me baby....I got six lanes on the way to and from work. right, left on and off ramps.... yeah real fun, be seen an stay in the line of sight no matter what is the name. Intersections ...always look even after light turns green for me just in case of idiots running lights. the nI get to a two lane for the remaing way out to the little town I live in and start dodging teens with cells.
Loud pipes bright lights ...but maybe a built in laser beam in my headlight would help too.

mtlakehog · Sep 11th, 2008, 05:28 PM

I always leave myself an exit when I'm stopped!! And I used to think that when you were at a light/sign and you had a couple of cagers stopped behind you were safe. Until a month ago when I was stopped with a few cagers stopped behind me and an 18 wheeler couldn't get stopped. Heard it, looked in my mirror seen it coming, took off between cars and still got tagged from behind. So take it from me, don't ever let your guard down!!

FlynDutchman · Sep 12th, 2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlakehog

I always leave myself an exit when I'm stopped!!

Depends on the neighborhood im in

hd27612 · Sep 18th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlakehog

I always leave myself an exit when I'm stopped!! And I used to think that when you were at a light/sign and you had a couple of cagers stopped behind you were safe. Until a month ago when I was stopped with a few cagers stopped behind me and an 18 wheeler couldn't get stopped. Heard it, looked in my mirror seen it coming, took off between cars and still got tagged from behind. So take it from me, don't ever let your guard down!!

Great point. I keep it in gear with clutch pulled in until the vehicle immediately behind me has stopped and then I go into neutral. I think I will reconsider after hearing your story.

mtlakehog · Sep 18th, 2008, 05:53 PM

I never put my bike in neutral at a light/stop sign!! Just make sure you watch what's happening behind you while you're sitting still.

voodoo1 · Sep 24th, 2008, 05:57 PM

I have over this summer seen at three riders ( and a few more on rides) on my way to work or home that are riding nearest the ditch in any lane they are in. Bad news.(right lane, right side of lane..left lane..left side of lane)
You are not even close to being seen by the car beside you and people will come over into your lane not knowing you are there. On the way home a few weeks ago I was riding in the left lane of a two lane highway, close to the centerline as ya supposed to!!) my co-worker likes to ride beside me, we came up on a car that stopped suddenly, I went to the other lane and he barely shot over to the right lane as well. (now he rides a bit back like ya supposed to). I have talked to a new rider(s) and he said that was how they was taught!! Wow... I explained why that was not how I learned or anything I would reccommend and what had happend to my co-worker the day before. Could they have understood it wrong? It was kinda wierd I only followed him for a bit... then got over and around until the next stop.
The guys in the morning I just get around them if they are there...
Later
voo1

Panthera · Sep 25th, 2008, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo1

I put both feet down(don't walk/waddle with the bike ever) ever seen a foot go into a AC moisture puddle and down goes the bike?

Funny thing about that, when I went for my cycle road test, the only thing I lost points on was that when I stopped I put both feet down, and the tester said I should have the right foot on the rear brake. I don't know why, I am already stopped, and the front brake will hold well enough!

FLHTbiker · Sep 25th, 2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panthera

Funny thing about that, when I went for my cycle road test, the only thing I lost points on was that when I stopped I put both feet down, and the tester said I should have the right foot on the rear brake. I don't know why, I am already stopped, and the front brake will hold well enough!

They feel its a safety point. With your foot on the brake that clears your right hand from the brake and its on the throttle. In case you need to take off quickly it can be done better and faster this way. Plus when the light turns your hand is already free from the brake and both throttle and clutch work together better without the interference of holding the front brake. I use that method all of the time when stopped and it works very well, especially when stopped on a hill.

voodoo1 · Sep 25th, 2008, 07:50 PM

I actually have been paying attention to this more lately.
I use the back brake a little while stopping then the foot comes off less than a split nano sec after the the other does..sometimes....the majority of the time they come off at the same time, but the bike is already stopped. Guess it depends more on the situation but after seeing people slip in AC puddles and what not, I got both feet moving downward to even the load at the quickest moment possible.. That leaning on one ain't for me.

later

Voo1