[ally]

Hey everyone. When shifting your weight in tight corners (like on the Dragon), are you actually sitting on the seat at all when the corners are so constant (ie: 318 curves in 11 miles on the Dragon), or do you basically put more of your weight on the pegs so that it's easier and quicker to shift from side to side. I've only been riding since March. I took my first trip to the mountains a couple of weeks ago. Here are a few pictures. I scraped pegs once (a total of twice since I started riding). I wasn't scraping on any of these though I know I was close on the pic from the back. On most twistie roads, I shift my weight from peg to peg to keep the bike more vertical. I'm not comfortable with hanging off yet, but I do a good bit of shifting, and I'm hanging off more and more every time I practice, so I'll get there! However, on the Dragon, I didn't feel I had time to shift my weight at all, so I basically rode and leaned WITH the bike. I know this eats up some of the reserve traction b/c the bike is less vertical than it would be if I were hanging off more. I wonder if it would be easier if I had more of my weight on the pegs than on the seat? I'm just wondering if you all have any tips for constantly changing corners on how to shift weight/hang off when the road is constantly turning! HEre are some pics from my trip. I'm open to critique and suggestions since I'm new and want to be the best, safest rider I can while still having a helluva lot of fun!

 

[gixxer4Christ]

Read the book, "A Twist of the Wrist II" by Keith Code. Go to Amazon and you can get it. It is an awsome book with plenty of pointers to work on.

 

[rockscaler]

total control is much more newbie friendly its usually in stock at barnes and noble, def. shift off the seat more than in the pictures and turn later to stay closer to the white line so someone running into your lane does not cause a head-on.

 

[ally]

Hell, I meant to post this in the general forum, not in the pictures. Anyone know how to move this post there? Thanks!

 

[rockscaler]

its always nice to see a female enjoy the twisties, I was at the dragon twice in the past year and there was lots of girls with very nice bikes, some of them race reps but seeing them go through the turns was always dissapointing or scary. You look like you have really learned your bike and could only improve by learning more advanced techniques. I'd say that you might have to get a suit with knee pucks after you read one of the books or take a trackday school.

 

[gixxer4Christ]

+1 on staying close to the white line!!

 

[Unreal]

Take a class ASAP. Your body position is very poor. That being said, when riding agressively (track) your butt basically only touches the seat during straight aways. You need to lead with your chin/head/shoulder a lot more. Work on getting your forearm inline with the grip and your head down by the mirror. For now you don't have to work on moving your butt, but make sure your getting your upper body way over. In the last picture it actually looks like your leaning the wrong way.

 

[ally]

Thanks!

Thanks so much, "Unreal". I agree my body positioning needs a lot of work. I've been practicing after watching quite a few tutorial videos, reading more books (on Twist of the Wrist now), and taking advice from some experts, and I've improved. Here's a question. When you shift your weight, do you do so just prior to your lean-in so that the bike isn't potentially upset while you're in the middle of leaning? How many years have you been riding? I think I need a track day to really get my skills up to par, but there are no tracks around here. :-(

 

[Rhode Warrior]

Thanks so much, "Unreal". I agree my body positioning needs a lot of work. I've been practicing after watching quite a few tutorial videos, reading more books (on Twist of the Wrist now), and taking advice from some experts, and I've improved. Here's a question. When you shift your weight, do you do so just prior to your lean-in so that the bike isn't potentially upset while you're in the middle of leaning? How many years have you been riding? I think I need a track day to really get my skills up to par, but there are no tracks around here. :-(

You start to shift your body weight in one smooth motion just as you begin to lean into the turn.

You need to be looking at where you want to go and lead with your head and shoulders.

 

[gixxer4Christ]

It will come. Just stay in the saddle. Look on through the turn, and kiss your mirror so to speak. You'll get it and it will start to become comfortable.

 

[binx_19]

why not combine the two threads about this?

 

[Jim Moore]

Here's a question. When you shift your weight, do you do so just prior to your lean-in so that the bike isn't potentially upset while you're in the middle of leaning?

Great question. I asked an instructor the same thing at a racing school last year. I asked when to get my body in position for the next turn. He said, "As soon as the excitement calms down from the last one." Freaking great answer. Watch the MotoGP race tomorrow. They'll show some shots from the "butt cam" Those guys are never sitting square on the seat, unless they are on a LONG straightaway.

 

[ally]

Hey everyone! Yesterday, I took the Richard B. Russell mt road in North Ga, the Suches Loop, Blood Mt, and Wolfpen Gap for those of you familiar with North Ga mts. I read Twist of the Wrist this past week which had some AWESOME pointers for body positioning in corners, etc, plus I watched quite a few you tube training videos and read and took some of your advice. It didn't take long at all to see what the "fuss" is about in weight shifting. Talk about an incredible way to ride and still have more traction than I know what to do with! LOL! I got to the point of hanging half an ass cheek off the seat, and I even felt comfortable doing so in the esses. In the twisty part, my ass did little more than occasionally brush the seat.
Ok, so I can squat 1.5 times my body weight...ie: my legs are very strong. I take Taekwondo and I train my legs at the gym every week. Even so, I am sore as hell from yesterday! I actually hung off on corners when I really didn't have to b/c my goal was to practice, practice, practice my form any chance I got. After riding twisties for 10 hours straight, I gotta say, that was a helluva leg workout (I consider that a benefit!)
My hubby rode behind me a bit to watch my form, and he commented on just how up-right my Ninj was in the corners since I was hanging off. There were no "oh shit" moments and no dragging of hard parts. I feel great about my cornering practice yesterday, but I need much more practice (and I always will...there's always some fine-tuning that needs to be done). Hubby and I are going to do a track day next Spring, so that will be a great place to do some of that practicing. Anyway, thanks so much for all of your advice! It really paid off! Next time I got to the Dragon, you'll see quite a different chick in the pictures I'll post.

 

[binx_19]

congrats, once you go track you dont go back.

 

[ally]

Then...and now...

Better?
I included a pic (pretty obvious which one) from my first mountain experience about a year ago. Some of you may remember me asking for advice. Boy, did I ever get it! After a year of reading, practicing, and riding, thanks so much for helping me improve! I still have "miles to go", so to speak, but I've come a long way and had fun doing it! I know I need to work on lowering my upper body closer in towards the mirror. Anyway, thanks for all of the previous advice, tactful and not. It all helped improve my riding!

 

[ShawnF4I]

Ally....I don't know if you need to be even going to places like the dragon if you have only been riding since march...just my 2 cents.

 

[Unconnected]

^ A little unobservant.

Again, GREAT improvement Ally, i'll say it again you look pro!!

 

[stamford]

Better?
I included a pic (pretty obvious which one) from my first mountain experience about a year ago. Some of you may remember me asking for advice. Boy, did I ever get it! After a year of reading, practicing, and riding, thanks so much for helping me improve! I still have "miles to go", so to speak, but I've come a long way and had fun doing it! I know I need to work on lowering my upper body closer in towards the mirror. Anyway, thanks for all of the previous advice, tactful and not. It all helped improve my riding!

Looking better on body position.

Just keep in mind the more you lower your upper body the less of a site line you have in being able to see the pavement and other things ahead of you. As your skill increases and the lower you lean using track body position vs the position I have in my avitar have huge differences in what you can and cant see.

In the end it becomes a personal choice / compromise between sight lines (safety) and lowering your COG to get as much corner speed as possible.


Oh and I hope your practicing those late apexes

 

[GrandeGixxer]

Here is my advice, get out of the canyons please and take it to your nearest track!

 

[ally]

2 cents has no value

Ally....I don't know if you need to be even going to places like the dragon if you have only been riding since march...just my 2 cents.

Your 2 cents ain't worth #$%&. I've been riding for a year and a half.