I can't flatfoot my bike...

[raven_bard]

I'm new to the forum and to riding so I bet this topic is lurking around the forum somewhere but I can't find it. So, apologies for repeating but I need some help.

 

I just started learning to ride and I found out real quick on my first practical lesson that I couldn't flatfoot my bike! This terrified me to the point where I was just too scared to lift my feet up because I was afraid of not being able to stop the bike and re-balance it.

 

I know it's a matter of getting used to it but I would just like some advice from those who are vertically challenged like me; I'm only 5ft! How do you manage your bike? It's also deceptively heavy; first time the instructor told me to lift it off the main stand, I could move the damn thing as all. Then when I managed I dropped it cuz it was freakin' heavy!

 

Another thing; when I do finally get my license what brand of bike should I go for? Aside from it having to be 200cc and under, I would prefer to be able to flatfoot my bike and if it's lightweight, even better!

 

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[haoKR]

where r u learning now ?

 

most of e ppl riding scrambler aso cant,just move ur butt slightly 2 one side. so at least u can balance it tt way.

 

after pass,u can consider kup ?

[LollyPoP]

I also cannot flat foot on my bike (1000cc, more than 200kg)

U just need more practice.

[papabread79]

Can't flatfoot is better. Look sexier.

[stoner]

if you're still in the Riding School, dont be shy and highlight your issue with the instuctors over there. Currently now, I believe they the best fellows to advise you.

 

Bike wise (once you obtian your 2B), I'll recommend a KUP.... seek around your friends who are riding one and try putting them on main stand. (with them standing on th opp. side standing by off course).

 

Don't worrie about the weight, most bike nowadays are very well design, other than those Class 2 Tourers with Side Pannies installed. Even so, one could always remove the pannies and fix them back after putting the bike in main stand.

 

Cheers!

[raven_bard]

where r u learning now ?

 

most of e ppl riding scrambler aso cant,just move ur butt slightly 2 one side. so at least u can balance it tt way.

 

after pass,u can consider kup ?

 

I'm learning at SSDC. Thanks for the advice, will try it when I go for my prac again next week.

[raven_bard]

if you're still in the Riding School, dont be shy and highlight your issue with the instuctors over there. Currently now, I believe they the best fellows to advise you.

 

Bike wise (once you obtian your 2B), I'll recommend a KUP.... seek around your friends who are riding one and try putting them on main stand. (with them standing on th opp. side standing by off course).

 

Don't worrie about the weight, most bike nowadays are very well design, other than those Class 2 Tourers with Side Pannies installed. Even so, one could always remove the pannies and fix them back after putting the bike in main stand.

 

Cheers!

 

I have. The instructor gave me the bike with the shaved seat but still I have to tiptoe...like ballerina tiptoe. For a first timer, it's so frickin' scary. I can't even back pedal my bike! The poor instructor had to keep wheeling me back in the first prac. As to your other piece of advice, I don't have friends who ride but I'll put that brand on my list. Thanks!

[Morpheuz]

Just for your info, 'KUP' is not a brand of bike. It's a type of bike. It's something like a scooter, but with normal wheels. Generally, they're lighter and lower and pretty nimble too! Not sure about SSDC but BBDC do have these bikes for the vertically-challenged learners. It may seem scary at first but once you're used to it, it'll be second nature.

[Wormwood]

Make sure you always brake gently. Jamming on the brakes could cause you to drop the bike.

 

Also always try to straighten your handlebars when stopping, especially when stopping in the middle of a turn. You want to make sure the bike is always upright when stationary so you won't have to use much strength to hold it up.

 

At BBDC, people under 150cm are allowed to use smaller bikes for their lessons and tests, but I don't see why you can't get used to the regular bikes. Don't worry, it will get easier.

[stoner]

I have. The instructor gave me the bike with the shaved seat but still I have to tiptoe...like ballerina tiptoe. For a first timer, it's so frickin' scary. I can't even back pedal my bike! The poor instructor had to keep wheeling me back in the first prac. As to your other piece of advice, I don't have friends who ride but I'll put that brand on my list. Thanks!

 

Try using your own body weight to pop the main stand, I use to do that for my ex-ride like ST1100 (fully loaded).

[stoner]

Just for your info, 'KUP' is not a brand of bike. It's a type of bike. It's something like a scooter, but with normal wheels. Generally, they're lighter and lower and pretty nimble too! Not sure about SSDC but BBDC do have these bikes for the vertically-challenged learners. It may seem scary at first but once you're used to it, it'll be second nature.

 

 

Er... Yap.. he's right.

 

I use to own a YAMAHA SPARK 135cc... Great little bike, did a couple of north Malaysia trips with it. Cameroon Highlands Etc... Great bike with low maintenance!

[Exu]

when i just started out riding.. i had the very same problem as you..

As my friends are all riding a scramble.. i went for a bike which was obviously too tall for my height.. however.. after a while i managed to find a posture which suits me everytime i had to stop a bike for whatever reason.

 

All this really needs some adjustment and getting used to.. don't be afraid of dropping the bike when u're learning because this is the place where you SHOULD be making mistakes and learning from it and not when u're out there riding..

 

I had experienced with bike skidding off doing my ebrake.. going throught the bumpy course with my 2b bike in school.. i made all sorts of hilarious and stupid mistakes.. but that's part of learning cause once u're qualified.. u'll never be able to return back to where u started

[KeraKing]

i'm tall and i can flat foot on most bikes.......

but it didn't stop me from crashing all the time during my early days..

(maybe more than 10 times the first year).. haha

[antartica]

i'm tall and i can flat foot on most bikes.......

but it didn't stop me from crashing all the time during my early days..

(maybe more than 10 times the first year).. haha

 

crashing is not funny... but i laughed reading your comments HAHAHAHAHA... sorry...

 

i've seen girls around 5ft taking their class 2 on SSDC's CB750's and they have to shift their butt to one side to get a foot down - try to make it a habit of left foot while you're in school and tests coz if you put your right foot down, it becomes an immediate failure in the tests

 

so what they do is have the left butt hanging off the seat and underside of right thigh on the seat

when it's time to move off, throttle away and adjust seating position

[DeusExMachina]

You need this medieval device called the rack....

 

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/dpa/lowres/dpan774l.jpg

[antartica]

You need this medieval device called the rack....

 

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/dpa/lowres/dpan774l.jpg

 

hahhahahaha

for all you know driving centers could have this as a value added service

[swiftee]

I'm new to the forum and to riding so I bet this topic is lurking around the forum somewhere but I can't find it. So, apologies for repeating but I need some help.

 

I just started learning to ride and I found out real quick on my first practical lesson that I couldn't flatfoot my bike! This terrified me to the point where I was just too scared to lift my feet up because I was afraid of not being able to stop the bike and re-balance it.

 

I know it's a matter of getting used to it but I would just like some advice from those who are vertically challenged like me; I'm only 5ft! How do you manage your bike? It's also deceptively heavy; first time the instructor told me to lift it off the main stand, I could move the damn thing as all. Then when I managed I dropped it cuz it was freakin' heavy!

 

Another thing; when I do finally get my license what brand of bike should I go for? Aside from it having to be 200cc and under, I would prefer to be able to flatfoot my bike and if it's lightweight, even better!

 

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

neither can i. on all of my bikes (past, current and subridden).

get used to it.

 

crashing is not funny... but i laughed reading your comments HAHAHAHAHA... sorry...

 

i've seen girls around 5ft taking their class 2 on SSDC's CB750's and they have to shift their butt to one side to get a foot down - try to make it a habit of left foot while you're in school and tests coz if you put your right foot down, it becomes an immediate failure in the tests

 

so what they do is have the left butt hanging off the seat and underside of right thigh on the seat

when it's time to move off, throttle away and adjust seating position

 

i wish they would at least allow us to take the leg off the footpeg and dangle it.

put the leg on footpeg for the whole session very tiring and uncomfortable lah and also restrict the kind of sitting position we can assume when stopped

[Zat Tazzi]

i can't flat foot on my kup.... but still able to ride it

[dDtim]

You just gotta make up for it, I had this friend share this experience with me. Being 1.58 and riding a scrambler meant that his planking was in minutes, he used kerbs to get on his bike, true skill is showed during 2 minute traffic lights, it just needs getting used to, enjoy the challenges your bike give you.

 

Back to topic: try leaning your bike left and right to get enough footing on one feet at a time - like rowing a boat

[Wormwood]

The biggest inconvenience of not being able to flatfoot the bike is trying to reverse up slight inclines. I used to have to get off and push my bike into and out of parking lots until I learnt to take a good hard look at the parking area before placing my bike in an inconvenient position.

[dDtim]

The biggest inconvenience of not being able to flatfoot the bike is trying to reverse up slight inclines. I used to have to get off and push my bike into and out of parking lots until I learnt to take a good hard look at the parking area before placing my bike in an inconvenient position.

 

Terrain awareness! Head first or tail first would solve most problems. Getting off your bike may be inconvenient, but it prevents you from being squished by the machine in case you slip. Always lean your vehicle towards your side by a few degrees when pushing, I've had a few bad experiences myself. Going reverse on a 30 degrees slope - I must say is impossible without proper foot gear and muscle.

 

'good hard' looks soon becomes instinctive, its part of biking, it's kinda like checking weather

[arthur_chan]

The biggest inconvenience of not being able to flatfoot the bike is trying to reverse up slight inclines. I used to have to get off and push my bike into and out of parking lots until I learnt to take a good hard look at the parking area before placing my bike in an inconvenient position.

 

Terrain awareness! Head first or tail first would solve most problems. Getting off your bike may be inconvenient, but it prevents you from being squished by the machine in case you slip. Always lean your vehicle towards your side by a few degrees when pushing, I've had a few bad experiences myself. Going reverse on a 30 degrees slope - I must say is impossible without proper foot gear and muscle.

 

'good hard' looks soon becomes instinctive, its part of biking, it's kinda like checking weather

 

short guy too. i cant flat foot my bike also, but i live with it. someone told me, when u get a bike, u'll get use to it.

 

parking wise, i always alight, my bike full of fuel is pretty heavy, but if u lean it 1 side towards ur body, it wont drop, u need some time to get use to it. it's all about leverage, not mussles. picking up bikes also the same.

 

there was once i downslope a carpark only to found they recently close it for bikes. i'm stuck on the downslope, ask the car beside to go but he dont want. so no choice horn n all jam up the place. until the guard came, he also dont let me in. then ask him how, he say reverse, wtf. he push lor. can u imagine pushing about 300kg up a 30deg slope, well, at least i'm not doing the hard work.