Dragged knee for the first time | GTAMotorcycle.com

Dragged knee for the first time

Marcfolch

Marcfolch

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Just moved up from a 250 to a 650 this season (2nd yr of riding) and am happy to say that I just dragged knee for the first time on Wednesday.

Yes, it was in a parking lot (I know, I know, not the same thing). But still, a really cool feeling that first time you feel the contact. Kinda takes you by surprise because it's a new feedback at a time when you're already pushing beyond what you've ever done with your bike before. But after you've done it once, it becomes so much easier to push to that point again.

No I'm not expecting a parade, but it feels good and I felt like sharing the moment with some fellow bikers. I'm sure many of you have similar stories about your first time.

Next steps, get it to the point where it's 100% on demand and then do it at the dragon when I head there at the end of the month. After that, next step will probably be a track course like Racer5. I hear good things about them.

BTW, anyone know of large open areas of new asphalt near downtown that are good for practicing knee drags and emergency maneuvers? Most places are too small, full of debris, or too busy.
 
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Is getting a knee down the goal, or an effect? If it's your goal, might want to reconsider what you are doing.
 
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Congrats man, sounds like a good experience. How fast were you going when you put it down? If you don't mind ramps the Lawrence/DVP ramps are great for right knee drags.

Mikbusa - Of course his goal was to put his knee down, it seems to me he was after the experience. Why else would he post this thread?
 
Gixxer6 said:
Mikbusa - Of course his goal was to put his knee down, it seems to me he was after the experience. Why else would he post this thread?
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Uh, the point being that if it's something the OP set out to do, they may be trying to accomplish something with total disregard to the physics behind it, and thereby do things the wrong way that *may* lead to catastrophic events (i.e you suggesting that this person try it in live traffic is even potentially more troubling than the original posting on the topic)?

I thought it was pretty clear what Mikbusa was getting at.
 
i did it at 25kph and made a nice little 12 ft diameter circle around my brother :p

its not hard if that is just our goal... ?
 
Marcfolch said:
Just moved up from a 250 to a 650 this season (2nd yr of riding) and am happy to say that I just dragged knee for the first time on Wednesday.

Yes, it was in a parking lot (I know, I know, not the same thing). But still, a really cool feeling that first time you feel the contact. Kinda takes you by surprise because it's a new feedback

........

Next steps, get it to the point where it's 100% on demand and then do it at the dragon when I head there at the end of the month. After that, next step will probably be a track course like Racer5. I hear good things about them.
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So you started off great there, practicing skills like that in a parking lot will definitely make you a better rider, and yeah it's an interesting sensation getting used to dragging your knee on the ground. Good thing to get out of the way in a parking lot.

Now as for actually trying to go fast, reaching for the ground with your knee and **trying** to drag knee is a good way to put weight in all the wrong places and end up having a lesson in physics. With good form your knee doesn't really touch the ground until you're basically on the edge of your tire, so just be careful how much you exaggerate your posture trying to get a knee down.
 
dr_sarcasm said:
Uh, the point being that if it's something the OP set out to do, they may be trying to accomplish something with total disregard to the physics behind it, and thereby do things the wrong way that *may* lead to catastrophic events (i.e you suggesting that this person try it in live traffic is even potentially more troubling than the original posting on the topic)?

I thought it was pretty clear what Mikbusa was getting at.
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Ya I guess if you assume people do things with no regard to their personal safety then ya that would be catastrophic, or maybe he practiced for hours and has nearly touched down on several occasions. I tend to assume that when people do such things they have researched and prepared properly, i guess you take the opposite side. I see nothing wrong with putting a knee down on a ramp, nor do i think it is dangerous. If the rider is doing this at a speed he is comfortable with and riding within his abilities then there should be very little risk. I would not suggest that he fly into a ramp at 140km/h and try to drag a knee, that would be dangerous. The ramp i suggested is clean and can be taken at low speed and has heaps of give or run off.
 
DONT plan on going to the gap to get your knee down......you dont know the roads....
it's not a race track...for you
get travel insurance

come to a track day..(humm...RC@shannonville...June 14th)....BEFORE the gap.....
so you know the right way to go through the turns and you need to know about your tires also

then maybe you'll enjoy the gap
 
Good for you son. I remember the first time I dragged knee on the street. It was followed quickly by my hip, then elbow, shoulder and head. I remember the 2nd time I dragged knee happened at the track. It got old pretty quick. Don't waste your time trying on the street. Go take a course please.
 
OP congrats...just be safe a parking lot at lower speed is much easier and safer then a blind corner at high speed.....
 
Anyone can share some more details on what is involved in dragging a knee in a parking lot? What speed, what radius, do you go in circle, or what?
 
Corsara said:
Anyone can share some more details on what is involved in dragging a knee in a parking lot? What speed, what radius, do you go in circle, or what?
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Do you have any idea how easy it is to youtube "parking lot knee drag"
 
Mikbusa:
Well my underlying goal was to gradually push the limits of what I am comfortable doing on my bike and get familiar with how it reacts in hard lean situations within a controlled environment. But I still looked at "touchdown" as a big milestone and was aiming for it.

Kuro:
Thanks Man!

Gixxer6:
Thanks! Couldn't have been too fast (maybe 30-40kph?) I had a fairly limited area available in a Canadian tire parking lot and didn't want to push it in case I had to straighten out and go wide for any reason. Will definitely have to try those ramps after another practice session or 2 to get myself nice and consistent!

Chiller:
Yeah absolutely, same idea! Agreed that it's not terribly hard. Got it after about 40 min (in two separate sessions) of gradually getting comfortable with more lean. It is a bit stressful though when you hit a pebble and that rear moves a cm or two lol

Dr_sarcasm & FriendlyFoe:
I know what you're talking about that some of the short cuts for getting a knee down in a parking lot can lead to bad habits later on. I have both read and watched "Twist of The Wrist 2" several times, so I am at least aware of the theory behind proper cornering. The harder part is working up the comfort and familiarity with my bike's behavior to actually implement that theory properly without triggering SRs and this is what I was working on.

To get that accomplished, I just try to gradually push myself and my bike a little further each time when I find myself in safe environments (parking lots, clean roads with plenty of visibility and no traffic, etc...). I figure the more comfort I have with my bike's capabilities I have by the time I do race training, the more I will get out of the experience.

My view is that the only way to become a better rider is to repeatedly push your abilities. The only way to survive the process, is to do it in (relatively) controlled and safe environments.

Anyone have suggestions on good skill-improving drills?
 
Corsara:

FriendlyFoe gave you some great advice. I did that (youtubed) myself and it helped. Here is a bit more info that may add to what you find online.

1- Get a friend to take pics or videos of you and show them to you between tries. You'll be amazed at how far away you are at your "maximum lean" the first time and it will show you just how much further you can push it. You can also see where your technique needs improvement (I didn't have my toe and knee angled out enough at first).

2-Location's a big deal. Ideally you want clean, new asphalt with no cracks or debris and no grates, posts or curbs anywhere close to the radius of your circle. You're going to be pushing your comfort zone and will tend to target fixate on anything close by which will keep messing up your nice clean circle. If there are pebbles and other debris, it may make your tire lose traction a little when you run over it and this will also mess with your head.

3- If you are just not able to get over enough and/or feel like your bike suddenly "falls inwards" when you try to lean it a tiny bit more, it probably means you're not going fast enough. Gradually increase your speed while maintaining your radius and you'll get there eventually.

4- Look waay inside the turn (far to your side). It will help you keep the turn tight.

5- Be sure to stay velvet-smooth on the throttle. Chop it at these low speed lean angles and you'd better have frame sliders.

Hope this helps!



Corsara said:
Anyone can share some more details on what is involved in dragging a knee in a parking lot? What speed, what radius, do you go in circle, or what?
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Marcfolch said:
Anyone have suggestions on good skill-improving drills?
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If by 'skill' you mean looking like a pro racer, then sign up racing classes.

If you mean skill as in riding safely and defensively, then ride a lot in dense mixed traffic and maybe take one of the police riding courses they offer in the states.
 
AngeloX19:

Woah you did THIS?! You're awesome!!

JK, I know what you mean. Happens to us all eventually. Thanks for the words of wisdom though, I will definitely be heading there sometime soon.

AngeloX19 said:
Good for you son. I remember the first time I dragged knee on the street. It was followed quickly by my hip, then elbow, shoulder and head. I remember the 2nd time I dragged knee happened at the track. It got old pretty quick. Don't waste your time trying on the street. Go take a course please.
Click to expand...
 
Marcfolch said:
Just moved up from a 250 to a 650 this season (2nd yr of riding) and am happy to say that I just dragged knee for the first time on Wednesday.

Yes, it was in a parking lot (I know, I know, not the same thing). But still, a really cool feeling that first time you feel the contact. Kinda takes you by surprise because it's a new feedback at a time when you're already pushing beyond what you've ever done with your bike before. But after you've done it once, it becomes so much easier to push to that point again.

No I'm not expecting a parade, but it feels good and I felt like sharing the moment with some fellow bikers. I'm sure many of you have similar stories about your first time.

Next steps, get it to the point where it's 100% on demand and then do it at the dragon when I head there at the end of the month. After that, next step will probably be a track course like Racer5. I hear good things about them.

BTW, anyone know of large open areas of new asphalt near downtown that are good for practicing knee drags and emergency maneuvers? Most places are too small, full of debris, or too busy.
Click to expand...

2 years experience, wanting to go knee drag at the dragon....save your family from a heartache. Go to the track.
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