Knee in or knee out?

[Matthew_T]

With regards to another topic on here about the pedal hitting the ground when you are going around a corner.

When taking a corner at speed (correctly) should you keep your knee in or out? In motorbike racing, you often see them have the knee out (with a pad on the end), so they can take the corner faster.

But I have heard from people that it is best to keep your knee in then on a puch bike. I often find myself inadvertantly having my knee out sometimes if I go into a corner too fast.

Shoudl you have your knee in to stop it from hitting the ground? Or is there another reason?

 

[gaz]

Motorcyclists actually do this to gauge how far they can lean without scraping the foot pegs For us, as we can change where the pedal is there is little need to stick your knee out. Sticking your knee out doesn't change the centre of mass enough to cause a major increase in turning circle.
On a descent it will slow you down more than it will make you lean.

 

[Matty]

I thought the aim was to touch the knee on the tarmac? Else you could have been going faster.

 

[fossyant]

Doesn't matter.

You put weight on the outer leg to lower the centre of gravity. On a motorbike they can't do that.

Outer leg/crank at bottom of stroke, stand on outer leg, ease weight off inner leg. Simples !

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Doesn't matter.

You put weight on the outer leg to lower the centre of gravity. On a motorbike they can't do that.

Outer leg/crank at bottom of stroke, stand on outer leg, ease weight off inner leg. Simples !

Why cant motorcyclists weight the outside peg ?

I have been riding Motor bikes for 40 yrs raced Moto x for about 9 yrs and Raced Road bikes for 5 yrs and I have allways weighted the outside peg when cornering, I have been taught by some of the best race instructors in the country who all recomend weighting outside peg

how many counter steer though ?

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Sooy OP should have said Knee out in the breeze

I see alot of the pros on TDF stick their knees out to so in godd company

 

[Blue]

Doesn't matter.

You put weight on the outer leg to lower the centre of gravity. On a motorbike they can't do that.

Outer leg/crank at bottom of stroke, stand on outer leg, ease weight off inner leg. Simples !

That is the important point - keeps the inside pedal off the ground!


I find that I can corner better with the knee out.

 

[Dan B]

how many counter steer though ?

Doesn't everyone?[ukrm]except the shaft drive bikes, of course[/ukrm]

 

[peelywally]

motorcyclist have metal or carbon plates on the knees of trousers , i wouldnt use my knee to scrape the road for stability wearing cycling shorts ,also a motor cyclist is lower to ground and has wider tyres by the time a road cycles low enough to allow your knee to stabilise you on the deck you might find your shoulder and bum doing the job just fine without its help

 

[Keith Oates]

I agree, knee on the ground when riding a bicycle means only one thing 'you've lost it'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[steve52]

what ever feels good

 

[crumpetman]

Motorbikes have tyres which are substantially wider than on a bicycle. If you stuck your knee out to take a corner and somehow got your knee near the ground then I doubt very much that you could get the bicycle upright again.

 

[Arsen Gere]

I don't think the knee matters too much it's about getting your weight in to the corner and keeping the bike more upright. If you lean forward slightly with your chest moving towards your hand on the inside of the bend you keep the physics the same but the bike more upright so you are less likely to catch a pedal or slide.

A lot of good quality tyres have a softer compound on the edge of the wall but once you are past this then its road rash.

If you are pedalling your knees need to be inline, the knee joint only moves in the same plane as your back wheel.

 

[gaz]

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9D3B9dFofw[/media]

I don't see any of them keeping the bike upright whilst cornering

 

[Matthew_T]

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9D3B9dFofw[/media]

I don't see any of them keeping the bike upright whilst cornering

It would help if my Youtube was actually working (Page 404 not found).