I had a good old crack on the multi a week or so ago. No idea where my knee is in relation to the tarmac, probably 3ft away. Might have to set up an action cam so I can watch myself and my body position back. I used to scrape the pegs on my 848 so I know the bike is going over far enough. My tyres on the multi look like i've had it on track and are 'gooey' to the edge so it's not an issue on this bike either. Oddly, I lean better in LH corners as I know I cross my body up when I do RH'ers.
Just swap them over, that's what I've done with mine. You'd never guess Castle Combe was a predominantly right-handed track would you...[emoji23] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I do think I'm all wrong, recently I'm trying to stick my arse out more because I feel I'm not in line with the bike. Maybe stick the GoPro on the back or get the wife to stand on the side of the roundabout and hope no one stops beside her.
I've come to the conclusion that I'm the wrong shape to get my knee down... ever ! Been on several track days and track based training days and never managed it, same with roundabouts in France and long sweeping constant radius road corners. Final conclusion came at Le Mans 24 hr moto this year, in a Suzuki stand they had a gixxer 600 leant over on mounted brackets to look like it was going through an apex printed on the floor for photo opps - even on that and hanging right off the thing to the point of losing balance I couldn't get my knee to touch the floor Just decided I'm the wrong shape - know your limits and move on I think...
Good guide to body position here: How To Get Your Knee Down | RideApart Ergonomics plays a big part. I find it quite natural to get the correct body position on the Streetfighter. I barely have to make any effort at all and my weight is lifted and I can just float sideways off the seat without any strain on the thighs. The bike feels stable and its easy to keep my body parallel to the axis of the bike. Drop the inside elbow down, turn my heel in and the inside knee (well, knee slider) is pointing at the tarmac. I find it harder to do on the Superduke and impossible on the SMT. I can't get my inside knee to stick out. Its stays pointing forwards and I'd be off the edge of the tyre and onto the pegs before its anywhere near the deck. Its because on the upright bike I'm struggling to hang off parallel, probably because it takes more effort to get my weight off the seat and/or because the footpegs are in the wrong position - that is, too low. In the "crossed up" pic on page 2 in the above link you can see the rider's pelvis is twisted slightly away from the corner so his nearside bum cheek is further forward than his off side. That makes it impossible to get his knee out at the required angle, unless he's a contortionist. When he's properly parallel in the "good" position his knee just flops out at the correct angle. A good test is doing it on the side stand. You should be able to hang there parallel to the centre line of the bike with your offside knee locked into the tank without straining and take both hands off the bars. I can do that on the SF and I can hang off further and further without touching the handlebars until I'm tipping the bike off the stand. On the SMT I can't get close. I can see I'm twisted but when I try to get straight it hurts my hip joint. I reckon rearsets would sort the riding position for the Superduke but on the SMT I think I'm just 20 years too late. I'm not supple enough to overcome the ergonomics and low foot pegs to get in the right position.
Different bikes make a big difference. 999 is easy, 996 less so. GSXR takes loads of effort/commitment. My old FZR600R was a doddle.
Hooligan!! Well done that man! Body position is key, as others have said, it's easy to have your bum hanging miles off the seat, but still have your shoulders to close to the centre and so not be able to get your knee down. Never managed it on the road myself, do it when racing/on track (as far as I remember...). The true zen is when you don't get your knee down, but you stick your knee out and the tarmac comes to meet it[1]... (only managed that in one race). [1]FTAOD, when rider is still on bike and bike is still rubber-side down...
I have same sliders and my left gets a much harder time than the right, you see where this is going :thumbsup:
