Where do put your feet when you ride?

[Pwalo]

Well on your footpegs obviously. I guess I mean how do you position your feet on your pegs?

I always ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs, which I think is a carry over from starting riding on trail bikes. I'm not sure if there is any advantage riding this way but I don't feel comfortable with my feet in any other position.

(It also keeps my toes away from the gear lever and by turning my feet in slightly I seem to grip the tank with my knees which in turn let's me loosen the grip on the bars.)

Just wondered how you guys get on.

[sunhuntin]

i sit with the peg in the arch of my foot....any other position throws my balance. my right/braking foot the toes are just to side of the brake lever. in situations where i might need it, it hovers over the lever, ready to press down immediatly. my gear foot the toes are just to one side of that lever. if im changing gear, my toes are either hooked under ready to pull up or hovering over ready to click down. normally my toes are slightly pointing out away from the bike.

i do find i get cramped like that if i the bike is fully loaded and im pressed right onto the tank, then my feet can be up on my toes [very uncomfortable] or off the pegs entirely stretching [one leg at a time] times like that i wish i had highway pegs....nowhere to mount them on a gn though that i can see.

[Krayy]

Well on your footpegs obviously. I guess I mean how do you position your feet on your pegs?

I always ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs, which I think is a carry over from starting riding on trail bikes. I'm not sure if there is any advantage riding this way but I don't feel comfortable with my feet in any other position.

(It also keeps my toes away from the gear lever and by turning my feet in slightly I seem to grip the tank with my knees which in turn let's me loosen the grip on the bars.)

Just wondered how you guys get on.
SNAP!! That's how I do it...and I thought I was weird?? :blip:

[dss3]

For just riding around town, motorway, cruising etc I just have them where ever is comfortable, and kinda near the brake / gear shifter.

For cornering / track, I have ball of inside foot up on the end of peg, to try and get as much ground clearance as possible, eventually you wear a round dent, and then hole in the bottom of your boot from pushing down on end of peg. Outside foot pretty much sits wherever it want's, doesn't do much, do most of holding on with inner leg / thigh. Going through right hand corners it tends to end up rubbing on the chain, which probably aint the best!

[vifferman]

The best way for riding is to have the ball of your foot on the peg. Why?
Because this gives you the best feel and control, and also keeps your toes clear of the road on corners.
However, I'm having to unlearn years of doing this, because it cramps my knees up too much and means I can ride for only an hour before my knees start screaming at me. It feels weird still having the footpeg under the arch of my foot, but it's working for me. At Easter, I managed to ride every day without significant discomfort.
When I get to the twisties though, it's back to ball of the foot on the peg again. Can't beat that for feel and control.

[James Deuce]

I put them on the end of my legs.

[XTC]

Mine go in the tankbag.... Jim where's my jacket? :)

[beyond]

Used to ride with the pegs under the arch of both feet but have changed my habits to riding with the pegs under the balls of my feet.

The reason for this, is as follows:
1. better ground clearance when cornering.
2. More feel and more control.
3. Having taken to hanging off the side of the bike through fast corners to avoid things touching down too early, I found with the pegs under the arches, on left hand corners my foot was hitting the gear lever and changing down a gear, which is not good when you are cornering at or near the limit.
(Found out the hard way, when the rear locked up momentarily before I could clutch it). On right handers, hanging off, my foot would touch the rear brake with the same result.

So, am now riding with the balls of my feet on the pegs and only revert to my old method when on long straights or boring bits.

[skelstar]

On my 250 they were on the arches, the Hornet GC is no-where near as good as the 250 so started perching on the balls of my feet. Feels bloody strange to do it any other way now.

[James Deuce]

Mine go in the tankbag.... Jim where's my jacket? :)

I got it out and shook the spiders out! :)

Now I need to wipe it down and package it. Gahhh, the pressure!! ;)

[BarBender]

Like some of the others - Arches for the slow bits; on the balls of my feet for the bends...(but I find that I have to warm up to that. Thighs, hips and lower back dont like to go there straight away...); and out the side and in the air every half hour or so when I need to stretch out...

[Sniper]

Im just waiting for some devient to say, "Over the license plate"

[skelstar]

Sometimes I ride with my feet on the crash-bungs.

[skelstar]

Im just waiting for some devient to say, "Over the license plate"
They have now.

[Sniper]

Im no devient.....

[erik]

On the Zeal I used to ride around town with the pegs under the arches of my feet most of the time.
But on the Bandit, it feels like it's more comfortable to have the balls of my feet on the pegs the whole time. It feels weird moving my feet forwards. Something to do with the seating position I guess.

[Dai]

Most of the time I seem to be placing my feet in my big mouth.

Only reason I dont when on the bike is that the helmet gets in the way.

[outlawtorn]

I try and wrap them around the back of my head for a laugh :nya:

[Ham]

Sometimes I ride with my feet on the crash-bungs.

I thought i was the only dickhead that did this... they are my "hiway pegs"

Does anyone else put their feet on the back pegs? thats my drag mode

[cowboyz]

yep. on the long striaghts I have been known to use the pillion pegs to stretch the body out. Most riding I ride with my toes on the pegs or just behind. Slip my foot forward to change gear or brake.

[SlowHand]

SNAP!! That's how I do it...and I thought I was weird?? :blip:

That's how I do it too!! Funnily enuf, it was you that taught me to do that :D

[diggydog]

I think a lot is what you are use to or habit, as mentioned from (sunhuntin) i do the same thing and i also beleive with the arch of the foot is locked in better & give u quicker response.

[Hitcher]

Depends on whether I'm riding the ST or Mrs H's Marauder.

The Marauder, being a peg-forward cruiser, best suits the pegs in the arch of the foot. The ST is more comfortable with the balls of my feet on the pegs -- also that way I don't catch my boots when cornering.

[diggydog]

i have caught my foot a few times maybe i'm not got foot in right position?

[Wolf]

Arches of feet, usually, beside or hovering over controls depending on the hazard level - around town I tend to cover the controls ready for dumb-arsed cagers to do dumb-arsed things.

Tried the balls of the feet and found it uncomfortable but that could have been the layout of the bike I was on.

[Ghost_Bullet]

Interesting topic, at first I thought "weird", but in reading obviousley there are different views of where to put ya feet, I have always had ball of the foot on the pegs, but after reading about heal on the peg, I am looking forward to when I next get me leg over the bike to try the heal style.

Q

[sunhuntin]

like someone else mentioned, i have considered making use of the pillion pegs, but feel it would unbalance me too much. id love to have crash bungs to stretch out. wiill have either those or highway pegs on my next bike.

i remember i tried glenns panhead once or twice, think the ball was on the peg with that bike due to the stretch. dunno how it would have felt riding like that, never tried it moving [lol]

[Motu]

On my old Guzzi Stornello the pillion pegs double as rear sets - the heal part of the heel/toe lever becomes a toe lever,it's a stretch having to come forward for the rear brake,but not a big issue.

I always have my instep on the peg,that's the way the levers are meant to work....although my feet are fair flapping around when I'm pushing it on gravel.On a long piece of boring seal I'll put the balls of my feet on the pegs for a change of position,I don't have to use the controls so it's not a problem.

[Toast]

For cornering / track, I have ball of inside foot up on the end of peg, to try and get as much ground clearance as possible, eventually you wear a round dent, and then hole in the bottom of your boot from pushing down on end of peg. Outside foot pretty much sits wherever it want's, doesn't do much, do most of holding on with inner leg / thigh. Going through right hand corners it tends to end up rubbing on the chain, which probably aint the best!

Quite interesting that you say your outside foot does nothing.

I was reading an article in some mag I had a while back, talking to GP racers about sliding bikes, why they train with supermotards, etc.

Nicky Hayden reckoned that one thing many road racers don't do enough is weight the outside peg. He said that the average road racer is great until things get out of control. At this point, says he, weighting the outside peg (and shifting your weight a bit rearwards after the turn in is sussed) helps to keep the bike stable when tyres start sliding.

Keith Code also recommends weight on the outside peg, for similar reasons and more.

Not that you seem to be suffering because of your style at this stage though Daryl. Something to think about all the same.

[riffer]

Balls of the feet mostly.

Like Jim2, I get knee pain (reconstructed knees and old age LOL) and I try to combat that with stretching the legs somewhat by riding for a bit with the arches on the pegs but you come to a corner and start wearing out the toes of your boots so it's not a good idea.

I recently rode one of WMCC's Boulevard models - my first time with forward controls and I have to admit it felt pretty comfortable - not that I'm looking at "retiring" just yet!

[Freakshow]

On my old ladies GN80 I use the pillion pegs.. makes it real eassy to do wheelies!!!!!

[dawnrazor]

balls (of my feet) on the pegs, I find the grips on the soles of boots have an interesting grippy sensation that my arches don't have

[grego]

now I will be driving constantly trying to observe how I place my feet and probably loose concentration and crash my bike.
I will send you the bill.............................lol:first: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/smilies/first.gif
:first:

[beyond]

I thought i was the only dickhead that did this... they are my "hiway pegs"

Does anyone else put their feet on the back pegs? thats my drag mode

Yep, been known to do that on the long boring straights when at speed, or when cold. :)

[Pwalo]

now I will be driving constantly trying to observe how I place my feet and probably loose concentration and crash my bike.
I will send you the bill.............................lol:first: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/smilies/first.gif
:first:

Yeah right. How are you finding the Kwak? I was looking at getting a ride on one as a possible upgrade.

Can be a pain when you actually try and look at how you physically ride a bike. I'm sure that you can iron out a lot of bad habits/technique if you pay a bit of attention to what you're doing.

[grego]

the problem is that the older you get the more difficult it becomes to iron out bad habits should you actually notice them..........
I love the kwaka, its the ultimate "Grinn on the dial bike" for people like me who havent got the guts anymore to ride a fullsize grunter nor the strenght the get the bloddy thing in and out of the garage. It is so light and easy to manouver its a real joy. I saw in the biky mag an article about a geeser by the name of "Wiggles" (me thinks) who races a ER 6n stock standard in one of the NZ classes. He reckons down the Phukehohe straight he got 215 km/h out of the thingy.

Just thinking of that speed (and the couple of sheep that always want to cross the road when you got the wick fully turned up ) makes me nearly piss in my pants.................:doobey:

P.S. I actually traded my Suzuki GS 500 in against the ER6n over at Masterton . Chris will give you a demo ride on a ER6 but probably won't trade the Suzi as he has got 2 allready.

[Maha]

I ride on my balls, any other way feels kinda weird, have tried other posistions but i become very conscious of it and my mind needs to be on the task at hand, not... does this feel right does that feel right?.... should have things sorted before i mount up, always been like that, good policy....:innocent:

[Motu]

So all you lot who ride on the balls of your feet - you have to take your feet off the pegs to shift and brake?

[James Deuce]

I've got Size 13s and if I didn't ride on the balls of my feet I'd go through a pair of boots every couple of weeks.

[Quasievil]

I usually put my feet on the pegs but as I written in previous posts they occasionally end up in cages wing mirrors, doors etc, they have even been up the rear of a few arses around town.
But hey what ever works

[Pwalo]

So all you lot who ride on the balls of your feet - you have to take your feet off the pegs to shift and brake?

Just slide them forward. I don't tend to use the rear brake a lot except when I'm filtering, or to steady the bike when I'm cornering. Most of the time the twin has more than enough engine breaking if you're awake to what's going on.

Probably don't need to change gear as much as on an inline four either.

[Pwalo]

the problem is that the older you get the more difficult it becomes to iron out bad habits should you actually notice them..........
I love the kwaka, its the ultimate "Grinn on the dial bike" for people like me who havent got the guts anymore to ride a fullsize grunter nor the strenght the get the bloddy thing in and out of the garage. It is so light and easy to manouver its a real joy. I saw in the biky mag an article about a geeser by the name of "Wiggles" (me thinks) who races a ER 6n stock standard in one of the NZ classes. He reckons down the Phukehohe straight he got 215 km/h out of the thingy.

Just thinking of that speed (and the couple of sheep that always want to cross the road when you got the wick fully turned up ) makes me nearly piss in my pants.................:doobey:

P.S. I actually traded my Suzuki GS 500 in against the ER6n over at Masterton . Chris will give you a demo ride on a ER6 but probably won't trade the Suzi as he has got 2 allready.

Thanks mate. I like the GS' size and weight as well. If only I could persuade Mr Suzuki to cut a GSXR 1000 engine in half and stick it in the GS frame.

[Lou Girardin]

So all you lot who ride on the balls of your feet - you have to take your feet off the pegs to shift and brake?

It seems so. I have enough trouble with up to shift up and down to shift down, without having to do a soft shoe shuffle as well.

[Ixion]

So all you lot who ride on the balls of your feet - you have to take your feet off the pegs to shift and brake?

The balls of feet thing is really only applicable to sprotsbikes. Where, when seated (or planked, as it should be termed) the lower leg is angled at about 45 degrees, and the foot is pointed downward . With arches on the peg the front of the foot sticks out well below the peg.And moving the foot back so the ball is on the peg is no more uncomfortable than having the arch on the peg.

But on an off road bike, or a tourer (admittedly, not many of those around now), the pegs are positioned so that when seated the lower leg is vertical.

Whether the ball is on the peg, or the arch, makes no difference to clearances. And moving the ball of the foot onto the peg forces the leg back inot an unnatural flexed position.

And, you just try standing up on bumpy ground with the ball of your foot on the pegs.And of course, on gravel quick access to the rear brake is essential.
Those who say they never use the rear brake must never ride on metal roads.

[Motu]

Yeah,the controls are designed to work by pivoting on your ankle....set your controls so you don't have to move your feet at all.Standing up off road there's no time to fart around bringing your foot off the peg,coming forward to shift or brake,then moving them back.Although I remember some expert trials rider giving us a lesson once,and he was experimenting with standing on the balls of his feet....we ignored him.

[SlowHand]

So all you lot who ride on the balls of your feet - you have to take your feet off the pegs to shift and brake?

Only cos im too lazy to stick my leg out when cornering tho. much less effort to shimmey feet about.

[Wolf]

I ride on my balls, any other way feels kinda weird,
May I suggest briefs, then. "Commando" doesn't seem to be working out for you and boxers offer no real support.

Personally I'd find riding on my balls bloody agonising and there'd always be the risk of falling off - wouldn't want to fall from that height. :gob:

[Edbear]

Think I'm gonna have to wait for my ribs to heal up before comin back to this thread! Owww!

[wraith]

Well on your footpegs obviously. I guess I mean how do you position your feet on your pegs?

I always ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs, which I think is a carry over from starting riding on trail bikes. I'm not sure if there is any advantage riding this way but I don't feel comfortable with my feet in any other position.

(It also keeps my toes away from the gear lever and by turning my feet in slightly I seem to grip the tank with my knees which in turn let's me loosen the grip on the bars.)

Just wondered how you guys get on.

Yes , thats the same for me. it feels more stable with your feet a little further back. Especially if i'm at a constant speed, such as on the motorways.

[Wolf]

The balls of feet thing is really only applicable to sprotsbikes. Where, when seated (or planked, as it should be termed) the lower leg is angled at about 45 degrees, and the foot is pointed downward . With arches on the peg the front of the foot sticks out well below the peg.And moving the foot back so the ball is on the peg is no more uncomfortable than having the arch on the peg.

But on an off road bike, or a tourer (admittedly, not many of those around now), the pegs are positioned so that when seated the lower leg is vertical.

Whether the ball is on the peg, or the arch, makes no difference to clearances. And moving the ball of the foot onto the peg forces the leg back inot an unnatural flexed position.

And, you just try standing up on bumpy ground with the ball of your foot on the pegs.And of course, on gravel quick access to the rear brake is essential.
Those who say they never use the rear brake must never ride on metal roads.
You're quite right - as usual.

I've noted that most of those who have written "balls of the feet" ride some sort of sprots boik, those who said "arches" tend to be riding road-trails, GNs, cruisers and older style tour bikes.

The given reasons also bear out your assertion - "keeping the foot clear of the road when cornering" - predominently sprots boiks - and "more comfortable that way" - from "both sides".

I began riding on the roads on an upright commuter bike and then rode a road-trail. Later I rode the old style tourers and even later, a small cruiser. I've only had brief experiences on sprots boiks. I've spent most of my life riding on bikes on which it is more comfortable and advantageous to rest my arches on the pegs.

[beyond]

You're quite right - as usual.

I've noted that most of those who have written "balls of the feet" ride some sort of sprots boik, those who said "arches" tend to be riding road-trails, GNs, cruisers and older style tour bikes.

The given reasons also bear out your assertion - "keeping the foot clear of the road when cornering" - predominently sprots boiks - and "more comfortable that way" - from "both sides".

I began riding on the roads on an upright commuter bike and then rode a road-trail. Later I rode the old style tourers and even later, a small cruiser. I've only had brief experiences on sprots boiks. I've spent most of my life riding on bikes on which it is more comfortable and advantageous to rest my arches on the pegs.

Yep, I agree. I do ride a sports tourer and as mentioned previously, have been riding on the balls of my feet lately. When I am seated normally, my feet are nearly horizontal and therefore ground clearance isn't an issue for my feet and yes, when riding on the arches all controls come naturally to your feet.

However, in my case, I ride the sports tourer more like a sports and I have to ride on the balls of my feet when in the tighter stuff or on fast sweepers.

I've noticed when pushing it hard in the corners, to minimise the pegs scratching hard, to stop my side stand foot and centre stand wearing slowly away, I hang off the bike in the hard stuff. Hanging off the bike with my arches on the pegs, has revealed that on a left hander, the position of your body and consequently your foot, means the gear lever gets knocked down a cog on a left hander and on a right hander the foot starts to interfere with the rear brake. In either case I can't place the foot under the levers as I kinda like to keep my foot on the end of the leg if you get my drift.

Both result in a very unstable cornering scenario. You are hard over, at or near the bikes limits and on a left hander you suddenly drop a gear when you are already in the right torque range. Doesn't do much for me ticker but gives the arse muscles a good workout. Same with the right hander. Rear brake on a hard out right hander is also very good exercise for the sphincter.
:(

On the matter of shifting the foot forward for rear braking, I've learnt something else. Sure, the rear brake is a boon for gravel and sometimes in the wet, but in the dry and slowing hard for a sharp corner, I've found it actually better to brake just with the front brake. You can actaully stop quicker on a big heavy bike becuase when you brake hard the weight is thrown over the front wheel, with little weight left on the back. You are then inclined to lessen the front brake to try and balance it with the back brake as the back brake tends to skid to easily. The end result is longer braking distances.

I now find, better control and quicker braking when I concentrate on the front brake only and leave my right foot where it is. It's amazing how hard you can brake and how much quicker you can stop when you aren't trying to balance the braking with the rear as well.

I hope this is clear enough after being so long winded. :)

Works for me on my machine anyway.

[Wolf]

Doesn't do much for me ticker but gives the arse muscles a good workout. Same with the right hander. Rear brake on a hard out right hander is also very good exercise for the sphincter.
I obviously don't ride fast enough. My arse gets fat if I ride too much, yours gets a fucking workout!

Cheers for the detailed post, Beyond, totally different riding style to mine.

[beyond]

I obviously don't ride fast enough. My arse gets fat if I ride too much, yours gets a fucking workout!

Cheers for the detailed post, Beyond, totally different riding style to mine.

:)

I'm sure my riding style is different. I've been told my many I shouldn't be riding my bike the way I do as it's not designed for it, but it works.

What do you ride? I'm sure it would be much sportier eh? :)

[Wolf]

What do you ride? I'm sure it would be much sportier eh? :)
I've ridden predominently ancient tourers - CBs and GTs mainly, a couple of sprots boiks for a short time, a small road-trail and a cruiser. My next bike will be another road-trail - hardly "sportier" than a GSX1400.

From the sounds of your riding style, I don't take corners at anywhere near the speed you do.

I'm more of a nana than Ixion, me.

[James Deuce]

Arches on the pegs may be technically correct, but size 13 feet mean my toes would always be resting on the gear and brake lever, meaning I'd have to move my left foot back and under the gear lever to change up, and I'd be replacing my rear brake pads every 500kms. Can't weight bear on my arches either. Bloody painful.

[ZeroIndex]

my feet jump around position on my pegs.. especially on my work bike (cause it's got one of those 'rocker' style gear levers.. so if i'm accelerating into corners etc, my feet are normally 'toes on the footpegs' like the motogp racers.. the rest of the time, i have the middle of my foot (you know the heel of the boot, as that goes up.. can't remember what that's called) :doh:

[Edbear]

I've been told my many I shouldn't be riding my bike the way I do as it's not designed for it




Ah, all bikes are designed for a specific type of riding, of course! But! They are all primarily for having fun on!:rockon: Bet you have a lot of fun on the GSX!:blip:

[beyond]

Ah, all bikes are designed for a specific type of riding, of course! But! They are all primarily for having fun on!:rockon: Bet you have a lot of fun on the GSX!:blip:

:)

Yep. Every k of the 24,000kms I've done since buying her in January last year
have all been heaps of fun. Except for the couple of times I've been off road unintentionally. :)

[slimjim]

:scooter: :blip: for a start, wear some boots,:doobey: :doobey: :innocent:

[Wolf]

:)

Yep. Every k of the 24,000kms I've done since buying her in January last year
have all been heaps of fun. Except for the couple of times I've been off road unintentionally. :)
Agreed. If you're not having fun, what's the point in having a bike? The whole idea of there being so many different types of bikes and so many mods and hybrids is because different people have different ideas of "fun".

[Pixie]

In my mo'sicle boots

[Edbear]

:) Except for the couple of times I've been off road unintentionally. :)



Yep! I can see how that may not be fun in the strictest sense of the word.:second:

[Wolf]

Yep! I can see how that may not be fun in the strictest sense of the word.:second:
While I find intentional off-road riding heaps of fun, I've had some pretty nasty experiences with the unintentional off-road excursions, usually on bikes that were not designed for it.

I concur, definitely not fun in the strictest sense. More like "fun" in the typically Kiwi sarcastic sense of: "I just spent six hours getting my ear chewed off by the boss." "Sounds like fun."