Don't rush it or worry about getting your knee down [/IMG] ^^ me at Anglesey and still did not get my knee down. I was not trying but am aware I need to position myself better. plus having dodgy hip (soon to be both sides come Oct won't help much
I've found that once you shift your arse into the right position there's a sort of natural progression towards the knee down posture. It seems to roll your knee out of it's own accord once I place the crack of my sheriff's badge onto the corner of the seat cushion edge. After that it's about learning the feedback cues and confidence. I don't know about you guys but South West Highways love affair with road dressing has made me extremely wary of both extreme lean angles and hanging off the bike while exiting roundabouts due to the grit banks that build up there. Funny they can never find any bloody grit when it snows though.
I have been putting my toe's on the peg, that's prob not helped me then! Oh and like Remal the dodgy hip and knee prob not helped and yet to ride with the new knee in :s But that's on the left side so no excuse
Just one thing about roundabouts surfing, obvious really. Always do a few laps first to check for grip, and, most importantly, diesel spills. If a copper wants to know why you have done 6 laps of the local roundabout, simply tell him your indicator was stuck on.
As an afterthought, some exit roads off motorways are a brilliant training ground. They loop round for ages which gives you plenty time to build up some speed mid corner, rather than 'chucking it on its ear' and you can also faff about and fine tune your body position.
Lol that's a classic you may be onto something there you could make millions in aftermarket knee replacements
All of the comments above cover everything..... However i save my KD for the track as mentioned the grip on the road isn't as good as grip on the track.... it may look grippy.. but is it worth the risk of parting company with your Pride and Joy?... Don't become obsessed with it..... it will just happen..... Jay
Your arse has to right off the seat toes on the peg but turn your foot so the heel of your boot is on the heel guard, if your head isnt in the right position it will be harder also, it wants to be in line with your mirror, i am no expert and cant and dont really feel the need on the road but on track i can do it anywhere. The 1st time you do it i bet you lift your knee up and think what ter f-ck was that noise lol lol
I've done it but do struggle where others like Jimbo make it look effortless. Comparing my back tyre to my riding pals that manage Kd without thinking about it there's no issue with lean angel, as said it all about body position.
Got it in one! It all makes sense on track and just seems to happen naturally, without having to worry about diesel spills etc on roundabouts.
From what I can see mate, it's all in your arms and head!! Most people get there bums off but keep their upper body in same position, all this does is twist you up and actually bring your knee further away from the Tarmac. Bring your arm across the tank so inside of your elbow almost touching and your head looking out over the mirror, if your near the edge of your tyre (5mm or so) you've already got the angle, just about positioning our body right! Edit - think everyone else has said this further down!!
Yea I'm right at the edge of the tyre, 1mm from going of the edge just can't get the knee out enough, when I'm recovered enough to get on again I will piece all the info together and give it a go! Fingers crossed it will be this year
I was actually wondering about this, Jimbo. I must confess that I've tried a bit of knee down stuff myself but I've never actually touched down. I'm pretty sure that I've got the body position right. Head off out near the mirror. Outside arm pretty much resting on the tank. One arse cheek off the seat, one on. Inside arm bent and pointing down. Tips of my feet on the end of the peg. Outside leg wedged against the tank. Hands light on the bars I think it's just what to do with the leg that's actually going to touch down that's stopping me from getting there A very accomplished Nurburgring-riding mate of a mate told me to imagine that I was trying to get my knee down near the front axle of the bike. ie push your knee down rather than outwards. Does this sound right?
To add to all of the above, pivot your HIPS into the corner... That creates a good lock on with outside leg, and allows your inside knee to get a good angle, i.e. more perpendicular to the bike. Pivotting your hips into the corner also helps to avoid being crossed up...
When you say 'pivot hips into corner' do you mean pivot the hip as if you're trying to show the apex of the corner a tattoo on your arse or pivot the hips so that your legs are open, like you're trying to flash your man vegetables at the apex?
I have a unique issue lol, despite being a knats cock under 6ft, my inside leg is only 27", all my height is in my upper body, i can lean off as much as i want but knee down very rarely happens, even at pace, and as has already probably been said, dont worry about knee down, its a style thing, you can pretty much gairantee the idiots with melted sliders every weekend wouldnt last 2 minutes on track....
you lot are brave boys - I wouldn't dream of trying to get my knee down on UK roads - I just love her to much to risk that slight chance of an off. I have also never broken a bone and at 37 and a hockey player I am inclined to keep it that way ( I am touching wood ooer as we speak )
Careful saying stuff like that out loud mate, bad juju and all that. I used to play hockey and broke a few bones. Fortunately none of them were mine.
