Shifting body weight for a turn: Difference between revisions

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When you start to exit the curve, it's time to shift your weight back to the center of the bike. Use the power in the outside leg against the tank, not your arms and shoulders, to haul yourself back on board.

===Riding position===

Standard sportbike position on the street is far forward on the seat, sitting on the edge of the tank and using your knees to hold your body in place. As you start going faster, though, you'll find there is a balance between using your entire outside thigh or just your knee. If you sit tight to the gas tank, hanging off is very tricky, as you can't spread your legs wide enough to move the body over the side. You'll have to experiment as you learn and see what works best. Some people find they have to sit back a little from the tank. If you sit on the back of the seat, though, the bike will tend to wheelie more (particularly if you have a bike with a little more power than an EX250).

===What ''not'' to do===

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Try arranging yourself so that your outside thigh is against the gas tank. Then, lean forward to lower your upper body somewhat toward the inside grip, while still keeping your head upright and turned. This rider has that part right. That way, your whole inside hip-to-chest-to-shoulder axis is hanging off, more or less parallel to the bike.

Try arranging yourself so that your outside thigh is against or just a little behind the gas tank. Then, lean forward to lower your upper body somewhat toward the inside grip, while still keeping your head upright and turned. This rider has that part right. That way, your whole inside hip-to-chest-to-shoulder axis is hanging off, more or less parallel to the bike.

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 When you start to exit the curve, it's time to shift your weight back to the center of the bike. Use the power in the outside leg against the tank, not your arms and shoulders, to haul yourself back on board.
+===Riding position===
+Standard sportbike position on the street is far forward on the seat, sitting on the edge of the tank and using your knees to hold your body in place. As you start going faster, though, you'll find there is a balance between using your entire outside thigh or just your knee. If you sit tight to the gas tank, hanging off is very tricky, as you can't spread your legs wide enough to move the body over the side. You'll have to experiment as you learn and see what works best. Some people find they have to sit back a little from the tank. If you sit on the back of the seat, though, the bike will tend to wheelie more (particularly if you have a bike with a little more power than an EX250).
 ===What ''not'' to do===
@@ Line 25: / Line 29: @@
 [[image:IMG_5147.jpg|150px]]
-Try arranging yourself so that your outside thigh is against the gas tank. Then, lean forward to lower your upper body somewhat toward the inside grip, while still keeping your head upright and turned. This rider has that part right. That way, your whole inside hip-to-chest-to-shoulder axis is hanging off, more or less parallel to the bike.
+Try arranging yourself so that your outside thigh is against or just a little behind the gas tank. Then, lean forward to lower your upper body somewhat toward the inside grip, while still keeping your head upright and turned. This rider has that part right. That way, your whole inside hip-to-chest-to-shoulder axis is hanging off, more or less parallel to the bike.
 [[image:d13.jpg|150px]]
 [[image:d16.jpg|150px]]