Knee down/Foot out - revisited

[Devil]

Now that i've finally had the opportunity to take the KTM on the track I've found that i'm far more comfortable riding it with my foot out, sitting upright, while stuffing the bike down into the corner. It just feel more stable and planted to me. I certainly struggle to ride it like a sports bike. My legs are too short. Because of the seat to peg height I cant really move off the bike.

Once i'd settled on the offroad style I had an absolute blast!

I really understand now how you can stuff it underneath people. You can brake so hard and turn so tight it's fantastic!

I was experiencing a little brake fade towards the end of my sessions however. Still shitloads of braking power, just a little more lever travel that i'd prefer. This is with the Brembo radial mount 4 pot calipers on the big 320mm disc. Braided lines. Magura master cylinder (perhaps an upgrade to the brembo master cylinder that's on the R model?).

[Chooky]

Yea that foot out stuff looks scary to me...but I've never ridden a motard...

[Mikkel]

Personally I find that it depends a lot upon both the surface upon which you are riding, but more importantly the speed with which you corner.

On smooth surfaces with good traction and high speeds you won't beat the road-racing approach for speed. You may be able to disrupt a road-racer's lines by going foot out hogging the apex, but you will be slower.

On the other hand, if any "drifting" is likely the upright, foot-out position allows for better control once the rear does let go.

The motard races I've seen supports this conclusion - road-racer style on the fast tarmac corner and foot-out on the loose and tight stuff.

If anything it makes for much more interesting races since the riders, provided that the track is diverse enough, have to master both styles and you get some interesting duels between people with road-racing and moto-cross backgrounds.


Personally I go foot-out only when taking off at the lights, when the road is very wet or when I am on gravel. Some guys I ride with who have dirt-bike backgrounds use foot-out all the time.

[Devil]

Yers, foot out style for anything pretty much 100km/h or less. Fast corners though are road style.

[Quasievil]

Yers, foot out style for anything pretty much 100km/h or less. Fast corners though are road style.

Damn wish I was there to battle ya dude !!

[Devil]

I have to admit that I was only two laps into the first session and I was wonder what the hell I was doing here, on a motard. Nothing was working right, my riding was terrible. I was understeering terribly. My legs were long enough to feel very comfy in riding it sports style and I was ready to pull off the track!

Started trying to put my foot out and everything just fell together. Was heaps more comfy and stable. Had a ball after that!

[Devil]

Was quite impressed with the stock bike too. 185km/h indicated with no screen. Now if I do the exhaust and drop that 10kg or so and bump the power up a bit. hrm...!

[ajw_888]

I still haven't tried, I should sometime but Manfield is probably too fast. I'm still trying to drag my pegs thru the corners on my SM. I guess i should try it but will my skinny little legs pop out?

[SeppoDave]

I agree with Mikkel. Fast sweepers - foot up, tight stuff with the bike drifting - leg out. Friday was my 4th track day on this bike, and I think I'm getting the riding style sorted. The pegs were copping it hard!

[BMWST?]

all those pics show the bike being pushed in and the rider sitting up more

[Quasievil]

I agree with Mikkel. Fast sweepers - foot up, tight stuff with the bike drifting - leg out. Friday was my 4th track day on this bike, and I think I'm getting the riding style sorted. The pegs were copping it hard!

Get some peg sliderz dude, saves the pegs and stops the track getting cut up, you can buy them specially for the bike, or bolt some old chopping board on like Toby Summers does

[Matt Bleck]

I prefer to keep my feet up and hang off like a monkey....

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/kbax75.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Riding my mates RMZ was the most fun I've had at Taupo hands down!!!!

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

Awesome pics !!
SeppoDave, bike will drift easier if you sat up hard against/on the tank. The reason why the foot out (actually should be foot UP, as in more horizontal, not down) is to move more weight to the front wheel to lighten the back wheel. As you know first hand, motards are best steered with the back wheel!!!:headbang:

Maybe move right forward when you go onto the brakes. When on the straights, shift back on the seat to lower your wind profile.

[Devil]

all those pics show the bike being pushed in and the rider sitting up more

Errr, thats what we're discussing.

[BMWST?]

Errr, thats what we're discussing.


I prefer to keep my feet up and hang off like a monkey....

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/kbax75.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Riding my mates RMZ was the most fun I've had at Taupo hands down!!!!

this isnt...

[Devil]

Did you post in here to tell us we're not talking about what we're talking about?
This whole thread is about either the foot down (offroad) riding style OR the road (sports bike) riding style.

[SeppoDave]

Thanks for the advice guys. Quasi - good idea with the cutting board pieces. I saw someone else with those last Friday. t3mp0r4ry - Yeah, getting forward was working out way better. On the straights, I usually put my ass back and crouch down with my left hand on the fork. Minimise the wind resistance right?

Here's a shot of me getting ready to pass another rider with monkey-leg syndrome. He and the guy on the Honda were playing swapsies and having a great time. Who knows what they did with the girlfriends that night!

And Devil, it was nice to meet you at the track. It's always good to put a face to a handle! Found any truck drivers that want your pipes yet?

[scorry]

Thanks for the advice guys. Quasi - good idea with the cutting board pieces. I saw someone else with those last Friday. t3mp0r4ry - Yeah, getting forward was working out way better. On the straights, I usually put my ass back and crouch down with my left hand on the fork. Minimise the wind resistance right?

Here's a shot of me getting ready to pass another rider with monkey-leg syndrome. He and the guy on the Honda were playing swapsies and having a great time. Who knows what they did with the girlfriends that night!

And Devil, it was nice to meet you at the track. It's always good to put a face to a handle! Found any truck drivers that want your pipes yet?

haha wat the hell is the guy on that RMZ doin? that looks real awkward

oh and my 2 cents, i race with my feet on the pegs all the time.
probably cos i come from a road riding background and havent done much dirt riding.

hey if its fast, then do wat feels better

[BMWST?]

Did you post in here to tell us we're not talking about what we're talking about?
This whole thread is about either the foot down (offroad) riding style OR the road (sports bike) riding style.

no i am saying that the road racing style has the rider leaning in MORE than the bike not less.
My 2c
I wont comment again