Knee sliders .. whats the point ?

[paddy t]

Just been out for a rideout in between the raindrops today , and was following a lad on his shiny new R1 ,and as i was following him round a beautiful,big ,sweeping roundabout,i couldn t help but notice him hanging off the side of his bike ,in a vain attempt to get a few more scratches on his skull n cross bones sliders ...:scratch:
He was so happy when we got to the pub,but my question to him was , do you use the sliders to help steer and balance the bike when cornering , or is it simply to pose when you re walking round Tesco s ,when you re buying your MCN ? :confused:

[Dave20046]

Wonder what he posted on the R1 forum about the chap riding behind him....


If someone feels comfortable riding the way they do, so what?*



*knee out ape rider bias

[dizzyblonde]

OOoooo Paddy, I've been told off for my blunt POV at times.....but I reckon its because he has to show how big his pen1s is, when in Tescos myself.


What was his reply? :lol:

[Stenno]

I scratch mine up on a bench grinder to save me the effort of having to get my knee down on the road :P

[fizzwheel]

1. Because GP, BSB, WSB riders do it.
2. The idea behind them doing it was to measure or get a feel for the lean angle of the bike.
3. Theres an arguement that shifting weight to the inside of the bike when cornering helps turn the bike.
4. Because some people think it looks cool.
5. Its a different style of riding or another tool in the toolbox as it were.

I dont think being able to do it makes you a faster rider, I've ridden with people who are faster than me who do touch their knees down and people who dont. Look at the police and the way they ride for example.

I'm sure there's an element of willy waving behind it as well. Also I think if you are focused so much on getting your knee down, you are maybe not focused on other elements of your riding.

If you look at the quick guys at the IOM TT for example, they might be hanging off the bike, to shift their weight as I mentioned above, but they dont always touch their knees down...

[Teejayexc]

If you look at the quick guys at the IOM TT for example, they might be hanging off the bike, to shift their weight as I mentioned above, but they dont always touch their knees down...


There's a very good reason for this.....kerbs hurt !

It's all very well on a race circuit, no sticky up bits to take your kneecaps off, and with race tyres it helps them counteract the weight against the angles of lean they can achieve.

Regards Tj, (couldn't get his knee down if he had sliders the size of orange boxes).

[paddy t]

i pointed out to him any Grannie on a Honda Express can do it , by doing a u turn on a hill ,at 10 mph , and he got all humphy ..lol:)

[21QUEST]

Wonder what he posted on the R1 forum about the chap riding behind him....


If someone feels comfortable riding the way they do, so what?*



*knee out ape rider bias

What he said.....cos he can/wants/just because etc etc....end off :-P

Dave, I bet you a penny, I'm a bigger ape rider than you lol.

Oh and for any rider on the road, who sees me and proceeds to automatically think "I must then be a completely sh*t rider"(I'm not a quick rider by any stretch of the imagination, by the way)....there is always the slight possibility of you ending up with egg on your face ;)

[Wideboy]

everyone knows the moment you touch your knee down you automatically become awesome

[Berlin]

... and the bike becomes very stable because its now a tripod......

;-)

C

[21QUEST]

... and the bike becomes very stable because its now a tripod......

;-)

C

And this increased stability results in one being able to crack open the throttle sooner, harder. And the end product of that....more speed baby :cool: \\:D/ ;)

[andrewsmith]

And this increased stability results in one being able to crack open the throttle sooner, harder. And the end product of that....more speed baby :cool: \\:D/ ;)

or results in a lowslide

Trying to get your kneedown can make you a lot slower around corners
I use my knee more as a gauge of how close the embankment/ edge is is (no jokes please :smt021)

[sv4me]

I use my knee more as a gauge of how close the embankment/ edge is is (no jokes please :smt021)

You called!? :salut:

Trying to get your kneedown can make you a lot slower around corners

True dat. A lot of people force it but it happens naturally when you start picking up the pace. Still looks :cool: though don't care what anyone says

[21QUEST]

or results in a lowslide

Trying to get your kneedown can make you a lot slower around corners
I use my knee more as a gauge of how close the embankment/ edge is is (no jokes please :smt021)

No, it's not the knee down that caused the lowside....probably more to do rider not performing it correctly or loosing confidence once he's doing the scrapage.

So yes, the operative word is indeed 'can'(could?) and not 'will'.... ;)

[SV Mad]

everyone knows the moment you touch your knee down you automatically become awesome
+1

Not done it yet (after 8 years of riding), but one day I will become yoda :notworthy:
It does look cool. Who cares if someone doesn't like it.

[andrewsmith]

No, it's not the knee down that caused the lowside....probably more to do rider not performing it correctly or loosing confidence once he's doing the scrapage.

So yes, the operative word is indeed 'can'(could?) and not 'will'.... ;)

I was referring to cracking the throttle open while leaned over. You know the type that point and squirt and get it wrong

[fenjer]

True dat. A lot of people force it but it happens naturally when you start picking up the pace. Still looks :cool: though don't care what anyone says

Ahem.... :



http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF8160.jpg

[21QUEST]

I was referring to cracking the throttle open while leaned over. You know the type that point and squirt and get it wrong

Point and squirt is actually relatively safe but I know what you mean . High corner speed carries greater risk but of course bigger rewards :smt017 Lol

[sv4me]

Ahem.... :

PMSL, ok taken out of context I can see how that makes me look like a kn0b

Anyways haven't you got any double white lines you could be crossing? :tongue:

[Whitty]

You shouldn't have to hang off like a loon, just kind of let it hang out. I use it to gauge how far over I am on track but do it on road now and again for a laugh! Saved a front end slide once at mallory, scared me to death but glad I was a knee down kn0b that day! http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff466/Whitty3372/_MG_1872.jpg

[AZZ3R]

Saved a front end slide once at mallory

Thats what Moto Gp riders use it for aswell or so I've read.

I find hanging off the bike alot more fun, I have friends that have never got there knee down & been riding 25+ years. & he's still faster than I'll ever be!

Getting your knee down isn't the fastest way around the corner, but if you want to get your knee down. Or hang off your bike. So be it, IMO.

[NTECUK]

I think Paddy was more pointing out the hang off whilst the bikes upright merchant.
Personalty I feel happier hanging off the side a a bit but always catch my toe sliders.
Need to work on that

[dizzyblonde]

Peg got his knee down once........when somebody finds it, can they reattach it to his leg please

[svrich]

Mine stop the leather getting scuffed when I'm checking my tyre pressures. There's nowt fancy about my riding :)

[Dave20046]

I think Paddy was more pointing out the hang off whilst the bikes upright merchant.
Personalty I feel happier hanging off the side a a bit but always catch my toe sliders.
Need to work on that
How upright is your bike on sweeping roundabouts? :razz:

I hang off somewhat excessively when I ride, it's not actually to get my knee down my body/sv650 dimensions don't seem to allow it unless I lunge down uncomfortably mid corner, it's just the phycological comfort it gives me; less lean angle and I also seem to think if there's something unexpected round the bend I'm already in position to crank the bike right over which is always nice to have up your sleeve as well as' brake like hell'. I do it in textiles and jeans, I'd prefer people to think I was a spaztic rather than a showoff/**** rider but ho-hum I can't really help what people think. I'm comfortable with the above fact and it doesn't bother me, just the thought of someone random coming up to me and making a jibe...well if I was overly sensitive I may try concentrating on not riding like that on the way home & maybe end up in a bush.

Last time me and a mate played 'swap riding styles' I almost ended up over a wall which was not too funny. Watching a harleydavidson rider with his knee inches from the floor overtake a gixxer and then continue to stay on the righthand side of the road for the next mile was a bit more humorous

[21QUEST]

How upright is your bike on sweeping roundabouts? :razz:

I hang off somewhat excessively when I ride, it's not actually to get my knee down my body/sv650 dimensions don't seem to allow it unless I lunge down uncomfortably mid corner, it's just the phycological comfort it gives me; less lean angle and I also seem to think if there's something unexpected round the bend I'm already in position to crank the bike right over which is always nice to have up your sleeve as well as' brake like hell'. I do it in textiles and jeans, I'd prefer people to think I was a spaztic rather than a showoff/**** rider but ho-hum I can't really help what people think. I'm comfortable with the above fact and it doesn't bother me, just the thought of someone random coming up to me and making a jibe...well if I was overly sensitive I may try concentrating on not riding like that on the way home & maybe end up in a bush.

Last time me and a mate played 'swap riding styles' I almost ended up over a wall which was not too funny. Watching a harleydavidson rider with his knee inches from the floor overtake a gixxer and then continue to stay on the righthand side of the road for the next mile was a bit more humorous

Dave, again, you just described my riding style and 'thoughts' almost to a T. :)

I think sometimes, people forget riding a bike ie riding styles are/should be a personal thing. The is no one/set way of 'doling it' . There are the 'basic set guidelines', which can/are then interpreted a host of different way....to reach a common goal.

We are not all built(or even wired haha) the same way so you have to work out the best way that works for you...whilst keeping the 'basics' in mind.

It's a bit like the '70%/30%' or whatever mantra , when it comes to braking. It doesn't matter how you do it(how do folks even measure the percentages lol) provided you are able to stop quickly and safely, in the shortest distance possible...for any particular set of circimstances.

Put another way, you can give me all the figures or even tell me you only use the front brake blah blah but if I'm still able to stop quicker than you, even when you are theoretically using the most efficient ratio of front to rear, then you are still excrement compared to me :-P ...who's got it right now then :D

If I could ebven attempt to pretend I could teach anyone anything, my best advice would be, "Train yourself to be dynamic thinking biker" . Watch, see, listen, etc....plenty of lessons to be learnt from even the most unlikely(seemingly) of sources but ultimately, you are the only one that can find 'your balance' ....

[Lozzo]

For some people it's achieving 65mpg, others it's hitting 186mph, and for us blessed few riding gods who can manage it, it's getting our knee down :-)

He does it because he bloody well can, and that's all the excuse he needs.

[Bluepete]

I tried, oh God, how I tried!

Round and round knee down roundabout I went on my trusty SV.

Toes we scraped, poo was passed, urine was taken, but to no avail.

My knee sliders remained as virginal as a very white, prudish thing!

Now, I'm firmly in the "don't want to" camp.

Put it this way. Have you seen how high a Tiger 1050 is? To get my knee down on that would require dislocating my hip and knee and abandoning all hope of surviving!

I enjoy riding how I have been trained. I'm not the fastest, and I know a big bloke sitting bolt upright on a tall bike hooning about the place looks daft, but I'm happy with my progress.

If I had the chance on a sports bike would I try?

Hell yeah!

Pete ;)

[DJFridge]

On a track, I might give it a go. Road surfaces round here? Half of them are so uneven, your knee slider wouldn't slide - it would bounce. And that's the good bits. You'd have to be mad to try because you'd just end up with a dislocated kneecap.

[NTECUK]

Those of you coming to AR 12 will get the opportunity to indulge.
But as stated is a personal thing .plus one part of the route your going to feel like a mot GP god even if your on a 125.

[Bibio]

if my knee touches down then i know i'm doing something wrong as it's usually the first sign of me sliding down the road. it's a physical impossibility unless i'm on a minimoto :-)

i do scape my boots a lot which i don't like doing (boots cost money) so it usually results in me lifting my foot off the peg which must look funny to other riders behind.

[davepreston]

as dave numbers will atest its fecking hard to do if you a tall bloke, i tried it, i suceeded, and i dont have to ever do it again. because as others have said it doesnt fit with my riding style


first one to make a crack about me crashing gets it

[Bri w]

first one to make a crack about me crashing gets it

Oh that's so tempting!;)

[Specialone]

as dave numbers will atest its fecking hard to do if you a tall bloke, i tried it, i suceeded, and i dont have to ever do it again. because as others have said it doesnt fit with my riding style


first one to make a crack about me crashing gets it



Sorry dave and mr numbers, that's bull ;)

Binky is a tall skinny bloke too, he's quick and knee downs with ease and doesn't look awkward, so it's you guys not the bike.

Your problem is, you're not on the bike long enough to perfect your knee down technique :)

[L3nny]

Knee down is pointless. Everyone knows you're not fast until you get your elbow down.

[Dave20046]

Sorry dave and mr numbers, that's bull ;)

Binky is a tall skinny bloke too, he's quick and knee downs with ease and doesn't look awkward, so it's you guys not the bike.

Your problem is, you're not on the bike long enough to perfect your knee down technique :)

Yes but binky has low knees and is probably a lefthanded riding freak.
Anyway as per previous comment knee down isn't the goal everytime I ride a bike otherwise I'd be dead! Found it's possible on the track , possible but a bit awkward

[NTECUK]

Try is with short fat hairy legs then.
I had my bike lowerd so its easier to ride.
Still too risky on populated roads most of the time .

[dizzyblonde]

i do scape my boots a lot which i don't like doing (boots cost money) so it usually results in me lifting my foot off the peg which must look funny to other riders behind.

You aren't the only one that lifts their feet off the pegs going round a corner. I don't do it on the SV, but as the VRap is a corner magnet, the first time I touched tarmac with my foot was a bit surprising, so now when I feel it going over I lift my boot up, I don't like messy looking scraped boots.
I've never cornered banked over on the SV, its just not me, but I can't help it on the other, that bike just champs at the bit to lean. Peg was riding it once with me behind in the car, and when he almost got his elbow down on a fave bend, I knew I was going to have a lot of fun trying the same:smt041

[yorkie_chris]

I find a lot of the time I'm faster when not hanging off with any mind to getting knee down. Almost certainly due to extra attention paid to setting up the next corner, getting the perfect line etc.

However when you get a smooth, open corner I find it's a great confidence booster to have sliders on as you can just set your body position and crank it over and know you'll get a scrape before the pegs dig in and spit you off.


If you want to get your knee down go do it. It's bloody good fun.

[MrMessy]

Racing on circuits yes, has Whitty posted can save situations. Roads pose value only, like you said he had to go round a roundabout to do it. Best is to get used ones including race scrubs then you can really brag. Especially if you have your battle scarred leathers on:roll: I have had my knee down twice, once when I fell off and second time when I proposed the wife:)

[NTECUK]

Going round and round the same roundabout is cheating if were honest.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

I wasn't going to wade in on this, but, I feel I need to.

Some of us can't get to tracks that easily and the fact that we can emulate our favourite riders (albeit doing it safely) is a big boost to moral and confidence.

I got my first knee down on a day out with TON and we went around and around the same round-about for a good 45 mins to an hour trying to lean over.

The thing is, I don't like the british roads, for lack of a better word they are s**t. I have been to Germany and rode in and around Saurland. The "A" and "B"-roads over there make our motorways look crap! Even the recently laid ones!

The tarmac they use is more akin to race-track standard, it had tons of grip and is smooth & clean. No pot-holes/scars/etc that we deal with using british “roads.” But, the whole time I was over there I didn’t lean the bike over that far because I didn’t have confidence in my bike, my tyres or me.

Now, I thought you can’t get knee-down on british roads safely just because of the state they are in, but, after that day ride out with TON, I started paying a hell of a lot more attention to the road conditions on roundabouts or “nice” long sweeping bends. When you know a road well and know it is safe to lean over (weather conditions and traffic taken in to account) getting knee-down becomes easy.

So, just because you have got scraped knee sliders and haven’t been on a track doesn’t make you a “cock,” I am on my third pair of knee sliders and haven’t done a track day, but, I don’t want adulation. My knee sliders aren’t for you to admire, they are for me to destroy and have fun with. If I know I am not gonna use them on a ride I take them off.

I do agree with an earlier statement though, getting knee-down doesn’t make you faster when on the roads, as you have to concentrate a lot when doing knee-down. It isn’t done often enough to become “natural,” like if you did it day in/day out on a track (i.e. being a bike racer.)

I find leaning off a bit to move the weight to the inside of the bike pays more dividends than hanging off like a gangly monkey. But, hanging-off is more fun IMO…

Going round and round the same roundabout is cheating if were honest.

If you want to "brag" on the road you need to have left knee down as well as right. Right is too easy with all the round-abouts around the UK.

[Owenski]

Only ever managed it once, wasnt riding perticularly hard, wasnt trying to do it just went into a roundabout taking 270degree of turn tp my exit and tipped it in, it **** me up more than anything tbh.
It was only a short journey (Uni at Leeds to Robs gaff in Morley) and it cost me a pair of jeans, Rob might even remember the say cos Im sure it was only a week or so before he bought the bike off me plus I wa still bouncing when I got to his house.

Im a hanger off'er though, I think it because I dont sit central so in a corner I need to shift my weight to keep it steady. I know when I started shifting my weight I got much quicker and smoother, but I never got any faster after having my knee down.

[Wideboy]

So how many on here can get their knee down? I think there needs to be a poll as clearly there is a select few on here that have entered the stage of awesomeness with riding

[Owenski]

Mine was a fluke you should have sub catagory for those who've only done it on a roundabout.

[carelesschucca]

Mine was a fluke you should have sub catagory for those who've only done it on a roundabout.
I've done it on track but that's a different world. On the road I've only done it twice both time were accidents. Its not something i think about when I'm riding.

[NTECUK]

Your need
1.roundabout
2.track
3.road.

[TheOnlyNemesis]

I mainly just like to hang off, if my knee touches the road or not doesn't concern me. Just enjoy moving more on the bike and find i can take corners slightly faster when leaning off due to going in a little faster.

[Owenski]

I've done it on track but that's a different world. On the road I've only done it twice both time were accidents. Its not something i think about when I'm riding.

I've never ridden track but your response is what I'd thought someone who does would be, well its what I'd have hoped it would be lol.
I'd have assumed most get thier fill in the right enviroment, by contrast it would be interesting to see if any track regulars also regularly do it on public roads.

[sv4me]

Your need
1.roundabout
2.track
3.road.

1 & 3 check my sig ;)

2.....

http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m571/sv4me/downloadt_080412_3906_anglesey-1.jpg

I've never ridden track but your response is what I'd thought someone who does would be, well its what I'd have hoped it would be lol.
I'd have assumed most get thier fill in the right enviroment, by contrast it would be interesting to see if any track regulars also regularly do it on public roads.

I don't try on proper run outs to be honest although it happens occasionally. I do head over to Skelmersdale every now and then to surf their multiple roundabouts and traffic islands though, it's fun :D

[Owenski]

does that toggle on your hoodie not drive you mental with it tapping ur lid all the time?

[sv4me]

Does a bit :) it was ferkin freezing that day though

[flymo]

<----------

[flymo]

you want some knee down track time? get to Three Sisters in Wigan. If you cant get a knee on the ground there then you really arent trying, its impossible to avoid.

[muzikill]

They stopped my kneecap from being damaged when I highsided for a start.

[L3nny]

Just to prove kneedown does not equal fast, the state of my slider after a day propping up the back of the novice group at Silverstone

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222142_10150234191275903_582995902_8896605_4631838 _n.jpg

[Whitty]

you want some knee down track time? get to Three Sisters in Wigan. If you cant get a knee on the ground there then you really arent trying, its impossible to avoid.

+1 for that. Testing there Friday and racing Sunday. If you can't get your knee down especially around lunar corner its time to give up!

[lukemillar]

1 & 3 check my sig ;)

2.....

http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m571/sv4me/downloadt_080412_3906_anglesey-1.jpg



I don't try on proper run outs to be honest although it happens occasionally. I do head over to Skelmersdale every now and then to surf their multiple roundabouts and traffic islands though, it's fun :D

Kneedown but terrible body position. You're very crossed up.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

I don't think so.

I have found getting knee down in about being comfortable when leaning off

I have got photos of me doing knee-down and my chest is pretty close to the tank. I have tried moving my upper body away from the bike, but, it doesn't feel comfortable.

Watch any BSB race and there is more than one way to lean off a bike

[slark01]

Shamelessly nicked from another forum: FINALLY, harley rider with knee down!!!

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/19-10-2005_19.38.22yes.jpg

:)
I've managed to get my knee down once, scared the sh!t out of me lol.
Ste

[Bibio]

the person that started all this silly nonsense

https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/racer-jarno.html

[dizzyblonde]

Shamelessly nicked from another forum: FINALLY, harley rider with knee down!!!

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/19-10-2005_19.38.22yes.jpg

:)
I've managed to get my knee down once, scared the sh!t out of me lol.
Ste

My Sons Godfather, used to regularly grind the footplates out on his Harleys, but then he also had a Buell so a bit of a hooligan at times :rolleyes:

[slark01]

the person that started all this silly nonsense

https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer/racer-jarno.html (https://ccrma.stanford.edu/%7Epeer/racer-jarno.html)

Thanks.
Learn something new everyday.


Ste.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

My Sons Godfather, used to regularly grind the footplates out on his Harleys, but then he also had a Buell so a bit of a hooligan at times :rolleyes:

My father has told me the story of when he was training to be a police bike rider and would regularly grind the engine bars on the floor in turns.

His instructor informed him that he thought he might be insane, but, passed him none-the-less

[Bigmitch]

We dont have those big roundabouts on the IOM, So road and track for me. Its a 3rd wheel and cool as ****!
Road, The Mountain, Keppel Gate
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee161/BigMitch41/bigmitchkep.jpg
Track, Jurby
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee161/BigMitch41/25THSEPT2.jpg

[Ratty]

The Mountain, Keppel Gate
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee161/BigMitch41/bigmitchkep.jpg


Great lefty on the road. Love this pic.

Ratty

[sv4me]

Kneedown but terrible body position. You're very crossed up.

Sorry about that Luke, I will redouble my efforts in the vain hope that one day I will be as awesome as you :notworthy:

Just so I know we're talking about the same thing, you mean I'm not leaning the top half of my body off the inside of the bike? Cause in the picture i'm looking at i'm pretty sure I am, and I would be even more if there wasn't a slower rider infront of me.

Ok champ? :thumright:

[Nobbylad]

Surely the point of knee sliders, is the same as controlled wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, drifting etc etc

Sort of the same as handbrake turns, overhead kicks, stepovers, nutmegs, dummies, victory rolls, double cheeseburgers and even oral sex lol.

If you have to ask what the point is, you're missing it entirely and therefore, it's probably not worth asking.

It's about excess, it's about doing something that's not required in the mundane, everyday drudgery of whatever it is you're doing....but pushing something beyond the realms of 'the norm' and, well, being awesome!

;-)

[flymo]

.....and even oral sex lol..

this is not optional.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

Surely the point of knee sliders, is the same as controlled wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, drifting etc etc

Sort of the same as handbrake turns, overhead kicks, stepovers, nutmegs, dummies, victory rolls, double cheeseburgers and even oral sex lol.

If you have to ask what the point is, you're missing it entirely and therefore, it's probably not worth asking.

It's about excess, it's about doing something that's not required in the mundane, everyday drudgery of whatever it is you're doing....but pushing something beyond the realms of 'the norm' and, well, being awesome!

;-)

+1 this man, +1 to the max! ha ha

[lukemillar]

Sorry about that Luke, I will redouble my efforts in the vain hope that one day I will be as awesome as you :notworthy:

Just so I know we're talking about the same thing, you mean I'm not leaning the top half of my body off the inside of the bike? Cause in the picture i'm looking at i'm pretty sure I am, and I would be even more if there wasn't a slower rider infront of me.

Ok champ? :thumright:

A somewhat ironic post from the person posting the "look how cool I am pics"

Your mum must be proud, eh champ? :thumright:

[yorkie_chris]

A somewhat ironic post from the person posting the "look how cool I am pics"

Your mum must be proud, eh champ? :thumright:

It seems less cool to the people who know that's actually minimoto racing... :p

[andrewsmith]

It seems less cool to the people who know that's actually minimoto racing... :p

Like so?
http://www.totallygifts.co.uk/uploads/product/2341_minimoto.jpg

[sv4me]

A somewhat ironic post from the person posting the "look how cool I am pics"

Your mum must be proud, eh champ? :thumright:

Ermmm did I post it in someones for sale thread or one about the AR? This is a thread about kneedown and someone mentioned road, roundabout and track pics.....hence the pic. Which bit did we lose you on? :scratch: S'pose you think the same of Bigmitch?

Anyway if you've got nowt better to do than troll internet forums slagging peoples riding off then :laughat:

It seems less cool to the people who know that's actually minimoto racing... :p

I'm looking forward to the GM, I get to stand next to Hong and Bibio and not be the butt of all the little guy jokes :mad: lol

[andrewsmith]

dave you still want the lowering kit for topbox racer?
;)

[sv4me]

If you could sneekily fit a lowering kit to BPs topbox racer, thats something i'd love to have a go on :) damn these little legs

[Berlin]

Anyway if you've got nowt better to do than troll internet forums slagging peoples riding off then :laughat:




Learn to take constructive advice.
I didn't read it that Luke was belittling you, I read it as he was offering help.

... as it happens, I agree with him.

C

[Specialone]

Learn to take constructive advice.
I didn't read it that Luke was belittling you, I read it as he was offering help.

... as it happens, I agree with him.

C

I agree, I didn't read it that way either, not that I know diddly squatt about this knee down thingy.

[andrewsmith]

If you could sneekily fit a lowering kit to BPs topbox racer, thats something i'd love to have a go on :) damn these little legs

So thats a 150mm lowering kit then ;)

I agree with everyone else mate

[sv4me]

Learn to take constructive advice.
I didn't read it that Luke was belittling you, I read it as he was offering help.

... as it happens, I agree with him.

C

If the line had read mate your positioning needs some work, do this or try this,actual advice then I'd quite happily have listened. Just saying it's terrible is not constructive IMHO :smt102

But next time on track, I'll grab an instructor and see what his verdict is. So I guess in a way it worked :)

[Mr Speirs]

1. Track yes
2. Roundabout no
3. Road yes
4. In the wet yes :)

[Quiff Wichard]

never felt the need to..
angle grinding them to pose is no good as my chick strips give me away .
still wear knee sliders cos they are on there and I not strong enough to pull the velcro off.

[mister c]

I'll be honest & say that in the 30 odd years I've been riding I had never put my knee down. Then I bought a track bike & I pushed harder & harder until it got to the stage where my knee touched Tarmac.... & I sh*t myself because of the noise :) & promptly picked the bike up lol. But I found out how far I could push myself & how fast I could go round corners (until I crashed in my 2nd ever race :() I have only ever touched down twice on the road, but do still hang off to go around corners at pace as the bike is more upright & it feels more stable. It takes the weight off your arms thus stabilising the bike

For photographic purposes, this was on track. Not bad for an old fat fa*t.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/5079_1188263266193_1216657430_531656_5829777_n.jpg

On road
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/47174_1604409589591_1216657430_1661479_1485326_n.j pg

[-Ralph-]

I find a lot of the time I'm faster when not hanging off with any mind to getting knee down. Almost certainly due to extra attention paid to setting up the next corner, getting the perfect line etc

+1 - Knee down slower on the road IMO, extra time taken to think and move your body position.

It's for a track where you go round the same corners time after time and have nothing to think about except the fastest way round. On a track you have bags of time to set up your body position before the corner, stay in one body position all the way round.

On the road where you don't know the corner is coming until you get there climbing over the bike like a monkey just makes your corner entry slower and ****es off the rider behind you who isn't bothered about getting his knee down. I suppose though since on the road its a posing thing, it does mean the rider behind gets a really good view of your knee down as he's just been up your chuff on the brakes.

Not particularly safe with road hazards around either, if you suddenly need to change to the opposite direction, your bike is at 50 degrees, your entire body weight is hanging off the inside, and the saddle is under your outside knee, your pretty much fecked!

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

+1 - Knee down slower on the road IMO, extra time taken to think and move your body position.

It's for a track where you go round the same corners time after time and have nothing to think about except the fastest way round. On a track you have bags of time to set up your body position before the corner, stay in one body position all the way round.

On the road where you don't know the corner is coming until you get there climbing over the bike like a monkey just makes your corner entry slower and ****es off the rider behind you who isn't bothered about getting his knee down. I suppose though since on the road its a posing thing, it does mean the rider behind gets a really good view of your knee down as he's just been up your chuff on the brakes.

Not particularly safe with road hazards around either, if you suddenly need to change to the opposite direction, your bike is at 50 degrees, your entire body weight is hanging off the inside, and the saddle is under your outside knee, your pretty much fecked!


You pay your money, you take your choice.

In all fairness I don't think that even not hanging off and you are hot into a corner then need to move over quickly bikes don't tend to like changing direction that fast...

[Mr Speirs]

I think there is merits to both style of riding styles. People that pay money to own and maintain and insure their bike can ride their bike however they like as far as i'm concerned. I certainly won't be critisizing someone for riding their bike a different way to myself.

Personally I find the leany off way better for me however I used to favour the non leany on the SV. My 749 handled better with the leany off style. And my hyper favoured the tip the bike me stay upright supermoto style of riding.

[Sally]

Never been on a track, my riding style is leaning off knee out, can't help it, feels more stable and I feel more comfortable.
It's not for showing off or anything, just how I ride.

Scotland has some very good roads, that I know well, so I can push it a little bit... :)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228075_10150614994450570_835475569_18597487_328562 3_n.jpg

[yorkie_chris]

+1 - Knee down slower on the road IMO, extra time taken to think and move your body position.

It's for a track where you go round the same corners time after time and have nothing to think about except the fastest way round. On a track you have bags of time to set up your body position before the corner, stay in one body position all the way round.

On the road where you don't know the corner is coming until you get there climbing over the bike like a monkey just makes your corner entry slower and ****es off the rider behind you who isn't bothered about getting his knee down. I suppose though since on the road its a posing thing, it does mean the rider behind gets a really good view of your knee down as he's just been up your chuff on the brakes.

Not particularly safe with road hazards around either, if you suddenly need to change to the opposite direction, your bike is at 50 degrees, your entire body weight is hanging off the inside, and the saddle is under your outside knee, your pretty much fecked!

I wouldn't quite go that far as to say it's all posing. There's other times when you just hang off because you can see the corner is clear and you're going a bit tasty like and next thing "kkrrrrrrkkkk oh that would be the floor".

In which case knee down is good because it may have just stopped you highsideing from a dug in peg.

However you seen the state of me when I did that and clipped something in't road! :pale:


And alst bit you shouldn't be needing to change direction because that would imply you've seriously stretched your limits of observation...

[yorkie_chris]

You pay your money, you take your choice.

In all fairness I don't think that even not hanging off and you are hot into a corner then need to move over quickly bikes don't tend to like changing direction that fast...

Hanging off generally puts your CoG lower... hence lower rotational inertia and better direction changing...

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

Hanging off generally puts your CoG lower... hence lower rotational inertia and better direction changing...

Chris, the point I think the OP was making was that if you are hanging off right, for example, and needed to turn left sharpish it'd be difficult.

To keep turning right would be easy as you just counter-steer and lean off more, I have had fun adjusting my body position and counter-steering on a very grippy round-about as Wales.

What I was trying to say was that if you are gonna lean off you should know you are safe to do so, but, if crap does happen, you've made your choice, gotta live with it...

[yorkie_chris]

Chris, the point I think the OP was making was that if you are hanging off right, for example, and needed to turn left sharpish it'd be difficult.

Personally I don't think that it should present that much of a problem.
Leaning off vs. any sort of cornering... no difference.

If it is then you obviously need some practice. Go find some S bends and practice going through them hanging off one side then t'other. Useful and bloody good fun :)



Thing you should be doing is not making full commitment to corners unless you can see for certain that you're not going to NEED to make any massive flicks in direction unless you can see the upcoming next bend and plan accordingly.

No point getting hung up on niggle of technique which is 1% of difference... when actually observation and plan formed as result of that makes up other 99%...

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

Personally I don't think that it should present that much of a problem.
Leaning off vs. any sort of cornering... no difference.

If it is then you obviously need some practice. Go find some S bends and practice going through them hanging off one side then t'other. Useful and bloody good fun :)



Thing you should be doing is not making full commitment to corners unless you can see for certain that you're not going to NEED to make any massive flicks in direction unless you can see the upcoming next bend and plan accordingly.

No point getting hung up on niggle of technique which is 1% of difference... when actually observation and plan formed as result of that makes up other 99%...

I agree with you.

There is a lovely stretch on the SDR in Newport that is left, right, left all very fast and if done right can get knee down on all three.

I just think for most who don't get much practise the point should be driven home of "only do when it is safe," you know?

[yorkie_chris]

Aye. Don't make the (rather witless) mistake of putting yourself in a stupid unrecoverable situation just by attempting to achieve enough lean to touch knee to tarmac!

[Quiff Wichard]

These days on a mild lean I find my belly touches the tarmac before my knee anyway

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

Aye. Don't make the (rather witless) mistake of putting yourself in a stupid unrecoverable situation just by attempting to achieve enough lean to touch knee to tarmac!

Exactly