Knee Down?

[Vellos]

So I'm pretty much ready to knee down, but I want to get used to it safely. I know it's a weird feeling at first and when my toes scrape the ground I tend to pick the bike up a little. Anyone know a safe way or place to practice this?

[Kitten]

In my opinion the only safe place to practice "aggressive" riding is a track with corner workers and emt's. Again just my opinion...

[Bueller]

Uhh IMI, The same place as countless others have. I wouldn't do it with jeans though :lol:

[Bueller]

BTW, I have scrapped a puck twice in the last two years, both on the same day on the 250,pushing the tires, it isn't "necessary" to get around the track faster.
Sometimes just the opposite, people try so hard they really F-up their body positioning.

[Mother Goose]

BTW, I have scrapped a puck twice in the last two years, both on the same day on the 250,pushing the tires, it isn't "necessary" to get around the track faster.
Sometimes just the opposite, people try so hard they really F-up their body positioning.

^^^ This.

[R1-Laubinero]

done correctly it is safer and faster- keeping the tire on the meaty part offers more traction- and could also support the bike...but yes incorrect pody positioning can be dangerous--ie just hanging your lower body off- stiff arms - twisted spine--
you can make 2 big circles at least 40 dia and practice transitioning around the 2 ala figure 8 --parking lot needs to be grippy though--

[CaneZach]

Dragging knee ain't all it's cracked up to be. Use it as a gauge to see how much lean angle you have left, but don't over-exaggerate your body just to do it. It's a combination of lean angle and body position.

[OUTLAWD]

as you get faster and lean the bike more, it will just kind of happen. As the others are saying, you don't want to sacrifice body position for the sake of dragging knee.

Last year I seemed to be dragging my knee all the time, I felt like Rossi, but when I saw video of myself, my body positionn was terrible. this season I have really focused on not being crossed up, and I have touched my pucks once or twice all season, while knocking minutes off my lap times... if you feel like you are poking your knee out just to touch, you have alot more available lean angle, I just let me leg hang loose, and use it to gauge how far I am leaned over.

[Zach929rr]

Only time I have gotten knee down on the street was following CZ up Poudre... and that speed was a bit excessive for the street.

Go to the trizzack.

[drago52]

So I'm pretty much ready to knee down, but I want to get used to it safely. I know it's a weird feeling at first and when my toes scrape the ground I tend to pick the bike up a little. Anyone know a safe way or place to practice this?

IMI is where I first got the lean angle deep enough to slide the pucks. I was able to get a knee down on every turn going clockwise except for the last little chicane before the start/finish. Once you get the knee down, you can tell how hard your angle/speed is by how hard you are pressing the puck down. Great gauge for consistent corner angle/speed.

[CaneZach]

Only time I have gotten knee down on the street was following CZ up Poudre... and that speed was a bit excessive for the street.

Go to the trizzack.

Who, moi? :lol:

[Vellos]

I understand it is a gauge mechanism. I want to practice touching knee so that I get used to the feeling, not that I would be doing it all the time. IMI was the place I wanted to learn it at, but my friend said parking lots might be better. Figured I'd consult with the forum. Guess I'll see you guys at the track more often.

Cheers.

[Davy4575]

+1 on what everyone said. I was dragging mine hard, my body posistion was crap, and my knees kept getting sore. I hardly touch at all now, just a light guage to let me know where im at position wise, just happens as a result, not a concious effort.
Id work on your upperbody position as much as I would your lower. You could hit the last superstreet race this weekend coming up.

[Zach929rr]

Who, moi? :lol:

Si :D

[Stangracer85]

I tend to scrap by boots more than actually getting my knee to touch but on average I tend to lead the groups so I don't set myself on trying to touch my knee..if it happens it happens

[brennahm]

It's not that weird of a feeling man. Don't worry about it.

[MetaLord 9]

If you're going around a corner, you should probably be focusing more on the corner than the knee. Whatever concentration you're spending trying to touch knee is concentration you're taking away from being fast and smooth through the corner. Concentrate on the corner and know not to freak out if you touch a knee because it's possible that it happens.

Also, and I think Dirk mentioned something to this effect a while ago, if you're using proper body positioning and taking the corner properly, the speed that it would take to get a knee down is WAY too fast for the street

[dragos13]

Also, and I think Dirk mentioned something to this effect a while ago, if you're using proper body positioning and taking the corner properly, the speed that it would take to get a knee down is WAY too fast for the street

+1 to that info.

There is no need to touch a knee on the street. Also, while on the track it will happen when you are going fast enough. I can clip around faster then a lot of guys and NEVER touch a knee. There is more to riding then dragging pucks. Work on overall body position, getting you arms loose and your head WAY down. This allows the bike to stand up more, thus allowing more corner speed.

The image of dragging a knee is similar to chicken strips. It doesn't show how fast you are, just how far you are making the bike lean or hanging your ass off. "Trying" to drag a knee will most likely end with you all crossed up. Instead, focus on trail braking, weighting the foot pegs, being easy on the bars, smooth acceleration out of corners, and most of all LOOKING THROUGH THE TURN. (this is all track stuff as the street really has no business but safely cruising and coming home alive).

IMI was the first place I got my knee down. I was just trying to listen to advice from fast racers about body position.

Work on looking more like this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2408684831_72b473aa1c.jpg

http://www.masmoto.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/casey-stoner-01.jpg

And less like this:
http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/gi/o1/drag-knee-sport-bike-800X800.jpg

If your ever at the track try and find me. I would be happy to give you some basic body position tips :)

[Sean]

As others said the track is the best place. IMI is good, the only downfall is the lack of response crew. So if you are practicing there, have a friend or someone with you to lend a hand, incase something "un-planned" happens.

You can even practice in a parking lot if you want. Just take some air out of your tires, get them good and warm, and then try to take sharp corners. Again, bring a friend. I know that by me FRCC has a big parking lot for MSF.

[Aphrodite]

wut they said.

[BlueRanger]

Vellos already looks like Stoner lol. The only difference, compared to the first pic, is that Vellos has his knees tucked since he wasn't wearing sliders.

[BlueRanger]

When you've had enough looking like Stoner, upgrade to Rossi.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/210611/images/Valentino%20Rossi.jpg

lol

http://www.superedo.it/foto/immagini/Sport/valentino_rossi.jpg

I may be an Australian, but I'm a Rossi Fan!

[dragos13]

Rossi EXTREME 2.0:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/us1277/valentino-rossi-catalunya-03.jpg

[UglyDogRacing]

I have stacks of worn out knee pucks you can have if you want to look cool.

[BlueRanger]

Now that's the kind of stuff we should all be learning :bow:. Skip everything else lol.

[Mother Goose]

Or be like Brad.....
http://www.latebraker.com/galleries/WSBKSLC09/Sunday/HendryElbow.jpg

Or Spies...
http://www.latebraker.com/galleries/WSBKSLC09/Sunday/Spies1stAttitude.jpg

Just don't check your oil while you're riding...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tuj0vv-PZmM/Ry6QOwv7EgI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-qms8GOOO8I/s400/benSpies.jpg

[MetaLord 9]

Now that's the kind of stuff we should all be learning :bow:. Skip everything else lol.^^Yeah, you buy a set of tires that'll hold that angle and then you can start think'n about it

[Sean]

Or be like Brad.....
http://www.latebraker.com/galleries/WSBKSLC09/Sunday/HendryElbow.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tuj0vv-PZmM/Ry6QOwv7EgI/AAAAAAAAAFA/-qms8GOOO8I/s400/benSpies.jpgIt's hard for me to imagine getting that much lean angle in the attitudes! :shocked:

[BlueRanger]

He can't get a proper reading like that, the bike is at a slight angle.

First thing I noticed about IMI the other day when I was there for the first time, is how small it is. Practicing there would be perfect cause of the low speeds. Low risk. I wish I lived nearby, I'd get the yearly pass.

[Vellos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5ovBq7YR8

:)

[BlueRanger]

I have stacks of worn out knee pucks you can have if you want to look cool.

Duct tape them to your jeans. Now that's recycling


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5ovBq7YR8

:)

Great vid. I had a feeling it was a one of these vids before I clicked it lol. No matter what sport your into, you will find someone changing the subtitles to match the forums theme lol. Last one I saw was about MMA.

[UglyDogRacing]

Duct tape them to your jeans. Now that's recycling

They're yours then. I'll even throw in the duct tape for you. ;)

[BlueRanger]

They're yours then. I'll even throw in the duct tape for you. ;)

Sweeeeeet, feels like my birthday :bday:

[Aphrodite]

Sweeeeeet, feels like my birthday :bday:

My knee pucks are still shiny, I polish them to make sure they glisten :bat:

[R1-Laubinero]

well speed isnt a real factor though- in total control we have students do it under 30mph---hell we do it a zero to when we hold the bike for you---but not all students can quit twisting thier back and humpin the tanks and keepin thier head right behind the windscreen...very hard habit to break-- lots old school style guys out there... there is you tube video---

[R1-Laubinero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M

its good advice but doesnt address braking

[R1-Laubinero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wYD9SSBBNQ

and this one explains a bit more

[BlueRanger]

but not all students can quit twisting thier back and humpin the tanks and keepin thier head right behind the windscreen

Man humpin a toad right thur.

[asp_125]

Applegate doing his Spies impersonation:

[UglyDogRacing]

Applegate doing his Spies impersonation:

And Applegate's ass is still half on the seat, just like the pics of Hendry and Spies above. In the videos that R1-Laubinero posted, they are getting these riders to over-emphasize the body position. The guy who did the low speed knee drag had his entire ass of the seat, not something you want to do.

[BlueRanger]

Posture :up:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/323/image0050go.jpg

[OUTLAWD]

the one thing I took away from the STAR school was to hang off the bike less. When you are monkey'd completely off the bike, the bike doesn't feel very stable, not to mention it tires you out quickly, now I move my ass just enough to be able to say I moved it, and the tires are working like they should because I am leaning the bike more.

I wish I had some pics of how terrible I looked last year, all crossed up, dragging knee, going slow as hell...now I almost look like I know what I am doing, but I'm still slow as hell ;)

[BlueRanger]

I shove my ass crack on the edge of the seat. When I go all the way it gets to tiring like you said. :)

[OUTLAWD]

Applegate doing his Spies impersonation:

and tell me applegate is slipping the clutch coming out of 2...dayum he is fast...

[Stank Juic3]

I got my knee down on turn #8 at HPR by mistake. I freaked out cause I thought i scratch my lower. After I realized what I did the rest of the day was history and it came natural.

[R1-Laubinero]

I shove my ass crack on the edge of the seat. When I go all the way it gets to tiring like you said. :)
yeah i do the crack on the edge thing too.. to much weight on the inside leg---but no tank humpin!

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Not that I'm the fast guy or whatever, but I've never touched a knee down. Touched my boots down a couple of times at IMI, but I guess my body position (not speed) is more like Rossi's. I guess I don't tend to hang a knee out, but would rather keep my mass close to the ground and as tucked in as possible. Dunno, it works for me and feels more natural. I hope one day to be able to afford to do a real trackday so I can have a pro evaluate me. I know I tend to bring a lot of my street habits to the track (too early corner entry-thanks Rybo!), so it'd be interesting and very educational to do a full day.