July 20th, 2011, 03:39 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: X
Location: Toronto
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 SE Lime Green/Diablo Black Posts: 126
|
I'm obsessed with dragging my knee
And I can't seem to do it.
I've been riding for a while and think of myself to be a competent rider. I've been practicing proper body positioning for quite some time, and at my last race on a CBR125, I was so far off the bike that my bum was no longer on the seat. I was so low to the ground, I could almost taste it! But that knee never touched. My toes did a few times (reminding me to bring them further in) as did my feelers. I tried to do the same on my 250, except in a parking lot at slow speed. I need to find a bigger and more flat parking lot because I kept getting freaked out even though I was keeping it at 30 km/h. My circles were not tight at all. The biggest reason I want to do this is to be faster at my race on Aug 13. I'm back on the 125, and I want to be dragging knee this time. It's a brand new track with fresh asphalt. I can make this happen. The issue I was having was simply stepping out of my comfort zone. In the tight infield, I can keep my speed up no problem, and that's where I was getting really low. But the fast corners is where I let off. The 125s barely top out at 120 km/h, especially with my 210lbs self, yet I'd still let off the gas and slow down into the corner. Apparently, the other guys were going almost flat out into them. How can I just get over this hump and get my knee down? |
|
July 20th, 2011, 05:27 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
Wrong goal. Work on continuing to maintain higher corner speed, work on proper body position, work on smoothness, and work on better lines on track. As things get faster and more comfortable, eventually the bike will be over enough, that you'll realize your knee is on the deck without you thinking about it.
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
July 20th, 2011, 05:55 PM | #3 |
ratlab
Name: reese
Location: tracy, ca
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): gsxr1000,R3x2,RC390,FZ07,XR100 Posts: 132
|
don't think about it,don't stretch your leg out to try to get your knee down,get your lines down and cornerspeed up and it will happen naturally-when you hit your braking markers right,hit the apex of the corner with good speed you will do it on every corner-have fun,don't stress-it will happen
|
|
July 20th, 2011, 06:21 PM | #4 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
|
if you really want to unnecessarily get your knee down with your current corner speed, you could try riding twisted up... !
__________________________________________________
|
|
July 20th, 2011, 06:45 PM | #5 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
I will show you how to learn it.
I'm uploading a video now I took today. PS Alex (#1) is right.. It sounds like you are leaning the bike too much and not your body enough. Safest way to learn it is in a parking lot going in circles. I can do a figure eight knee drag easily within the width of a normal street going like 10mph. It's not going to help you go any faster for a long long time. It doesn't help me go any faster. theres a video around here Adrian took of me a few weeks ago dragging knee while he was in my a$$ with the video camera because I was going extra slow just trying to drag knee and keep the cops happy.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 20th, 2011, 07:12 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cab
Location: Miami Beach
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Blue 10 250r Posts: 697
|
Try it on the rumble strips, it's a little higher.... lol
I've only barely touched a few times, as I've improved my body position, it has happened more frequently. I can't even explain to people how good track days are for learning. Your street riding will improve by leaps and bounds. |
|
July 20th, 2011, 07:19 PM | #7 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
I'm no expert and I don't even track ride.
I can scrape smooth as hell in a figure eight like nothin' outside the airport though.
Link to original page on YouTube.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 20th, 2011, 07:59 PM | #8 | |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
|
Quote:
p.s. use [ youtube ] <youtubeid> [ / youtube ] tags
__________________________________________________
|
|
|
July 20th, 2011, 08:07 PM | #9 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
How to safely drag your knee smoothly in a figure eight.
It's good for learning and fun. When done right, you can barely even tell it's happening.. It's like butter. All you hear on camera is wind noise there. Sorry I don't have a video of my body position for you. You can get an idea from the shadows somewhat. Your entire body has to be learned into it and looking into the corner. It will feel like the bike is following you, after a while.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 20th, 2011, 08:21 PM | #10 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
I've been practicing a long time and I still don't do it right on either of my bikes.
I give it my best shot, though. That was six months to a year ago. My position has improved even more by now for sure. Every time I ride. Be safe! It can get really ugly really quick.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 21st, 2011, 04:03 AM | #11 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
|
|
July 21st, 2011, 04:39 AM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Eric
Location: Iowa City
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 54
MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16
|
you need a better goal than just the knee
http://youtu.be/dVMXmA5aqYw |
|
July 21st, 2011, 05:15 AM | #13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
|
Draggin a knee is so yesterday. Bikes have such great suspensions and tires now days that you can get so low in corners without dragging your knee. Dragging elbows is the new "in" thing to do on a bike.
__________________________________________________
If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
|
July 21st, 2011, 05:43 AM | #14 |
Ninja Master
Name: Chito
Location: Philippines
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 43
|
|
|
July 21st, 2011, 06:24 AM | #15 |
Perpetual Newb
Name: Jason
Location: Imperial, MO
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 MIB Ninja 250R [sold]; 2006 CBR600RR [sold]; 2013 Triumph Street Triple R Posts: 782
|
I think we're all missing the REAL skill involved here, namely Cab's ability to travel through time.
|
|
July 21st, 2011, 07:54 AM | #16 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
Never tried helmet or shoulder. I am actually trying to keep it right side up on the street. lol. I can let a hand drag on the ground pretty easy though. Starting to learn you don't need hands to drag knees. Reaching out and touching the ground as it goes by at 50 is interesting.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 21st, 2011, 08:16 AM | #17 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: dino
Location: Oceanside, Ca
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Street, '09 250 Race, '13 300 Race Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
BTW: Don't end up like this guy |
|
|
July 21st, 2011, 08:43 AM | #18 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
Looks like he slipped on the paint?
Either that or used his rear brake or tried to shift or something. If the bike is in the right position it won't slip on the paint while you drag knee unless it's some very slick paint or something. Like they say, I guess he was supposed to keep on the gas to ride out of that?! That was so slow I don't know how he didnt. He let that slip go for a while before he got bucked.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 21st, 2011, 08:53 AM | #19 |
CVMA #74 WSMC #750
Name: Nemesis
Location: On the track
Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.
|
Dragging knee is so overrated IMHO. Although I think I'm just jealous cuz I can't do it...LOL
When I first started out riding (first yr or 2) I was obsessed like you. I wanted to drag knee so bad that's all I could think about on and off the track. And in the "pursuit of happiness" I neglected all those other things that mattered the most: Lines, throttle control, braking, etc. So, I said screw knee dragging I want to be fast and eventually dragged knee. Ask anyone that rides/races with me...to this day I still rarely drag my knee. And if it does touch down I lift my knees. I just don't like the feeling of dragging knees. Shoot, I still have my original knee pucks on my suit and they're like 3-4 yrs old. LOL! |
|
July 21st, 2011, 08:54 AM | #20 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
His body position is wrong. His upper body is above his tank.
He also hit the paint with the wrong positioning. Here's the point of traction loss. Maybe he let off throttle right there too hard too to break the traction initially. Likely leaned over too far to drag knees on paint. He coulda pulled it off differently and made it.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 21st, 2011, 09:06 AM | #21 |
CVMA #74 WSMC #750
Name: Nemesis
Location: On the track
Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.
|
Yes BP fundamentals are essential but only to a degree.
I see all kinds of weird BP racing but man can they corner! You even see this in MotoGP and WSBK. Like I and others mentioned, focus on all the other good stuff and eventually you'll touch down. |
|
July 21st, 2011, 09:15 AM | #22 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
He's my shadow from the video above where I successfully drag knees over the paint. My head is well off to the side of the bike. The bike is much more vertical.
If his bike was straighter up and down, the guy in the video would not have slipped on the paint. To do so, he would have had to have better body positioning. Body positioning is 85% of cornering a motorcycle as I have come to find out the hard way. On the unfortunate up side, the hard way is one of the faster ways to learn.
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
July 21st, 2011, 02:48 PM | #23 | ||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
|
Quote:
Also, it is not simply body position that is going to determine whether or not you get your knee down. There are other things that will influence it like lines and more specifically your rate of turn in. You could be hanging all the way off your bike with your knee aiming for the deck but if you turn your bike slowly you will NEVER get your knee down. I'd start by working on things like your throttle control and your lines, then move to getting the bike quick turned while having good BP and soon your knee will be scraping without you even meaning to.... Quote:
Cheers! Misti
__________________________________________________
"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
||
|
July 21st, 2011, 03:53 PM | #24 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cab
Location: Miami Beach
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Blue 10 250r Posts: 697
|
I think we're all missing the REAL skill involved here, namely Cab's ability to travel through time.
LMFAO! I belong to a band called the Wild Stallions perhaps you've heard of us. |
|
July 21st, 2011, 03:54 PM | #25 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Donger
Location: So CAL
Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): "Is that a Ninjer 1000?" Posts: A lot.
|
I love knee dragging too...and when it happens it's usually when you least expect it...... as if you are now one with the bike...atttached...together...in harmony......
Now to find some riding pants! |
|
July 21st, 2011, 07:06 PM | #26 | |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
Adrian you expected it if your pants taped up homeboy, get some leather and plastic! I bet you look sexy suited up.: You won't have knees anymore if you lowside while draggin' son! I don't want to be your wheelchair mechanic. I played on your GMR today without you! I think you're there now! Be safe. Road was clean accept that one usual dirty corner..
__________________________________________________
<Yeah, it's a 250. LMFAO! Weaksauce |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Hitler and knee dragging | toua70 | Videos | 24 | September 2nd, 2013 09:03 PM |
Knee Dragging | Raybot | Riding Skills | 31 | October 11th, 2010 09:33 AM |
Knee Dragging of Deals Gap | minuslars | Videos | 6 | May 21st, 2010 10:47 AM |
Dragging knee.....yeah | Beast | Pictures | 6 | April 21st, 2009 03:04 PM |
[motorcyclistonline] - Knuckle To Knee Dragging - Up To Speed | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | June 19th, 2008 04:53 AM |
|
|