Motards - why are they ridden like the way they are?

[lemosley01]

This kind of came out of the 'dirt bike' thread.

Why are motards ridden similar to a dirt bike?

They seem to have similar suspensions to sportbikes, and sticky rubber. So why do you lean away from them and put your foot down like when riding a dirt bike?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[R1oldguy]

Not that I'm a Motard expert, cause I'm not. But, they are set up more like a MXer IMHO. High ground clearance, big time suspension travel, and an upright riding position with bigger bars for more leverage.
They are still jumping them and sliding them. I've never seen one drag a knee yet (not saying they can't, just haven't seen it).
Dats wut I think anywho

[Mantis]

I've seen both styles, and I ride mine like a streetbike. I've also seen people drag knees on them. Hell, I've seen Eric Wood drag pegs on his motard. I think it's just personal preferance or "style".

[Cabanaboy]

I have no experience with Motards, but IMO, from what I see it could have something to do with the fact that the longer traveling suspension makes it a bit 'iffy-er' to kneedrag because it is not as stiff. Meaning, you may have 3 inches of travel on a SS bike suspension (front and rear for an example), but on a motard, you have 6 to 8, so bumps cause further travel, which can lead to lows or highsides depending on situation. Taking my enduros on road, my biggest fear was high speed corner bumps, but my suspension was 15+ years old

[VermillionX]

Here is a vid of Nicky Hayden dragging knee on his Motard.

Click Here

[killernoodle]

The reason for putting your foot down is because motards are prone to sliding around a lot more. If a lowside situation is about to occur, you can plant your foot to right the bike and get more traction. Just like on a dirtbike. Dont do this on a streetbike, they are too heavy and would probably break something in your leg if you attempted this.

[tilejerky]

Originally Posted by VermillionX

Here is a vid of Nicky Hayden dragging knee on his Motard.

Click Here

I think that every single turn on that vid is a left-hander. I'm guessing that it's a little tough to modulate the rear brake when coming into a right-hander.

As for the OT, I've often wondered the same thing. Maybe it just allows the dirt guys to directly transfer their riding style onto the street. I would think that would be reason enough for a hard-core dirt rider to want a supermoto.

As has been pointed out many times, street riding requires a different, somewhat contradictory (to dirt riding) skill set. Maybe the whole point of a supermoto is to allow a dirt guy to ride fast/aggressively on the street without the learning curve of having to aquire a whole new set of skills.

[isaac]

Originally Posted by killernoodle

Dont do this on a streetbike, they are too heavy and would probably break something in your leg if you attempted this.

I always figured your leg would break just as easily if you did this on a bike that only weighed 100lbs less. That's why I've never been crazy enough to try it.

[killernoodle]

Originally Posted by tilejerky

I think that every single turn on that vid is a left-hander. I'm guessing that it's a little tough to modulate the rear brake when coming into a right-hander.

As for the OT, I've often wondered the same thing. Maybe it just allows the dirt guys to directly transfer their riding style onto the street. I would think that would be reason enough for a hard-core dirt rider to want a supermoto.

As has been pointed out many times, street riding requires a different, somewhat contradictory (to dirt riding) skill set. Maybe the whole point of a supermoto is to allow a dirt guy to ride fast/aggressively on the street without the learning curve of having to aquire a whole new set of skills.

You can get a rear brake lever mounted to the handlebars that works in conjunction with the rear brake lever on the pegs. Some MXers have this.

[lemosley01]

Thumbrake? Mick Doohan used one of those after the crash that injured his leg.

[ZxHunteR]

Originally Posted by isaac

I always figured your leg would break just as easily if you did this on a bike that only weighed 100lbs less. That's why I've never been crazy enough to try it.

which is why you NEED MX boots

MX boots are basically a stylish way of putting a solid cast all the way up to your knee.

[serpentracer]

you guys talking about doing this?

[jk750]

^^^
Great pic!

They can be ridden either way on pavement. And they are seriously quick through the turns!

[bobbo84]

I'm super interested in getting an SM, so I've done a bit of reading on them. The way I understand it is that the riders stick the foot out because of ground clearence. They push the bikes so far underneath them that at the extreme lean angles the bikes are capable of, there would be no room for your foot.

As I've read over at supermotojunkie and other sites, upon entering a corner, the riders basically put their nuts on the gas cap to load the front as much as possible, and then push the bike down to turn the corner. The bikes are relatively light, so the word is that unless you load the front whilst at extreme lean angles and high (for an SM) speeds, it'll wash out. Hence why some people who ride them knee out get issues as the front is basically skipping across the pavement.

Of course, as with the video of Nicky and friends, knee out obivously works for some. The above is just what I've garnered from reading a lot about SM bikes and their style.

[VermillionX]

I just think that it looks like a ball of fun. I would love to get one of the Ducati ones just to try it out.