Someone snapped this photo in a corner (Rt. 28A Catskills, NY) and I thought this would be a good place to post it for some negative feedback on my body position. Sorry about the saddle, tail and tank bags but I was on a 3-day ride.

So ... what should I do to improve cornering?

http://greenknights5.com/photos/catskills/catskills08.jpg

You need to hang off more. It's hard to see how much of your butt if off but one buttock should be about right. Along with that, your upper body should be out too, your head out to the side of the windscreen (a.k.a. "kissing the mirror".

This way you get less lean angle on the bike itself at the same speed = more grip.

Can't see your feet either but you should have the balls of your feet on the pegs, not the arches. That both gives much better control when you move around and increases ground clearance. You just move your foot to shift (rear brake shouldn't be used much in the twisties anyway).

Looking through the corner like it seems you do is good so keep doing that :cool

:cheers

Thanks! The balls of my feet have always been on the pegs and I have one cheek off the seat.

You're the second one to mention my upper body. The other riders comment was to keep the outside eye over the inside corner of the windscreen. I assume kissing the mirror would put me at that point or even more.

Thanks! The balls of my feet have always been on the pegs and I have one cheek off the seat.

You're the second one to mention my upper body. The other riders comment was to keep the outside eye over the inside corner of the windscreen. I assume kissing the mirror would put me at that point or even more.

:thumbup

This is a pretty good pic for showing it, actually :cool

12010


I noticed you're in NH. Near Nashua, by any chance? MPD (the Admin) lives there - he's a racer and former instructor at the California Superbike School, he could help you a lot :cool

Might be the small pic, but it looks like you are rotating around the tank instead of keeping your hips parallel with the bars.

Might be the small pic, but it looks like you are rotating around the tank instead of keeping your hips parallel with the bars.

Good point. Often goes with not having the upper body off enough :)

I guess my opinion would match what was said above if on the track. On the street my feeling is you should keep your butt planted to the seat and only lean your upper body in. This allows you to change direction more quickly which is valuable for unexpected things on the street. The track is different with a rythm and expected turns.

I guess my opinion would match what was said above if on the track. On the street my feeling is you should keep your butt planted to the seat and only lean your upper body in. This allows you to change direction more quickly which is valuable for unexpected things on the street. The track is different with a rythm and expected turns.

I beg to differ. On the street you want less lean due to possible lowered traction that you don't get on the track. Besides, if you're experienced, changing direction isn't slower just because you hang off. Just think of a tight set of esses, you hang off there too yet change lean side rapidly.

If unexpected things is an issue, you need to work more on reaction time/correct reaction and looking further ahead ;)

Hanging off has also save me from a couple of rear end slides on the street because I caught the bike with my knee.

It's safer that way :cheers

Might be the small pic, but it looks like you are rotating around the tank instead of keeping your hips parallel with the bars.

I hook my elbow on the tank and slide off the seat. Perhaps I'm also sliding forward on the seat causing a rotation. Damn you guys are good!

Better to hook your outside knee against the tank than your elbow, because you want to keep your arms as relaxed as possible. This would prob also free up your upper body to move across further.

Youve got a similar problem to me, i tend to not get my upper body across far enough too.

Well i guess someone will really have something to say about me doing this on the street.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8649/hwy1503hr0.jpg

Well i guess someone will really have something to say about me doing this on the street.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8649/hwy1503hr0.jpg

I'd have more to say about the dimwit who parked his bike right in the line of fire:lol :squid

Bets thing to do is watch the pros

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/ama/mid-o/4/ATL_7680.JPG



Note a few things:

- About 1 full buttcheek off the inside off the inside of the bike
- Elbows bent and leaning forward
- Spine is straight and in-line from lower back up to the head. As they say try to "kiss the mirror" when cornering, so if you have your ass hanging off and you are leaned forward with your head about inline with the mirror, your back should stay pretty well aligned.

Well i guess someone will really have something to say about me doing this on the street.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8649/hwy1503hr0.jpg

Where in cali is this? Angles Crest?

On the back side of HWY 150 after you pass through OJAI