Foot position?

**SPP** · 10th July 2013, 20:43

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Corners, outside foot hooked on arch, inside foot on ball to stop toe touching down. By hooking arch on outside foot makes locking leg into tank much more secure.
Thats how I ride/raced.

An accomplished racer giving cornering tips said the same thing and that having the outside foot on the arch also takes pressure off your knee by opening up your leg angle.
The reality is I’m too un-co to get it right without slipping so just fall back to what’s comfortable; balls both feet.

**Ocean1** · 10th July 2013, 20:49

Originally Posted by bosslady

Off road riding lesson today, told to put feet on pegs at the arches but that's a totally different kettle of fish.

Nope, we'll argue about that also!

**Erelyes** · 10th July 2013, 22:14

Originally Posted by pritch

Deep vein thrombosis anyone?

From an OOS perspective, 'the best position is the next position', e.g. mix it up.

Er, noone has ever taught or told me what to do foot positioning wise, nor have I ever gone on a track - but I am mostly arches, with balls on the motorway occasionally.

**Oakie** · 10th July 2013, 22:40

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Sports bike...............straight line, balls.
Corners, outside foot hooked on arch, inside foot on ball to stop toe touching down. By hooking arch on outside foot makes locking leg into tank much more secure.
Thats how I ride/raced.

Funny. I have found myself sometimes doing the opposite subconsciously on tightish sweepers. Don't know why but it just feels right.

**quickbuck** · 10th July 2013, 22:52

Originally Posted by Mushu

I have been looking at how most riders position their feet on the pegs and I seem to be different, is that bad?

Whilst following other bikers I notice pretty much every body I come across positions their feet with the peg in the arch of their foot. (regardless of experience)

I on the other hand tend to position the pegs under the balls if my feet but have only ever noticed a couple of other riders who do this on the road. (it seems more common with off road riders and racers)

Am I doing it wrong, is every one else or does it not matter?

You are correct, most riders are wrong. It DOES matter.

You have much more control by putting your weight through the balls of your feet.
Also not likely to get your foot trapped under the bike when you corner.

**nerrrd** · 10th July 2013, 23:08

Originally Posted by pritch

If you are going to be riding past the corner dairy though or actually to another town,

riding on the balls of the foot makes the angle of the knee more acute than it needs to be.

I'm uncomfortable if the leg bend is too great, even had the seat raised on my bike to help reduce it, so mostly ride on arches.

Originally Posted by quickbuck

You have much more control by putting your weight through the balls of your feet.

Agree, definitely have more control this way but can't do it for long periods, so I'm rarely on the balls of my feet. Don't see it as a right vs wrong issue, just whatever suits.

**bosslady** · 10th July 2013, 23:30

Who knows, Maybe it will change when I get a new bike with perhaps a different riding position. Personally however I find it quite comfortable.

**nerrrd** · 10th July 2013, 23:42

Originally Posted by bosslady

Personally however I find it quite comfortable.

So that's a double win for you - comfortable and better control.

**george formby** · 11th July 2013, 00:00

After reading how the thread has progressed & considered my own experience, the observance of on & off road racers, motorcycle dynamics (how you sit on em) & where the controls are, also the fact that riding a motorcycle is physically pro active, put you feet where you need em is my conclusion.

**Drew** · 11th July 2013, 06:59

Originally Posted by george formby

After reading how the thread has progressed & considered my own experience, the observance of on & off road racers, motorcycle dynamics (how you sit on em) & where the controls are, also the fact that riding a motorcycle is physically pro active, put you feet where you need em is my conclusion.

This sums it up perfectly.

**Swoop** · 11th July 2013, 09:11

Originally Posted by Mushu

To old to be dredged up? I'd like to see the results since this thread seems to go against what I have actually seen out there while riding.

Managed to find them.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=Balls+arches

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t=Balls+arches

**Banditbandit** · 11th July 2013, 12:57

I always ride on the arches .. back when I started tat's how we did things .. none of this othr fancy shit ...

And on the track is one thing - on the road another ... on tracks speed adn therefore handling are primary - on the road safety is a bigger issue ..

I prefer to ride at all times with my foot as close to the brake pedal as possible .. the conscious effort required to moved from the balls to the arches to use the brake and the time taken can mean the difference between stopping safely and hitting something .. at 160kph half a second (the average reaction time) is about 44 metres of road distance ... half a second to react half a second to reach the pedal is now close to 90 metres in road distance ... before you even brake ... So I prefer to reduce my stopping time on the road by being close to that life saving pedal ...

And yes, I have scrapped boots on the road in corners ... I just lift my toes if it's getting that close ..

**bosslady** · 11th July 2013, 13:07

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

I always ride on the arches .. back when I started tat's how we did things .. none of this othr fancy shit ...

And on the track is one thing - on the road another ... on tracks speed adn therefore handling are primary - on the road safety is a bigger issue ..

I prefer to ride at all times with my foot as close to the brake pedal as possible .. the conscious effort required to moved from the balls to the arches to use the brake and the time taken can mean the difference between stopping safely and hitting something .. at 160kph half a second (the average reaction time) is about 44 metres of road distance ... half a second to react half a second to reach the pedal is now close to 90 metres in road distance ... before you even brake ... So I prefer to reduce my stopping time on the road by being close to that life saving pedal ...

And yes, I have scrapped boots on the road in corners ... I just lift my toes if it's getting that close ..

I thought you didn't use the rear brake?

**Drew** · 11th July 2013, 13:12

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

I always ride on the arches .. back when I started tat's how we did things .. none of this othr fancy shit ...

And on the track is one thing - on the road another ... on tracks speed adn therefore handling are primary - on the road safety is a bigger issue ..

I prefer to ride at all times with my foot as close to the brake pedal as possible .. the conscious effort required to moved from the balls to the arches to use the brake and the time taken can mean the difference between stopping safely and hitting something .. at 160kph half a second (the average reaction time) is about 44 metres of road distance ... half a second to react half a second to reach the pedal is now close to 90 metres in road distance ... before you even brake ... So I prefer to reduce my stopping time on the road by being close to that life saving pedal ...

And yes, I have scrapped boots on the road in corners ... I just lift my toes if it's getting that close ..

Dunno about much of that. In emergency braking situations, the back brakes is rarely doing anything at all. But the time to get the front brake isn't changed by foot position.

Also, isn't bike control paramount to rider safety.

I had a think about it after Tony posted. My feet are constantly moving when I ride. There's no consistent spot except on roads where I don't need to change out of top cog. Then it's toes on pegs always. My left footage rubber is nearly gone, from moving that foot forward to change gear, then back to toes on pegs.