Motorcycle Pictures... Post All Your Pics Here

[Detrich]

Jon, I noticed from your picture that your right foot is riding the peg on the palm (ball) of your right foot and that your right leg is tucked closely against the body of the bike...

Some of the guys I rode with on Sunday were trying to teach me this positioning, and they said that it's almost like you're balancing or doing a constant "squat" on the pegs and not really sitting on the seat. They said that this makes it easier to lean into turns & move freely.

I tried it out just a bit on our descent on GMR (Glendora Mountain Road) right after they showed me. But, given the high technical difficulty of going downhill on the tight corkscrew turns of that road, I immediately decided that it really was not the time or place to start experimenting around with my form and that I would have to take time practicing on less-technical roads to gradually integrate this into my riding form. But, I've gotten so used to hovering my right foot over the rear brake that it's almost unreal or unthinkable to completely not have the rear brake covered at all.

Do you find that this foot positioning- ie completely ignoring the rear brake- works better in the canyons/ mountains? And, how do you adjust the position depending if you're climbing or descending- esp on very windy roads?

I can see ignoring the rear brake on an uphill climb, but on a downhill it seems a bit hard getting used to...

P.S. the 'hugging the tank tightly with the thighs' has really helped a lot with my canyon riding. I don't slide forward and back in the seat anymore on the wide sweeping turns, and after I install the tank stomps I hope it will be even easier. It's still easier climbing than descending tho... <lol>

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...117.809143&spn=0.128937,0.242214&z=13&iwloc=A

 

[JonKerr]

Well pictures with a passenger really don't give a really good representation of truly proper body positioning simply because I'm a bit limited how much I can move around on the bike without unseating her. But I do try and use the best positioning I can (keeping my feet in the right spot, getting the inside knee out, tucking the outside knee into the tank, "pivoting" with my outside foot on the peg, and getting my chest low with my head and shoulders to the inside) without making it hard for her to hold on. She's a very good passenger too. She's very good at looking into the turns and she's beginning to learn to use her upper body a little to help with the weight distribution. I could go much faster than I do with her on the bike. But with her not geared up as much as I'd like, I tend to hold back quite a bit.

But to answer your main question, I don't ever use the rear brake in the canyons. There are a lot of different opinions about the use of the rear brake (you ask 10 people you're going to get 9 or 10 different opinions usually) but for me, I use the front brake to slow down in a straight line as well as engine braking (again, another topic that will draw as many different opinions) to slow down before turn in. If I feel I'm entering too hot, I'll use a bit of trail braking to scrub off some speed. But you really never want to use the rear brake during aggressive cornering. Especially not when you're tipped into a turn at a decent lean angle. The only time I really ever touch it is in traffic when I'm coming to a stop or having to make an emergency stop. That's it. Even then, I keep my foot back in the proper position (ball of the foot on the peg) because I want to have the best control of the bike. Sliding the foot forward 2" or 3" doesn't take long and it'll keep you from accidently riding the rear brake by resting your toes on the lever. As for up hill vs. down hill, doesn't make a bit of difference. Your positioning should stay the same. What usually changes are your braking points. Going downhill, you have gravity pulling you into the turn faster. So you have to slow down, not only earlier, but usually more before you enter the turn. Because once you get off the brakes, the bike is going to want to speed up on it's own and even the little bit of throttle you give it to keep the weight on the rear tire will accelerate you more than you may want. So your entry speeds should be lower. Going uphill, gravity is helping you slow down. So you can usually enter a turn a little hotter and brake later and still make the turn. Of course, this is all for very aggressive riding and really should be saved for the track. Even in the pictures you see me post, I tend to enter turns pretty slow. I don't get on it until I'm coming up to the apex of the turn usually. (when I can see the exit if it's a completely blind turn) That's why a lot of the pics from Highway 94 I'm not really at much of a lean angle. He shoots the entry to turns where some of the other photogs. on Palomar tend to shoot the exits of the turns where I'm on the throttle harder and at full lean angle. It also depends on the road. Palomar is so steep you really have to watch your entry speed and braking points going downhill or you can find yourself in the guard rail or up against the canyon wall really quickly. It takes me probably 50% more time to get down that hill than it does to get to the top. However Sunrise Highway I can ride much more aggressively heading downhill than uphill because it's not too steep, the road is in better shape on that side, and the profile of the turns just makes for a much better corner going that direction.

This picture will give a little better idea of how my leg look from the outside when I'm riding on my own and ridding aggressively. Even though it's the opposite side, my positioning doesn't change.

And this is one from the right that shows the same positioning.

On a side note, GMR is a road I really want to get to ride some day. I've seen and heard a lot about it.

 

[MRcelica24]

My first picture post =)

Hi! I'm a new member from San Diego.


On Interstate 15N on the way to Las Vegas. Part of a 1700-mile trip.

My first time on Palomar.

-Ronnel

 

[JonKerr]

Welcome. You'll learn that we're very lucky here in SD to have so many photographers in town. Use those pictures as a way to help improve your riding and your riding form. They've been extremely valuable to me and combining everything I've learned from books, riding clinics put on in our meetup group (PM me if you want more info on that) and the pictures, I've been able to improve my riding quite a bit in a relatively short amount of time.

Also if you ever have any questions about the bike or about our local roads, or really anything else, feel free to PM me. :welcome:

 

[Detrich]

Thanks Jon.

I thought MSF taught us to use front & rear brakes together, because if you brake too hard using only front brake going either downhill or what not, it could dip the front end of the bike and the jolt could throw your body forward in front of the bike... lotta youtube videos of those. and, the same thing happens on a bicycle too, btw.

but, what you stated is consistent with what the other guys told me, which is using front + rear braking together is "just for the street." they told me that when in the canyons to just ignore the rear brake completely.

I guess I'll need to slowly adjust my riding position to get used to riding on the balls of my feet rather than the arch, which is where i usually plant my feet in order to cover both the shifter and rear brake at all times.

i think modifying one's form is often times harder than learning to do it that way to begin with... sigh it's kinda like if you've learned to play guitar holding the pick a certain way, and then later change the form- it can be quite a challenge... <lol>

good stuff though. thanks for explaining all that. i'm learning a lot.

This picture will give a little better idea of how my leg look from the outside when I'm riding on my own and ridding aggressively. Even though it's the opposite side, my positioning doesn't change.

 

[Detrich]

Welcome to the forum! And, sounds like you've been doing lots of riding if you went all the way to LV & back already...

How do you like the Flex jacket? I have the same one but in blue... I couldn't find the exact size, so i had to settle for a slightly larger one, and I pegged the arms to tighten it up a bit. I looked for the 1PC suit version of it, but just couldn't find it in my size. I guess Fieldsheer discontinued it after 2008 or 2009... Bummer, cuz it's such a comfortable and versatile jacket & design.

Hi! I'm a new member from San Diego.
-Ronnel

 

[joloy133]

Thanks Jon.

I thought MSF taught us to use front & rear brakes together, because if you brake too hard using only front brake going either downhill or what not, it could dip the front end of the bike and the jolt could throw your body forward in front of the bike... lotta youtube videos of those. and, the same thing happens on a bicycle too, btw.

but, what you stated is consistent with what the other guys told me, which is using front + rear braking together is "just for the street." they told me that when in the canyons to just ignore the rear brake completely.

I guess I'll need to slowly adjust my riding position to get used to riding on the balls of my feet rather than the arch, which is where i usually plant my feet in order to cover both the shifter and front brake at all times.

i think modifying one's form is often times harder than learning to do it that way to begin with... sigh it's kinda like if you've learned to play guitar holding the pick a certain way, and then later change the form- it can be quite a challenge... <lol>

good stuff though. thanks for explaining all that. i'm learning a lot.

(front wheel brake control is handlebar lever on throttle side.)

 

[Detrich]

huh? lol...

(front wheel brake control is handlebar lever on throttle side.)

 

[Detrich]

that's a very gansta pix toof... hehehe

 

[Diluted]

huh? lol...

...riding on the balls of my feet rather than the arch, which is where i usually plant my feet in order to cover both the shifter and front brake at all times

I think this line is why he said that...

 

[joloy133]

I think this line is why he said that...

Yup........, maybe I should have just let it go?

 

[Detrich]

oh i meant rear brake on that sentence... HAHAHAHAHAHA.

well, u guys knew what i meant, right?

my bad.

 

[MRcelica24]

Jon,

Thanks! Hoping to meet you and be part of the clinics someday! =)

Detrich,

I <3 the jacket. I actually bought it the day after I bought the bike. I was lucky because it was on sale for $200. It held up on my 1700-mile trip and was versitile enough for the night and day temperature changes in California. I had to layer up when I got to San Francisco though!

Toofless,

WOOT WOOT SD! =P No, it's not. I always ride with all my gear (exactly like the picture).

 

[Detrich]

^ yep yep... $200 on close out. love the jacket, but just wish Fieldsheer still made it...

did you guys see this? Motorcycle Riding School - California Superbike School

 

[JonKerr]

Some friends of mine went to that and did the 2 day camp. $2250 for each of them. That's some serious cash. But they loved it.

 

[Detrich]

Some friends of mine went to that and did the 2 day camp. $2250 for each of them. That's some serious cash. But they loved it.

Yep. Go twice n u've almost bought a 6R. lol. Well, when I'm a better rider I'd like to go too tho. Would also like to do Skip Barber driving school too. But just so pricey Well, it's ok the dream.

 

[kma_jg]

I went for a ride yesterday to Lake Eildon (close to Bonny Doon, VIC, AUS) to see what the water level is after all the rain we had lately.

 

[JSP]

Man, the bike looks so dang good in that color... Love it!
One thing I also noticed is that it does not have the black fake air scoops. Looks way better without them.

 

[JonKerr]

OK I got a bunch of new pics from this weekend. I want to get your guys opinions about which one I should buy in full resolution to use as a desktop.

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[Heineken]

OK I got a bunch of new pics from this weekend. I want to get your guys opinions about which one I should buy in full resolution to use as a desktop.

I would get one of the first 5... nice pics btw )