Total Motorcycle Community Forums

My first question is about starting turns from a stop. What I do is I put my inside leg on the peg and leave my outside leg sort of hanging in the air until I feel everything is stable. Does that sound alright and also do you have your wheel straight or pointed to where you want to turn from a stop? Next question is with circles. I know I'm not suppose to let my legs hit the ground but is it okay for my outside leg to be hanging off the bike? I feel as if it gives me better balance.

On a side note, I cannot believe how nice it was today. Got to 70*F here in New Jersey. With all the slow riding I was doing, I had to speed down a street I know, so the bike wouldn't overheat . I only got to 45mph though, but that is still fast to me. I also completed my first countersteer turn, which was pretty fun as well .

Chris8187 wrote:My first question is about starting turns from a stop. What I do is I put my inside leg on the peg and leave my outside leg sort of hanging in the air until I feel everything is stable. Does that alright and also do you have your wheel straight or pointed to where you want to turn from a stop?

I'll admit I do the same thing. It's very useful if you accidently turn the bike in a bit too sharply and it starts to fall - just whip that outside leg up and the bike will pull itself level. I usually have my foot back on the peg before the bike is straightened all the way, though. From a stop, I keep the wheel straight, then as soon as I'm moving, turn it.

Chris8187 wrote:Next question is with circles. I know I'm not suppose to let my legs hit the ground but is it okay for my outside leg to be hanging off the bike? I feel as if it gives me better balance.

I can't tell you for sure either way, but I wouldn't put my leg out like that. It will increase the amount of space you need to turn (since your leg is way out there) and increases a chance of injury to it. A better solution is to move your butt out of the saddle and stand on that outside peg. You'll move more mass less distance to achieve better balance.

Chris8187 wrote:On a side note, I cannot believe how nice it was today. Got to 70*F here in New Jersey.

You're a jerk, it was mid 50s a week or two ago and now it's back under freezing.

Just to clear it up, when I say I hang my foot in the air, I keep it to the outside of the footpeg. It isn't far, I just don't mount it onto the peg.

you should start out going straight ahead from a stop, and then a couple seconds later start your turn. One thing you can do, to prepare for your turn from a stop, is to pull up to that stop (in the first place) at an angle, anticipating your turn once you get moving. Still, even in that case, you have your bike aligned straight and start out straight from the stop just for a second or two. thats what I do sometimes anyway.

You should not be doing any of that if you have the technique right. I have never understood why new riders have a fear of following your head. I was taught how to do it and just did as I was told and it works every time. LOOK THERE GO THERE. Even in tight slow turns if you look, and I mean look, at where you want to be, that is where you will end up. I wish I had some vid of my daughter on her scoot, she does it really well.

I would say practice your balance more. If the bike is moving, at all, you should be able to balance it well even in slow turns without moving your appendages around. It just takes practice. You should also never start from a dead stop when you are leaned, IMO. Bike straight up, start, and then even a split second later begin your lean, but never start rolling the bike when you are leaned over.

Sticking your legs out is a bad idea I think...if you WERE to fall, your leg is better off huddled against the bike, stretching out like that the first thing you will instinctively do when you begin to fall is try to get your foot on the ground, which could lead to alot of pain.

I went out again, and I did better this time with getting both legs onto the bike faster. I consciously remembered to counter lean when I'm going real slow, so that helped me. I was also practicing figure 8s and circles, so that probably helped too.

On the same note, i was told that as long as you have momentum on the bike, even on slow moves, its tough to drop your bike.
Is that true?
I was told that newbies get in trouble when they stop using the friction zone or throttle in slow or tight turns, thus the bike drops ( in addition to turning of the front wheel).
Any clarifcation is appreciated!

Many sport bike riders due to the high C of G that we have employ a technique whereby we keep the engine revs high and use the clutch and rear brake for tight slow speed cornering. If you get the revs just right you can have the clutch full out and use the brake as your throttle.

in my opinion its neva ok to have ya feet off the pegs apart from being stopped