The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread

[CaptainSlow]

Rsdop said:

I’ve got a question about tyres and cornering. I did my first track day at the weekend and absolutely loved it. Felt like I was getting a decent lean on but looking at my tyres there’s still 10mm or so at each side that I haven’t used. Thing is I found my toes were scraping on the floor so didn’t feel I could get over any more. Is this because of my clown sized feet, wrong position on the bike or something else? Cheers.

Yup, move your feet back on the pegs so you can finally get rid of those mahoosive chicken strips.

[Gavia]

Rsdop said:

I’ve got a question about tyres and cornering. I did my first track day at the weekend and absolutely loved it. Felt like I was getting a decent lean on but looking at my tyres there’s still 10mm or so at each side that I haven’t used. Thing is I found my toes were scraping on the floor so didn’t feel I could get over any more. Is this because of my clown sized feet, wrong position on the bike or something else? Cheers.

It’ll be body position and especially feet.

The amount of people riding with sticky out feet is growing. It seems the latest trend is to ride with your feet locked onto the peg using the heel of the boot. At a guess I think this is because people are seeing this on the outside boot of MotoGP riders in a corner when they’re weighting the outside peg.

It’s completely wrong for inside pegs or day to day riding.

You need to have the ball of your foot on the outside of the peg to weight it correctly and it’s unlikely your boot will deck out as long as you get the rest of your body position right.

There was a photo a few weeks back on a trackday that showed exactly how not to do it.

EDIT: here’s the photo

https://thumbsnap.com/xuiMUEmT

Edited by Gavia on Tuesday 10th July 14:51

[Killboy]

Rsdop said:

I’ve got a question about tyres and cornering. I did my first track day at the weekend and absolutely loved it. Felt like I was getting a decent lean on but looking at my tyres there’s still 10mm or so at each side that I haven’t used. Thing is I found my toes were scraping on the floor so didn’t feel I could get over any more. Is this because of my clown sized feet, wrong position on the bike or something else? Cheers.

I'm in no way a track expert, but being 6'7" with clown size feet I've experienced this. I even scratched my gear lever. It may feel like you got lean, but if you look at a photo its likely depressingly not the case.

First up, you will likely need to move your feet back a bit, I found I needed to be on the balls of my feet. Also I was leaning the bike too much and myself not enough, and as it was feeling wrong generally off throttle and thats when scraping was occuring. Once I found myself riding better, especially with aid from others (instructors etc), I was getting much better body position and on throttle more in corners, and getting further on my tires.

Ultimately no matter what anyone tells you on the internet, the best would be to get someone that knows what they are doing to give you some feedback at/on track. All the theory sounds easy and logical, but someone needed to help tell me what I was doing wrong, as in my mind I was awesome!

[cbmotorsport]

Rsdop said:

I’ve got a question about tyres and cornering. I did my first track day at the weekend and absolutely loved it. Felt like I was getting a decent lean on but looking at my tyres there’s still 10mm or so at each side that I haven’t used. Thing is I found my toes were scraping on the floor so didn’t feel I could get over any more. Is this because of my clown sized feet, wrong position on the bike or something else? Cheers.

Plenty of lean left in that tyre.

Make sure the balls of your feet are on the pegs, many people ride with their pegs in the arch of their foot, causing their toes to stick out.

Don't worry about lean angles, they'll come the more track time you do.

[Biker 1]

pessimal said:

been meaning to ask this.

how can i "wash" the inside of my gloves?

the outsides are find, but the inside has got sweaty, greasy and generally horrible.

does anyone have any hints on how to clean or wash or do something to make the inside a more pleasant place for my hands

thanks!

Put your gloves in the freezer for a few days - the cold will kill the bacteria & make them smell less ripe.
You could try WD40 chain cleaner or similar de-greaser on the inside, but not sure how it would react with the lining......

[cbmotorsport]

I soaked a pair of gloves in water with a baby bottle sterilising tablet dissolved in it, then let them dry naturally. Worked well. Had been on a two week tour of southern france and it was very hot.

[Biker 1]

The real issue is drying them, particularly waterproof gloves with insulated lining. I've had some success microwaving gloves dry - just make sure there's no metal components/zips/studs in them....

[RizzoTheRat]

I've put part leather winter gloves through the washing machine before now, the only problem is getting them dry quickly enough to ensure they don't start to smell a bit.

[Biker's Nemesis]

swerni said:

cbmotorsport said:

Rsdop said:

I’ve got a question about tyres and cornering. I did my first track day at the weekend and absolutely loved it. Felt like I was getting a decent lean on but looking at my tyres there’s still 10mm or so at each side that I haven’t used. Thing is I found my toes were scraping on the floor so didn’t feel I could get over any more. Is this because of my clown sized feet, wrong position on the bike or something else? Cheers.

Plenty of lean left in that tyre.

Make sure the balls of your feet are on the pegs, many people ride with their pegs in the arch of their foot, causing their toes to stick out.

Don't worry about lean angles, they'll come the more track time you do.

Was wondering this myself.
6'5" and almost clown like feet, the thought it was just my feet causing the problem.

Thank you PH

6ft 4" here and size 13 boots, I never scrape my boots, make sure you ride with your toes on the end of the pegs.

late to the party I know.

[Rsdop]

Ok thanks for all the input on this! Just been out on the bike for a reccy and seems I don’t have the balls of my feet on the pegs naturally so will try doing this as a start. Also makes sense about leaning the bike too much and not myself enough so something else to think about.

Was expecting a ripping for the chicken strips but tbh they are much smaller than they were before the track day!
I’ve only been riding for 6 months so plenty of time to get rid of them. My bikes not a sports bike so wasn’t sure if the toe scraping was normal or a fault in my style so good to have something to go on

[cbmotorsport]

What bike you got?

[Rsdop]

cbmotorsport said:

What bike you got?

2011 Hornet

[cbmotorsport]

Rsdop said:

2011 Hornet

Capable bike, no problem. None to bad for 6 months of riding, it'll come, give it time and take it easy. :-)

[Google [bot]]

Will I ever stop beeping at people having done a left or right turn?

[cbmotorsport]

Yeah.

At least you're trying to turn off your indicators...many don't.

[Mr2Mike]

Google [bot] said:

Will I ever stop beeping at people having done a left or right turn?

As soon as you have mastered this, it's compulsory to get a second bike that has the horn/indicator switch positions swapped. Ensure you ride both regularly so you don't get used to the switch positions.

[trialsta]

Google [bot] said:

Will I ever stop beeping at people having done a left or right turn?

Get a Honda, then when somebody is moving over into your lane without looking you can attempt to save your life by furiously indicating at them. Obviously this has repeatedly been the case for a friend over the last 18 months....

[A500leroy]

Is a normal for a chain to become 'baggy' quickly?
I know how to adjust its just a bit alarming its gone loose after a few hundred miles.

[the tribester]

If it's a cheap non O ring chain, then yes, very common. Keep an eye on it, you don't want it jumping off a sprocket at the wrong moment.

A good quality O or X ring, kept lubed and clean, will go along way between adjustments.

[A500leroy]

ok, ill adjust and keep an eye on eye it, guess id better start saving for new chain and sprockets.