Oh, and the first day I went on track in the dry and tried to follow his points I did this (just in case anyone hasn't seen me getting me elbow down yet but I think I've shown the half the biking word now, lol)
I would get my elbow down but it would damage my leathers, so will wait until I get some with elbow sliders
Good reading for technique for guys trying to get their knee down for the first time. I disagree with this though as you want to have your lower body locked and in position BEFORE releasing the brakes fully and tipping into the corner so your not moving around and destabilising the bike. I think it's one of those points that you need to work out for yourself and decide what suits your style and how you ride. Step 4: Not too close to the tank If you sit with your nut sack (or lady garden) being pulverised by the tank, when you come to slide off to one side you will have a tendency to rotate around the tank, pushing your inside knee to the front of the bike, rather than outward towards the road/track. Sit a few inches back so you can easily slide sideways on your seat. Your inner thigh will then be where your crotch once was. Some riders feel that sitting right up to the tank aids you in the braking zone and also helps you get more weight forward to help stop wheelies on corner exits, but personally I prefer to sit off the tank a little because it more easily allows me to get in to the position I want to be in.
I have to say that i sit at least a few inches from the tank, in fact as far back as possible. Two reasons i do this, one because Shakey Byrnes actually told me this was the correct way to ride/race and two because since doing so I've found it far easier to tip in, get on power and feel far more stable... Is this the correct way?? I don't know, i wouldn't mind betting that if you asked 100 of the worlds top racers they would give you 100 different opinions.... I also know that when doing one of the many race schools they also teach you to sit as far back as possible in the seat....
I will have to read up a bit more on whether to have balls to the tank or not, but 2 BSB riders 1 current and 1 ex have told me not to. I suspect it may be one of those things where both views are valid and you do what feels best for you.
I would say your right, it could be whatever works for you, Also when I'm heavy breaking with the front break i like to have as much weight as far back as possible...
As said - you've got to work out what style works for you. I've played with a few over the years and lots of little changes but since I read MotoVudu Ive made the biggest noticeable leap forward in my riding than at any other point. I'm still learning daily but I do believe that Simon Crafars views on riding are more for the modern sports bike and they make sense from an engineering point of view when you consider what a bike is designed to do. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9acehgrdkq_e MotoVudu: The Dark Art of Performance
Thanks for the link. Is version 2 of the book an update or a new book in its own right? Also as someone said to me the other day there are plenty if fast riders who never or rarely get/put their knee down. After all sliders cost money
Version 2 is apparently more advanced techniques so I'm not even contemplating buying that until I get to grips with most of the stuff in book 1. I used to dig my knee in to purposely wear them down, now I try to be light on them and just skip the surface to use my knee as guide to lean angle (toe sliders cost money also )
I have always thought don't try to hard and it will come to you. I struggle due to bad hips but my I have tried my best to improve my position on the bike. As to start it was poor but getting much better. As said get on track and you can get others to see you on track and give you tips. After doing this I know when i'm not positioned right going around a corner. And going as fast as you can around one will not make it easier. More than likely it's just your position on the bike. once you have this sorted you will be getting your knee down a lot
Does anyone have a copy of this that's willing to let it do the rounds? i.e. the borrower pays the postage.
I'm not far south of you and due a trip up to wheels in Peterboro for a few test rides so if you still want to get your knee down happy to see if we can sort something around there as there are quite a few big roundabouts etc At 6ft 2 I realised recently I can get my knee down firmly while still maintaining an inch of chicken strips on PR4's
Hang off like a monkey, if it feels youre hanging off too far then youre in the right ball park. Just keep leaning but be careful about the bikes lean angle as you dont want to slide off
