Do you sit or stand ?

[TwoSeven]

Ok, sometimes when I ask people about their style or technique for riding I get a glazed look which usually means the person is at the stage of hanging on for grim life, rather than fine tuning their riding style.

One of these technique things is whether you sit or stand on your bike when zooming round the track. Note, that its personal preference to which one you use, and I'm sure the people round here that teach this stuff properly will be able to correct me on it (I was tought to stand years ago, but didnt pay too much attention to the theory).

Anyhow, sitting basically means your ass is on the sit along with your body weight (some people like it because they can feel the back wheel more). Standing means your riding like a jockey does a horse (although thats an exagerated position).

The idea behind standing is that the feedback from the bike goes thru 4 points (hands and feet), your center of gravity is lower (thru the feet) and the bike can move around more (ie. stability).

So I have created a poll to find out who does what :)

I'll also post some pics (taken from the last 250 gp) that shows the differences (although my tape was a bit shitty, so quality sux).

Also, feel free to criticise, post abuse, discuss and all that. This is only my opinion based on something I learned - so if someone can explain better please do :)

[James Deuce]

MAy I clear up one point of confusion? Standing does not lower the CoG of the bike. Lowering the attachment point of one mass to another, does not lower the CoG of the combined object.

If I'm riding at the "pace" (see the article Bren posted) on the road, the butt is firmly on the seat.

If I'm on a track the seat is only there to put my bum on when I try to get as tucked in as possible on a straight.

[TwoSeven]

he he.. You could at least wait till I've pressed the submit button before replying - I was still typing the post :) :)

edit: Yes, sorry, I ment the cog as jim2 says. Also, this is not for road riding. Its in the racing section as I mean it for learning racecraft stuff, not roadcraft stuff :)

Anyhow, in these two pics, the chap is sitting (cant remember the riders name). Hopefully you can see ass in seat. In the next couple of frames which I have omitted, the rear of the bike steps sideways pulling the rider with it, then straightens up. The second pic is from the chap following.

[madboy]

I'm with the glazed look option...

Nah, I sit most of the time, only standing when I'm hanging. But since I'm pretty useless I do more sitting than standing. But I'll work on it on Sunday at Manfeild. See if I can beat 1.28 (jeez I bloody should be able to!!)

[TwoSeven]

In this post, I have used casy stoner who is my current favorite rider, only because he was absolutely crap when he started in GPs and has improved in leaps and bounds.

Pic one is from danny pedrosas bike looking at stoner. Here stoner is standing (note that you are really just brushing your ass on the seat).

In pic 2, stoner has just come off the brakes. When braking he sits hard on the bike, then lifts himself up again. In this pic he is setting up is body for corner entry.

In pic 3, stoner should be standing, but is being a lazy begger and instead of using the underside of his thigh to brush the seat (note that his footpegs are adjusted to make his lef form right angles), he is actually resting on the side of the fairing since he is already set for the corner, there is nothing to do but wait, so he is taking a rest.

In pic 4 - classing high stand as he transfers to the left hand corner.

Pic 5 - is the left corner where he is still standing (no need to hang off).

[TwoSeven]

anyhow - apologies for buggered "speelin". I cant figure out how to edit the poll, and cant be bothered checking the rest. :)

[bugjuice]

I find myself doin the jockey style when the demanding twisties get goin. On longer roads, it's a great work-out on the legs! Else I just slide me ass either side but still taking most of the weight on my feet/legs..

[Motu]

Having started off road in the twin shock days,and being a trials rider - I prefer to stand...it's all about weight shifts and you can't do that sitting down.

It's good to see road riders finally applying dirt techniques to their sport.

[Coyote]

Didn't realise riders stood whilst racing. I'll have to try that

[Squiggles]

i prefer sort've hovering above my seat.... being the lazy guy i guess :yawn:

[Two Smoker]

When racing, i am sitting on the bike when accelerating and braking, although when braking i am getting off the seat and transfering my weight in preperation for the corner... when in mid corner i am off the seat, where i am trying to put as much weight on the outside peg and a little weight in the inside peg...

When road racing (isle of man styles) on the straights and slight corners i am putting the weight on the pegs not the seat so the bike can sort itself out when it hits undulations in the road (getting little wiggles etc) and cornering technique is the same as the above racing...

[FROSTY]

I use a combination of both or should I say all 4 tequniques -Well ok in that perfect world I do.
Every corner or combination of corners dictates a different way of being dealt with

[mattt]

On straights my ass is seated, but once you're tackling the twisties I stand on the pegs. I guess you get good leverage on the bars for counter steering, and the bike will move quicker from left lean angle to the right... or something.... :Punk:

[loosebruce]

I thought this was about wheelies................

[SPman]

I thought this was about wheelies................
As usual - you have a one track mind, young Bruce. :rofl:

[Zed]

Ok, sometimes when I ask people about their style or technique for riding I get a glazed look which usually means the person is at the stage of hanging on for grim life, rather than fine tuning their riding style.

One of these technique things is whether you sit or stand on your bike when zooming round the track.I didn't know the technique was called "standing", or is that just your terminology TwoS?

If I was to race a bike I'd be fine tuning my style all the time, as the racers do, practising weight shifting & knee down action would be a must.

I don't do a lot of hanging off the bike stuff like some guys do on the road, especially whilst riding my heavy Blackbird. Even on the track (open days) I am quite comfortable to remain seated most of the time and am no slouch if I do say so myself. The last track day I scraped the underside of my fairing I got it down so low, don't think I was 'jockeying' the bike much though?

Now if I owned a 'modern thou' that would be an entirely different story...um...especially on the track! :Punk:

[Skyryder]

I thought this was about wheelies................

I thought it was a male/female gender thing.


Skyryder

[texmo]

Being on a scooter I am limmited to my choice.......

[Hitcher]

What's with all this "ass" crap? No wonder you guys don't know your arse from your elbow...

Change the Government. Vote BDOTGNZA!

[Skyryder]

What's with all this "ass" crap? No wonder you guys don't know your arse from your elbow...

Change the Government. Vote BDOTGNZA!


I do Hitch. I talk with my arse :violin: .........hence all the crap, and wipe with my elbows that wont reach, and is, the reason I can't stop. :rofl:


Keep the Government...........Don't Vote. :dodge:

Skyryder

[justsomeguy]

Do you recommend this "standing" for clumsy, slow riders (with delusions of speed) too or do you feel slower riders should be seated only?? ...... and these techniques left to race speeds.

The reason I ask was I used to do it when I first started riding and then thought it would be better to sit until you became more efficient a rider......... or you would overcompensate for a lack of skill by standing up...

Remember we're only talking about riding here - speeding on public roads and that box of poo is another separate subject.

[Ixion]

Do you recommend this "standing" for clumsy, slow riders (with delusions of speed) too or do you feel slower riders should be seated only?? ...... and these techniques left to race speeds.

The reason I ask was I used to do it when I first started riding and then thought it would be better to sit until you became more efficient a rider......... or you would overcompensate for a lack of skill by standing up...

Remember we're only talking about riding here - speeding on public roads and that box of poo is another separate subject.

Well, if standing was good enough for Freddie Frith, arguably the best rider, technically, of all time, that would seem good grounds for emulation

[GSVR]

Well, if standing was good enough for Freddie Frith, arguably the best rider, technically, of all time, that would seem good grounds for emulation

Back circa 1937 you'd have to be standing to absorb some of the the forces the pogo sticks of the era they called shocks didn't.

[TwoSeven]

Do you recommend this "standing" for clumsy, slow riders (with delusions of speed) too or do you feel slower riders should be seated only?? ...... and these techniques left to race speeds.

The reason I ask was I used to do it when I first started riding and then thought it would be better to sit until you became more efficient a rider......... or you would overcompensate for a lack of skill by standing up...

Remember we're only talking about riding here - speeding on public roads and that box of poo is another separate subject.

I always sit when riding on the road. Apart from being more comfy, it slows me down and makes me more road safe. But then I always travel 10k under the limit anyhow (old habbit). :)

[Back Fire]

I didn't know all this.... good to know though, learn something new every day :niceone:

[Paul in NZ]

Pah! Where is the cringing in fear behind the fairing while clasping the bars in a death grip option....