Problem with getting me knee down

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

Hey guys just thought that someone could help me or give me advice. For the past few days i have really been trying to get rid of the chicken stips and to get my knee down to the road. Now i've searched the web for guides and stuff but thought i could learn from personal prefferances and experiance.

At the moment i *think* im doing all the right things like ball of foot on the pegs, leaning round the tank and *trying* not to put my weight on the on the handlebars. Problems are is if im on a right hand turn what is the exact position of the left leg (if anything). Also where do you shift your weight to? also i have one bum cheek on the seat and one bum cheek off and also im fully sat back on the seat not up too close with the tank.. but no matter how i try i cant seem to get my actuall knee down to the floor when i stick my knee out all that seems to happen is it goes further down/ in on the tank/fairing. and not towards the ground.

im not sure if it is because im short, as im only 5'7 or so and im on a nsr125

cheers,

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

You need to stick your knee OUT, it feels really odd at first but once you do it for the first time, it becomes instantly natural!

You can stay up against the tank, slide off the seat and lean your body forwards slightly, rest your left arm on the tank if it's more comfy. Left leg just stays where it is really, use your knee to grip the tank to keep you steady and stick your knee out and back a bit if that makes sense.

Good luck but don't go trying to hard as the roads aren't all that brilliant just yet.

Also, don't try too hard otherwise you'll just get frustrated and tense, relax and try every now and then

Another tip is get someone to take pictures of you, then you can see where your going right/wrong.

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

hey mate your not the same yamswheelyr1 on the r6 message net forum are you? lol been checking out that site real good for tips on this kinda thing lol.

Anyways so i take it height and stuff like dont make a differance then?

Also should i just contine to bank the bike till my knee does actually hit on the road?

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Another thing you might want to do is lock your outside elbow in on the side of the tank. That is supposed to help you keep weight off of the bars. I have never done it myself, but I recon I've come close, I just have really short legs. I never spend too much time trying, usually about four laps of the roundabout. Perhaps I just need practice... Smile

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Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Yeah I am that yams, official r6 message net member now as I put a deposit on one this morning Cool

You really need some pics of yourself to get an idea of how far you are actually over, as normaly it feels like your well over, when your not.

I'm no expert really, but I got some good advice from a mate and basically its mostly in body positioning, you don't have to have the bike WELL over to get your knee down if you hang off a lot, but leaning it over is a better way of doing it in my opinion and hanging off less.

Learn to countersteer as that'll help a lot, relax and really really stick your knee OUT and not down the fairing, and look round the roundabout or corner as you'll automatically lean further that way.

Just keep practicing, but don't practice too much!

Left knee tight into tank, lean forwrads and stick your knee out and look ahead where your going and not at the ground like so:

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/yamswheelyr1/craigkdsparkycrapquality.jpg

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Oh and by the way, height doesnt really make a great deal off difference, just means a different technique. I'm only 5" 6 ish and don't have a problem. Altho I normally lean over a fair bit, but I don't see why you'd have a problem unless you have stumpy legs Razz

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

Lol.

Probbably just need to bank the bike a little more i guess then.

I want to get the R6 for my next bike but before i do. i really want to master doing stuff like this so i can ride the r6 to its full potential. Smile

start doing counter steering prop once i have got this straight.

main prob i had was the arms as i put too much weight on the handlebars. ill try the techniques you guys suggested. Hopefully it'll work.

btw any other suggestions still welcome need all the help i can get Laughing

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

If you learn counter-steering first, knee down will become a whole lot easier.

In fact I think you *need* to do a bit of counter steering to get your knee down in the first place. I think anyway, not sure.

Good luck with it though, get some pics Cool

kev · I Hump Things Joined: 07 Oct 2002 Karma :

If you live down south pm me and i will take you out and show you how its done.
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Smoto Bob · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Karma :

i dont know what every one else done but its a peice of piss. Go to a round round about. Ware your tires. Then going around the round about left go of any force you put on the bars ie dont sterr only leaning then just go faster and faster. Once you r pegs go down you lent over damb far and if your nee ant down by then, stick it out a bit more.

( or if your boots arnt grinding Smile

lol )
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Git · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Karma :

The thing i found with getting the puck down in the early days was the more you try the harder it seems to become, you may find you are trying so hard to do it you are concentrating more on body posistion and how far you are from the floor.

The only advice i can really give is to relax, hang one bum cheek off seat stick knee right out and be smooth, just find a round about with a good surface and ride faster and faster round it, you may get to a point where you are thinking the bike wont go over any lower and it will feel like the bike will drop if you do, knee down angle is just the otherside of that feeling, have balls and lay it over where it feels a bit unsafe, being relaxed and smooth is the key i believe, and above all don't try! it will happen naturally when you are ready.

Alternatively try and follow someone that has their knee planted, from behind you will get a good idea of what speed is needed and the body posistion of the other rider.
It may help to wait until the road temperatures have risen a bit, cold tyres, cold tarmac probably wont do the confidence much good at a guess.

Disclaimer, i hold no responsibility if all goes pear shaped.
Have fun!

Zimma · Wheelie Junkie Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

https://www.zimmah.co.uk/zxrkd.jpg

....
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cliff · Doctor Sicknote Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I managed to get my knee down for the first time!!!! Very Happy

Only problem is, my sh*tty little dna has a stupid stand, so i can only lean to the right if i want to get some scrape. Cool

Lovely stuff.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

The way I first did it was to 'Hang off like a monkey'... don't just get one arse cheeck off, get your hole body off hte seat, so it's just your other leg over the seat... and stick your knee out as far as possible towards the ground.. it does help if you and your leathers are fairly flexible.
Ie, with tight leathers you may not be able to strecth your legs so wide.
Once you've got your knee down the first time it all feels a bit more natural and you can adjust your style to suit.

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Most people don't go round fast enough to begin with. Go round as fast as you can, countersteering like a bastard until you feel safe going that quick Mr. Green

Then get into the position G suggested and hang off a bit. Use your other leg (not the kneedown one) to put pressure on the peg to keep you stable. Hang off as much as you can and prepare to touch down.. S'not really much more you can do tbh.
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Stew · Posted: 14:01 - 23 Feb 2004 Post subject:

There are loads of online guides to kneedown instructions with loads of theory and uses (example. https://www.carolinariders.com/Track%20Time/KneeDown1.htm ). Have a good read, get yourself in the right frame of mind and find a suitable, quiet roundabout. Go round a couple of times at a slower pace to warm the tyres edge and check the roundabouts surface and gradually get faster and faster. Once you feel happy with the speed try to get your body position correct with at least one cheek off the seat and your inside foot almost sideways on the peg. Stick your knee out and lean as again you build up speed. The most important thing to do now is to relax, you wont get your knee down if you are all tense.
The first time I got my kneedown I wasn't expecting it as I had a planned area on the roundabout that it was going to happen but my knee touched down on the opposite side when I was probably more relaxed and trying less.

Good luck on your quest for knee down, just be careful and dont crash.
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Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Definetly take it easy, if you try too hard, you'll find it a lot more dfficult!
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Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Go for G's method 1st. Saves scary peg-down moments. I have to hang right off the bike, only holding myself on with my left calf. Your left foot is best on the peg on tiptoes. Point your right foot in and on your toes again. This also helps with the way your knee goes "out".
Et Voila:
https://www.escapethewomb.com/~crotchrockets/images/kneedownschool/kds17.JPG

The hardest bit is getting the right speed and countersteering the bike into the corner. You need to make sure you're off the bike before you start to turn, then only make little adjustments while you're going.

Have fun Very Happy

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chunkielad · Nearly there... Joined: 30 Jul 2002 Karma :

If I leant my bike that much Dean, I'd grind the pegs off and get rather hurt!!! The GS defo isn't designed to do that - I need to do the CBR900 rearset conversion first I think!!!

Anyone got some lying around?
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Remember you always and will ride in your honour.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

You can still try until you do get your pegs down...
Providing you don't go any further and nowt else goes down first it will at least look sparky-impressive Wink

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nsr125sp · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Karma :

Hey,
Last summer i wonderd if i could get my knee down on my ped, and boy did it work Very Happy

, had some scary moments Embarassed

when i went over the edge of tyre but no spills.. got though loads of skateboards pads, This summer i have an nsr and a proper set of leathers with fresh knee sliders on.. I cant wait....
See ya
Ollie

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

LOL I don't like peds at all, but that's class Laughing

Bet you can't wait to try on the NSR
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nsr125sp · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Karma :

2 right, just gotta wait for some proper weather, Thumbs Up

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

That roundabout surface looks a bit dodgy Shocked

Your not sticking your knee out and are barely leant over.

Stick your knee REALLY far out till you can go any further, balls off feet on pegs and one butt cheek off the bike and look around the roundabout, then counter-steer and you'll go a lot lower and near to knee down.

Don't try too hard just yet, roads are a bit dodgy
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