How did you guys learn how to dragg knees. Down here in florida theres no twistys to my best bet is just track days. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif

ttt

I tried for ages to do it on the road, but there is always other traffic/gravel on the road/etc. Got on the track and it just happened.

what did you feel when you stuck the knee down dose your knee what to sid back or dose it just go with the flow?

Track days - IMHO, skill-wise you'll get more out of each of your first track days than a full year on the street - even more so if you live in a place without twisties...

what did you feel when you stuck the knee down dose your knee what to sid back or dose it just go with the flow?



The first time the puck touches the deck, you get a bit of a fright from the sound it makes (you hear it before you feel it). The old style leather sliders grip a little bit, but the plastic ones just slide.

How did you guys learn how to dragg knees. Down here in florida theres no twistys to my best bet is just track days.



Well, being in Florida myself and no twisties and with no trackdays insight, I learned to drag knee at a industrial park. I found myself trying WAAAY too hard to drag knee and when I did, I was hanging off like a mad man. When I did make it to the track, didn't even try drag knee, with your body on the inside of the turn and with speed and concentrating on the right lines for each corner, draggin' knee came NATUARALLY.

Don't even sweat it about NOT dragging your knee on the streets. Save your money go to your nearest track and practice your lines and body posture. Knee dragging will come with speed and chances are in the afternoon session, you'll be riding the puck and wouldn't think twice about it...

If you have a hard on to just grind down your pucks you could always go find a giant empty mall parking lot and go practice at 2 in the morning or something, LOL

First time I got my knee down it was on a onramp. We have one that is a complete circle and goes onto the highway. I just took it alittle faster and lean it over more and more.

The first time it touched it was weird I pulled it up by just reaction. I actually have a vid of me the first time I touched and what happened.

First time I did it was at SB school level 1.
They didn`t teach it, it just happened.
At first I thought I was going done. I thought it was a faring scraping, stood it up straight away before I reliased what was going on. It was a lot louder than I thought it would be.
Next track day I stated draging both knees.
When I try to do it I get slower lap times so I just let it happen now.
Its was a big buzz for me when I started to drag them but I think its probably more important to focus on being smooth and practise the things I have been taught than trying to drag my knees.

I dont have a problem doing it here in the canyons of CA or better yet hit up a track day. as for the whole parking lot idea....i dont know how the heck you would get enough speed and lean angle in a parking lot...maybe im missing something there http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

First time I put the knee down was in a parking lot by this park. Mothers with children on swingsets watched with an evil eye as they hear SHHHHHHHH!!! Parking lot style NOT recommended, as I had a few moments!

Track days - IMHO, skill-wise you'll get more out of each of your first track days than a full year on the street - even more so if you live in a place without twisties...



+1... Yeah, as soon as I got my full leathers all I wanted to do was try to drag my knees. I tried to do it in the canyons.. a big no no http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/nono.gif.. too dangerous. So I laid off the idea for a while and focused on my skills. Then I went to trackday and man, it just came http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif.. I was draggin my knees without even trying it.. and I used it the way we were supposed to.. to know how low you are on the pavement and use it to make adjustments. Well, that's atleast how I used it http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif...

http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/Ass_Shot.JPG

Actually, I dragged my knee in a parking lot with pants on. Just to feel it. it was neat, ripped my pants, cut my leg. I knew I wanted a suit, but hard to find one to fit me (big guy) and didn't have the 1200$ it was (candian)

I got my suit, practiced in the same parking lot (new pavement, no paint lines where I was going, I just did a tight circle in 2nd gear (1st is too touchy) and gradually went lower and lower (once tires were warm) and touched down, tryed both sides (I have a harder time turning right and dragging a knee)

Finally drove 8 hours (Edmonton) went to a track day, and dragged both knees 3rd lap around (2 laps to warm up tires) and I loved it. I learned so much in that 1 day riding at the track, and I've been riding dirt bike/sled/street bike for a very long time.. Too bad Nearest track is 8 hours east, and 8 hours south. Going hopefully 2 times this year to the track atleast.

I dont have a problem doing it here in the canyons of CA or better yet hit up a track day. as for the whole parking lot idea....i dont know how the heck you would get enough speed and lean angle in a parking lot...maybe im missing something there http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif



draggin is easy at 25 mph... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just because your dragging your knee doesnt mean you are going fast lol. You can lean a bike in a parking lot and scrape a knee. I have scraped a knee on the street several times.

That being said I have crashed several times on the streets. one of the main reasons why I got off the streets and stuck to racing and track days. There are several FL race tracks that you can do track days on and perfect your skill. A good track for newbies is JenningsGP.com

Last 2 post are very important ones. Speed is not that important to the KD phenom.. it is body control.. When you are in the ight environment with nothing to worry about but your lines and postion it makes the whole process easier, so all the trackday talk is exactly correct. I started riding on the track a year ago and have learned more in that time than in the previous 7 years of riding.. But you can get the basic skills mastered in a parking lot that is clean and safe, we have one here on Nellis AFB that i practice on occasionally that helps me stay on my game when I am not able to rode alot. But seat time is the key to your KD dreams..

My first time dragging scared the shit out of me and I almost lost it bad, I wasn't trying to drag and it surprised the hell out of me..

I call my knee a "dump gauge". Now that I've gotten used to my body position, I know I have just a little more lean left after I feel a little pressure on my knee. It's answers the question "can I give her a little more".

So many people always talking about getting off the streets after one track day.

I intend on doing track days but I don't see myself waiting for a month in between rides http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif The longest I've gone without riding (while having a bike) was 2 weeks and that was this winter and one of those weeks I was out of town.

So many people always talking about getting off the streets after one track day.

I intend on doing track days but I don't see myself waiting for a month in between rides http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif The longest I've gone without riding (while having a bike) was 2 weeks and that was this winter and one of those weeks I was out of town.



I'm still on the fence about it. I could get a lot of track time for the money I'd save on just insurance... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif On the other hand I do get a lot of good rides on the roads, especially commuting during the good season - 17 miles of twisties each way http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif

Over winter I barely ride for 3-4 months so I'm used to the withdrawals... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif

first time i did it i was at the California Superbiek school....scared the shit outta me, thjought i was goin down so i picked the bike right back up.....funny thing was i wasn't even tryin to do it...jsut tryin to catch up to the instructor! Don't sweat it...when it comes it comes.....also, don't focus on it cuz u don't have to draggin a knee to be the fastest one out there....Keith Code had the record for that day and he barely go his knee down

The first time I knee dragged was actually in a roundabout with a sort of slope on it.
I had just got my Michelin Pilot Powers on and I wasn't really trying to kneedrag. Suddenly I heard this loud scraping sound, I thought it was my pegs so I checked and I was my knee that touched the ground.
Ever since I try to do it when traffic and road conditions (and speed laws) allow it. Not through town though ;)

The first time I knee dragged was actually in a roundabout with a sort of slope on it.
I had just got my Michelin Pilot Powers on and I wasn't really trying to kneedrag. Suddenly I heard this loud scraping sound, I thought it was my pegs so I checked and I was my knee that touched the ground.
Ever since I try to do it when traffic and road conditions (and speed laws) allow it. Not through town though ;)

And people say the GS isn't fun :D http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j58/svsatgdc/coffeecheersShifty.gif

Well the first time I did it I was on another Continent in South Africa. It was at Midvaal racetrack and the day there was one car and 3 bikes. I was on a Shitty conditioned R1. It was a right hander that tightened up at exit so I just leaned in more and it would drage.

Now I can do it on the streets (lefts more so the rights) if I hang off a lot more then I even do on the track. So actual lean is less or even to what i would have ridden without leathers. I may have flinched the first time it happened but only once. I love that sensation and feeling of the puck on the ground.

Now on the track it is safety device and guage more so then just for fun.

Don't have much to add here except make sure you have good fitting suit with plenty of room to expand your knee out. The sound of plastic on the tarmac is a scary sound at first. Just be cool and use it to your advantage. Track days are the best place to practice. If you "try" to do it though, you'll be slower. Ride at your own pace and work on corner speed and draggin knees will come.

Can you drag your knee in slow or fast speed, I mean is the grip of your tires the same? or the physics of the bike the same?

Can you drag your knee in slow or fast speed, I mean is the grip of your tires the same? or the physics of the bike the same?

Both - I've dragged knee from 10 to 120 mph (approx.) :D Of course the forces are much greater at high speeds and it takes properly set up suspension and good tires - and a track :D

I can drag my knee on turn 1 an Eastern Creek at 200KPH (120mph) but I`m buggered if I could do it at 10mph

Trying to drag your knee is like trying to have first time sex. It will come naturally if your fast enough.

I've never put the knee down. I've dragged the edge of my boots once or twice.


Alot of you guys are saying you drag better turning left than right. I corner better to the right than I do the left.

I can drag my knees all the way around corners on the race track. Even at speeds in the 120mph range. Never touched on the street. It's hard to be that aggressive when you don't know what lies ahead.

I can drag my knees all the way around corners on the race track. Even at speeds in the 120mph range. Never touched on the street. It's hard to be that aggressive when you don't know what lies ahead.


Truth.

Truth.

+1

I drag knee quite often on the street but only when the conditions are for it - no others nearby, free sight, roads I know, etc. Doesn't have to be recklessly fast, a 20 mph turn in a country road crossing can do it as well :D

Very true also SVS. Ill drag on the streets with no traffic on VERY familiar curves.

I dont always touch down on the track and almost never on the street. i do however have plenty of video of me blowing by people that are touching down on the track When i am not. It seems people think that if their knee is dragging they are going as fast as they can. in reality they are thinking more about their knee then their possible speed.

However the first time i did it was about 12 years ago. I went ot a bus turn around spacifically to do it. it is a nice smooth, slightly banked 180 degree turn. Great place to learn. And the first time i did it i also hit the engin cover and the rear wheel jumped. I though i was going to die. After that it was much easier.

However like alot of guys are telling you....it isnt near as important as your line and speed.

Good luck and be safe

Yea as troygen did, I did my first knee draggin in a hairpin. Nice and smooth familiar hairpin and it will be easy!

I agree that it comes natural and YOU SHOULD NOT TRY IT ON PURPOSE on public roads, freeways or streets. First time it happened to me I was wearing knee pads underneath my jeans like always for extra protection in case of a crash. Then as I was getting on the freeway on ramp that has a 270 degree turn and going about 40mph I felt a "bump" as my right knee scraped the ground ripping open my jeans! Thankfully the pads protected my flesh and bone. Cool I thought! Then I started wearing my leather alpine stars and trying it on purpose. I did it again and again til one day, on a freeway transition, I felt the most painful "twack" that almost lifted me off the bike and then my left leg went limp and numb. I mananged not to panic and brake and help the throttle. WHat happened was my knee hit a road reflector that marks the inside of the turn limit at about 120mph! The pain and numbness were unbelievable. Thankfully nothing broke but I was limping for weeks. The moral of the story is that its really naturally occuring when you position your body correctly, leaned forward with crack on the edge of the seat with your knee slightly out and leaned over enough.

Need less to say I stopped trying in on the street and thankfully I wasnt permanently hurt. A few months later I low sided on the same on ramp leaning too much but again I wasnt hurt bad. This kind of riding is just too aggressive and not necessary on the street unless you just like thrills which is ok if you are prepared to pay the price. Just keep in mind a 400lbs motorcycle sliding out of control on a public road can injure or kill others so its not just about you. In 5 years of riding I learned that I really dont know much about the true capabilities of my 1000cc machine and I really want to get a track day in where I can learn and enjoy. Getting older I guess.

love to put my knee down but hate to hang way off to do it. that is cheesey. 'first time it touched was scary' . shit, the first 5 times is scary. my first was just above the rock store, I got off and cheered for myself. palomar is where I 'learned to do it'. after that I stopped until I learned to properly use it on the track. it is a feeler guage (on top of being way cooler than a wheelie) that is a tool, not just a cool stunt.

I learned the basic skills on 80CC's but when I moved up to my 500 street bike I couldn't do it, but then I stuck some new tires on it, and bam, it all came back! :D

I can drag my knees all the way around corners on the race track. Even at speeds in the 120mph range. Never touched on the street. It's hard to be that aggressive when you don't know what lies ahead.

Fast and smart make a beutifull combination.