Hans,
Thanks for bringing this up, it makes us all think about our technique.
My first time "hanging off was on my Ascot years ago after reading Keith Code's book. I didn't know what I was doing and ended up in the guard rail on an expressway off ramp. Needless to say, it was a long time before I even thought about doing it again.
I tried it a few times on my '90 Venture (my 850 lb. sport bike) but it never felt comfortable. I was able to hold my own up in the hills in San Mateo with that beast. Being tall and heavy (6'6" - 230 lbs.) helped me leverage it through the turns. Whats fun was riding in the hills pulling my trailer.
I didn't start doing it on my AE until about a year ago. I installed some StompGrip on the sides of my fuel tank which gave me excellent anchor points. I don't move much, I don't point that knee down against the tarmac on the inside of the turn. Before starting the turn I move up against the back of the tank and slide the inside knee into the pocket formed by the fairing lowers. This rotates my hips toward the inside of the turn. That, coupled with leaning forward and inside, bending my elbows, and correcting only with my inside hand (after the initial steering input) seems to work quite well for me. I attended Lee's lecture at the Hub a couple of times at the San Mateo CycleWorld show last month. He gave me quite a number of pointers to work on.
---> Always Learning <---
<snip>It would be my luck (has been anyway), that when I'm hung off on a fairly tight right hander, that as soon as I can see far enough up the road, I spy a LEO in the next turnout. Gee, guess what? I was not the only one who observed the steep bank angle. Want to guess what happened next?
George,
I will say this... after several speeding tickets through the years, it's
beginning to dawn on me...
You don't have to go fast to have fun -
but, at the posted speed limit (white w/ black lettering),
you don't have to slow down much in the turns either. Smooth is what I'm after. So what if I hang off in the turns and officer friendly spots me. If I execute the turn well, and come out at the posted speed limit - he's got nothing on me. I get my jollies in the turns, and am able to collect my thoughts in the connecting straights - while setting up for the next one. Like Hans said, it's not for speed as much as for control - safety.
You don't have to hang off in every turn either, just an exaggerated torso lean to the inside of the turn works wonders. This is just one more tool in the rider skills tool box.
[SIZE=12pt]
FJR - What a neat platform with which to play on! :yahoo: [/SIZE]
Perhaps this year I will attend a Lee Parks class.
[SIZE=14pt]
Merry Christmas Everyone![/SIZE]
Brodie