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What exactly does "flat-footing" mean?

I have a 28" inseam and I was paranoid about not being able to flat foot the Multistrada (34" seat height) when I bought it. 2 years of riding it and I stopped caring with in the first month. Yes, I had to be a little more careful were I stopped and more picky about parking spaces (Cortical Stack is not allowed to pick them after she pulled into steeply angled one were the road was uphill and I had to get off and back out in the road while some lady glared at me waiting for the space.). I've actually found that seat height is far less of an issue for than than -wide- seats and bike width. I have more trouble with really wide seats and bikes than I do with tall ones.
:thumbup
 
Go to the races, moto-X, flattrack, road races, what ever. The fastest guys seem to be those little guys. They aren't worried about touching the ground.

I think flatfoot, is something to do with being a cop.
 
Gabe said:
Did you guys know about this?

V C Section 27801 Seat and Handlebar Position

Seat and Handlebar Position

27801. A person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle that is equipped with either of the following:

(a) A seat so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the seat, cannot reach the ground with his or her feet.

So...

-If it's a sidecar or MP3 or Can-Am Spyder you don't need to be able to get your feet down.
-There's no "Flat foot" requirement, but you do need to get both feet down, as it says "feet," not "foot."

I've never heard of anybody getting cited for this. But here's the legal definition of getting your feet on the ground.

In any case, if you are learning to ride, worrying about holding the bike up is an unnecessary and dangerous distraction. I've seen broken legs from very low speed tip overs. Get a bike with a low seat until you are a proficient and comfortable rider.

I don't know about the OP here, but I think new riders spend too much energy trying to skip having to buy a suitable learner bike and go right to whatever dream bike they have their mind on. It baffles me. I was so happy to ride my first little scooter and had a lot of fun with it for 6 months. When it was time to sell it and get a motorcycle I had no discomfort or fear of the bigger, taller, heavier bike.

So just buy a goddamn Rebel 250 and ride it already.
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So if you have a peg leg, you can't ride a motorcycle?
 
sammy5001 said:
This probably doesn't concern tall riders but for short riders it's nice to hear fellow riders having the same inseam (or lower) being able to "flat-foot" both sides on a particular bike that I've been eyeing. That gives me hope that I can do the same.

Then I go to the dealer and check out the bike in person. I sit on it and I find myself having the balls of both feet down and think...there's no way that guy with the same inseam as me "flat-footing" this bike.

I'm guessing perhaps they have a different definition of "flat-footing". Is there a universal interpretation? To me flat-footing both sides means sitting on the bike and having the heel of both feet down.

Oh and yes I fully understand that you don't need to flat-foot in order to safely ride a bike.
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Yes, you're correct -- flat-footing usually means having both feet flat on the ground, heels too.

Are his legs slimmer than yours? Meatier thighs will take some of that away.

Is he heavier than you? If so, he compressed the suspension as he sat down, thus lowering the bike so he could flat-foot.

Check out Daytona Stars boots for added (hidden) heel height and sole platform (just enough to give you needed lift, and still be able to shift a stock bike).


My DRZ's had a 35" seat height when stock, and I'm only 5'-2.5" tall. (Both stretched feet were 2-3" above the ground at first!)

On the first one I used dog-bone links to lower it non-invasively, and I flat-footed both feet; on my second DRZ, just suspension tweaking by Rob at Evolution Suspension has me on the balls of both feet.

I also dismount when backing or parking, leaning the bike on my hip as I walk.


:teeth
Yana:banana
 
If this is your 1st motorcycle, being able to flat foot its massively helpful.
 
Gabe said:
27801. A person shall not drive a two-wheel motorcycle that is equipped with either of the following:

(a) A seat so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the seat, cannot reach the ground with his or her feet.

So...

-If it's a sidecar or MP3 or Can-Am Spyder you don't need to be able to get your feet down.
-There's no "Flat foot" requirement, but you do need to get both feet down, as it says "feet," not "foot."
Click to expand...

Nothing in there says both feet at the same time... "sure officer, see, here's my right foot on the ground, *shift* and here's my left foot on the ground. We good?"
 
sammy5001 said:
This probably doesn't concern tall riders but for short riders it's nice to hear fellow riders having the same inseam (or lower) being able to "flat-foot" both sides on a particular bike that I've been eyeing. That gives me hope that I can do the same.

Then I go to the dealer and check out the bike in person. I sit on it and I find myself having the balls of both feet down and think...there's no way that guy with the same inseam as me "flat-footing" this bike.

I'm guessing perhaps they have a different definition of "flat-footing". Is there a universal interpretation? To me flat-footing both sides means sitting on the bike and having the heel of both feet down.

Oh and yes I fully understand that you don't need to flat-foot in order to safely ride a bike.
Click to expand...

As already noted you don't need to be able to flat foot a bike to ride it. Also if you're a new rider I agree it is helpful.

Regarding someone with the same inseam, it could be that person weighs more than you and the sag in the suspension that resulted allowed them to flat foot. Maybe they had boots with larger soles?
 
When I was about 12 I blew up my first bike, a '85 honda XR100r. My dad went out and bought me a fucking huge '83 XR500r so I wouldn't out grow it or blow it up.( I had asked for a XR250) I learned how to ride without touching real fast. Had to have it on the kickstand just to start it. I could touch one foot if my ass was off the seat and my other leg was holding me on. All mountainous terrain too. Not much flat ground. you get used to it over time and it teaches you the importance of getting things lined up correctly BEFORE stopping.
 
No matter who you are, the more leverage you have, the better.

I can flat-foot my bike just fine at 5'10", but that doesn't mean I haven't had a foot slip out from under me when trying to maneuver on less-than-ideal surfaces.

Flat-footing is not a requirement, nor is it a panacea.
 
In dirt, circle track car racing, flat footing means to hold the gas pedal all the way down, usually all the way around the track.
 
sammy5001 said:
I'm guessing perhaps they have a different definition of "flat-footing". Is there a universal interpretation? To me flat-footing both sides means sitting on the bike and having the heel of both feet down.
Click to expand...

Your interpretation is correct. Being able to flat-foot a bike is important for novice riders to feel confident while riding. For experienced riders, it's usually sufficient to be able to get the ball of one foot down.

If you feel the need to lower your bike, you probably bought too much bike.
 
this would be flat footing, and another reason why i love riding my busa around town. Slammed, stretched, and cut down custom seat= rides like a caddy and no need to stretch the legs all far just to stop
 

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yellowrasta said:
What's your definition of short?

I don't need to flatfoot, but I wish I could. I can almost flatfoot my Ninja 250, but not quite....so there's no way I'd be able to flatfoot any sportbike. If you're not flat, backing into a parking space is a pain in the ass and damn near impossible if the road has any sort of incline. Obviously you can jump off and walk it back into the space, but then you lose any cool points you may have earned by riding that sweet bike in the first place
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I died reading this... hahaha!!:rofl necause I'm quiet short also. But i'm bulky. I have a 250 also. I barley flat foot. But like every one says You just need one feet really down. Most of the time I have my right foot on the rear breaks anyways..


AS for parking which made me laugh was because.. I tend to try to "duck walk" back in.. Sometimes it takes forever... For the first time today. I hopped off and pushed it.. god dang why did it take me so long to do this???
 
Ryan-Stiles-Im-Done-Reaction-Gif-On-Whose-Line-Is-It-Anyway.gif
 
Both feet must touch in NV

If you go east of the Sierras, make sure you can touch both feet to the ground at the same time:

NRS 486.191  Driver’s position while operating.
1.  A person driving a motorcycle or moped shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
2.  A person shall not drive a motorcycle or moped with the seat for the driver so positioned that the driver, when sitting astride the seat with the motorcycle or moped in a stopped and upright position, cannot reach the ground with both feet simultaneously.
(Added to NRS by 1971, 1468; A 1975, 1082)

I have no idea whether "reach both feet to the ground" means "touch toes to the ground" or "flat foot". Probably up to the discretion of the LEO.

I haven't heard of this getting enforced in Tahoe/Reno/Carson. But EVERYTHING gets enforced in the little towns of rural NV.

--Lee in Reno
 
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