Knee dragging

[Johnj]

I was going to post about the helmet, but I realized I just don't care anymore.

[matthew5656]

After reading mydlyfkryzis' suggestion to you about "knee dragging", you returned with a very short, "I don't give a "poo poo" about anything you're telling me because I'm gonna do it anyway" response, so I was simply warning you about medical insurance. Trust me, I like taking a few turns over the speed limit too, but I'm aware it's not the brightest of ideas on public highways and roads, so I'm sure to carry health insurance. But you don't care about your safety or the safety of other riders and motorists using your roads, do you?

What's the fascination with dragging one's knee, anyway? This reminds me of that guy Vermillion X who posted on TMW almost every day of his life. He uploaded a video of himself trying to drag his knee through some southern Cali canyon roads, and it was laughable at best. Only my opinion, but leaning so far and having to drop your knee through turns should only be allowed on a well regulated and inspected motor track, and not around hazardous public roadways.

[ChemicalTaste]

I was going to post about the helmet, but I realized I just don't care anymore.

I do wear a helmet.. I also follow many other saftey guidelines that most people in a no-helmet-law state won't even consider.



I'm getting about $100 worth of books from amazon. I'll be sure to pick those up. My work environment is very boring and I have a lot of time to waste and newspapers don't cut it.

I don't want to make knee-dragging an all time activity. I just want to make sure I'm able to do it, and I'm able understand the concept of it.

Thanks

[mydlyfkryzis]

I don't want to make knee-dragging an all time activity. I just want to make sure I'm able to do it, and I'm able understand the concept of it.

Thanks

If you were saying you wanted to be able corner quickly, and that you might end up dragging a knee, that would be one thing. But you are coming across as just wanting to drag a knee.

If you are dragging a knee, on the street, because you are turning that fast, you are riding to fast and dangerously for yourself and the general public. If that is your goal, then you must have some mental deficiency.

If you are planning some track days, and want to be able to have the skills to go fast enough, that dragging a knee is required, then I applaud you.
I may suggest, if you are planning on the skills required to drag a knee, that you take the MSF course and the advanced MSF course. In addition, there are some decent track schools around that will give you the training you need to ride that hard on the track. If you are riding fast enough to drag a knee, you need handling and braking skills as well.

If a track day is what you are looking for, than go for it.

If you are planning on street riding on your knees, I hope you do not hurt any innocents.

[ChemicalTaste]

Yeah I hope so too.

[shalihe74]

Second, to keep the bike from dragging parts like pegs, and to keep the bike more upright for better traction, a racer shifts his body to the inside of the turn. By putting his weight all the way into the turn he can, the bike stays more upright and can turn sharper. The act of shifting the weight into the turn tends to cause your knee to hang out. In addition, the lower the leg, the more weight is shifted to the inside. The pucks keeps the knee from grinding on the pavement. If they could shift their weight as much without dragging the knee, they would. However, the knee out attitude shifts the weight the most.

Two other things:

1) The knee acts as a telemetry device. When you are racing, you use your knee to gauge your lean angle. That, plus experience, can tell you whether you have room to go a little faster, or whether you're at the edge.

2) If, at full lean and race speeds, you feel your rear wheel stepping out, you can often use the knee to push the bike up until traction is regained, saving you from a lovely lowside.

Getting your knee down shouldn't be a goal - you shouldn't be riding with the intent of dragging your knee. Instead, you should be focusing on riding with precision and control - once you have that then, at speed, you will find your puck hitting the pavement.

And it really should be saved for a controlled environment.

By the way... what do you ride? If you're scraping pegs on a sport bike, you are almost definitely not getting your weight - and therefore your body - set properly for the corners.

[Johnj]

That quote wasn't made by me. I might try it on a track, but I never drive that aggressive on public roads.

[Nalian]

Getting your knee down shouldn't be a goal - you shouldn't be riding with the intent of dragging your knee. Instead, you should be focusing on riding with precision and control - once you have that then, at speed, you will find your puck hitting the pavement.

Bingo. Dragging your knee is something that should end up happening as a result of you learning how to corner your bike so well that it almost "just happens." It's not something that people do because it's better than dragging a peg at all, as others have said above. Once you get your upper body in the right place it's much easier, as well.

Can you drag your knee before you reach speeds where it's necessary? Absolutely. If you're looking for learning how to do it..well then here ya go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M

He explains why you do it and shows proper form. Most youtube and other videos I see of kids riding the dragon, etc - they're all twisting themselves off the bike wrong so they can look cool dragging their knees. If that's the goal then hey, they met that goal. If they think they're dragging knee 'like the racers' - well they failed mightily. Not that it isn't fun to get a knee down when you're just goofing off, but I wouldn't recommend doing it for those purposes out in traffic. It's just asking for some driver to not see as per usual and cream you.