Best spot to practice knee down?

[nathanwhite]

Try Scenic Drive (road to Piha).

Scenic drive is a very fun road, but unlike Mulholland its not smooth SH1 level ashphalt all the way.

I've had a couple of sphincter clenching moments coming around a corner on Scenic drive reasonably fast and suddenly seeing tar snakes or potholes or a puddle etc.

The best place I could think of (asides from the track) is a giant roundabout in an industial area late at night.

[Tigadee]

The best place I could think of (asides from the track) is a giant roundabout in an industial area late at night.

No giant roundabouts although there are at least a few in the industrial area near the airport (Montgomerie Rd)...

[ducatilover]

I never get me knee down. It involves rotating your hip outwards. If I do that, the whole hip cramps up and I have to stop and walk around to fix it. So there ya go.

Ye poor wee beggar

I used to go to round abouts at night, but getting the knee down on a road that continually goes to the right? Beige.

[unstuck]

Ye poor wee beggar

I used to go to round abouts at night, but getting the knee down on a road that continually goes to the right? Beige.

Wimp, go round left next time, make it a little more interesting.

[ducatilover]

Wimp, go round left next time, make it a little more interesting.

I'll continue being a wimp

[Haggis2]

ohhhhhhh, ist that cute? such a law abiding citizen. lets give him a round of applause.

knee down is now hazzard on road now.....LMAO

Wow, what an egg. Trying to compensate much?

[malcy25]

hmm, guessing.....just got off a 250 and restricted, bought an R6.

1) Go do a ride day who provide some training and stop trying to do stupid shit on the road.
2) Go learn to ride your bike properly first. Worry about trying to look like a magazine tester later.

Having nearly 30 years of mostly track related riding, I see lots of people who are dying to get their knee down in the tragic manner of 14 year old boys wanting to shag a bird. They try so hard they compromise the whole corner, into middle and out, usually pinching it tight on the exit, with massive hang off, getting in the way of others and just looking like a complete arse.

By the way, I've been so badly smoked by guys who's knees are so far from he deck, it makes you wander what laws of physics they are working to.

[tigertim20]

It has the practical purpose for racing to gauge the lean angle of the bike. ie, they are just touching the tarmac to know how far over the bike is, not grinding away their sliders as fast as possible. In wet racing, they often have a double layer slider, as they won't have the same lean angle as the dry.

As for knee down for the average joe... those that covet it have clearly never done so. Once you've done it, you'll wonder what all the fuss is about. Do a trackday and you'll see.

i am aware of the purpose, but as i said, some in NZSBK are on podiums, (or close to) who rarely bother with it at all

Knee down on the road is stupid, no need for it and Im pretty sure that if a police officer does see you doing this, you will get done for careless use or some thing similar. I can't see how getting a knee down on the road is a use full skill, care to enlighten me on that?,
Take it to the race track get your "cool" scratches that way. Trust me though, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. Just another expense to add to the long list already.

no need, maybe, but theres no NEED to ride a bike at all either - we do cos its fun.

Id have to say it is entirely possible to put a knee down on the road without breaking any laws or being dangerous.

[sugilite:Me]

several of the NZSBK riders dont put a knee down if i recall correctly!

I find that surprising, I usually lost at least a second a lap on the few occasions I had a knee scraper go awol. My mid corner speed suffered as did the exit as I could not push the bike onto the fatter part of the tyre to get maximum drive.

[tigertim20]

I find that surprising, I usually lost at least a second a lap on the few occasions I had a knee scraper go awol. My mid corner speed suffered as did the exit as I could not push the bike onto the fatter part of the tyre to get maximum drive.

it surprised me a bit too, but there was a thread on here, probably 6 months ago, and a bunch of people were discussing who does and doesnt do it from the NZSBK grid. some of them I think were regular podium hunters. Id go and dig the thread up, but fucked if i remember how it started and I cant be bothered!

[erix]

If you have a look on youtube there are lots of vids of people getting a knee down at very low speeds, like 30km/hr.
Its a skill of limited use - several of the NZSBK riders dont put a knee down if i recall correctly! - but it is kinda fun to do, and nothing wrong with wanting to learn a new skill on your bike.

My advice is find a bif empty, flat carpark on a weekend or evening and practice there at LOW speeds, and just gently, gradually let the knee go down. You are safer trying it at 30-50 in a carpark than trying to do it at 100+ on the track sometimes.

Just make sure your tyres are good, make sure they are warm (a 20km ride before you go to your car park should suffice, and remember that its wintery now, and the sun can fool you into thinking that there is more grip available than there really is.)

Have fun with it, I remember when i first got a knee down, felt like I was rossi! but its not a skill I use a whole lot anymore to be honest.

Thanks for the supporting words, and you obvious understand my puropose of my question here. Thanks!

Try Scenic Drive (road to Piha).

Scenic drive is a very fun road, but unlike Mulholland its not smooth SH1 level ashphalt all the way.

I've had a couple of sphincter clenching moments coming around a corner on Scenic drive reasonably fast and suddenly seeing tar snakes or potholes or a puddle etc.

The best place I could think of (asides from the track) is a giant roundabout in an industial area late at night.

Had bad experience at Scenic drive when I was on my 250, almost go off road twice, and never go there after that. I recall the road condition is not so good as well. thanks for the suggestion tho, may go back to see if it was my bad riding skills.

No giant roundabouts although there are at least a few in the industrial area near the airport (Montgomerie Rd)...

Thanks. Indeed very good spot, hope the traffic is good during weekend.

hmm, guessing.....just got off a 250 and restricted, bought an R6.

1) Go do a ride day who provide some training and stop trying to do stupid shit on the road.
2) Go learn to ride your bike properly first. Worry about trying to look like a magazine tester later.

Having nearly 30 years of mostly track related riding, I see lots of people who are dying to get their knee down in the tragic manner of 14 year old boys wanting to shag a bird. They try so hard they compromise the whole corner, into middle and out, usually pinching it tight on the exit, with massive hang off, getting in the way of others and just looking like a complete arse.

By the way, I've been so badly smoked by guys who's knees are so far from he deck, it makes you wander what laws of physics they are working to.

Not really. got my full more than 5 years now. and the R6 is the bike before my last last bike?

For those people trying to lecture me about safety and other heavy stuff. I genuinly thank you for your concern but Ill still do it, in a realtive safe and control enviroment, at very least no harm to other road user. Thats why I asked direction for a good place to practice at very begining. and stop bs me about the legal stuff. Ive never had a speeding ticket or anything like that, not claiming that I am good behaving citzen here, but the high price ticket definitly put off the fun(yeah, you are right, im not rich and then irresponsible), thats why i dont do it.

stop judging someone you've never met, and say something relavant to the post, otherwise you can just shut up, the forum can be a much better place if less judging and bs. in the end, i just want to have more fun with the bike without affecting other people.

[malcy25]

in a realtive safe and control enviroment, at very least no harm to other road user.

Not the road then.

Like all of us, I'm another road user - some of which the roads that are mentioned. Last thing I need is some twat so concentrated on trying to get his knee down that he runs into me.

Get off the road.

Judging, may be yes, may be no. who cares. I do in a sense that you just are not getting it that the road is probably the last place to go and try this stuff.

Don't ask a question you may not like the answer of, will probably stop you feeling offended.

[BoristheBiter]

stop judging someone you've never met, and say something relavant to the post, otherwise you can just shut up, the forum can be a much better place if less judging and bs. in the end, i just want to have more fun with the bike without affecting other people.

What did you except? love and cuddles? You're on the road numbnuts of course you will effect other people.
You're talking about getting your knee down on the road and that means one of two things, you are going flat out or you're just a try hard that thinks getting your knee down make you go faster.

As malcy25 put it if you don't like the answers don't ask the question.

[Kendog]

If you seriously want a safe place why are you considering the road, as that's the least safe place to ride a bike.

If you don't want to take your road bike on the track, check out the bucket racing. Almost unlimited knee down practice opportunities available there. Plus the chance to learn a lot of other riding skills as well.

[Fast Eddie]

Kawakawa-Orere rd is quiet wet sometimes.

try it when its not raining...