Forget knee downs - got my toe down!

[blackstars_10]

I emphasize body position because a good position allows the rider to make instantaneous adjustments. I'm not saying that you need to be constantly making a concious effort to change foot position, rather start off doing it properly, and then the good technique becomes automatic. In any case, good cornering starts well before you are actually in the corner, its the approach.


Wild Weston
Yeah if you really want to get your knee down, body position is key. Hang well off the bike. But you also need to remain even(your head and upper torso goes off with your backside). Also when you corner, you can twist your inside foot so that the sole almost rests parallel on the rearset guard (this also helps to get correct inside limb position as well as getting toes out of the way.). Don't forget to use you whole body though, not just the lower half. But remember that knee down doesn't equal good cornering.

[325rocket]

i think i know the corner ... happened to me there as well.

[discotex]

if you are on a track yes, but riding a little more defensive on the road is a good idea, instant access to the shifter and brake is a good thing in an emergency situation

What use is your back brake in an emergency situation?

Why change down a gear in an emergency?

In an emergency you generally need to steer your bike or brake hard with the front brake. Riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs gives you maximum control over the bike for both. If you really want to use the rear brake you can move your foot the 3cm required in an instant.

[bogan]

What use is your back brake in an emergency situation?

Why change down a gear in an emergency?

In an emergency you generally need to steer your bike or brake hard with the front brake. Riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs gives you maximum control over the bike for both. If you really want to use the rear brake you can move your foot the 3cm required in an instant.

Not often you need to change down for an emergency, but somethimes handy to have a bit more acceleration, bike handles a lot differently under decent acceleration and some of those effect may be required, maybe not. Back brake in an emergency situation is still usefull, what if you want to slow and turn, what if you arent confident enough to use the full potential of the front brake an get near stoppie braking.

I just cant see any reason why you should be scraping a toe while riding on the road, leaning off the bike seems to offer more advantage than balls (of feet) on pegs.

[discotex]

Not often you need to change down for an emergency, but somethimes handy to have a bit more acceleration, bike handles a lot differently under decent acceleration and some of those effect may be required, maybe not. Back brake in an emergency situation is still usefull, what if you want to slow and turn, what if you arent confident enough to use the full potential of the front brake an get near stoppie braking.

I just cant see any reason why you should be scraping a toe while riding on the road, leaning off the bike seems to offer more advantage than balls (of feet) on pegs.

I hear ya but I can't see why you can't just move your feet if required.

Riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs isn't just about scraping toes. It allows better control of your weight on the bike. Our bodies are designed to concentrate downward force through that point, not the arches.

[cold comfort]

not quite sure how you got that from my post, when an emergency situation arises I may or may not need to downshift or brake (going round a corner or otherwise) in either situation I most likely do not have the attention to spare on reorganising where my feet should be.

With you on that one. No matter how i try to use the balls of my feet still prefer to be able to shift without foot movemnt. Hence have ground down the left boot mostly. Interestingly since doing more dirt riding am finding i'm not touching down at all on the road. Maybe not leaning it so far?

[Ooky]

hmmm werid one person saying lean off one saying get on the balls of your feet... doesn't one just help the other? and moving your feet for the corner then back down on the straight isnt that hard. If your saying hang off more isnt that alot more movement then just moving your feet? and no point in just moving your feet and not changing your body position.

but dont mind me im tired 1/2 drunk and bored and only skim read this thread

[Maki]

You probably need to do two things.

1. Keep your toes tucked in.

2. Move your body (hips, chest and head) inside an imaginary line drawn through the center of the bike. (Don't twist your body, don't hang off one side of the bike with your ass and the other side with your head.) You can do this subtly, or more aggressively as shown on the photo, depending on your speed. Mr. Haga really shows us how it should be done there...

These are good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wYD9...eature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M

This is great too: http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/tra...good-read.html

If you do those two things you will never ever drag your toe at any sane road going speed. If you do the opposite of 2. and place your body outside the imaginary line you are asking for scraped bike parts and a lowside crash.

[Maki]

This is the kind if "style" you want to avoid. That is horribly twisted...

[Kickaha]

This is the kind if "style" you want to avoid. That is horribly twisted...

Really?, perhaps you should have let him know how crap his riding style was before a won a world championship or two it might have helped him get a few more

[Maki]

Really?, perhaps you should have let him know how crap his riding style was before a won a world championship or two it might have helped him get a few more

I think that just caught him at a bad moment.

[Maki]

This is exemplary, he is even counter steering nicely.

[blackstars_10]

Its just the body position evolving over time with the bikes used. If you look at Schwantz pics- same body position. Its looks like they're always waiting for a highside on the old 2t

[DarkLord]

Sounds to me like you are riding with duck feet, i.e. you aren't keeping your toes on the pegs.

[Maki]

Its just the body position evolving over time with the bikes used. If you look at Schantz pics- same body position. Its looks like they're always waiting for a highside on the old 2t

Not sure about that...