Newbie question about stopping?

[tjv189]

I plan on taking a motorcycle course in the near future, and I've never rode a motorcycle before. I've been doing a lot of research and I understand many of the basics. However, I did have one question I wanted to ask.

When you are coming up to a red light, let's say you come to a complete stop in 2nd gear. Once you are stopped at the light, which foot should you put down on the ground?

It seems to me you should put the right foot down while holding the front brake in. This way, you can shift to neutral since your left foot is still up, then shift to 1st to take off when the light turns green. Is this wrong or right? Or is it indeed a matter of rider preference?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Steve]

you shift into first before you put your feet down if you take a test at the dmv which i'm assuming you wont have to if you're taking a course you have to keep your right foot on the break and put your left foot down first

you also don't want to be in neutral when at a stoplight in case you realize the guy behind you is going to go through you so you need to go quick you're supposed to leave it in first

 

[It's That Guy]

Its totally a matter of rider preference.

When first stopping, it's most stable if you put down -both- feet, especially for a newbie, because you don't know which way the bike is going to lean. While sitting at a light you might be in neutral or you might be holding in the clutch.

I guess the best position is to have your left foot down and your right foot resting on the rear brake. But then when the light changes, you have to put the right foot down to pick up the left foot to shift into 1st.