To hang off the bike in turns, or not

[Scab]

"Hello my name is Mark and I suck at riding...."
"Hi Mark..."

The name is Scab. Not Mark.

 

[afterburn]

I must be one of the few that don't like hanging off (as in moving my butt to the side). I can ride faster than most by keeping my butt where it is and without dragging stuff. I find it completely unessessary and squidly to do it on public roads. What I will do is bend my elbows and move my torso to the inside when nessessary.

Then again, on the other side I have no problem whatsoever with trailbraking into a turn. I find it great fun to (safely) scrub off speed by trail braking towards the apex and then slowly let go of the brakes and roll on the power. It's a natural thing for me I have been doing for 20 years, yet this is generally considered track behavior too.

Just do whatever makes you feel good and safe.

 

[madmike2]

I hardly never drag a peg!

 


Whats up with that!

 

 


Me too!

 

[HaulinAshe]

Then again, on the other side I have no problem whatsoever with trailbraking into a turn. I find it great fun to (safely) scrub off speed by trail braking towards the apex and then slowly let go of the brakes and roll on the power. It's a natural thing for me I have been doing for 20 years, yet this is generally considered track behavior too.

Better hurry and disconnect your rear brake light switch before someone flames you for applying brakes in the turn.

 

[L8RG8R]

Me and my squidly ways.

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Me and my squidly ways.

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

Looks like a track to me. You ride like that on the street?

 

[L8RG8R]

Me and my squidly ways.

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

Looks like a track to me. You ride like that on the street?

Sometimes.....in select areas. I'm from Tennessee and now live in Texas. North Texas doesn't hardly have curves that would allow it. When I go back to TN each year, yes, this is a common scene.

Believe it not, I'm only doing maybe 40mph in that picture. It was towards the end of the day and I wanted to drag a knee one last time for the photographer. I wasn't really going fast enough to warrant dragging a knee in that corner (hence the center position of my upper body).

Not dragging a knee (yet), but "hanging off" IN PUBLIC! :blink:

 

[twowheelnut]

See Carver's post about fun on public roads... Kinda brings this thread into focus, IMO.

 

[L8RG8R]

See Carver's post about fun on public roads... Kinda brings this thread into focus, IMO.

Yes, +1 on Carver's post. B)

 

[afterburn]

Then again, on the other side I have no problem whatsoever with trailbraking into a turn. I find it great fun to (safely) scrub off speed by trail braking towards the apex and then slowly let go of the brakes and roll on the power. It's a natural thing for me I have been doing for 20 years, yet this is generally considered track behavior too.

Better hurry and disconnect your rear brake light switch before someone flames you for applying brakes in the turn.

Or kick me out the group for not riding 'The Pace'! :blink:

 

[Bounce]

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

interesting. are you claiming you use body english instead of counter steering?

 

[chornbe]

Bottom line, you can't see all the way thru' every turn, and sometimes they're tighter or more complex than you originally judged. Sometimes hanging off can minimize the lean and provide more traction. Hanging off is just another tool in the box. Every rider should know how to use all the various turning techniques and be able to adjust his style accordingly. To say "I always" or "I never" about any [valid] riding technique is just too limiting.

I must be one of the few that don't like hanging off (as in moving my butt to the side). I can ride faster than most by keeping my butt where it is and without dragging stuff. I find it completely unessessary and squidly to do it on public roads. What I will do is bend my elbows and move my torso to the inside when nessessary.
Then again, on the other side I have no problem whatsoever with trailbraking into a turn. I find it great fun to (safely) scrub off speed by trail braking towards the apex and then slowly let go of the brakes and roll on the power. It's a natural thing for me I have been doing for 20 years, yet this is generally considered track behavior too.

Just do whatever makes you feel good and safe.

How heavy are you? How tall? Fat ass and beer gut or heavily muscled torso and shoulders? It all matters. A heavier guy just dipping a shoulder will probably end up with roughly the same results as a featherweight hanging on by a thread. People seem to forget that everyone is different body shape and size (and it *does* matter) and not everyone's bike is set up 100% the same; suspension settings, air pressure, tire profile, etc.

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

Well... I prefer to shift weight in the turns (yes, I often "hang off" or just lean my torso out, etc), and apply steering input via counter steering. So, a little of both for me, thanks.

 

[L8RG8R]

To me hanging off is a way to execute a turn without "steering" your bike. You're bike should be doing all the steering...you're just along for the ride.

interesting. are you claiming you use body english instead of counter steering?

Yes and no. The counter steering part is quick and short at the very beginning of the turn. I use counter steering and "body english" to find the line and then its all body weight and throttle adjustments as needed (and not much if any should be needed). If I didn't need my right hand for throttle, I could take both hands off the bars at max lean mid corner. If you're still counter steering through the turn, you're effectively driving the bike. Any counter steer actions in the bars during a high speed corner can upset the bike and result in soiled shorts or worst.

As I said earlier, you've got to let the bike do it's thing.....you're just along for the ride.

 

[afterburn]

How heavy are you? How tall? Fat ass and beer gut or heavily muscled torso and shoulders? It all matters. A heavier guy just dipping a shoulder will probably end up with roughly the same results as a featherweight hanging on by a thread. People seem to forget that everyone is different body shape and size (and it *does* matter) and not everyone's bike is set up 100% the same; suspension settings, air pressure, tire profile, etc.

6'2", 185 lbs, no fat ass or beer gut. I turn in as late as possible and as quick as possible. And I practise 'slow in, fast out'. All of which reduce lean angle if properly executed.

 

[chornbe]

How heavy are you? How tall? Fat ass and beer gut or heavily muscled torso and shoulders? It all matters. A heavier guy just dipping a shoulder will probably end up with roughly the same results as a featherweight hanging on by a thread. People seem to forget that everyone is different body shape and size (and it *does* matter) and not everyone's bike is set up 100% the same; suspension settings, air pressure, tire profile, etc.

6'2", 185 lbs, no fat ass or beer gut. I turn in as late as possible and as quick as possible. And I practise 'slow in, fast out'. All of which reduce lean angle if properly executed.

*thumbs up*

 

[James Burleigh]

This is as close as I get to "hanging off" (Pridmore track school, Infineon, 10/06), which I think for me pretty much means sliding my butt over about two inches, sticking my knee out as far as it will go (which as the photo shows ain't far), and thinking to myself, "I look just like Nicky." BTW, I learned the hard way a couple weekends ago: don't Armor All your seat, or you'll be sliding off like it or not.

Wait...just...a...minute... Is that a KNEE PUCK?! What in the HELL was I thinking?! I know, I know: I should just go puck myself. :headbonk:

JB

 

[Toecutter]

Wait...just...a...minute... Is that a KNEE PUCK?! What in the HELL was I thinking?! I know, I know: I should just go puck myself. :headbonk:

So, what're ya wearing for a helmet these days?
And how 'bout some details (in another thread) about the track school? Looks like a blast!

 

[Rickster]

the latest in-traffic schools are highly recommended.

includes: ride/lane-sharing strateges, and new ways to step the rear end out a little by use of the pegs (instead of using the rear brake), and more!

Clicky

the dismount tips (to avoid the issues with the sidestand) alone make the video worthwhile.

(may be a euro spec FJR -- haven't seen this config/color in the US.)

 

[chornbe]

the latest in-traffic schools are highly recommended.
includes: ride/lane-sharing strateges, and new ways to step the rear end out a little by use of the pegs (instead of using the rear brake), and more!

Clicky

the dismount tips (to avoid the issues with the sidestand) alone make the video worthwhile.

(may be a euro spec FJR -- haven't seen this config/color in the US.)

Caught me on a bad day. Normally I spark more in the right hand turns.

 

[Groo]

Just to keep this fire stoked... if I'm reading Lee Parks correctly in his book, he discourages making adjustments to weight/position in a corner... I believe his position is that you get set up for the corner (hang on, upright, whatever) and use the handlebars once you start your turn in. Shifting your weight just confuses the dynamics and makes it more difficult to interpret/properly execute the changes you are making through the handlebars. This would contradict the "Save some for when you need it, stay in the middle of the seat" concept.

While I've never dragged a knee, I do grind a peg from time to time... and I do hang a cheek off my saddle if I'm carrying speed into a corner I'm familiar with, or riding agressively. I usually try to take it easier on unfamiliar roads. I could care less if my "visual image" is more agressive to the casual observer. It makes me feel like I have more control with my weight shifted to the inside... so that's why I do it.