[Rupmisc]

Have had my Honda Nighthawk 250 for about three weeks now. I am very happy that I listened to advice on this site and went with a smaller first bike. I am 6 feet, 190, with a 32″ inseam.

Where should each of my feet be when I ride? I’d like to keep some weight on each peg to help with balance, leans, etc. If I use the ball of my foot, it means that I have to lift my foot and move it forward to use the rear brake but my legs are already so high that this takes that extra second and feels jerky. If I place my foot forward to the back of the ball, I am concerned that putting weight on the peg will be putting enough pressure on the brake pedal to light the brake light. Ideally, I’d like to lower the height of the brake pedal so that I can rest on the peg, and immediately hit the brake by pointing my toe down.

So, what is the ideal position? Is it possible to adjust the length or angle of a rear brake on the 250 nighthawk to accommodate my body?

[TheAbomb12]

never have your foot over the brake pedal while riding (unless you are going to use it)… you could hit a bump, and engage the brake harder than is safe– very dangerous especially in turns.

Are you Able to put your foot to the side? Or can you place your toe Under the brake slightly?

[Budd]

you will get more flexible and be able to move your foot pretty effortlessly given time and practice.

Or, you could just forgo the rear brake, like some squid I saw on a cbr. He couldn’t remove the shifter so he turned his foot outwards resting his foot longways on the peg. I don’t recommend this though.

“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine

[Amoryl]

reminds me of the other day when I was watching one of those wildest/craziest/stupidest video shows, some idiot on an ATV doing some stunt jump. got way up in the air, started to tip, tried to engage the rear break which will apperently cause enough torque to right the ATV even in the air, and realized that for some reason never properly explored that he’d removed the rear breaks entirely the other day. end result was a massive wipeout on an ATV that was about 20-30feet in the air. BRILLIANT!

[Rupmisc]

Thanks, I’ll try to make do. Problem is that my knees are already so high, it is more effort to raise my foot to move it forward. But, I will try out, under or just back.

I have been assuming that being able to put weight on the pegs helped with control. Do most people keep weight primarily on seat?

IF not, are there ways to rearrange the peg brake positioning on my bike? Or just be patient and let next bike have more legroom under me. I do not want my legs in front, so no cruiser.

[Matt]

I think that as time goes on, you’ll adapt and find it much easier than you do now.
On my first bike the shifter was bent inward and you had to angle your foot a fair amount to hit it properly. After an hour on the bike I no longer noticed. Humans are pretty good at adapting to things.

That said, have you tried sitting further back on your seat? If you have a smooth one piece seat, you can sit a few inches further back and still hug the tank with your legs. I have heard of tall guys sitting on the pillon seat and still reaching all the controls comfortably… I’m not sure I’d recommend that (it changes the weight balance of the bike, raising the centre of gravity, and lessening the load on the front wheel).
—
“The two seconds between ‘Oh S**!’ and the crash isn’t a lot of practice time.”

[Jiriki]

i am in the same, not so flexible, category… i tend to move leg about an inch and then pivot my foot when I brake… that being said, I have noticed that I am having to move my leg less and less as time goes on…

as for weight on pegs, I make sure that my feet are planted on the pegs, but I am definitely still sitting on the seat. When I see a bump in the road, I will stand up on the pegs and lean back (+ a bit of throttle to lighten the front end if it is a big bump).

edit:
i don’t think weight on pegs gives you more control than on the seat (other than being able to use your knees/push down the rear tire)… however, weight on a single peg will start you turning in that direction… weight on peg + lean + counter steer = tight turn

if you are on a really bump road, then maybe a lot of weight on your pegs will keep you from squirming around on your seat…

[Rab]

Digressing slightly, but you might be interested in the very active Yahoo Group “CB250_Nighthawk”.

[Rupmisc]

NM

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