To hang your ass off your seat or not?

[Deano]

Mate - if you are getting a knee down regularly on the completely untrustworth NZ public roads you are heading for trouble.
They will betray you before too long.
Save that stuff for the track and controlled situations or consult the Orthopaedic dept of Wellington hospital and make sure the have a good supply of Femoral nails, pins and plates in stock.

I sometimes do on the Takas where it's smooth - not regularly.

On the track is where I use it more of a gauge (I should have been clearer in my post) - even then it's not good hitting the inside curbing/painted ripple strip.

[eliot-ness]

Never seen the attraction of hanging off the bike. It's a fairly modern phenomenon, to somebody of my age anyway. If your chicken strips are as wide as you say, you have a long way to go before you even consider it neccessary. Im no hard rider but I'm down to 10mm rear and 15mm front and thats on a a tourer with Macadam tyres. As others have said, keep it smooth, practice makes perfect. '
I've attached a pic of Hailwood, one of the best racers of all time. Never saw him hang off a bike, nor anyone else of his era, but look at the angle of lean and those skinny tyres.

[beyond]

Never seen the attraction of hanging off the bike. It's a fairly modern phenomenon, to somebody of my age anyway. If your chicken strips are as wide as you say, you have a long way to go before you even consider it neccessary. Im no hard rider but I'm down to 10mm rear and 15mm front and thats on a a tourer with Macadam tyres. As others have said, keep it smooth, practice makes perfect. '
I've attached a pic of Hailwood, one of the best racers of all time. Never saw him hang off a bike, nor anyone else of his era, but look at the angle of lean and those skinny tyres.

That is the ideal of course, but you can get away with sitting straight on the bike when it's a full on sporty or race bike with heaps of clearance. Most good sports bikes have a maximum lean angle of 45-54%, which is a long way over before stuff starts scratching the tarmac and by then you are nearly kissing the tar and it's nearly game over.
I have no strips at all on the rear and around 5mm on the front with standard Metzler Z6's. If I don't hang off in the fast stuff, I start wearing solid things away on the bike, that I prefer to keep intact and the clearance on the GSX1400 isn't too bad compared to some sports tourers.

[eliot-ness]

That is the ideal of course, but you can get away with sitting straight on the bike when it's a full on sporty or race bike with heaps of clearance. Most good sports bikes have a maximum lean angle of 45-54%, which is a long way over before stuff starts scratching the tarmac and by then you are nearly kissing the tar and it's nearly game over.
I have no strips at all on the rear and around 5mm on the front with standard Metzler Z6's. If I don't hang off in the fast stuff, I start wearing solid things away on the bike, that I prefer to keep intact and the clearance on the GSX1400 isn't too bad compared to some sports tourers.

Agreed, but the point I'm making is that he's still learning and, judging from his post. has a long way to go before he needs to start hanging off. To try it at the angles of lean he's doing is unnecesary and could be dangerous.

[beyond]

Very true indeed. Need to get the braking, cornering lines and general feel for the bike down to pat first, before doing all the other on the edge stuff.

I've always maintained that at least 5,000kms on a bike before you should know it enough to get away with most things. 10,000kms even better.

[Big Dave]

I sometimes do on the Takas where it's smooth - not regularly.

On the track is where I use it more of a gauge (I should have been clearer in my post) - even then it's not good hitting the inside curbing/painted ripple strip.

They may not have the latest pea gravel patch installation machinery down there either. They have it running overtime in the Bombays.

[Jimmy B]

Beyond,

Funny you should mention thoses distances. I remember reading somwhere that most serious bike related accidents occurred within the first 10,000Ks. After that the stats pointed to no worse than driving a cage. Granted that the outcome of each subsequent incident is always going to work out worse for the rider. Either that or what I have remembered bears no actual resembilence to the facts and could quite likely be poo.

JB

[skelstar]

The number of bikes out there that are for sale well-under 10,000kms is a good clue.

A large number of MCyclists talk about riding more than they actually ride.

Definitely not refering to anyone in particular

[jonbuoy]

If your'e hanging off in corners you are totally commited, theres no chance of being able to change your line by very much if the unexpected happens. The more you hang off the more upright the bike can be, a lot of quick road riders still have chicken strips cause theyre hanging there arses out. Looks very try hard and not particulary safe.

[sAsLEX]

If your'e hanging off in corners you are totally commited

No you're not.

[Drew]

I never had my knee down (road or track) until I got some leathers with knee sliders. Now it just happens sometimes.......without really trying.

It is a good guage for how far I am leaning and inspires confidence IMO.

While looking at my fellow race team member's avatar, it occurs to me that he aint moving, and only got that shot because his bike is so light he wasn't moving, just leant the bike over and held it up on his knee.

He aint never had his knee down, and so fuckin slow he never will.


Thought I should tell all that i'm taking the piss, he's as quick on the 400 as I am on me 750. Dont want nobody thinking of turning this into another smack talk thread. Way too many as it is.

[skelstar]

Ive only ever seen you post in smack-talk threads Fiz.

[SwanTiger]

The number of bikes out there that are for sale well-under 10,000kms is a good clue.
A large number of MCyclists talk about riding more than they actually ride.

Ain't that the truth. Amen.

[Pickle]

As Quasi has said go get a copy of Twist of the wrist & or The soft science of road racing motorcycles. They are available on DVD. These are written by Keith Code who has helped people like Wayne Rainey & Eddie Lawson both 500GP champions.
A quote from the cornering section "be comfortable instead of stylish" & "Dont hang off if you dont have to"

Concentrate on being smooth & your lines thru corners the speed will come - Be Patient.

[jonbuoy]

No you're not.

Not that I want to start a yes no argument over the web but - try changing line through a corner when your hanging off the bike - then when your sat more to the centre. Its alot harder to change when your hanging off, another reason police persuit riders are taught to sit in the middle, and there not slow riders.