Riding "no hands"

[pyrocam]

ok what the deal with this. Im too much of a noob to even think about trying it properly because its a stupid stupid thing to do.

when me and BJ were coming UP the 22 last ride, I was getting a bit 'mentally exhausted' mainly due to not eating all day and I inadvertantly did a palms up shrug to BugJuice to answer his 'where are the others' sign languange. which involved me taking both hands off the bars to do it.

but I rode a pushbike for years before I was on a motorbike. I used to commute 10k's there and 10 back about 2 years ago. and hands off was A-OK under nearly all circumstances.

I dont want to learn anything stupid, but whats the deal. would any of you take both hands off the bars for any reason?

and while im on the topic. I was going up the northwestern I noticed a biker coming at me from the opposite direction. stand up fully on his pegs and look at his headlight. either he was
(A) checking his headlight if it was on
(B) telling me that my light was on full beam (which it was, better be seen and anoyying than not seen, its a 20w bulb)
or (C) a super-duper Hello your another biker
since there was a motion that looked like a nod when he was up there.

Ive been playing around with that Ive found its a really effective method to check your lights while on the road. and its fun to do when passing mates.
your thoughts?

[Storm]

I'd have to agree, it does make a good sight. I've stood on the pegs and saluted when I passed a wedding before(for all the safety conscious, yes there was at least 150m of clear, straight road in front of me, and I have practiced that move in a controlled off the road envionment)

[surfchick]

sweet as i reckon, you'll only be doin it for fun odd times & hardly in the middle of some critical situation

[John]

I always do it when I come to lights after comming from a big blast out of town, and roll to the lights adjusting my gloves (what a show off, but hey I will try anything to pull some ladies), Oh and I also have mastered changing gears with no hands on downshifting had a few moments trying it but its pretty trick!

Other than that if I'm on the road I just resort to a wave or nod, preferr a wave but if they dont wave back I get pissed off so I just nod most of the time now..

As for up on the pegs, lol I've hadto do that on more occasions when my brakes decided to go red hot and start locking on... must have looked like a twat looking at it though :(

[sAsLEX]

used to be able to ride most of the 5k to shcool no hands, but on a motorcycle it would pay to keep this to safe and straight, no side road/driveway type of roads.

Do the stand up thing to strecth after being in the saddle a while

[Waylander]

I always do it when I come to lights after comming from a big blast out of town, and roll to the lights adjusting my gloves (what a show off, but hey I will try anything to pull some ladies), Oh and I also have mastered changing gears with no hands on downshifting had a few moments trying it but its pretty trick!

Other than that if I'm on the road I just resort to a wave or nod, preferr a wave but if they dont wave back I get pissed off so I just nod most of the time now..

As for up on the pegs, lol I've hadto do that on more occasions when my brakes decided to go red hot and start locking on... must have looked like a twat looking at it though :(

All that should be easy for you seeing as how you are the bike.


Anyway I can't ride with no hands yet and everytime I try I start drifting to the left. Standing up on the bike I do alot just for the fun of it and to get a good look over all the traffic in front of me to figure out how far till it clears up.

[Drew]

I don't want to try and sound like a hero, but as long as I have a straight road, I can stand on the seat, two hands up, and wave my willie,
Going too far you say? Maybe, but aftersome practice, no hands becomes a piece of piss.
In reality, I haven't tried to wave my willie, but it must be possible!
Pushing the limits, is all you have to do, to get quite good, at playing silly buggers, on your bike.
Give it a go, and have a ball!

[John]

All that should be easy for you seeing as how you are the bike.


Anyway I can't ride with no hands yet and everytime I try I start drifting to the left. Standing up on the bike I do alot just for the fun of it and to get a good look over all the traffic in front of me to figure out how far till it clears up.
Thats because your bikes american, it wants to go form a new democracy in the ditch...

(j/k)

[Ixion]

Well, no hands is a bit of a problem with a twistgrip to deal with. But other than that it's no big deal, I've done it on odd occasions when slowing down or something. I'm old enough that I still hand signal sometimes when stopping (cos I don't trust brake lights , first bulb that vibration knocks out is usually the brake light, and you can't see it easily - though the Beammer I think has some electronics to flash the ABS light if the brake light is out) , so occasionally I'll be giving a stop signal with the left hand, and flick the right hand to raise my visor or something. Not really the best practice though, and I wouldn't care to recoomend it especially to a young rider.

Standing up is pretty much standard procedure for long distance riders, to stretch a bit. And it's a good idea if you're going to hit something (rubbish on road etc). I've done that headlamp thing too, checking to see if it's working.

[zooter]

Hell, why not get it up on one wheel before climbing up on the seat? May as well get a real ticket.

[Waylander]

Thats because your bikes american, it wants to go form a new democracy in the ditch...

(j/k)
Well seeing as how A) it's from JAPAN!! and B) the last time I tried riding no hands was in the states. So going to the left is away from any ditch. And C) there arn't any ditches on the side of the road in Texas. We have this advanced bit of technolagy called gutters. helps keep water and loose rocks and stuff off the road.

[justsomeguy]

Do it quite a bit on the straights if I want to cruise and on down hills...

Been doing it all my life on push bikes.... it's pretty much the same.

Still can't turn with no hands...... yet

[FROSTY]

sorry I can't see the big deal--I ride the ol xj no hands --itsw a real quick way to find out if the tyres a touch under inflated.

[justsomeguy]

its a real quick way to find out if the tyres a touch under inflated.

How???

And if your bike starts to drift to one side....mine does to the left... does it mean somethings out of alignment??

[sAsLEX]

Still can't turn with no hands...... yet

good point!!

if you do get it working no hands, try adjusting your body position and weight on the foot pegs and you will learn how the bike reacts to inputs other than your hands!

[Waylander]

How???

And if your bike starts to drift to one side....mine does to the left... does it mean somethings out of alignment??

I think it has more to do with sitting position. I tend to sit to one side of the bike becouse it's uncomfortable sitting on my wallet for any amount of time on the bike. I take it out and put it in my inner jacket pocket for long rides but short blasts I don't bother.

[pyrocam]

you cant turn with no hands?

since ive been trying to notice. I dont think I steer normallt ever. I pretty much just do th countersteering technique on every corner. or on a push bike. just lean into it and the bike does th rest.

Im looking forward to releasing my arse from the 5mm of plastic I have on my seat. on the ride now that I know I can perform this majestic trick.

[Big Dave]

I used to like standing with one foot on the peg, one on the seat and doing Pete townshend power air guitar rolling down college hill.
Mr Plod isn't a big fan of the gig however.

[justsomeguy]

I think it has more to do with sitting position. I tend to sit to one side of the bike becouse it's uncomfortable sitting on my wallet for any amount of time on the bike. I take it out and put it in my inner jacket pocket for long rides but short blasts I don't bother.

Course I took that into consideration. And no it doesn't have anything to do with seating position as you can sit skewed but apply pressure on the opposite side to counter balance... harder but possible.

[Wonko]

I'm playing around more and more with no hands. I can do most of the route from St Helliers to town without hands, but they are never far away from the handles. Takes a bit of getting used to, but I need to place weight on the footpeg eailer in the courner than what expect. IE make the bike lean over before moving your body into the courner.

Standing up is good, with hands on handlebars, helps to make the leather pants sit properly at the knees.

[TwoSeven]

You can steer a bike no hands - I do it often. Its just a different technique.

[Waylander]

You can steer a bike no hands - I do it often. Its just a different technique.
Definatly possible but I don't see how the front tire doesn't just flip around on ya and throw you off the bike. Seen enough stunt vids to know it's possible though.

[Wolf]

OK, the vehicle is a Piagio Vespa, the location is a road winding down the mountainside in Tahiti - riding on right hand side of the road, right next to a steep drop onto the tops of coconut palms and other vegetation. Across the road to the left is a solid wall of rock, punctuated occasionally by steeply sloping driveways letting onto the road. The road, as previously inferred, is steep and winding.

Dramatis personae - or participants, as you may prefer - are Daniel, mine host and rider of said two-wheeled conveyance, and myself - new to Tahiti and very much enjoying my "holiday". As I'm on student exchange, we are actually on our way to school. The bike is winding its way down the hill and I'm looking about, right and left, shifting about on the seat, yabbering away to Daniel about gods-know-what and said something I expected a reply to. When none was forthcoming I repeated the question and peered around him to try and see if he had heard.

That was when I noticed that he was rather preoccupied with fastening his helmet strap - a task for which he was using both hands. His head was canted slightly to allow him to better reach the D-rings so he was only watching the road out of one eye as well.

So, effectively, he was navigating his scooter down a winding road with no hands and simultaneously compensating for a stupid tourist who was bouncing around on the back of the bike like a frog on a gridle.

Needless to say I returned to a rearward, immobile posture toute suite, as they say over there.

Despite the traumatic experience, I became a biker on returning to New Zealand - and vowed that I would not put up with any pillion as bad as I was.

[Waylander]

Damn Wolf. That man had guts!!

[John]

Well seeing as how A) it's from JAPAN!! and B) the last time I tried riding no hands was in the states. So going to the left is away from any ditch. And C) there arn't any ditches on the side of the road in Texas. We have this advanced bit of technolagy called gutters. helps keep water and loose rocks and stuff off the road.
Yea but it got american germs, and was colonised as a democracy with the helpfull hand of bush...

[Waylander]

Yea but it got american germs, and was colonised as a democracy with the helpfull hand of bush...
So are you tryin to imply something about me and my bike? Don't forget I'm older, bigger and prettier than you.

[John]

So are you tryin to imply something about me and my bike? Don't forget I'm older, bigger and prettier than you.
That your both sexy democrats?... nah.. (i will stop the highjacking now).
Dont forget, I actually have a twig and berries

Go wolf that rocked :lol:

[Waylander]

That your both sexy democrats?... nah.. (i will stop the highjacking now).

Go wolf that rocked :lol:

Actually I'm republican:o


I wonder where Crashe is. She should have been first in line on this thread.

[John]

Actually I'm republican:o


I wonder where Crashe is. She should have been first in line on this thread.
I edited the post, please read... Damn republicans get off my damn lawn.

[Wolf]

Damn Wolf. That man had guts!!
Or no fucking imagination. Regrettably, I have an exceptionally good - and lamentably graphic - imagination - hence the alacrity with which I learned to be a far better pillion.

Apparently fastening his helmet on the way down the road was par for the course for him - first and last time he had someone acting like an idiot on the back, tho'...

[ricksta]

I don't want to try and sound like a hero, but as long as I have a straight road, I can stand on the seat, two hands up, and wave my willie
:killingme :killingme :killingme what a crack up!!! do that the next time you're speeding towards a speed camera!

[bugjuice]

oh great. Don't blame me for this.
I can take my hands off the bars, but its not something you should do really. It's not like taking your hands off the steering wheel. I'm not going to bleet on, cos I haven't read all the posts, but yeah, I can do it until the revs die off, but I make a habbit of not doing it..
and don't blame me :bleh: One hand would have been fine

[vifferman]

I've had a couple of bikes with tyre balance problems and/or tyres that weren't suited to them, and if I took my hands off the bars going downhill, they would get handlebar shake of epic (PutYourHandsBackOnTheBarsImmediatelyOrYouWillCras h'n'Die!!) proportions. :eek:

[crashe]

Well as you can see in my picture, I do ride with no hands.
And I can go around a nice curve with no hands.
I tend to do it most times on a downhill slope or when I have speed up enough to keep me going on the straight and wave both hands up and down as thou my hands and arms are wings.... I'm Flying and enjoying the freedom.

I also stand up on my back pegs to stretch the butt. But I keep my hands on the bars.

I started out doing it by lifting my hands off the bars by about 1 inch and then slowly increased it to what I can do now. Its a good way to stretch your arms when on a long ride.

But when I 'fly' I bring my knees in to hug the tank and that gives me better control. When I stop 'flying' my knees go back to where they were...
I keep a really eye on the road while doing it.

[Pixie]

I was going up the northwestern I noticed a biker coming at me from the opposite direction. stand up fully on his pegs and look at his headlight. either he was
(A) checking his headlight if it was on
(B) telling me that my light was on full beam (which it was, better be seen and anoyying than not seen, its a 20w bulb)
or (C) a super-duper Hello your another biker
since there was a motion that looked like a nod when he was up there.

?
Or (D) Mooning the drive behind him :shake:

[Deano]

How???

And if your bike starts to drift to one side....mine does to the left... does it mean somethings out of alignment??

Often the road camber will make the bike drift to the left. Use body weight to counter it's effect.

How about placing both hands on the tank and raising your feet (straddle wise) off the footpegs. Pretty easy really.

[Suney]

rossi does it everytime he wins
so he does it alot :P

[Ghost Lemur]

rossi does it everytime he wins
so he does it alot :P

You've noticed the no-hands-stand-up-play-with-arse rossi routine too.

Another to look at for no hand skill is Christian Pfiffer. He can do no hand figure 8's as well as ever decreasing no hand circles.

[Zed]

...I dont want to learn anything stupid, but whats the deal. would any of you take both hands off the bars for any reason?I take both hands off the grips (usually to straigten my back up and have a stretch) only when going in a straight line and usually down a hill or coming to a gradual stop - it's easy to do if your front end doesn't wobble! You shouldn't be attempting this around a corner unless it's very wide, and then you use your bodyweight to steer as Deano said. :ride:


...I noticed a biker coming at me from the opposite direction. stand up fully on his pegs and look at his headlight. either he was
(A) checking his headlight if it was on
(B) telling me that my light was on full beam (which it was, better be seen and anoyying than not seen, its a 20w bulb)
or (C) a super-duper Hello your another biker
since there was a motion that looked like a nod when he was up there.Probably none of the above, but I liked (C) :killingme

More than likely he was stretching his legs! Coincidentally I was doing the same on my bike today when I got a slight cramp. :crazy:

[SuperDave]

Well, I see many of you mention how easy it is to ride no hands so I was wondering, does the ability to do such a thing rely a lot on the bike itself? I've tried a few times on the FXR, but after a few secs it begins to angle itself.

Is this because I personally am over correcting with my balance on the seat, or does it have a lot to do with the fact that the bike is so light and that it turns in really easily?

[Biff]

The first time I tried taking both hands off the grips it was to show off when pulling up to a set of lights in a busy shopping centre (I was 18 - I was allowed to be a bit stupid). I ended up doing a massive speed wobble which nearly high sided me off.

Anyhoo - fast forward to today - I tend to do it when on long rides, on open clear roads, with little of no traffic around, in order to stretch or read a newspaper. I draw the line at attempting the crossword though. Now that would be stupid.

[Stevo]

I only take my hands off the bars when I want to spread out. :killingme

Seriously though I ride a Honda and nothing is a problem for a Honda. Least of all straights or curves at high speed.............

[Blakamin]

i take the hands off the bars every night for the last 800m before home.... after all the twisties and highway stupidness (mine and cages), its good to have a bit of stretch.... stick it into 4th or 5th and let it idle along at 50-60kph...... just before i do that, I stand up for 100 metres...

[pritch]

And if your bike starts to drift to one side....mine does to the left... does it mean somethings out of alignment??

That's what I was thinking. It should steer straight unless there is something wrong. But then I'm not a mechanic.

[Wolf]

I draw the line at attempting the crossword though. Now that would be stupid.
Ah, true wisdom. Road safety is paramount.

[inlinefour]

More like riding with no brain :killingme

[Ixion]

That's what I was thinking. It should steer straight unless there is something wrong. But then I'm not a mechanic.

Only if there's no camber on the road. Most roads are cambered left so the bike will want to roll left

[XP@]

If you really want to do the no-handed thing then use the "cruise control" aka choke on your bike. Using the choke gives you a good, slow, even pace to practice with. then if you have a steering damper, just jump on your tank and start knitting.

You can swerve quite accuratly by changing the weight on your feet. but it soon becomes obvious that the handle bars are there for a reason.

[Wolf]

If you really want to do the no-handed thing then use the "cruise control" aka choke on your bike. Using the choke gives you a good, slow, even pace to practice with. then if you have a steering damper, just jump on your tank and start knitting.

You can swerve quite accuratly by changing the weight on your feet. but it soon becomes obvious that the handle bars are there for a reason.
My CB550 really did have "cruise control" - when I bought it it had a lever right next to the throttle where it could be operated by the thumb. Flicking the lever tightened a flexible metal band that locked the throttle in position so you could let go of the throttle without it rapidly winding down.

A twist on the throttle in either direction was sufficient to force it to snap "open" and release the throttle - quite ingenious.

Very handy on long trips - I could snap it on for long enough to take my hand from the throttle and flex my fingers, get the blood moving again.

[XP@]

My CB550 really did have "cruise control" - when I bought it it had a lever right next to the throttle where it could be operated by the thumb. Flicking the lever tightened a flexible metal band that locked the throttle in position so you could let go of the throttle without it rapidly winding down.

A twist on the throttle in either direction was sufficient to force it to snap "open" and release the throttle - quite ingenious.

Very handy on long trips - I could snap it on for long enough to take my hand from the throttle and flex my fingers, get the blood moving again.
Hmmm... would like one of those, I think there are a few on the market. The other trick for flexing the hands is to hold the clutch in, you can usually coast for just enough time to excercise.

[Wolf]

Hmmm... would like one of those, I think there are a few on the market. The other trick for flexing the hands is to hold the clutch in, you can usually coast for just enough time to excercise.
Yeah, I suspect the one I had was aftermarket, hard to be sure as the bike was an American model - 4-into-4 exhaust, king/queen seat... a mate of mine who was seriously into bikes thought it had been customised until he had a closer look and realised it was the US model. Looked bugger-all like the model we got here, apparently. The bloke I brought it from was a Yank so I guess he must've brought it over when he came here.

Qute a good bike, the CB550, too bad it was a trifle big for me to ride comfortably.

[XP@]

Qute a good bike, the CB550, too bad it was a trifle big for me to ride comfortably.
:Offtopic: I used to look really silly trying to push start my cb750... "pea on a drum" was the expression used i think...
But i did get a serious amount of rep for being able to push start it up hill (i'm only 5'4")