Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Coming to a stop

One of the first things I learned about riding was coming to a complete stop at stop signs. I was in high school and a friend let me ride his bike. I was driving and he was on the back. I coasted up to an intersection, slowed a bit to check for cars, and then gave it gas. When we later stopped at our destination, he said his dad taught him to always stop completely at stop signs and put both feet down, and that I should too. I always remembered that, and I do it to this day. I've gotten to the point where I just put the left foot down and keep the right one on the brake, but I still come to a complete stop.

That method was reinforced a few months ago, not by my action, but by another biker. I was in my pickup and had just pulled out of my driveway into the street, going pretty slow. I spotted a biker coming from a side street to my right. He had his head turned away from me, looking up the street in the direction I was going. It was obvious he didn't see me. I didn't think he was going to stop and I was right, even though he had a stop sign and I had the right of way. I slowed almost to a stop, but I was still moving. He turned his head toward me and saw me just as he was entering the intersection, about to make a left turn directly in front of me. By that time I was going slow enough that I knew I wouldn't hit him. I could see the panic in his eyes. He tried to stop, but couldn't. He obviously wasn't practiced enough to make a panic stop. Judging from his action, he probably always just rolled through stop signs. Then he tried to gun it, swinging wide through the street and almost running over the far curb. By that time my pickup was stopped completely. We sort of locked eyes as he rode by, and I could see the "I just screwed up" look on his face. My girlfriend was with me. She was aghast. I told her, "You see? That is why I always stop completely and put a foot down at stop signs. Not only does it keep you out of trouble, but it gives you practice for when you really need it."

Cody

I always put at least one foot down at a stop sign. There are some local Barney Fife types in neighboring towns that have quotas to fill. I watched 2 HD riders try to drift through a 4 way stop sign when the car coming from the left had the right of way. They did a handlebar wobblin' curly shuffle and almost hit each other and the car. I guess they thought the cage driver would be intimidated enough to let them pass through first.... I enjoyed the show.

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I always put at least one foot down at a stop sign.

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On the lighter side - I once came to a complete stop at a T intersection several years back. Not sure where my head was, but putting the well suggested foot down was not on my subconcsious agenda. I stopped and before I new it, I was into a side flop - Like that Arte Johnson dude on the tricycle. Nothing hurt but pride. Very, very lucky.

I, too always come to a complete stop at any stop sign or for that matter a right turn on a red light. In either situation one must be attuned to those reprobates who are part of the lesser gene pool who will assume that you will coast throught the stop sign or light without stopping completely. I had a bad experience with an example from said gene pool a couple months back. I stopped completely and he thought I was gonna coast through and he lightly bumped my rear fender.

He was then reminded of his status as a direct relative to Neanderthal. I read that high forehead the riot act in spades. I was lucky no cop was within listening distance. I'd have been cited for road rage for sure.

That's my worst fear when riding - being hit from behind. It gives me the shivers when I hear someone say it has actually happened to them.

You gots to have eyes pointed in all directions at once. It's a jungle out there.

When coming to a stop sign in UK, you are obliged to stop by law and now at any stop ...lights or junction that requires a complete stop I always stop using front brake, apply back at end, then take my foot off the brake pedal to place on the floor. This allows me to keep my other foot on the gear change, flipping it from neutral > 1st quickly if someone is charging up from behind.

Other "non stop" junctions i chant in buddistic tones through my helmet the following mantra ..."plan to stop...but prepare to go"
..."plan to stop...but prepare to go"
..."plan to stop...but prepare to go"-
meaning you are ready to stop as above, but if clear then carry on..

mirrors at "stop" junctions are important just in case the road ahead is clear, but the driver behind does not understand a stop sign

my york at night video shows me failing to stop at a "stop" sign-
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7898102745977241012&q=bonneville+america

37 seconds into the movie!

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That method was reinforced a few months ago, not by my action, but by another biker.

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it is also highly likely that your experience as a motorcyclist affects your action as a car/truck driver. heightened awareness, maybe? but the chances are good that a person who doesn't ride a motorcycle would have collided with that guy.

Hmmmm.... Good point mert. I hadn't really thought of that but I tend to agree. That probably gives credence to Greybeard's ultimate answer to motorcycle safety.

37 seconds into the movie( stopwatch is on the video- you will see a stop sign and "stop" on the road....i did not!)

A couple years ago a MSF-ERC instructor was describing the skill of bringing a bike to a full stop, while keeping your feet on the pegs. Now granted he was using this as a technique/exercise to develop slow speed balance (stop/go traffic situations, etc), maintaining where your eyes look and avoid "duckwalking". He mentioned using this technique at "some" high visibility stop signs, but was quick to say the wheels have to be motionless, less you start collecting tickets.

Heck, during the riding season I put my feet down every week or so where I have the right-of-way, because someone else ignored their stop sign. Whether on bike or in truck, I tend to view stop signs as optional traffic control devices for all the "other" people on the road.

JH

Your video brought back some great memories. We spent 2 days in York as part of our honeymoon. We stayed at The Exhibition B&B for 2 nights. Your 4 minute video covered almost everything we did in the 2 days. Loved the The Ghost Trail tour. It started at the York Ministry and ended at Shambles street.

Tom

If you have clear sight lines, you can roll through a stop sign safely. It's not legal, but legal and safe are not always the same thing. But you can also touch a foot down without coming to a complete stop. This makes it look like a complete stop if the police are not right on top of you.

If i'm turning left or right I come to complete foot down stop.

If going straight I come to complete no touch splitsecond stop.

You had to be able to do this to pass Hawaii skill test back in 1982.May have channged by now.

Roll up to cones come to complete stop then take off with out stalling. Cop would squat down and watch front wheel
wanted to see spokes stop moving for count of one.

I never stop in traffic with the gearbox in neutral, that is asking to be run over. I also study the situation ahead (and behind) while stopping and try to stop far enough back and to one side just enough to be able to get around the vehicle ahead of me If needed to avoid being hit, but not so far as to encourage the following idiot to try to share lanes with me.