There you go - what ever makes the most sense!

 

What I'm saying is there are basic techniques and advanced techniques. You don't go out on day one and start riding like Jay Springsteen on a dirt track. You have to learn basics first, then expand or modify them as you learn. A newbie is generally not going to be able to effectively do a 1 finger or 2 finger front brake stop with effectiveness and at the same maintain throttle control. A newbie does not need to be trail braking. An experienced rider can do these things.

What I am saying is that riding, and ability can be described like this:

You have so much attention to spend on some thing, lets say $1.00. A newbie is probably spending at least $.50 or more of his/her attention on just getting moving and shifting and stopping. A highly experienced rider may only spend $.05 on how to make the bike take off, stop, shift, etc. on the basics of riding and therefor can send a lot more attention on what the bike is doing with subtle inputs and can therefor do more with the bike.

I quit doing instruction/coaching to spend more time at the race track, btw.

 

Nah! Let's face it there's just some people who aren't content to do what they believe in just for themselves. They take it upon themselves to tell everyone else that they are doing it wrong if they don't do it exactly the same way. Over and over and over again.

"You will only use one foot". "You cannot ever have taken a training course if you use two feet". "You've lost control of your motorcycle if you use two feet". "You must leave your bike in gear at a red light". "You can't be part of my club if you don't do what I say". It's called proselytizing - and I don't care for it. Of course I'm not going to tell you what awful habits I've fallen into in case you send the Waffen SS to pick me up in the middle of the night.

 

Yeah,yeah, yeah.... Look, I'm 5 years old and been rid'n since I was 1. Me and the Ol'e Lady been all over and I never put either foot down even once. I think all you old farts are just afraid of fall'n over.

 

The most important things that I learned are:

1. The throttle is your friend.
2. Bikes are small, they will fit where cars won't
In a tight situation, grab throttle and find a hole that you fit in. Praise God afterwards.
3. On a highway, ride faster than the flow of traffic. This puts you in total control of who is around you and what position you want them in.

4. Flipping people off after they done you wrong, doesn't accomplish anything. Let it go. Otherwise you won't enjoy your day.

5. Don't tell your loved ones about close calls that they didn't witness. I learned this listening to all the close calls my wife had on her scooter.

6. Be sure to tell others about items 1 and 2. They will thank you someday!!

 

I personaly put both feet down when holding a 760 pound bagger at a stop sign.Been doing it for 30,000 miles

 

+1, couldn't have said it any better!!

 

Go ahead Clint--you da man!!

 

I couldn't agree more with this statement.

 

I live in B.C. Canada, Vancouver Island to be exact. I have also been riding for more than 25+ years all kinds of bikes.
That being said.....
Ever stop your bike on a 10-30 degree incline or decline?
Well there is alot of that here.
Or ever drive in Montana on 50mph cross winds. Done my share of that too.
What I am getting at is there is no exact rule for every occasion.
I just taught my wife to ride ( '06 Road King ). She also took a riding course. Thay told her to always have 1 foot up as well. Try that while stopped in a cross wind!
My point is get as much info as you can, then use the your brain and figure what is best for you.
Hopefully we will all make good decissions and have 50+ years of happy riding.

The only advise I strongly believe in......
If you treat every driver on the road like they are trying to kill you, then hopefully there will be no surprises.