Discussion
Hi all,
just wanted some tips on getting my knee down on the corners. I've had my Hornet for about 500 miles and I'm starting to grind the front/side of my boots. A friend of my suggested that I'm probably nearly lower enough to start getting my knee down in the corners - he was saying this should actually help with my stability in the corners. Is he talking c**p or how do I achieve this next level of biking control, as I've little road bike knowledge as to what and what not to do on this subject... He mentioned putting the ball of my feet on the pegs (currently the middle of my foot in on the pegs), hug the outside of the bike/tank with the outside leg, and stick out as far as possible the inner leg. He mentioned this can also help you as a guide to know when you're on the limit.
Any tips, knowledge, etc ???
cheers
just wanted some tips on getting my knee down on the corners. I've had my Hornet for about 500 miles and I'm starting to grind the front/side of my boots. A friend of my suggested that I'm probably nearly lower enough to start getting my knee down in the corners - he was saying this should actually help with my stability in the corners. Is he talking c**p or how do I achieve this next level of biking control, as I've little road bike knowledge as to what and what not to do on this subject... He mentioned putting the ball of my feet on the pegs (currently the middle of my foot in on the pegs), hug the outside of the bike/tank with the outside leg, and stick out as far as possible the inner leg. He mentioned this can also help you as a guide to know when you're on the limit.
Any tips, knowledge, etc ???
cheers
Boss.
When riding you should always ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs as it gives you greater control and stability.
When coming to a corner try shifting yourself over a couple of inches into the corner, this will automatically help you to stick you inner leg out.
I Don't think he's taking the Pi$$ as I have learnt that all advice coming from bikers about biking is good advice, may not be suitable for you but it will to somebody.
Tim.
When riding you should always ride with the balls of your feet on the pegs as it gives you greater control and stability.
When coming to a corner try shifting yourself over a couple of inches into the corner, this will automatically help you to stick you inner leg out.
I Don't think he's taking the Pi$$ as I have learnt that all advice coming from bikers about biking is good advice, may not be suitable for you but it will to somebody.
Tim.
Boss - agree with Tim - you should definately have the balls of feet your feet on the pegs & start shifting your weight - also you could remove the hero blobs to give you more ground clearance - I nearly stacked my VTR on the track cos mine were digging in -
I don't get my knee down (there is a long & sad story attached to why) but shifting your weight & getting used to moving around will be a good start.
I don't think there is any need to do this at all on the road - it is just for fun/show if you like that kinda thing. Some of the fastest & smoothest riders I know don't get their knee down at all. It is all personal choice - but if you are getting your pegs down without your knee then you need to adapt before they dig in & have you off.
Anna
I don't get my knee down (there is a long & sad story attached to why) but shifting your weight & getting used to moving around will be a good start.
I don't think there is any need to do this at all on the road - it is just for fun/show if you like that kinda thing. Some of the fastest & smoothest riders I know don't get their knee down at all. It is all personal choice - but if you are getting your pegs down without your knee then you need to adapt before they dig in & have you off.
Anna
954 Girlie said:
Boss - agree with Tim - you should definately have the balls of feet your feet on the pegs & start shifting your weight - also you could remove the hero blobs to give you more ground clearance - I nearly stacked my VTR on the track cos mine were digging in -
I don't get my knee down (there is a long & sad story attached to why) but shifting your weight & getting used to moving around will be a good start.
I don't think there is any need to do this at all on the road - it is just for fun/show if you like that kinda thing. Some of the fastest & smoothest riders I know don't get their knee down at all. It is all personal choice - but if you are getting your pegs down without your knee then you need to adapt before they dig in & have you off.
Anna
what are hero blobs then? why are they called that?! I presume you mean then bits of 'blobed' metal that are under the pegs??
PS I want to get my knee down just for fun really...
Getting your knee down has a number of effects, lastly of which is pose value.
By hanging off you lower the combined centre of gravity and therefore make the bike more stable in the corner. This can only be achieved by actually moving your body around the bike and not directly perpendicular to it! So many times you see people hanging off ‘sky hooks’ whilst going round the roundabouts, with their knees miles from the bike.
It also means that the more you hang off the less the bike needs to lean over. You have more grip so you can accelerate faster, plus due to the increased tyre diameter you will be going faster.
It is a great way of gauging how far the bike is leant over. This is providing you hang off the same each and every time.
It will actually aid in steering the bike round as it acts as a sail.
It can be used as a last ditched attempt to get the bike upright when both wheels are starting to slide. (and yes this is usually a good pub story, but I have first hand experience at the hairpin at Pembrey. I also have the scars from when it didn’t work at Castle Combe!!!)
It looks good for photos, and you would never get a job as a bike journalist without being able to.
As regards to the feet down, too many people ride like penguins. Keep the balls of the feet on the pegs at all times only moving the foot when it is needed. The action is: Move foot forward, change gear, move foot back. That way you don’t destroy your boots and you will be able to move more efficiently on the bike. You never see a boxer moving around the ring flat footed, so don’t do it on a bike.
Also make sure your not hugging the fuel tank with your crotch, try and keep about a fists width between the two, it will also help the efficient moving.
Lastly, (sorry to go on!)
Slightly stand up, use you legs at all times. Move your arse over and then sit down again. There doesn’t need to be major amounts of air between you and the seat, but it stops you from dragging, which will cause the bike to unbalance. When I mentioned legs, this is to stop you using your arms. If you pull yourself back up using your arms you will countersteer the bike.
It is good practice to hang off the bike be it on road or track, and it is fun too.
By hanging off you lower the combined centre of gravity and therefore make the bike more stable in the corner. This can only be achieved by actually moving your body around the bike and not directly perpendicular to it! So many times you see people hanging off ‘sky hooks’ whilst going round the roundabouts, with their knees miles from the bike.
It also means that the more you hang off the less the bike needs to lean over. You have more grip so you can accelerate faster, plus due to the increased tyre diameter you will be going faster.
It is a great way of gauging how far the bike is leant over. This is providing you hang off the same each and every time.
It will actually aid in steering the bike round as it acts as a sail.
It can be used as a last ditched attempt to get the bike upright when both wheels are starting to slide. (and yes this is usually a good pub story, but I have first hand experience at the hairpin at Pembrey. I also have the scars from when it didn’t work at Castle Combe!!!)
It looks good for photos, and you would never get a job as a bike journalist without being able to.
As regards to the feet down, too many people ride like penguins. Keep the balls of the feet on the pegs at all times only moving the foot when it is needed. The action is: Move foot forward, change gear, move foot back. That way you don’t destroy your boots and you will be able to move more efficiently on the bike. You never see a boxer moving around the ring flat footed, so don’t do it on a bike.
Also make sure your not hugging the fuel tank with your crotch, try and keep about a fists width between the two, it will also help the efficient moving.
Lastly, (sorry to go on!)
Slightly stand up, use you legs at all times. Move your arse over and then sit down again. There doesn’t need to be major amounts of air between you and the seat, but it stops you from dragging, which will cause the bike to unbalance. When I mentioned legs, this is to stop you using your arms. If you pull yourself back up using your arms you will countersteer the bike.
It is good practice to hang off the bike be it on road or track, and it is fun too.
954 Girlie said:
Yeah - Hero blobs are the sticky out things - on Hondas they are ridiculously long!! hence lil ole me being able to scrape them - must be removed on track!!!
the theory I heard with the blobs, is that they mark the furthest component extruding from the bike. IE, without blobs the next thing to touch down will be fairing, or more likely, exhuast.
Funny, I can get round (local) corners faster than anyone I know (Ninja, R1, R6, CBR600).. yet I don't ever get my knee down. Close, but not quite there. This seems a good thing, esp as I don't have sliders!
The two-ton cruiser takes a lot of effort to go round corners --- you really MUST hang off in order to get round the slightest bend without the floor boards being atomised. Ask Denny about what happens to the boards & silencer when going for it!!!
So: no need to knee down. Actually, at risk of being boring - it's one trick to save for the track. But that won't stop you, so be careful.
C
The two-ton cruiser takes a lot of effort to go round corners --- you really MUST hang off in order to get round the slightest bend without the floor boards being atomised. Ask Denny about what happens to the boards & silencer when going for it!!!
So: no need to knee down. Actually, at risk of being boring - it's one trick to save for the track. But that won't stop you, so be careful.
C
46TEE said:
I have never seen anything that looks as ridiculous as a motorcyclist on a public road, trying to look like FOGGY with his knee down.
I'm with Hertsb on this one. It looks ridiculous and does nothing but make me and all my mates larf.
Save it for the track please.
each to there own 46T. I cant afford to trackday to practice my knee down. I find it fun, so I do it.
video of me practicing on a island here
use "save as.." to your desktop. 6mb
the last 3 are the best use pause if yu want to compare lean angles, body positions etc..
46TEE said:
I have never seen anything that looks as ridiculous as a motorcyclist on a public road, trying to look like FOGGY with his knee down.
I'm with Hertsb on this one. It looks ridiculous and does nothing but make me and all my mates larf.
Save it for the track please.
So does that mean you'd pull someone for doing it then 46TEE?
I don't really see how it constitutes dangerous driving or anything like that?
Maybe, willful damage or something with the scrapers going down and all
Round my way, the roads are in such an atrocious condition that any attempt to get your knee down would break your knee and then spit you off in an instant. That said, my favourite roundabout has just been re-tarmac'd
>> Edited by Stig on Thursday 26th June 12:32
goodlife said:
That said, my favourite roundabout has just been re-tarmac'd
Is that Burchetts Green roundabout near Maidenhead Chris? The new black stuff on there looks fantastic. Have to give it a go when the new bike arrives - traffic permitting of course.
It is indeed Dan - had a good hoon round there this morning and will do again tonight on the way home
First time I got my knee down was on that roundabout. Couple of onlookers thought I was mad - which, in hindsight, I probably was
Of course, I'd never consider such tomfoolery these days, oh no, not me....
s2ooz said:
I have never seen anything that looks as ridiculous as a motorcyclist on a public road, trying to look like FOGGY with his knee down.
I'm with Hertsb on this one. It looks ridiculous and does nothing but make me and all my mates larf.
Save it for the track please.
each to there own 46T. I cant afford to trackday to practice my knee down. I find it fun, so I do it.
video of me practicing on a island here
use "save as.." to your desktop. 6mb
the last 3 are the best use pause if yu want to compare lean angles, body positions etc..
You need to be a little smoother in the corner mate. You're 'dipping' and that will end in tears.
A couple of fair attempts at the end though
Need to see if you can keep it down for the full 360 degrees. Only try this on a private test facility with no traffic of course.
s2ooz said:
dipping in the corners?
whats the outcome of doing this?
In the vid you were having to unsettle the bike to get your knee down (in the early rounds) by effectively tightening the turning radius, this got your knee down, but could cause the front end to tuck meaning a nice lowside if you get it wrong.
The Trumpet is bloody stable (first time I got my knee down was on at T595) but doesn't like changing direction too quickly. Being smooth is the key
Not being funny, just trying to help.
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