Knee down?

[ChristoT]

Hello fellow Foccers!

I've just got some replacement trousers, so now I can try to get my knee down! Previous trousers were textiles, so no sliders. However, I now want to give it a shot (well, once this bloody snow clears!  ).

I've been reading plenty of articles and watching Youtube vids, but thought I'd ask here: a) what speed is right on a mid-size / largish roundabout? and b) I'm a bit worried about the exhaust, is that safe and OK at those angles? I have a stock exhaust, and am 6ft 3.

Any advice / input would be appreciated, thanks! 

[bozboz]

U can go as slow as 10ish mph aty a guess. Id wait till the weather improves and theres more warmth on the tarmac. Ive got a couple of old vids of me doing knee downs on an old cbr400 on youtube, I just used a big underused carpark near me at the time, better/safer there then practicing on the roads. If you are worried about your exhaust get a feel for it leaning on the left.

[bozboz]

Heres me 5 years ago...the massive lag shows the 'form' that worked for me, hope this helps! 

More knee sliding adventures

[ChristoT]

Thanks bozboz, but I don't see a Youtube link, if you meant to add one?

[markbubble]

make sure said roundabout isnt covered in a nice slippy surface from diesel and general road crud! get yourself a track day booked and learn on there ,much safer and better than any road!

[stevierst]

+1 for that, keep it on the track. There's enough to think about on today's roads without concentrating on getting your knee down.

I believe there are people out there that run courses on how to do this? Might be a good way?

[cable tie]

We have a local hot spot for knee down action that gets crowds, however going round and round a island just to get your knee down, I can't see the point.

[bwizz]

Can you afford the potential damage, and as others have said , likely you will find lubricant just on your favourite line around the roundabout and leave you feeling a total twat sat on your arse with a wrecked bike

[bozboz]

Thanks bozboz, but I don't see a Youtube link, if you meant to add one?

Here we go ^^^^^

[ChristoT]

In reply to all the guys warning me about wrecking: I know full well what the consequences of stupid riding are (I nearly wrote off my 125 when I didn't see a sharp corner in time when riding at night. 40mph + hedge = tears). I am all-too familiar with the pain of seeing one's pride and joy damaged. Not to mention the financial pain of repairing it.

Luckily, I'm also a chicken! If I feel it's getting too close to my comfort zone, I'll quite happily wimp out, bike intact. As for where to learn, there are some pretty quiet roundabouts nearby, and failing that, Tesco's carpark on a Sunday. It's not like I'm lacking in places to learn.

I can't really afford a course, or even a track day (if they'd even let me on. 33bhp limit on the license). My plan was just to take it easy, scout out good locations beforehand, and approach the corners without rushing, and being prepared.

As for why I want to learn, it's not for the kudos or any of that crap, it's a question of knowledge of my own limits and my own skill. It's comforting knowing you CAN go that little bit further if you really need to - but hopefully you never will. The same reasons why the pros recommend you practise your emergency breaking regularly. If the s*** hits the fan, you'll have enough on your plate without having doubts of your own ability.

[ChristoT]

Thanks bozboz, but I don't see a Youtube link, if you meant to add one?

Here we go ^^^^^

Awesome, thanks! 

[darrsi]

I don't think people were really suggesting "stupid riding" at all, in reality it's just a matter of fact that nobody ever has a clue of road conditions, and although unbelievably our roads are actually better than most, the threat of oil, diesel, and petrol spilled from lorrys, buses and the like can make putting your knee down extremely off putting, especially when it's not that necessary.
I hope that doesn't make me sound like a killjoy, 'cos that's not the way i intended it to sound!

[ChristoT]

I don't think people were really suggesting "stupid riding" at all, in reality it's just a matter of fact that nobody ever has a clue of road conditions, and although unbelievably our roads are actually better than most, the threat of oil, diesel, and petrol spilled from lorrys, buses and the like can make putting your knee down extremely off putting, especially when it's not that necessary.
I hope that doesn't make me sound like a killjoy, 'cos that's not the way i intended it to sound!

By "planning", I included crawling round said corner at about 5mph a few times to get an idea of conditions! I don't want to get my knee down on a patch of diesel, thanks very much!

As for being a killjoy, I would say you're just advocating common sense instead. Much better!

(I would contest the "better than most" bit. In France, B-roads are kept in better nick than our A-roads! I have huge dings in both front and rear rims from hitting English potholes. English roads are pretty awful!!)

[bwizz]

The one time I found diesel on a roundaboaut  ." I was around 20 years old " riding a normal non knee down speed" never got the time to see if there was anything amiss before I found myself sliding on my arse. The pitfalls of roundabouts memory has never left me 39 years later.
If its something you feel you must do , who am i to critisise , but you should have expected this a response asking such a question on a forum

[ChristoT]

you should have expected this a response asking such a question on a forum

I did expect such a response, to a certain extent. In fact, it's a lot quieter than I expecting!

As I've said, I'm interested in the practical applications (as in an emergency, say) rather than any showboating or attempted neck breaking.

[Dead Eye]

The justification is very sensible. Testing your abilities in a (mostly) controlled situation that you are prepared for so that its possible if the need arises. Obviously public roads and carparks aren't exactly the best definition of "controlled environment" but with a lack of money its the best alternative.

Teaching yourself how to ride and use more "advanced" manoeuvres just seems like a very sensible idea. With that in mind, good luck and don't wreck your bike ^^

[Tourx4]

Sorry can't help as i'm still learning to keep the bike upright and safely in a straight line and not speed!!!

[budgiemurray]

on public roads why do you need to get your knee down? I dont get it
Track yeah I can see the need but not so much on public roads at legal(ish) speeds you shouldn need too..
Budgie

[ChristoT]

on public roads why do you need to get your knee down? I dont get it
Track yeah I can see the need but not so much on public roads at legal(ish) speeds you shouldn need too..
Budgie

If I'm going down a road, and there's a sharp bend I'm not expecting, I want to be able to recover. Includes if I get cut up by a cager.

[Fuzzy]

Best way to recover from a sharp bend or another road user's manouver that you're not expecting is unlikely to include any form of knee down.

If you want to improve your road riding, an advanced course would be good. A restricted licence is not an issue, and if you want an cheap (possibly free depending on location) and hassle free, albeit brief, training session have a look at the bikesafe courses. Judging from what you've said you will learn a lot and it might save your life one day.

[darrsi]

Have a look at all the categories, it's quite useful.


http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/braking/

[JoeRock]

Funnily enough on my old bike (ZX9R) I never managed it deliberately, it was jacked up a fair way and I'm not massively tall, so I couldn't reach it (or at least wasn't happy leaning the bike over as far as I was).
That said, coming around a roundabout once, I was hanging off in the wet, and the arse end slid out on me - no idea what from, but I suspect a patch of diesel. Because my knee was out, and kinda locked, I managed to catch the bike on my knee and hold it up for a bit until the rear wheel regained contact (sounds heroic, it was completely by chance).
Even if it did scare the crap out of me doing it, if I hadn't been hanging off in the "knee down" type position, I would've gone straight into the floor instead of coming off fine, albeit it with a fair few grey hairs!

[budgiemurray]

Best way to recover from a sharp bend or another road user's manouver that you're not expecting is unlikely to include any form of knee down.

If you want to improve your road riding, an advanced course would be good. A restricted licence is not an issue, and if you want an cheap (possibly free depending on location) and hassle free, albeit brief, training session have a look at the bikesafe courses. Judging from what you've said you will learn a lot and it might save your life one day.

totally agree with Fuzzy.. forward planning should stop you getting into that situation in the first place, look at extra training.. you never stop learning.. trust me, been there doner that and after writing off two bikes I decided the problem was mines not anyone elses.. transformed my riding..  keep the knee down stuff for the track where its safer
 
Budgie