I'm trying to explore the lean limits of the Blade (2011 mod). Has anyone touched the deck with standard footpegs - with the spider leg on the bottom? I know there are certain variables to this, such as tyre choice and rider weight, but I'm wondering if the bike'll let go before the pegs touch. (PS. I won't be testing this in the wet!!) Cheers.
First trackday i done on the blade i scraped those bits hanging off the pegs, nearly lost it so took then straight off.
There are other variables too. I’m 6’2 and I can have my knee down in a hairpin with the bike not leaned over that much at all so it depends on the rider technique too.
I have scraped the fairings on a few track bikes, a lot does depend on speed/type of corner, etc It would be correct to say that the rider is generally the limiting factor not the bike Rob
Interesting perspective Rob, and true. The type of corner, and camber, is another of those 'variables' I had not weighed up. I raised the original question because I'm interested to know how far the bike will go before we lose it. No one wants to throw away a 'good' bike while exploring its capabilities, but we do like to find the bike's limits. Back in the 'olden days' we could grind away half the footpeg and centre stand on a CB 750 - and still be safe. With today's technology, better centre of gravity and higher clearance, riders might be tempted to go too far to test a bike's capabilities. I suspect the footpegs' 'spider legs' (or whatever their proper name is) are there to signify approaching limits.
I have not done any track racing, or riding, just road. I found that I could really get those tyre Chicken Strips down to almost nothing - strangely by sitting more upright, and leaning myself and the bike over. On the other hand, If a did a bit of sliding off the seat, I could be quicker round the corner, but the Chicken Strips would not reduce so much - indicating that the bike had not leaned over so much. In conclusion I would say that that if you are going to start sliding off the seat a bit then you will get yourself extra lean, than if you sit completely flat and upright. At school it was considered quite cool to have the soles of your DMs worn down from banking your bike low enough to wear out the sides of your boots. Fine until one day, wearing something more grippy - they gripped the road and nearly ripped my foot off So now keep my feet away from the surface of the road.
Topic tangent: on the ‘knee down’ subject; I remember years ago trying to scuff my sliders for the first time but it just wasn’t happening. Got advice from fellow riders, scoured the internet and I thought I was doing everything properly in regard to body position, corner enters speed etc. I had destroyed a right boot trying as I had worn my toe slider right through until I had my eureka moment. What no one ever seems to mention is that you had to have to slide your inner foot back on the peg so you are on your tip toe, which in turn gets your toe out of the way (for more clearance) and more importantly allows you to pivot your hips properly and climb right off the bike.
Sometimes you only find your limits when you reach them and end up on your butt I tend to hang off and use my knee as a guide, drop your elbow and shoulder and the bike will follow you Todays modern bikes are fantastic machines with tyres/chassis/geometry/suspension far better than us mere mortals Even my 1991 zxr can lean for ever Rob
Yes, totally agree! It's all to do with physiology. I guess the taller guys (even with rearsets) are a bit cramped up, but we all adapt to what we've got. Cheers!
Another Eureka moment was a tinted visor. Previously just wore ordinary sun glasses under a clear visor - the tops of the rims would block vision when leaning forward on a sports bike (ok while riding a more upright bike, but limiting on a sports bike). So put in a tinted visor and that made a huge difference to me, rather than a pair of shades where the big rims got in the way. Probably not all sun glasses are as limiting (if you wear glasses normally) - but chopping out a cheap pair of sunnies for a tinted visor made a big difference to being able to see as you move around the bike.
Take off the spider leg (as you're calling them!). They're ugly and seem to serve no purpose. I can confirm the bike will lean to the point where they catch and I can't see anything they're protecting. For what it's worth, I've had it over to the point where the back end has gone and I'm in the middle of a low side and somehow I've pulled a Marquez and pushed it back upright with my knee. Not a scrape on the bike.
Thanks lexathon. Bang on what I wanted to know. Now I'll just keep and eye out for prosthetic knees! Yes, I saw Marquez's save. Very good, but the golden cup goes to Loris Baz: Unfortunately, that's about all he'll be known for!
Sp blade here, Defo take off the hero blobs on the foot pegs you don't want them digging in, in Jerez recently I scraped the foot peg but as said above it depends on the corner and grip and bloody good slick tyres. Could I do it on the road no and I wouldn't want to, also as said above chicken strips on your tyres you want 10/5mm left because if you keep going to the edge it will end in tears
Saw this video today and thought I'd post it in this thread due to it's relevance but also to raise awareness of the fact that this level of lean is simply not acceptable on public roads. This rider shows little to no care for his / her life or that of other road users. Keep this for the track folks: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1925050087776104
Just had to laugh out loud to that video on the train home from Manchester Christmas markets to Urmston. You've got to admire the lads enthusiasm for trying to get his knee down, bloody funny though gcon45 !!
