Knee drag frustrations....

[Spec-ECU]

Not to entice the OP to lean lower...

Unless he's blazing around the streets, I'm going to imagine that he's dipping the bike more than he needs to at the speeds he's going.

Plus, while staying still on top of the bike during turns is not often catastrophic, it means the bike will be working harder underneath you, including the suspension.

The idea is to lean the bike less than you need to.

 

[sn0w1337]

go to skaggs, if you can't get the knee down there somethings wrong with you. yet, they're all "30mph sweeps" too. =P i'm gonna get flamed for mentioning skaggs. =[

 

[snowflow mfg]

Not to entice the OP to lean lower than he's comfortable with (no crashing ), but tbh, measuring his chicken strips just by the photo provided is 1/8 inch, and that's not to scale. I'm guessing he has around 1/4 inch left and hasn't reached anywhere near max lean (even 1/8 inch is a big strip, lol!). Until you knock off all the tire writing and <- (arrows!) found on the side you have lots of room left imo.

If you wanna get the chicken strips off try a more upright and centered on the seat riding position. Plus it can be a lot more rewarding, funner, and safer imo. You won't look like a monkey to the cops so that's a plus . You'll be getting more lean angle and funner turns because of it. Although you'll be getting more lean angle you'll also be riding slower, which in my book makes it safer (even with more lean - to a degree ).

If you get the drag knee feeling again I'd suggest the TRACK, to at least familiarize yourself with the ins and outs. Of course, almost all of us are guilty of dragging knee on the street at sometime. Be safe!


Edit:



Disagree biggie (more than big!) time ^^. Imo, if you save it, it's more luck than skill. Very often the front will go with little or no warning and happens lightning quick. If you're in a bad spot with the gas, brake, corner, or all the above , good luck!



+1, although being a monkey can be fun!

Thanks man, I don't usually do this kinda stuff on the street. It was a one time attempt (not 100 attempts) and I just wanted to see some analysis on it.

Anyways, are the chicken strips that big? This bike has been to the track on these tires from the previous owner. I know I didn't ever lean it over that much....I don't have the balls to lean too far on the street...especially up here in the hills.

I lol'd at the monkey part.

It's makes it a bit more challenging (and off-camber is a bit easier), but it's not what is preventing it. It's not like a tame mountain road is rocking the nascar bank

People drag knee in cambered turns all the time.

I wish I had a pic of this turn. It's gotta a wierd backing to it. Looks unusual. I love to take it in the subie though. It's alright for the bike. It's got a left hand sweeper immediately after that's amazing, but I do not dare try anything on that turn as it's completely blind. We have a lot of heavy banking up here. (snow reasons)

Hey.. first things first.. if you can tell what speed your going.. then your not looking far enough down the road.

And because of that.. You're probably in the wrong gear on the brakes or off the gas at the wrong time and not to mention trying entirely too hard and thinking too much.

Start with the basics.. learn them inside out.. attain 'Motorcycle Mushin' (no mind, no thought) then drag knee, snoflow san.

Did I mention basics? Can you ride in tight circles? Can you figure 8? Slowly? if not then learn slow first, then fast.

See.. it's like a first year martial arts student trying to follow his Sensei through his favorite kata.. it's possible.. but you'll look like a noodle.

I come in at around 50-55mph, then I hang off the bike with the techniques I learned. Once I get into the lean I roll on the throttle. When i exit I see i'm doing around 70-75mph. So I just put the numbers in between. Never actually looked at the speedo in the turn. I was too busy looking at the exit of the turn and my mirror. lol

However, I hope to get a better grasp on racing basics at my first trackday. Till then i'll just keep cruising around enjoying the mountains like I have been for a couple years now.

I like looking like a noodle btw jk man. lol

 

[snowflow mfg]

Unless he's blazing around the streets, I'm going to imagine that he's dipping the bike more than he needs to at the speeds he's going.

Plus, while staying still on top of the bike during turns is not often catastrophic, it means the bike will be working harder underneath you, including the suspension.

The idea is to lean the bike less than you need to.

I don't lean too much...nor do I ride very fast at all. I've dumped a bike over a year ago from a bad combination of things, since then I don't lean hard on the streets. I've been focusing on body position more.

For the hard turns i always try to position correctly. Even when just cruising. Sometimes i'm lazy and don't but I'm never going fast enough for it to be an issue.

go to skaggs, if you can't get the knee down there somethings wrong with you. yet, they're all "30mph sweeps" too. =P i'm gonna get flamed for mentioning skaggs. =[

Don't know where that is. If it's in the bay, it's too far of a ride for me to go. lol

 

[snowflow mfg]

People drag knee in cambered turns all the time.

<--you're one of the people who don't have trouble with it I see. lol

yup

The only time you'll see that is from a trackday. I'm pretty slow on the street.

 

[ucb]

That's the most cambered turn at thunderhill

 

[snowflow mfg]

That's the most cambered turn at thunderhill

It's a pretty sweet pic! I was going to do my first trackday at Thill. I'll probably end up at reno-fernley since its usually cheaper.


Does anybody have any extra coupons or anything for trackdays??

 

[R1-Limited]

I posed this question on another forum, I asked because I honestly do not understand the logic at times.

Knee Dragging

Why has this become the right of passage for the middle aged or lean challenged?

Seriously, I mean it is like bragging rights in High Scrool when the jock banged the cheer leader and all the croonies wanted to smell his finger.

In this case its wow man touch my knee puc

Sheet I don't get it

 

[ap430]

I'm also a 6 footer, and have used a few rearsets on the track from Vortex to Sato's to stock. All worked fine for me regardless, but I find the comfort of the stock rearsets on my R6 allowed me to be very smooth on the bike. I do think it's also a matter of getting used to a rearset, so it's just about seat time.

Dennis, thanks for your input.
As for seat time, I am right up there with Megaspaz
I have the vortex rearsets and I have had them pretty much since I bought the bike. The reason I went with aftermarket rearsets was because when I used to ride the street, I started scrapping peg. That an the CBR stock rearsets have always been known to be really low. As for track time this year, I have lost count.

opp, I am running upper B group times now, I barely scrape knee. I have passed people in corners where they are scrapping the crap out off there pucks. An I might not even get a scratch on my puck.. so yeah my point is, you can become pretty fast with out touching down since this is what this thread is about. Work on your body position, its funny how people on the street are trying to lean more and dragg more knee All these trackdays and track schools I have taken, I am being taught how to use less lean angle by hanging off.

Next week at the keigwins novice school I hope to get my BP down and my lock on the tank! I will put my rearsets in the middle position and see how that feels. My leg cramping issue is something I need to fix on my own, maybe more stretching or something...

 

[Fast Turtle]

My leg cramping issue is something I need to fix on my own, maybe more stretching or something...

Relax. It's the key to better riding. I'm 6-4 and have my adjustable rearsets about in the middle of their range. I pretty much never have issues with cramping, largely (I believe) due to having learned how to ride using the minimal amount of effort actually required. Most people are surprised by how tense they really are most of the time if they go out for a session and really focus on relaxing everywhere they can.

 

[afm199]

Knee dragging is not really any kind of indicator of riding skills or knowledge, it's more like being able to pick your nose with your eyes closed, left handed. It take a few tries to hit it.

I suggest not worrying about it and certainly not believing that anyone who drags their knee is a better rider. They are just more practiced nose pickers.

Except for Patrick, he needs no nose picking practice.

 

[rapidrobbie]

It's a pretty sweet pic! I was going to do my first trackday at Thill. I'll probably end up at reno-fernley since its usually cheaper.


Does anybody have any extra coupons or anything for trackdays??

www.sierrasportbike.com they do a few reno-fernley trackdays for pretty cheap and they are very well run,better than some trackday providers

 

[ap430]

Relax. It's the key to better riding. I'm 6-4 and have my adjustable rearsets about in the middle of their range. I pretty much never have issues with cramping, largely (I believe) due to having learned how to ride using the minimal amount of effort actually required. Most people are surprised by how tense they really are most of the time if they go out for a session and really focus on relaxing everywhere they can.

The last novice school you gave me a two up ride...

you made relaxing seem easy

 

[snowflow mfg]

Knee dragging is not really any kind of indicator of riding skills or knowledge, it's more like being able to pick your nose with your eyes closed, left handed. It take a few tries to hit it.

I suggest not worrying about it and certainly not believing that anyone who drags their knee is a better rider. They are just more practiced nose pickers.

Except for Patrick, he needs no nose picking practice.

LOL nice analogy.

I'm actually not worried about it. I'll do it when I do it. Ya, it's cool, but i'm not there yet with all the other nose-pickers. haha. and I wouldn't consider myself a street masher that does this kinda thing all the time. In fact I never really do this stuff on the street. It was a one-time thing.

www.sierrasportbike.com they do a few reno-fernley trackdays for pretty cheap and they are very well run,better than some trackday providers

Ya, I'm looking at that. I tried to get a free ticket, but failed. lol But, I may be able to go if I get a few sales. However, do you know if they offer c=group instruction? I know ptt and z2 websites say they have a sit-down class for novice's before they start the group run.

 

[ucb]

Knee dragging is not really any kind of indicator of riding skills or knowledge, it's more like being able to pick your nose with your eyes closed, left handed. It take a few tries to hit it.

Blind left handed nose picking is an under-rated skill

 

[afm199]

Blind left handed nose picking is an under-rated skill

You want cheap thrills: Stand on one foot, hold arms out to side and balance. Now close eyes and keep closed. When you can keep your balance for a minute with your eyes closed, you have skilz.

 

[rapidrobbie]

No classroom,but I know there are always several insructors who would be more than happy to work with you.

 

[ucb]

You want cheap thrills: Stand on one foot, hold arms out to side and balance. Now close eyes and keep closed. When you can keep your balance for a minute with your eyes closed, you have skilz.

thanks dick, I almost put a hand through my LCD trying this shit

 

[afm199]

thanks dick, I almost put a hand through my LCD trying this shit

that one is always good for a laugh. i guess I should say: "Don't try this at home kids."

Hint: When you are closing your eyes, imagine you are cresting T3a at
Sears, where you can't really see where you are going, or the horizon. When I do that it helps.

 

[snowflow mfg]

You want cheap thrills: Stand on one foot, hold arms out to side and balance. Now close eyes and keep closed. When you can keep your balance for a minute with your eyes closed, you have skilz.

Now do it with your arms at your hips instead of out for balance.

No classroom,but I know there are always several insructors who would be more than happy to work with you.

Ok, that's good because one of the things I want in my trackday is some instruction and pointers/training because I have no flippin idea what i'm doing out there. lol