Off to attempt some Knee Downs

[shaba2000]

Its a beautiful day and after examing hours of videos im off to attmept some knee downs.
Im thinking 20 odd miles to warm the tyres up while in search of a lonely roundabout. Probably up hertfordshire somewhere!


Anyone got any tips please feel free to throw them at me. I will let you guys know how it goes. Hope to see a few bikers out there today as I know the guys who have recorded and watched MOTOGP will be out there
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[neatbik]

Good luck mate - ive tried and tried but it hasnt happened yet, although to be fair im not really that bothered anymore

[2006 _p1]

got to be confident to do that on a road bike lol

[shaba2000]

OK so after riding for around 30 miles looking for a quiet, big safe roundabout I found one in Hatfield.

So naturally started going round it a few times leaning the bike more and more each time and could feel the bike was really low but I coundnt get my knee out enough to touch the ground! by this time I had drawn up a bit of a crowd with all the young kids there watching this nutter going round a round about for ten minutes!

I thought to go and have a capri-sun and fag and work up some courage to go back and do it. But nope didnt happen, infact I started getting worse with my knee that was supposed to be on the tank going out and all other the place.

Decided it wasnt going to happen today and I shouldnt rush it so had a nice ride home with plenty of nods from fellow bikers.

I will reattempt next week and let you guys know how I get on.
I think part of me was worried as I didnt take anyone with me I kept thinking if I go down it would be good to have a friendly face there. Im not worried of falling or leaning the bike but just more the case of being stranded in Hatfield!
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[MaybeGuy]

get your knee out before you go into the corner. looks kind of gay, but thats how i first did it, it lets you see if your doing it ''right''

then, you know for a fact that the bike is capable of it, so just trust it, keep going lower till you feel it touch

awesome feeling the first time, i only learned a few months ago when i first got my 600. was near impossible on my 400 because it leaked oil onto the wheels at speed.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[virus]

when you lean your upper body over, try not to lean sideways, lean as if you are trying to look at something about 6 inches over from the front wheel.

you should be turning your body into the corner, not leaning over whilst your shoulders face straight, this should help.

Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[shaba2000]

nice one guys, I will take all advice on board and attempt it next week.

My body position feels right and I look aorund the the corner but watching MOTO GP the guys really stick their legs out which feels strage to me as my feet postion on the peg seems wrong.

I might try it later today again but the snookers on now come on sullivan!!
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[Ghost]

I've heard it said countless times that you shouldn't go out with the sole aim of 'getting your knee down'. Just aim to get as much lean and get round the corner as quickly and as smoothly as you can and the kneedown will come eventually. I haven't got my knee down yet either so don't take this as gospel it's just what I've heard. Good luck with the riding and get some pictures when you do it

[iooi]

Don't want to be kill joy....

Just remember the roads arn't at there best at the moment. Still plenty of gressy and oily patches out there.
Spill counter going up fast is a good indication of that.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Ghost]

Yeah good call iooi, don't come bombing onto your local roundabout and attempt to kneedown around it straight away, do a lap first and check there's no damp spots or gravel and crap coming away from the exits like there sometimes is I've done a bit of roundabout surfing this afternoon but still nowhere near to getting my knee down, just feels like the bike is going to slide if I lean it any further even though I'm probably only 10 degrees from upright

[colin1]

quite a few people on the spill counter are there from trying to get their knee down

i admit, id like to do it one day but its probably something i'd leave to on the track
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[neatbik]

Just be carefull!!

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/gixxer002.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/gixxer003.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/slider2/gixxer001.jpg

[Ben.]

dont try it on a semi - busy roundabout, people stare on petrified, confused and come very close to hitting you
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[binge]

Remember getting my knee down for the first time. 7 days after passing my test actually.
I also remember getting my left knee down too, 10 days after passing my test.

Then exactly 2 months (to the day) after passing, I remember doing this.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/binge/2008/DSC00095.jpg


Okay it does look quite cool when done properly, And a set of leathers always look better with worn in sliders. But just take it easy and once you learn, Dont feel the need to splash your knee down at every opportunity because it will bite you in the ass very soon!

[leatherpatche...]

It looks cool. Sliders look better when roughed up.

If you're trying to get your knee down because it looks good, then forget it. You're on to a real loser.

In everyday road conditions you don't ever need to put your knee on the floor - or even near it. You can remove all signs of chicken strips and even scrape your pegs on most bikes without.

Save the knee-down for the track, where it has a use.

Just my opinion.

[AngelGrinder]

Is this the roundabout near the Galleria? Opposite T-mobile building?

If you carry on to Potters Bar, and go through the High Street, and head to the M25, there is a very good roundabout!

I've not tried personally, as I want a KD to come from going round a bend, not from me forcing myself to get my knee down.
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Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[MaybeGuy]

hmm... i do KD because its fun, not because i need to.

i also think that having one chicken strip is faggy

that means im faggy though, because im not so great at doing it left
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Matt06]

Ball of your foot on the edge of the peg and arse off seat. Lean off the bike with your shoulders and hips parallel.
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Current: MT-10, Bandit, Grom, GPZ500
Previous: YBR125, GSXR400, ZXR400, MT-03, NTV650, R6, z750, ZX6R, MT-09

[leatherpatche...]

[MaybeGuy]

[The Tot]

I remember back in the day on my 125 when we used to have a little BCF herts clique. We used to all meet at the petrol station at Park Street on the top of the A5 Watling Street (just before St Albans) - few of us were from Edgware/Harrow and the rest were Potters Bar/St Albans.

https://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2004%5C09%5C20%5Cbikepics-214816-800.jpg

I presume THAT'S the location you're on about? There's that business park just beyond the galleria with 2, maybe 3 roundabouts. I don't know what it is now, but it's near a pub/restaurant (beefeater or something?). Anyway, it's pretty well patrolled. We got forced to move out by security after the 2nd time of asking because we were allegedly "becoming a nuisance" in an area where nobody drives through. Either way, that was our KD spot, conveniently located around 5 CCTV cameras!

The likes of Smotobob and Claude 14.7 to 1 were constantly razzing it down there.

If i really tried, i would have been able to get my knee down. Notice the piss poor attire. This was about a week after getting my bike.

Now i don't even try to get my knee down on my bikes on the roads after having two offs on dubious road conditions where it was a case of me underestimating the surface.

I don't feel that i have the need to get my knee down because i'm confident that i'm fast enough for the roads to still be dangerous to myself and other road users. A few of my mates who ride pretty quick have admitted that they aint even got their knees down, not even on track.

It can be a recipe for disaster and i know EXACTLY how much it costs to repair a ZX6R F3 after a spill
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Tristan.]

Just a quick question on the subject, sorry to jack the thread, but should knee down come before peg down, cos both my pegs scrape, and I lean round the tank if the corner warrents it, but my knee doesnt touch down, should I stick my leg out more, if so I wont bother, dont want to look silly.

[DEN MONKEY]

This might help. Dont think it was posted above

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M
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meh

[shaba2000]

The roundabout I went to was when you come off the slip road of the a1m i think it is you have the option to turn left to the uni or go straight. I go straight down the road and its there. You would have to turn left off that road to get to the petrol station. Hope that makes sense.

There is a massive tesco warehouse there so lorries do come down it but I did check it for spills etc before I attempted it.

I think from the pics above I will get some crash bungs just in case! however im doing it to boost my confidence in riding, and not go knee down on every roundabout.

To be honest just the fact i leaned so much was a boost and hopefully will make me a better rider around sharp corners etc.

Was going to head down today but got stuck looking after the dog!

Also what tracks are there close to North london and how does it all work? would love to head down to a track and get some advice from the pro's.
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kawasaki Ninja-zx6r 1997 (f3)

[G]

If you're quite flexible - stick your knee out as far as possible .
If not, try not to get your arse too far off the seat (one cheek or so), then angle your move your upper body as far as comfortable - this will angle your body out which will mean your knee is pointing towards the road more.

As ever, go slowly and increase your speed a little at a time - you should feel plenty of signs before it's likely to loose traction totally.