How to hang off the bike

DLIT · 06-09-2008, 04:35 PM

Basically, the tank is a pivot point and you "roll" your legs around it. That's why in my track pics you don't see my knee way flailed out anymore. But for newbs, kick that knee way out until you get use to the feel of dragging and you start getting an idea of where your max lean is. A good indicator of max lean is how much chicken strips you have left on your front tire.

It'll feel uncomfortable at first, hanging your knee way out, but it does start to feel better. A big help to extending it out is your foot positioning. I put the base of my ring finger toe directly over the outside of the peg and put my heel against the guard.

With your upper body, keep your shoulders square and try not to weight your inside arm. Your armpit should be directly over the gas cap. People say to "eat" your mirror, but I don't find it comfortable.

These are all good pointers for the basics. They set you up to feel the right feedback from your bike and put the center of gravity in the right spot.

Mr Lefty · 06-09-2008, 04:38 PM

so I'm trying to envision this... your basicly pivoting your hips to where you wanna go? I've gotta long way to go but if I can get it down in mind first... I'll have less bad habits to break when the time comes...

DLIT · 06-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

so I'm trying to envision this... your basicly pivoting your hips to where you wanna go? I've gotta long way to go but if I can get it down in mind first... I'll have less bad habits to break when the time comes...

Basically, yeah. And doing all this reading/research is the best thing for you. It's the same thig I did and my first track day I took the school and they pretty much taught me everything I already knew.

Mr Lefty · 06-09-2008, 04:48 PM

yeah... though honestly... I'd rather be riding learning bad techniques... and then fixing them... at least I'd be FUCKING RIDING!

DLIT · 06-09-2008, 04:50 PM

The biggest hint when I first started getting serious about riding fast was hanging half my ass off to whichever side I was leaning. This was before the track. Then I had to work on my upper half and feet.

Mr Lefty · 06-09-2008, 04:56 PM

yeah it's gonna be intresting trying to apply all this... I didn't find any decent twisty's in AK till I got back from my last deployment... and they were already snow covered!...

gonna have to hit the on/off ramps in Fargo like crazy

Trip · 06-09-2008, 05:41 PM

When you get to the gap I will give you some pointers and follow you for a pass or two to see if I notice anything.

ceo012384 · 06-09-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

and rotate your hips

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Rotate around the tank...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLIT

Basically, the tank is a pivot point

Whoa hold the presses here... you guys rotate your hips so they are at an angle to the bike other than 90 degrees?

I keep my hips square/perpendicular to the bike and my spine parallel with the bike.

Hanging off with your hips at an angle promotes a crossed-up body position and encourages bar pressure.

Cutty72 · 06-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

yeah it's gonna be intresting trying to apply all this... I didn't find any decent twisty's in AK till I got back from my last deployment... and they were already snow covered!...

gonna have to hit the on/off ramps in Fargo like crazy

Cloverleaves FTW!

At least you'll be good at right turns!

06-09-2008, 04:35 PM	#1
DLIT Clit Commander Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Las Vegas Moto: 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale S Posts: 4,189	Basically, the tank is a pivot point and you "roll" your legs around it. That's why in my track pics you don't see my knee way flailed out anymore. But for newbs, kick that knee way out until you get use to the feel of dragging and you start getting an idea of where your max lean is. A good indicator of max lean is how much chicken strips you have left on your front tire. It'll feel uncomfortable at first, hanging your knee way out, but it does start to feel better. A big help to extending it out is your foot positioning. I put the base of my ring finger toe directly over the outside of the peg and put my heel against the guard. With your upper body, keep your shoulders square and try not to weight your inside arm. Your armpit should be directly over the gas cap. People say to "eat" your mirror, but I don't find it comfortable. These are all good pointers for the basics. They set you up to feel the right feedback from your bike and put the center of gravity in the right spot. __________________ Dress for the crash. Not the ride.

06-09-2008, 04:50 PM	#5
DLIT Clit Commander Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Las Vegas Moto: 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale S Posts: 4,189	The biggest hint when I first started getting serious about riding fast was hanging half my ass off to whichever side I was leaning. This was before the track. Then I had to work on my upper half and feet. __________________ Dress for the crash. Not the ride.

06-09-2008, 04:38 PM	#2
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	so I'm trying to envision this... your basicly pivoting your hips to where you wanna go? I've gotta long way to go but if I can get it down in mind first... I'll have less bad habits to break when the time comes...

06-09-2008, 04:48 PM	#4
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	yeah... though honestly... I'd rather be riding learning bad techniques... and then fixing them... at least I'd be FUCKING RIDING!

06-09-2008, 04:56 PM	#6
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	yeah it's gonna be intresting trying to apply all this... I didn't find any decent twisty's in AK till I got back from my last deployment... and they were already snow covered!... gonna have to hit the on/off ramps in Fargo like crazy