How'd you control a bike with no hands on the bars?

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

Slightly bored and figured I'd develop my confidence in the stability of the bike, riding along down a hill, and gently took both hands off the bars. Bike carried on going downhill, feeling planted, hands on the tank, still going dowhill in a straight line, playing with my fuel cap, still going in a straight line....
....until i move slightly and the bike leans round as if it has a mind of its own and has randomly decided downhill is a boring direction, and it much rather prefers the boot of the saxo that i'm approaching.

So a bike that randomly changes direction when you move but goes in a straight line when you don't leads me to guess that there's some way of controlling a bike with no hands on the bars? I tried weighing the pegs and moving around slightly,and the bike still decided it wanted to go around on its own route (shagged head bearings might have something to do with this?)

Either way, I think it'll be a while before I try that one again
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"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[G]

Use your hips to lean the bike, by leaning the top of your body the other way.

Then as it starts to turn you can bring your body back in line to some degree.

[JonB]

I find it pretty simple, well on my moped anyway. I did lots on my Mountain bike so that helped. It's all about balance and weight distribution. Like when you lean into a corner the same applies here, just don't leane *too* much or you will fall over.

I also find I lean more to the right because the exhaust is on that size, so compensate for that too.
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[Jammy-G]

Yeah it becomes pretty easy when your practise. You can go for miles with no hands ! Try no handed on a straight road, then lean back and put your hands behind your head when riding ! FUN ! If your feeling really dangerous, you could lift up for feet and put them on the screen too
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RooRoo: just like the time i stuck my finger up my arse with no lube at all and she didnt talk to me for hours

[Kickstart]

Hi

You don't really need the bars to change direction when doing a reasonable speed (although it will change direction quicker using them).

Bikes corner because they are leaning and because of the shape of the tyres.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[G]

I've tried steering with my feet on the bars, but only once and it all went a bit wobbly .

[dodsi]

[dodsi]

[The Tot]

I did the feet on bars thing trying to steer with my legs suspended over the bars when i had my ped - but to no success. Still looked cool when going in a straight line .
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[instigator]

Way I do it is not to lean too far back on the bike so the front gets lighter and easier to turn. Just stay in normal riding position and look where you wanna go.

Far too easy to concentrate on your tyre and what direction its pointing.

[Frost]

When i do it, i steer using my knees. hang one knee out witht he other tucked in, pulling a little pressure on the peg on the stuck out knee side, and the bike gently tips into the corner. Return to normal position to continue that amount of lean, do the opposite you resume going in a straight line.

On sweeping bends i could corner just as well without hands ont he bars. The only problem is that the bike gradually slows down, and if someone pulls out on you, your fucked

[aqualung1]

coolest bit is when you get good at it it gives you two hands to fondle your pillion


this usually ends up with me being slapped but can prove interesting
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"still no idea where poohsticks bridge is"
www.bosunsbikes.com

[stinkwheel]

I kind of pull mine round the corner by rolling my hips and pushing down on one of the pegs. A sports bike is less easy to steer with no hands due to the steep rake angle.

That said, it is possible to overtake a car at 90mph on a GPZ500s whilst sat on the pillion holding the grab rail. I know because I have. (not recommended, although it is both big and clever )
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[carnislick]

no1 on here can work stuff out for themselves, sorry dont flame me but its true.

But. lol. my CG has "cruise control" well it has a sticky throttle so when i pull it right back it sticks open, i get some funny looks commuting down the a6 every morning 55mph arms folded, feet on pillion pegs.

im thinking of taking a newspaper lol.

i also got a funny look off my mate before her knew about it because i over took him, still accelerating, no handed.

Paul

oh just a tip, the faster you go, the easier it is.
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Paul

[G]

The faster you go, the easier it is to go in astraight line, the harder it is to turn.

[Barker-CBR 600]

Faster is easyer To a degree.

Once you reach really high speeds then winds buffeting you start to become an issue, moving you / forcing you around and therefore making it harder to stay on.

Then again no hands at really high speeds is a bit odd anyways, what if someone unexpected happens? (like some animal runs out into road or something?)
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[V4]

Learnt this on my nsr, drag the back brake very gently, your bars absolutely will not turn, go try it!

LEON

[G]

I've done similar to Stinkwheel mentioned ... overtaking a family sitting on the pillion seat amuses/worries the kids . Naughty, but you only live once, as they say.

Anyway, showing how it's easier to turn at slower speed without hands :
https://www.giffould.com/gallone/nohandkneedown.jpg
Knee down, courtesy of Korn.

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

!!!!

Maybe I should buy a really cheap rock solid bike to practise these on? .
____________________
https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[G]

The mini bikes are actually really unstable.
Advice from the others when riding off road was 'leave the front end alone and hope it goes the right way' .