Why don't Police riders hang off the seat?

[slimwilly]

Is i correct that police riders always stay sat on the middle of the seat and lean the bike in and trust the tyres?


That is actually how i ride, i have not as yet started to slide down the seat and hang my knee out, i have nearly got rid of my chicken strips,only about 5mm left until the edge and we have not had a warm ride out yet.I feel very confident riding these bikes ,these FZ1s do give you alot of confidence in corners.

[Phil]

There is little which more stupid than a rider on a bike hanging off,  knee out and not getting their knee anywhere near the deck. 

Besides, you will get rid of the chicken strips quicker if you dont hang off.

[stevierst]

Its a bit of a debate with the old hanging off trick.
 Cops don't do it because its not necessary, and looks a bit daft on a touring bike. Also the general publics perception of this would not be particularily good.

I ride an fz1s, and they do install you with confidence, even more so than my old R1 on public roads. I edge the back tyre out on dry days, and don't hang off (wouldn't know how to do it). I think it might be a track day thing myself. :

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[richfzs]

Many moons ago, before I'd even passed my cbt, I was pillion behind a friend. We were on a gpz305,so obviously a beast of a machine! Coming off the autobahn (lived in Germany at the time) 3 power rangers on blades etc came past us on the (long) slip road, and then got hard on the brakes for the tight corner, shifted weight, stuck their knees out and tipped their bikes into the corner.

God knows what they thought as Jon took us round the outside of all 3 of them, nice and sedate 2 up on a gpz305!

Point is, I suppose, there's just no need for it, unless you are really REALLY shifting. Most people are doing it because they think it looks cool - but unless your name is Marquez, it doesn't!

Guy that taught me to ride, had been a courier in Manchester - place they used to congregate was round the corner from hein gericke. They regularly saw power rangers park up (out of sight of HG) and scrape their knee sliders on the wall to get bragging rights. Who knows, they were almost certainly not much quicker riders than those 3 Germans, but were just as big a group of cocks.

So that's why police riders don't hang off - there's no need!

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[dazza]

I like to see people hanging off whether they get their knee down or not, it means their having fun. That's what biking's all about isn't it ? Me personally think my legs are too short to break in my knee sliders but when nobody's watching, doesn't stop me trying.

[alan sherman]

Its a good idea to hang off when you are short of clearance.  The FZS600 grinds out when you are far enough over so you really aught to hang off of back off just before that point!

[ChristoT]

I like to see people hanging off whether they get their knee down or not, it means their having fun. That's what biking's all about isn't it ? Me personally think my legs are too short to break in my knee sliders but when nobody's watching, doesn't stop me trying.

I have really long legs, and still fail! With this better weather, going to be trying a bit harder... I refuse to scrub the sliders by "dubious" means though - doesn't count! 

[stevierst]

Its a good idea to hang off when you are short of clearance.  The FZS600 grinds out when you are far enough over so you really aught to hang off of back off just before that point!

Holy shit, how far over do you go ? I have regularily edged out the rear tyre on all 3 of my boxeye's in the past, and have never grounded it once in over 100k. You must be going some to do that!!  

[richfzs]

The pegs touch down right enough (or used to, I've slowed down in my old age ), but nothing solid and unforgiving ever did!

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[ChristoT]

Its a good idea to hang off when you are short of clearance.  The FZS600 grinds out when you are far enough over so you really aught to hang off of back off just before that point!

Holy shit, how far over do you go ? I have regularily edged out the rear tyre on all 3 of my boxeye's in the past, and have never grounded it once in over 100k. You must be going some to do that!!

Pretty far, I'm guessing! I regularly grind my toes on the tar, but only scraped my "hero blobs" (as Exupnuts calls the doodahs on my pegs) once, when swerving violently to avoid an Audi when I took a corner too hot.

[simonm]

If you're on a superbike and tenths of a second count I'd guess hanging off makes a difference.  In the real world not so much, especially on a fully bloated police tourer.

[clayt74]

To be fair I have never ridden bigger than a 600..but my foxeye has no chicken strips  and I have ground my toes ( not riding wirh commuter feet  ) and too often hit the hero blobs.... but have never had to hang off!!!!!
Good balance and proper counter steer puts the bike exactly where I want it. Plus being seated I find it easier and quicker to get back on the power.

[ChristoT]

To be fair I have never ridden bigger than a 600..but my foxeye has no chicken strips  and I have ground my toes ( not riding wirh commuter feet  ) and too often hit the hero blobs.... but have never had to hang off!!!!!
Good balance and proper counter steer puts the bike exactly where I want it. Plus being seated I find it easier and quicker to get back on the power.

I find I get the power on sooner when I hang off as the bike is already more upright. Plus, it's an easy matter to give the bars a little flick to get you back in the seat - and good fun too! 

[dBfazer600]

Personally hanging off is better saved for track days as SMIDSY does not give pain relieve so I tend to make my presences as big as possible. Basically I is a lazy sod and throwing it round corners takes allot of energy of which can be better employed in doing nothing. Daz

[clayt74]

Personally hanging off is better saved for track days as SMIDSY does not give pain relieve so I tend to make my presences as big as possible. Basically I is a lazy sod and throwing it round corners takes allot of energy of which can be better employed in doing nothing. Daz

That's  what I meant about counter steer, gives the same result from a tiny amount of pressure in the wrist/arms

[dBfazer600]

Personally hanging off is better saved for track days as SMIDSY does not give pain relieve so I tend to make my presences as big as possible. Basically I is a lazy sod and throwing it round corners takes allot of energy of which can be better employed in doing nothing. Daz

That's  what I meant about counter steer, gives the same result from a tiny amount of pressure in the wrist/arms

Totally agree. I do tend to tuck so my elbows are same hight as bars and the counter steering is allot smoother, easier and still in a position that allows the bike to do its job, although the FZS600 allows you to chose your seating preferences. How many times do we see super bike riders sat up right and straight armed? I think that says allot about how tiring it can be. All riders including emergency services have to trade off energy levels for the length and type of riding including environment.
 
Daz

[Skippernick]

Personally hanging off is better saved for track days as SMIDSY does not give pain relieve so I tend to make my presences as big as possible. Basically I is a lazy sod and throwing it round corners takes allot of energy of which can be better employed in doing nothing. Daz

 

[shady]

Way too many power ranger out there, guys  with an ego writing cheque's that their butt cant cash 

[Dead Eye]

Personally haven't found a need to hang off - feel much happier planted in the seat and using the throttle and proper counter-steering to get around the twisties

[Looney tune]

Hang off, I have enough bother hanging on !!!!

[Lazarus]

Hang off, I have enough bother hanging on !!!!

 

[clayt74]

Hang off, I have enough bother hanging on !!!!

    proves that ya doing it right

[slimwilly]

I first noticed the hanging off style when i was following a sports bike about ten years ago, i was on my 1100 virago , we were in some very nice twisties and he was like a monkey an banana tree, all over the bike , hanging knees out, i just sat planted in the seat and followed him close .Now my mate on his Gixxer thou went on a |Ron Haslam track day last year and now when i go out with him he is doing the same,like a dog with worms .
They found a small roundabout where they actually got there knee down,ha ha ,fools,round and round,i looked on with horror .

[alan sherman]

I thin it was Fazey - the club creator that was getting his link pipe and engine down (after grinding out the pegs).  Engine bars lower cornering clearance quite a bit.

[sadlonelygit]

9/10ths and above and arsing about, then hanging off and moving the c-o-g inwards and down is a must. Doesnt stop the pegs grinding out on a regular basis.
(pegs are 1/2" higher and have very short stainless bolts as doodabs)