[Rupmisc]

I noticed today, while practicing slow speed loops on the Nighthawk 250, that my legs are so bent that I must shift my weight by moving my body. If I had a little less bend in my knee (greater distance from seat to peg or peg further back) I think that it would be easier to weight the pegs more easily.

This may sound weird. I have adapted to the Nighthawk, but I wonder if there are more control options if my legs weren’t quite so bent. Of course, I suspect that cruiser riders are in no position to try and weight their feet.

Any thoughts on taller bikes. As they get taller, I suppose it becomes slightly harder to keep them upright at a stop, or at very slow speeds?

[Rupmisc]

Elwood, thanks for the input. I did not mean to imply that the nighthawk doesn’t turn–it turns fine. I just wondered if having a longer distance to the pegs would give me one more option. Also, as you say, I might me happier if my legs weren’t “balled up so much”. But maybe I’b be better accomplishing that with a taller bike, or pegs a little farther back.

My remark about cruisers was intended to be a question. Can you raise your seat (stand) easily on a cruiser? Doesn’t much of the force go forward rather than down? You can probably tell that I wasn’t a physics major.

[WeaponZero]

Bear in mind that when you have feet forward as in a cruiser, you actually have LESS control over the bike because you can’t transfer your weight to the balls of your feet as well.

[Rupmisc]

WeaponZero is answering my specific question. It doesn’t seem to me that you can use your feet for control on a cruiser. Of course, my thoughts on motorcycle control are of limited use, given my inexperience.

I am 6′ even, 190 lbs. My knees are sufficiently high that when I am seated, i have to raise up a little to put weight on my feet. I can shift my seat just fine, but I was wondering if control would be easier with less knee bend. Standard or a little back would do this. It seems to me that it would help.
I will probably sit on a Ducati 696 and a couple of Triumphs tomorrow. I’ll see if my leg length seems more comfortable.

Sorry Elwood, if I need to lean, I really wouldn’t want floorboards. Not really my style, anyway.

[Author]

Posts