A non-biker’s Q: how difficult is this?
Discussion
Often liked the idea of a bike. Never acted on it. I had a teenage friend who ended badly on one. That’s probably been at the back of my mind.
Anyway, enough about me.
For those who do ride, how hard is it to get a bike into this position (from the BBC today)?
I imagine it takes a mix of ability, nerve/faith, and equipment. Obviously the last one on its own won’t get you far, but I imagine (again) that on many bikes (most?) doing this simply isn’t possible no matter how much of the first two you have.
So what’s the balance of the mixture? And is more than those three things needed - if so what?
TIA
Anyway, enough about me.
For those who do ride, how hard is it to get a bike into this position (from the BBC today)?
I imagine it takes a mix of ability, nerve/faith, and equipment. Obviously the last one on its own won’t get you far, but I imagine (again) that on many bikes (most?) doing this simply isn’t possible no matter how much of the first two you have.
So what’s the balance of the mixture? And is more than those three things needed - if so what?
TIA
Experience.
That video of the new Desmo less Ducati V2 vee twin motorcycle that can be used on the road or track. It's three riders who have raced who are now motorcycling journalists. I thought of that video as one of the videos of it I've watched mentioned Zack getting his elbow down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJvTD6f_hM
That video of the new Desmo less Ducati V2 vee twin motorcycle that can be used on the road or track. It's three riders who have raced who are now motorcycling journalists. I thought of that video as one of the videos of it I've watched mentioned Zack getting his elbow down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJvTD6f_hM
BlackTails said:
Often liked the idea of a bike. Never acted on it. I had a teenage friend who ended badly on one. That’s probably been at the back of my mind.
Anyway, enough about me.
For those who do ride, how hard is it to get a bike into this position (from the BBC today)?
I imagine it takes a mix of ability, nerve/faith, and equipment. Obviously the last one on its own won’t get you far, but I imagine (again) that on many bikes (most?) doing this simply isn’t possible no matter how much of the first two you have.
So what’s the balance of the mixture? And is more than those three things needed - if so what?
TIA
It’s really easy. It’s what happens afterwards that makes it hard. Getting your knee or elbow down is no problem, getting the bike back upright (ideally with you on it), is the bit that takes more practice.Anyway, enough about me.
For those who do ride, how hard is it to get a bike into this position (from the BBC today)?
I imagine it takes a mix of ability, nerve/faith, and equipment. Obviously the last one on its own won’t get you far, but I imagine (again) that on many bikes (most?) doing this simply isn’t possible no matter how much of the first two you have.
So what’s the balance of the mixture? And is more than those three things needed - if so what?
TIA
BlackTails said:
LeftmostAardvark said:
It’s really easy. It’s what happens afterwards that makes it hard. Getting your knee or elbow down is no problem, getting the bike back upright (ideally with you on it), is the bit that takes more practice.
Good answer!
I've been that far over before, only trouble is it wasn't exactly planned and I didn't get back up... 
A road bike generally won't have quite the lean angle of a Moto GP bike, so elbow (whilst possible) will be tricky and perhaps pointless since your body position will be weird.
Getting your knee down is easy enough though. Amusing for the road, and something that just happens on track.
Get yourself a sporty bike with high pegs and hammer the nearest roundabout when it's quiet. Get half your arse off the bike, point your knee, get your head and shoulders inline with the mirror and lean, you'll get it before long.
Getting your knee down is easy enough though. Amusing for the road, and something that just happens on track.
Get yourself a sporty bike with high pegs and hammer the nearest roundabout when it's quiet. Get half your arse off the bike, point your knee, get your head and shoulders inline with the mirror and lean, you'll get it before long.
If you just want to have fun melting plastic get a cbr400rr. I live in a town with more roundabouts than you can shake a stick at and it was a great little bike for an afternoon of knee down fun. In my case i was probably going slower than just riding the corner without hanging off but that wasn't the point 
KTMsm said:
I've seen videos of lads getting huge lean angles whilst going relatively slowly in car parks
Al Fagan put a clip up on Insta this morning of him getting caught out by another journo mugging for the camera. Guy was full lean elbow down the whole lot but absolutely crawling.
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