Bunching Up On The Rear

[buzzbomb]

So I'm running the twisties above Rockingham, NC today. I made some mistakes, but the stuff I've learned saved my ass, once again. I noticed however, that when I'm seriously pushing through the turns, all leaned over the bike, ass cheek off, chin up and head down, and loose on the bars: I've got all my weight on the back end of the bike.

That position is supposed to lower the center of gravity and get one's body weight over the engine. But I'm all at the ass end.

I'm shifting my body with my legs. But once the body is in position for the turn, all my weight seems to be on the back wheel, rather than over the engine.

Am I missing something?

 

[monstermike4343]

try and lean over your bars when you hang off the bike your doing right just lean forward a bit more if you can

when i lean in my turn like that i try to touch my elbow to my knee see if that helps

 

[FastFreddy]

You can lean towards the inside mirror from that position to put more weight on the front (good for turn in or decreasing radius corner). The rear weight sit up position seems to work well in slow turns and when powering out of turns and when steady in long turns. Have a go.

This vid shows Schwantz with the sit back style and Rainey with the head forwards.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkAKiw2jhF8]Kevin Schwantz Vs Wayne Rainey - Suzuka 1989 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[buzzbomb]

You can lean towards the inside mirror from that position to put more weight on the front (good for turn in or decreasing radius corner). The rear weight sit up position seems to work well in slow turns and when powering out of turns and when steady in long turns. Have a go.

This vid shows Schwantz with the sit back style and Rainey with the head forwards.

Man, what an awesome battle that was! I'm going to have to watch it again, this time paying attention to the riding positions. I got too into the race... Thanks for the vid!

 

[Fizzer6R]

You can lean towards the inside mirror from that position to put more weight on the front (good for turn in or decreasing radius corner). The rear weight sit up position seems to work well in slow turns and when powering out of turns and when steady in long turns. Have a go.

This vid shows Schwantz with the sit back style and Rainey with the head forwards.
Kevin Schwantz Vs Wayne Rainey - Suzuka 1989 - YouTube

back when racers were real men, not like these spoiled brats today that make excuses why they can't ride the bike/it's the bikes fault. there was a time when it was their job to make the bike work and not blame everyone else why you're not riding well pointing at you Rossi

 

[Nastybutler]

I love seeing that old Pepsi logo on Schwantz's bike and leathers.

 

[RoadTrip]

I have recently found myself body forward during tight cornering with inside elbow and knee pointing the way through the corner, not just down toward the ground, it happens during the last half of the corner and gives the finish a real clean controlled feeling. I have experimented with aggressive hanging/upright bike, Isle of Man subtle style with more centered body, and now I am somewhere in between.

I kinda subscribe to the ride more philosophy, it has taken me a whole lot of miles to develop my current style, it may not be perfect, but it feels clean and controlled, and I believe it is in the ballpark of prescribed body position.

One last tip is if you have to ride a couple of hours to hit the best twisties, then take a break before you enter that best area, stretch your legs, get filled up on a nice sugary drink, etc. Really helps to have your muscles and mind at their peak during the tightest cornering, sucks if your mind or core are fatigued, I mean you rode all that way, make it count.

 

[buzzbomb]

One last tip is if you have to ride a couple of hours to hit the best twisties, then take a break before you enter that best area, stretch your legs, get filled up on a nice sugary drink, etc. Really helps to have your muscles and mind at their peak during the tightest cornering, sucks if your mind or core are fatigued, I mean you rode all that way, make it count.

I'm with you on that. I actually stop and eat. I'm hypoglycemic. I stop and get a good meal in, then a coffee and a smoke. About a week ago, I rode up to run that twisty. It was darn cold. I got about a mile into it and I was so stiff, I knew I wasn't riding at my best. Not even close. So I turned around and headed home.

This last time I went up, there were bikes all over Rockingham. Not a single one on that road. It's a scary piece of asphalt, well known for killing people. I'm not going to run it unless I feel I'm in top condition. You offer good advice and it's backed by my personal experience.