Manawatu Rant n Rave

**slydesigns** · 15th May 2008, 08:27

You ride it like you would paddle a canoe. Thats how the MNZ MX coaches explain it. Sit central to hard up against the tank, Elbows up, handlebars used like a paddle on a kayak, elbows up, inside leg extended toward the front axle bolt BUT not touching the ground and elbows up. Did I mention elbows up.

The leg off is to weight the outside peg to push the rear into the ground, if you left it on the peg you'd end up pushing the rear further sideways in a slide and wash it out.

You sit forward to weight the front end to help it stick and to unload the rear to help it swing out.

Elbows up to give you greater control over the steering, especially with the greater fork travel you now have. Look at any MX or Motard rider in a photo and see his body position.
Elbows up,
Head over the bar pad,
Butt forward.

**HornetBoy** · 15th May 2008, 08:40

Originally Posted by slydesigns

You ride it like you would paddle a canoe. Thats how the MNZ MX coaches explain it. Sit central to hard up against the tank, Elbows up, handlebars used like a paddle on a kayak, elbows up, inside leg extended toward the front axle bolt BUT not touching the ground and elbows up. Did I mention elbows up.

The leg off is to weight the outside peg to push the rear into the ground, if you left it on the peg you'd end up pushing the rear further sideways in a slide and wash it out.

You sit forward to weight the front end to help it stick and to unload the rear to help it swing out.

Elbows up to give you greater control over the steering, especially with the greater fork travel you now have. Look at any MX or Motard rider in a photo and see his body position.
Elbows up,
Head over the bar pad,
Butt forward.

Yea thanks for that ,Can see those points you make looking at some of the pictures of the riders ,especially the lean foward elbows up .Felt quite weird trying to get used to the skinny body of the drz(compard to the kat) but now i see what your saying in regards to leaning because of the greater fork travel etc.Will have to try and get some more practice in on some more supermotos or give that drz400e a go and try out those points you make.
So kinda the opposite to "typical" roadbike riding really isnt it ...

**GSVR** · 15th May 2008, 08:48

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

Sarah and I are possibly going to Opunake to see Kerry this weekend. I may get some work done on my bike and pillion Sarah back as she'll leave hers with Kerry for it's big service. Could be an adventure? Will confirm later.

So there will be another ride to collect the Blue one next week?

**slydesigns** · 15th May 2008, 08:51

COMPLETELY the opposite. Its why its taken me a year to get in the groove on the roadbikes. I raced for 15years plus in the dirt and was offered a 250 2 stroke road ride for Motorad years ago and I declined as roadbikes were totally foreign to me and the riding style freaked me out. Regretting blousing out now!

If you ever want any pointers, give us a yell. Even with it sitting in a pitstand you can learn alot.

**GSVR** · 15th May 2008, 08:58

Originally Posted by slydesigns

COMPLETELY the opposite. Its why its taken me a year to get in the groove on the roadbikes. I raced for 15years plus in the dirt and was offered a 250 2 stroke road ride for Motorad years ago and I declined as roadbikes were totally foreign to me and the riding style freaked me out. Regretting blousing out now!

If you ever want any pointers, give us a yell. Even with it sitting in a pitstand you can learn alot.

Main thing with roadbikes is not to let your tyres wear to the canvas.

**HornetBoy** · 15th May 2008, 09:02

Originally Posted by slydesigns

COMPLETELY the opposite. Its why its taken me a year to get in the groove on the roadbikes. I raced for 15years plus in the dirt and was offered a 250 2 stroke road ride for Motorad years ago and I declined as roadbikes were totally foreign to me and the riding style freaked me out. Regretting blousing out now!

If you ever want any pointers, give us a yell. Even with it sitting in a pitstand you can learn alot.

Yea cheers,id say that would help alot .Cause riding the DRZ certainly felt forign to say the least

but fun none the less and i think ive got the bug for supermotos already!,so am keen to learn more

Must of looked like a complete twit riding the DRZ like a sport bike lol

im glad i kept to the back roads and no-one local saw me.

**slydesigns** · 15th May 2008, 09:30

Originally Posted by GSVR

Main thing with roadbikes is not to let your tyres wear to the canvas.

so... how do you make it slide then?

**yod** · 15th May 2008, 14:04

Originally Posted by slydesigns

You ride it like you would paddle a canoe. Thats how the MNZ MX coaches explain it. Sit central to hard up against the tank, Elbows up, handlebars used like a paddle on a kayak, elbows up, inside leg extended toward the front axle bolt BUT not touching the ground and elbows up. Did I mention elbows up.

The leg off is to weight the outside peg to push the rear into the ground, if you left it on the peg you'd end up pushing the rear further sideways in a slide and wash it out.

You sit forward to weight the front end to help it stick and to unload the rear to help it swing out.

Elbows up to give you greater control over the steering, especially with the greater fork travel you now have. Look at any MX or Motard rider in a photo and see his body position.
Elbows up,
Head over the bar pad,
Butt forward.

speedway...

**slydesigns** · 15th May 2008, 15:28

Hadn't considered them as I don't view them as bike riders.... more stuntmen really.

Insane stuntmen.

Deadmen walking even...

**yod** · 15th May 2008, 17:26

Originally Posted by slydesigns

Hadn't considered them as I don't view them as bike riders.... more stuntmen really.

Insane stuntmen.

Deadmen walking even...

the riding position you're describing is very speedway-like

**slydesigns** · 15th May 2008, 17:50

Its the basic offroad riding position. I guess it would make sense for it to work for speedway as well.

**oscarnz** · 15th May 2008, 20:16

Originally Posted by HornetBoy

Oh i was under the assumption that no Manawatu Dealers had a demo DRZSM

Although Whitelocks were only happy to sell me one brandnew and are still trying lol)
This was reluctantly leant to me by a family friend (with much convinceing)

Are ya tempted on trying out one yourself eh!

Although i was tempted to try out thee drz400e in GW MotorCycles in Feilding apparently that has a higher output than the sm .

PT's have one but only just been put together, but they are not officially legal as the headlights dipped the wrong way, so they have to wait for new headlights that comply in NZ.

**NZsarge** · 15th May 2008, 20:21

Originally Posted by oscarnz

PT's have one but only just been put together, but they are not officially legal as the headlights dipped the wrong way, so they have to wait for new headlights that comply in NZ.

Is Paul gonna take it for a scoot?