Hanging off on the street

5808 Views 26 Replies 15 Participants Last post by lather, May 6, 2016

abvc

Discussion Starter · May 1, 2016

I got alot of talk because i hang off my body on the street. Who here hang off?

Yesterday i even had a lecture from a 4wd that i dont have to hang off. Opinion?

Me personally hang off is important, it balances the bike, and many other reasons.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

cxa0897

· #2 · May 1, 2016

I'll do it up in the mountains, but it's just to minimize bike lean and stay fairly safe. One cheek on the seat, knees forward and out, I don't aim to drag a knee, I keep it up right on my frame sliders. Haven't dragged knee and I won't push much further than where I'm at on stock tires. Around town it's just leaning with the bike, there's little benefit to moving around a bunch.

The theory is, the more you lean past the bike, the less the bike has to lean to take the equivalent turn. It's the exact opposite of counter weighting on sharp, slow turns. Both have their place and their benefits.

abvc

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 1, 2016

I do it everywhere, i just love turning as fast as i can

Kojiiro

· #4 · May 1, 2016

I hang off on the street but as mentioned only in the canyons/mountains. If you are hanging off on the interstate you are probably just trying to look cool or going really, really fast. The curves on the interstate are so big you barely have to lean the bike over at normal speeds.

sendler

· #5 · May 1, 2016

I know ride instuctors who lecture not to ever hang off but I disagree. Hanging off during tight corners in town and on ramps is just smart and skilled riding. It extends the safe operating traction of the bike giving more margin to prevent a slide especially in the rain. Also keep in mind, lightweight bikes "feel" what the rider is doing much more than the 6-700 pound behemoth FJR or Concours that instructors usually ride or an 850 pound cruiser.

abvc

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 2, 2016

Exactly, these ppl never hang off so they have no idea what it is for, and only see it as refundant move

Homyality

· #7 · May 3, 2016

My .02:

If you are hanging off on the street you are riding too fast for the street. There is a difference between having fun and getting stupid and if you are riding anywhere near the point that hanging off is a requirement to increase traction then you are going too fast.

Now moving your butt over a little bit to counter weight is one thing. But hanging off, save that for the track fellas.

Reactions: 2

abvc

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 3, 2016

Hey fast is relative, that is where hanging off add up, the safety margin!

Dumanji

· #9 · May 3, 2016 (Edited)

abvc said:
Hey fast is relative, that is where hanging off add up, the safety margin!

abvc, how extreme is your "hang off?" I too feel comfortable getting my weight to the inside of a corner, mostly by dropping my inside shoulder, moving my torso slightly off-center, and leading with my head, eyes, and shoulder (try to kiss your mirror, as many riders describe it). I find the bike to be much more stable in corners when I get my upper body about parallel to the bike, and slightly off-center towards the inside, as opposed to sitting perfectly centered/perpendicular to it (the bike) and just turning it underneath me. I also like to move my butt just the tiniest amount off the seat - ~1/4 of my butt, nothing too extreme. I mean, it's not like I'm trying to drag knee out there, far from it. Just because you utilize this BP on the street doesn't mean you're speeding. I practice every chance I get, and I can practice proper cornering BP doing the speed limit, without breaking any laws. Sure, the speeds I'm cornering at may not require this type of effort to turn the motorcycle (a simple push on the inside bar will do the job without anything else), but I like to exaggerate it. It may look ridiculous, but it's practice for the more spirited sessions.

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abvc

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 3, 2016 (Edited)

Just move your butt, knee out and rest just follow, practice at low speed in a corner, i am not writing everything

, maybe you tell us here what you find out. On stock tire, i need to exaggerate it, on tt900(my rear tire had puncture and i need to swap the rear from rs 10) move butt as normal and the tire is just fine.

I think you are doing right, i always see myself on the mirror kind of selfie

But sounds like you havent done it till you feel natural?

Dumanji

· #11 · May 3, 2016

abvc said:
Just move your butt, knee out and rest just follow, practice at low speed in a corner, i am not writing everything , maybe you tell us here what you find out. On stock tire, i need to exaggerate it, on tt900(my rear tire had puncture and i need to swap the rear from rs 10) move butt as normal and the tire is just fine.

I think you are doing right, i always see myself on the mirror kind of selfie

But sounds like you havent done it till you feel natural?

I know I'm on the right track, abvc. Slowly getting there - closer with each session. I was just asking what you meant by "hang off." Just wondering if you move your entire lower/upper body completely off the motorcycle. If so, that might be a bit extreme on the street.

Joseph Infante

· #12 · May 3, 2016

abvc said:
I got alot of talk because i hang off my body on the street. Who here hang off?

Yesterday i even had a lecture from a 4wd that i dont have to hang off. Opinion?

Me personally hang off is important, it balances the bike, and many other reasons.

Ive noticed sometimes at high speeds on the highway (Over 90mph) it is sometimes beneficial to do it to balance the bike. It also makes me feel really racy and intune with the bike in the moment.Personally id suggest to do anything in your power to benefit yourself in the moment, if you have to hang off to get your balance back or have a flush turn. Do it. Don't listen to somehow telling you to do ride a certain way, do what makes you perform the most but also remeber fundamentals because sometimes it can be between crashing and living.

Laurence

· #13 · May 3, 2016

Mostly, I do it when I'm riding in the canyons or if I'm taking a turn at speed, one of the points of leaning off your motorcycle is to reduce your bikes lean angle and maximize tire grip. I don't tend to do it when I'm making turns at red lights or riding slow in town, but I always make sure to practice body position and leaning when I'm at a higher speed or riding really curvy roads.

Reactions: 1

abvc

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 3, 2016

Dumanji said:
I know I'm on the right track, abvc. Slowly getting there - closer with each session. I was just asking what you meant by "hang off." Just wondering if you move your entire lower/upper body completely off the motorcycle. If so, that might be a bit extreme on the street.

Yes entire. I am used to it that it is not slowing me down, and leaning the bike just folllows. Mind you i havent been able to drag a knee tho.

NoobRider

· #15 · May 4, 2016

Talking about 'hanging' do you all feel more comfortable doing on one side over the other or is it just me? not too different than your one hand being the dominant one.
For me I feel a LOT more confident and 'skillfull' leaning/turning on my left side than right.. which may be odd since I'm a right hander. Always have even when I was riding bicycles as a kid.

Phanuel

· #16 · May 4, 2016

I haven't had that experience. I read it a lot though. Spent plenty of time riding bikes, mainly mountain, and I never felt like one kind of turn was easier or harder than another.

CBRpilot

· #17 · May 4, 2016

Don't be a STREET ROSSI wanna-be racer boy! :laugh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2UnjO9THc

cxa0897

· #18 · May 4, 2016

I'm more comfortable going left, I'm pretty sure I keep my right arms tense on the throttle when leaning hard right which makes me uncomfortable. I'm going to be setting up my go pro this year to pin down what I'm doing wrong.

It's fairly normal to be more comfortable going to one side than another. Most people I've talked to have some level of preference

torrid_pace

· #19 · May 4, 2016

Reactions: 1

cxa0897

· #20 · May 4, 2016

That. Is. Amazing. Form.

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