Having your knee down make you go faster??

[Quasievil]

Im interested in the bennifits of Knees down. I have just come back from a ride with a awesome rider on a Ducati 999 he went around the outside of me on a 55km corner like I wasnt there, if there was a knee down corner in NZ this would be it (on the Divi to Raglan).He did not even get his bum of the side of the seat.I got my bum over the side and put some weight over the side with my knee out a bit, as you do.
Question is
I hear this alot "got my knee down" here "got my knee down" there .
the way I think about it having your knee down say the GP way is all about being so far over your knee and occasionally the elbow touch the deck.
I think alot of riders put there knee out at 90deg from the bike to try and get it on the deck for 'wank value" as opposed to it being there by default because of the angle of the Bike in the corner.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE*** Im not a great rider and have never got my knee down (wouldnt mind though) and I am not critising any one or anything, I have knee sliders on my leathers that are unlikey to touch the deck by way of controlled cornering.
I am genuinely interested in the merits of it and how it fits into all of your riding styles.Is it neccersary at all? is it just a measure of the angle youre on or is it just a wank value thing.
could be a good discussion of taken right

[wari]

THe only time I've everr got my knee down was in the prrocess of tripping overr ..

[Quasievil]

mmm I did it when I proposed, does it count

[Posh Tourer :P]

As I understand it, and as was in the brilliant instructional vid last night, gettign your knee down gives you a measure of how far you are leaned over and perhaps makes you feel safer about pushing it further. Having said that, doing int GP style is the ultimate aim. Sticking your knee out there can be wank factor, but it also encourages you to get further off the bike and get your COG down, no?

[FROSTY:Me]

Its a discussion I've had several times.
Glen williams (the origonal not the young one) ran a race school once and his comment about knee down and body english was --"hell guys do what feels comfortable to ya"
I feel comfortable climbing all over the bike especially in the rain.
I like to keep the bike as veritical as possible rather than lean it over.
When I was last racing amongst the racing and fast road riders boys maximum "wank value" was not worn out sliders but having tyres scuffed right to the edge.
I think you are able to wind the power on sooner when the bike is more vertical .
I've seen some bloody brilliant racers. Um I think ginger malloy and len perry who Never hung a knee out their whole racing career -yet shit did the acheive some radical lean angles
I wouldn't swet the knee down thing -Heck thres so much more important stuff to worry about

[Skyryder]

I saw a sports rider take a corner the other day. He blitzed past me and and turned left into a roundabout in front of me. Saw the whole thing. Slung his arse over the saddle slung his knee down and off like a rocket. Thoughts.......what a tosser............an accident waiting to happen..etc. If you are going to ride to the limit out on the road sooner or later the edge is going under your wheels.

Skyryder

[Motoracer]

I and some of the others have commented re this topic in the thread given below:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2070

[Zed]

Im interested in the bennifits of Knees down...Im not a great rider and have never got my knee down (wouldnt mind though)

For the record Quasi, from one who has been behind you whilst riding, you are a good rider mate! Knee down or not, you have good line going into corners and maintain a good level of speed on the open road. Also you are quite happy not to lead and can adjust your riding speeds accordingly!

To me, this knee down style is just that - a style that some use and some don't. I find it interesting though that the only ones I see using this technique on the road rides are those that like to give it heaps and ride very fast! These guys are also the ones who will take their bikes to the track - so there is the connection I suppose?


Zed

[wkid_one]

Yeah mine started from the track, then I knee downed on the road - it becomes a funny situation whereby you don't feel comfortable without doing it at times. Becomes a touch thing.

The only real advantage is that it potentially allows you to corner quicker by keeping the bike more upright...

[Funkyfly]

I saw a sports rider take a corner the other day. He blitzed past me and and turned left into a roundabout in front of me. Saw the whole thing. Slung his arse over the saddle slung his knee down and off like a rocket. Thoughts.......what a tosser............an accident waiting to happen..etc. If you are going to ride to the limit out on the road sooner or later the edge is going under your wheels.

Skyryder

Mate, just because he "slug his knee down" doesnt mean he was anywhere near his or the bikes limit! not many people know their own or a bikes limit, and often the people who make comments like yourself are the ones who arent fully aware of just what a good rider on a good bike can SAFELY do.

[erik]

I've never touched my knee down, but I do hang off the bike occasionally.
I think it lets me keep the bike more upright, which is important on my bike because the pegs scrape easily. And I think I put more of my weight on the pegs when I hang off the bike, so the centre of gravity should be lower.
It feels different to sitting on the bike. I guess it feels like I'm more ready to change my line if I have to, because my weight is on the pegs and I can more easily shift it than if my butt was firmly on the seat. But I've gotta say it's pretty tiring shifting my weight around.
It's fun though

[FROSTY:Me]

I saw a sports rider take a corner the other day. He blitzed past me and and turned left into a roundabout in front of me. Saw the whole thing. Slung his arse over the saddle slung his knee down and off like a rocket. Thoughts.......what a tosser............an accident waiting to happen..etc. If you are going to ride to the limit out on the road sooner or later the edge is going under your wheels.

Skyryder

Thanks for reminding me dude.One issue with the knee down riding is lack of vision on the off side.
Time to keep the radical riding for out of town frosty :confused2

[Funkyfly]

I and some of the others have commented re this topic in the thread given below:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2070

Man was that thread a good laugh, there are some real live idiots n this forum, and they all seem to ride old slow bikes. LOL

[wkid_one]

Mate, just because he "slug his knee down" doesnt mean he was anywhere near his or the bikes limit! not many people know their own or a bikes limit, and often the people who make comments like yourself are the ones who arent fully aware of just what a good rider on a good bike can SAFELY do.

Yes, interestly enuf I actually felt safer cornering with my knee down than without

[Drunken Monkey]

When I was last racing amongst the racing and fast road riders boys maximum "wank value" was not worn out sliders but having tyres scuffed right to the edge.

That settles it then. My knee sliders will remain shiny and new as I am quite happy with the fact that my spanky diablo corsa is scrubbed in all the way the the edge. No chicken strips there...
I also like the little scrapes on the bottom of the pegs...