Characteristics of a bike that’s good for hanging off?

[MotoGirl]

Well, after having some fun on Cajun’s 600 at Taupo over the weekend, it’s occurred to me that some bikes are more confidence inspiring to hang off than others. I don’t know if it’s the shape of the 600’s tank or the seat’s slippery vinyl but I felt like I was going to fall off the side of the bike. :Oops:

This has got me thinking about whether some bikes are better for hanging off than others. And if they are better, why so?

If I take my RSVR as an example, its tank has a nice wee cubbyhole that holds your leg in it. There’s no feeling like you could slide off because you’re glued in place. Its shape is a lot more radical than the Gixxer.
<img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_utRzS52DozY/R-hLfGB-bpI/AAAAAAAACOw/vPJWvJWKWS0/s144/P1060808.JPG'> (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_utRzS52DozY/R-hLfGB-bpI/AAAAAAAACOw/vPJWvJWKWS0/s800/P1060808.JPG)

Maybe I just need to take the RSVR to the track :devil2:

[vifferman]

Maybe I just need to take the RSVR to the track :devil2:
Maybe you do. :yes:

Can't tell you about hanging of the VFR - never been in a position to need to try it. But I'd imagine that what you said about the seat and somewhere to park your knee are true. I reckon having either a low seat, or short seat to pegs distance would help too.

[AlBundy]

Maybe you need more seat time on the Suz... Just, you know, to see if you can find the sweet spot...

But yeah, they all differ and some just feel more natural than others.

[MotoGirl]

Maybe you do. :yes:

You looking for a race, au? :girlfight:

I'd have to bring out the big guns and pretend to be dead or something :rofl:

[boomer]

all the weight should be on ya feet.. then your knees just act as guides..?

[madbikeboy]

Umm, I find the thou much easier to hang off the side, the tank isn't slippery, but it's not grippy either. My body just fits it correctly. I find v-twins harder, they feel skinny to me, and I can't get the purchase I'd like.

I'm going to put grippy stuff on the 600 when the tank gets painted, but it's closer to the thou.

I find R6's and R1's the next best.

Interestingly, I don't like the later fireblades for much the reason you describe, although I've never articulated it before.

[MotoGirl]

Interestingly, I don't like the later fireblades for much the reason you describe, although I've never articulated it before.

That would mean I'm not nuts :banana:
I never tried hanging off my GSX-R1000 and I imagine it would be much the same as the 600.

[MotoGirl]

all the weight should be on ya feet.. then your knees just act as guides..?

Yep, but it's a lot more reassuring when your knees aren't sliding off something. I'd be interested to hear the perspective of people who have got that Stompgrip stuff to see why they put it on their bike.

[AlBundy]

Maybe you could ask Cajun to not polish the seat next time...

[MotoGirl]

Good plan :D It's due for a new cover so I think we'll go for some slightly grippier vinyl next time too!

[Badjelly]

This thread is about sex, isn't it? :confused:

[Rodney007]

its probably the genral feel of the bike that gives you the confidence to hang off more... tank shape etc may influence that too..

hanging off is the easy part, leaning it far over is where the bike diferences start coming alive

stop grip is for softies... the bikes would come with it as standard if they needed it

[AlBundy]

stop grip is for softies... the bikes would come with it as standard if they needed it

Not always... Riders come in all shapes and sizes so it isn't always one size fits all...
Plus
Rider confidence counts for a lot. Being comfortable on a bike is a large percentage of said confidence... It's probably easier to change a bike a bit to suit the rider, than to change ones style to suit the bike.

[boomer]

Yep, but it's a lot more reassuring when your knees aren't sliding off something. I'd be interested to hear the perspective of people who have got that Stompgrip stuff to see why they put it on their bike.


squeeze .. just liek in the cowgirl position :P (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1336802&postcount=52)

[boomer]

its probably the genral feel of the bike that gives you the confidence to hang off more... tank shape etc may influence that too..

hanging off is the easy part, leaning it far over is where the bike diferences start coming alive

stop grip is for softies... the bikes would come with it as standard if they needed it



you've obviously never been over 160kph.. huh honduh boy :P

[vifferman]

This thread is about sex, isn't it? :confused:
Of course. :yes:
Almost every (proper) thread on KB degenerates/evolves to be about sex sooner or later.

[Badjelly]

This thread is about sex, isn't it? :confused:


Of course. :yes:
Almost every (proper) thread on KB degenerates/evolves to be about sex sooner or later.

Oh I know that. But, it's just, I thought the references to "hanging off" meant ... Oh never mind. :Oops:

[MotoGirl]

its probably the genral feel of the bike that gives you the confidence to hang off more... tank shape etc may influence that too..

hanging off is the easy part, leaning it far over is where the bike diferences start coming alive

Yup, I need more confidence hanging off the 600 so I can go faster (so I was reminded on Sunday). I have no problem leaning it over but I don't like the vibrations when my boots are scraping!

I need to get comfortable hanging off the 600 since it's the only bike I ride at the track. It doesn't help it's so much wider than what I normally ride.

[Kirill357]

Maybe you do. :yes:

Can't tell you about hanging of the VFR - never been in a position to need to try it.

;) thats why a havent bought one, it doesnt feels like it on this bike.

[DMNTD]

I need to get comfortable hanging off the 600 since it's the only bike I ride at the track. It doesn't help it's so much wider than what I normally ride.

Yep, I think that may be a contributing factor right there IMO.
I too have been having a few issues adjusting to my wee 600 when at the track. I genuinely feel like, and nearly have slipped right off (the inside) when cornering hard.
Both the Ape and the 1098 have a nice lip to tuck ya knee under for sure.
I'm going to try a non slide fabric over the seat itself plus also utilise some Stomp Grip or similar to minimise the slippage and take things from there.

[NinjaBoy]

I've always wondered whether I've needed stompgrip or not but to date I have never lost grip of the tank with my knees. Having owned 5 x 600s and used all but one at the track I think technique may have some part to play.

I agree that there are some tank shapes better than others and familiarity with one bike helps. But on the weekend I had the opportunity to ride a K1 and my K6 GSXR 600 side by side. Apart from getting used to no slipper clutch, I was instantly at home on the K1 and happily skimming my knee despite the higher ride height.

As Boomer says, weighting the pegs also helps. I had a small panic moment on the K1 when I lost my footing but it showed how much I relied on weighting the pegs.

[Rodney007]

Yup, I need more confidence hanging off the 600 so I can go faster (so I was reminded on Sunday). I have no problem leaning it over but I don't like the vibrations when my boots are scraping!

I need to get comfortable hanging off the 600 since it's the only bike I ride at the track. It doesn't help it's so much wider than what I normally ride.

did anyone at the track mention your footing position? if your boots are scraping
your feet aint where they should be...

my opinion......

[Starky307]

did anyone at the track mention your footing position? if your boots are scraping
your feet aint where they should be...

my opinion......

I find it more comfortable to ride on the balls of my feet and it seems to keep them from touching the tar, it only becomes a pain when needing to panic break or down change as the weight needs to be removed and then planted again.
I am new to this road riding so I' learning lots every time i go for a ride.

[discotex]

My 600RR is pretty hang friendly but I find it quite hard to brake hard without slipping.

Thought I'd try some stomp grip and see what happens. Just been waiting till I'll have 24 hours of no riding to let the glue cure.

Pity it didn't go on before a tar covered stone flicked up and got between my leathers and the tank as it would have saved the scratches :mad:

[vtec]

Andrew Stroud uses surfboard stick on grip on his tank.

I've been very close to falling off my old 03 CBR600RR on Pukekohe on more than one occassion, only just held myself on the bike on the highspeed first right hander. I don't like the handling of that model of CBR, it's hard to turn compared to the CBR250RR and the k6 GSXR600.

The CBR250RR is a dream of a bike. Pegs scraping knee scraping with the elbow on firmly resting on the knee. Great bike to hang off because the seat is lower, and there's less weight on your arms and more on your legs which are naturally a lot stronger.

[MotoGirl]

did anyone at the track mention your footing position? if your boots are scraping
your feet aint where they should be...

my opinion......

Nah, no one mentioned it so I'll have to ask someone next time I'm there!

Waits on Suzuki to confirm the 2009 dates...

[racerhead]

I'd be interested to hear the perspective of people who have got that Stompgrip stuff to see why they put it on their bike.

I had stompgrip on my last bike and will be putting it on my next bike also. The reason I liked it were it allowed me to lock onto the tank alot easier while cornering and never once slipped on it. Another big help I found with it was when I was braking hard I could keep myself further back from the tank without putting much pressure on my arms.
I borrowed a bike with no stompgrip for a few laps and found it weird to be putting so much effort into staying where I wanted to be.
The only downside to the stompgrip was it took a while to get used to because you had to lift your leg away from the tank even for small movements but you get used to this after a while.

[MotoGirl]

The only downside to the stompgrip was it took a while to get used to because you had to lift your leg away from the tank even for small movements but you get used to this after a while.

I have no doubt that it does a good job, but let's be honest, it's not aesthetically pleasing. But hey, it could be the difference between :Oops: and "weeeeeeeeeee!"

[racerhead]

I have no doubt that it does a good job, but let's be honest, it's not aesthetically pleasing. But hey, it could be the difference between :Oops: and "weeeeeeeeeee!"

Ye it does look pretty bad up close and I had alot of non bike people ask me what it was for but once your a few feet away from the bike or once theres someone on it you cant see it.
I never felt like I was going to fall off the bike without it but it sure does make things alot easier physically

[hedgier1]

What ever you do Motogirl. DONT get the smooth clear stuff on the tank as you will find as I have. You will feel as if you really are sliding off the bike. Fukn Scary. I suggest the stomp grip like Ralph's got. I getting that when I get enough pingers saved up. Also thanks for the great +2 rear sprocket you guys got for me. Absolutey love it to bits. What a wicked rush for an 02 R1.

[MotoGirl]

What ever you do Motogirl. DONT get the smooth clear stuff on the tank as you will find as I have. You will feel as if you really are sliding off the bike. Fukn Scary. I suggest the stomp grip like Ralph's got. I getting that when I get enough pingers saved up. Also thanks for the great +2 rear sprocket you guys got for me. Absolutey love it to bits. What a wicked rush for an 02 R1.

You just need to save enough to get a Suzuki now :girlfight:

[pritch]

did anyone at the track mention your footing position? if your boots are scraping
your feet aint where they should be...

My avatar illustrates what I assume to be "correct" position.

Depends what you are trying to do though. I don't have knee pads so I wouldn't be trying to get a knee down, I'd be using my boot as the impending disaster indicator. Then again I'm old and that's how it used to be done way back when.

I don't have any of my bibles with me at work but at least one counsels gripping the tank with the outside knee so I would have thought that anything that assisted with that would be a plus. It may not need a very large area of grip material to acheive the desired effect...

[madbikeboy]

Yup, I need more confidence hanging off the 600 so I can go faster (so I was reminded on Sunday). I have no problem leaning it over but I don't like the vibrations when my boots are scraping!

I need to get comfortable hanging off the 600 since it's the only bike I ride at the track. It doesn't help it's so much wider than what I normally ride.

I have stupidly big feet, and the first thing that touches down is my little toe. With the new 600, I'm going to run rear sets so I can get further up, but Im limited as my knees are rooted.

The GSXR's have good ground clearance, but you can touch the bike down if you lean far enough.

How tall are you, I think physcial proportions also have a lot to do with confidence - I'm 6 feet, and I find that I can muscle the bike around more now that I'm bigger (90 odd Kgs, some of it muscle), than when I was lighter (78 kg and fit). Plus, I'm not stretched at all.


PS - Cajun seems to be a top guy, he's been giving me heaps of help and advice with building my 600.

[MotoGirl]

I have stupidly big feet, and the first thing that touches down is my little toe... The GSXR's have good ground clearance, but you can touch the bike down if you lean far enough.

I'm the opposite and have teenie weenie feet (size 37 Euro). I used to scrape the shit out of my VTR so I was a bit surprised at doing it on the 600 because I know it has better ground clearance. I'm still pretty chuffed because it shows I'm leaning it at least!



How tall are you, I think physcial proportions also have a lot to do with confidence - I'm 6 feet, and I find that I can muscle the bike around more now that I'm bigger (90 odd Kgs, some of it muscle), than when I was lighter (78 kg and fit). Plus, I'm not stretched at all.
I'm only 5'4" so I'm really stretched out on it.



PS - Cajun seems to be a top guy, he's been giving me heaps of help and advice with building my 600.
This I know :love: You know, we almost have enough members to start a We Love Cajun fan club!

[madbikeboy]

I'm the opposite and have teenie weenie feet (size 37 Euro). I used to scrape the shit out of my VTR so I was a bit surprised at doing it on the 600 because I know it has better ground clearance. I'm still pretty chuffed because it shows I'm leaning it at least!


I'm only 5'4" so I'm really stretched out on it.


This I know :love: You know, we almost have enough members to start a We Love Cajun fan club!

Yeah, that makes sense then, you won't have the dimensions to lock into the bike, so stomp grip would help immensly. Is the 600 lowered at all, they don't have that much more clearance really...

Yeah, Cajun's been frigging excellent in asking all sorts of dumb questions to, and getting sensible answers. I have some parts for him, and likely I'll head down soon to visit.

[MotoGirl]

Yeah, that makes sense then, you won't have the dimensions to lock into the bike, so stomp grip would help immensly. Is the 600 lowered at all, they don't have that much more clearance really...

Nah, the 600 is actually higher than stock due to the Ohlins. It's so tall I can't even put the stand down myself :doh:


Yeah, Cajun's been frigging excellent in asking all sorts of dumb questions to, and getting sensible answers. I have some parts for him, and likely I'll head down soon to visit.

Sweet, you're always welcome down this way!