How much does Height help Knee Down?

[Kwaka-Kid]

Thats right.. yet another thead about the godlike "knee downing"

Just wondering what opinions were out there on the subject... AFAIK we have 2 gods of knee down on these forums, TS + MR... lets face it, they do it, they do it often, and they do it all night long baby!.. whoops getting carried away, all day long.

Anyway, they are both rather tall fellows, so my question is how much harder really is it to be 5foot4 not 6 foot when it comes to touching the turf?... From what i see it honestly seems to be like a LOT harder.

This is just something thats come to mind a) on night shift where ive just come home from being up scince god knows when yesterday and only had about 3 hours sleep prior to that, and b) after getting my new leathers and being able to move off the bike and actually stick the knee out - because its like it grew another 6 inches, (honestly, i didnt believe it was possible either! )
*snap* back to reality.. its always cold thats why!

Anyway where are out short knee downers on the site? i wonder if we can find someone short to match the consistant style of TS & MR but represent the more vertically challanged?..

Hey FF - hows about you man? You got skill, speed, smoothness...

[Racey Rider]

Yes, when I looked at TS's profile once I thought, " No wonder you get your knee down chap, Be hard not to when your knees stick out that far!".

[riffer]

I guess it also has a bit to do with how fat and lazy you are too and how tight your gear fits you (in my experience)

[svs]

it all depends on style baby!

I'm over 6ft, and the only place I've got my knee down is round coke at manfeild. I hang off the bike, but don't stick my knee out all that far, when my knee hits the ground I know I'm close to the edge of the tyres.

It also depends on where the rear pegs are for your bike and how much ground clearance you've got.

[750Y]

long legs would definitely help. bike for bike a long legged person would have their knee down at a lesser angle than a short legged person unless the shorter person was further off the bike so riding position plays a role also i think.

[Motu]

The top riders consistantly down the years have always been on the short side,even the american superheros like Kenny Roberts.Watching speedway for 35yrs the tall guys always look ungainly,never at home on the bike.This is coming from a shorty,maybe I could be a little biased,but short guys have the edge.

[Motoracer]

Your legs need to be of a certain length and there is no way around it.

If you can't get your knee down on a tall bike like a CBR600RR then you might have better luck with something with a low seat height like the CBR250RR though.

[Posh Tourer :P]

Watching speedway for 35yrs the tall guys always look ungainly,never at home on the bike.

But I bet they can get their knee down.....

[750Y]

The top riders consistantly down the years have always been on the short side,even the american superheros like Kenny Roberts.Watching speedway for 35yrs the tall guys always look ungainly,never at home on the bike.This is coming from a shorty,maybe I could be a little biased,but short guys have the edge.

I was going to mention this also but was afraid someone would throw it in my face by mentioning people like Andrew Stroud, & David Jeffries.

[SPman]

But I bet they can get their knee down.....

Or in Reuben Xaus's case, everything down!

[k14]

Yeah I reckon height would help with the matter. I think my leathers are a little tight cause I can't stick me knee out that far when I am riding (even though I would have no chance of getting it down anyway). Might have a go at ruapuna in the next couple of weeks if the weather is good.

[Motu]

I was going to mention this also but was afraid someone would throw it in my face by mentioning people like Andrew Stroud, & David Jeffries.

There will always be exceptions,so there is no point getting into an argument.But if someone was anal enough they could plot rider height of world champs from the year dot,I think the line would be below average,with tall riders just being random blips.

[Firefight]

Anyway where are out short knee downers on the site? i wonder if we can find someone short to match the consistant style of TS & MR but represent the more vertically challanged?..

Hey FF - hows about you man? You got skill, speed, smoothness...

ah, okay, not sure why you ask me, I know Zed and Marmoot are far smoother than me, bwtf, I sort of lean a bit stick my knee out as I lean, have got the knee all the way down,was not that happy with the feeling on open road ,22, Raglin hill & corramandel hill, it sorta shit me a bit.Have also got it down at pukekohe, but that was just cause I was scared and wanted to get off the bike

I feel happier with knee extended,(but not touching) and I guess that must make me faster in and out of a corner,but only cause I am happy with whats going on, would not have a clue if it would help others I know I am much happier in left hand corners than right ? Fuck Logan, why do you ask me these sort of questions?
Why can't you just ask me how many potholes there are on 22, and were they all are ? or how many wheels does my bike have?

F/F

[sAsLEX]

Well i am about 6ft and still haven't marked my sliders, I can follow shade while he is knee down, he is shorter and on the same bike as me, and I am still miles off

[Kwaka-Kid]

Logan, why do you ask me these sort of questions?
Why can't you just ask me how many potholes there are on 22, and were they all are ? or how many wheels does my bike have?

F/F

Bahaha! SEE!! PROOF! thats it, no longer is a South Aucklander alowed to mock a Westie! We might be ruff but damn those suckers are all hillbillys! not to mention if i had a dollar for everytime i saw a punchup in smart-south-auckland id have a crapload more money then anyone in south auckland! -bahaha!

Interesting - and Saslex i agree with shaede that in your case its technique your lacking atm - but dont worry when that comes your sorted!

still doesnt answer how much technique vs height comes into it - atm im only seeing a trend that height is what its all about.-some say otherwise?

So fine we bring up the short racers that knee down. But do we have any Average Joe KB'ers that are short and do it like TS+MR ? I reckon thats a title you could claim FF - just learn to like it. and look weather doesnt look too shabby, might go for a little ride soon.