Leaning versus Knee Down

['73 H1 Triple]

Originally Posted by No Worries

I saw two examples of riding today. While riding some twisty roads, I saw a Harley tourer coming toward me that seemed like it was going too fast to make a turn. I slowed down expecting him to crash or run off the road. Then I saw something that was pretty rare. He leaned waaaayyyyy off the bike. And made the corner without scraping anything. He was barrel-chested, so he was putting a lot of weight to the inside of that curve. He had no helmet or leathers on, and was grinning from ear to ear as he accelerated by me. He must have had lessons.

While I was walking the dog this evening, a scooter rider came around a corner with his knee way out and almost hitting the ground. Except his scooter was weaving and scraping. I thought he had a flat tire. Then I looked up from his scooter and saw that his body was leaning the opposite way. His upper body was exactly perpendicular to the ground. Luckily for him there were no parked cars as he swung way out or he would have hit them. He needed lessons.

Perhaps he learned to ride on an older cycle. Back in the early 80s when I was out screaming on my kawasaki triples, you didn't lean to scrap your knee. You put your ass on the inside of the seat so it would actually turn.

[Fleck750]

Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple

Perhaps he learned to ride on an older cycle. Back in the early 80s when I was out screaming on my kawasaki triples, you didn't lean to scrap your knee. You put your ass on the inside of the seat so it would actually turn.

It's interesting how taking curves have changed due to the advancements in bike geometry. Having a bike that's similar to yours, I can see doing that, as opposed to taking half your butt off of the seat. I get better corner response by dropping my shoulder than doing anything with my butt or legs.

[buzzcutt2]

I'm in south FL...what is this "lean" thing you are talking about?

[Fleck750]

Originally Posted by buzzcutt2

I'm in south FL...what is this "lean" thing you are talking about?

There are curves, they're called "on-ramps'!

[zed]

Originally Posted by buzzcutt2

I'm in south FL...what is this "lean" thing you are talking about?

here's where we went when we lived down there.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by zed

here's where we went when we lived down there.

That makes baby Jesus cry.

This thread makes me smile... in the street section.

Kickin' it old skool?? Like this guy, raced AMA in the 80's - can you tell from the leathers??

[zed]

Originally Posted by azoomm

That makes baby Jesus cry.

there was no houses there at the time. seems that someone tried to build a subdivision and lost backing or interest, don't know but there was no houses in the area. the only traffic was other people looking for a place to practice some corners and a few cops that would run you off once in a while. we never could find the place on Disney to ride.

[buzzcutt2]

Originally Posted by zed

there was no houses there at the time. seems that someone tried to build a subdivision and lost backing or interest, don't know but there was no houses in the area. the only traffic was other people looking for a place to practice some corners and a few cops that would run you off once in a while. we never could find the place on Disney to ride.

Is that the place in Sebring?

[JK]

Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple

Perhaps he learned to ride on an older cycle. Back in the early 80s when I was out screaming on my kawasaki triples, you didn't lean to scrap your knee. You put your ass on the inside of the seat so it would actually turn.

that was a point i was going to make as well. Bike has alot to do with it. now a days, sports bikes are more consistent with their "tuned flex" so techniques can be more universal. case in point, those 2 pics of doohan, older bike vs new bike