Text and Photography:
Kevin Schwantz and Lance Holst



 

 Body Position

 Whether you're going to hang off the bike on a racetrack
 or stay centered on the bike while riding on the street,
 proper body position starts at the footpegs and works up
 from there. Anytime you're not using your feet for shifting
 or using the rear brake, place the ball of your foot
 (the front of foot just behind the toes) on the footpeg which
 allows you to shift your weight more effectively than
 hooking your heels on the pegs as most street riders are
 prone to do. Having the peg just ahead of the heel presents
 a couple of problems. First, most riders then point their
 toes out where they drag the ground prematurely (very
 distracting, if not scary). And second, the only way to lift
 your rear off the seat is by using your quadriceps in your
 upper leg. Placing the balls of your feet on the pegs allows
 you to use your calf muscles as well and keeps your toes
 away from the asphalt.

 Next, sit hear the tank on the front of the seat to stay
 connected to the bike with you lower body and keep your
 weight biased toward the front tire. Your back and arms
 should have a natural relaxed bend to them to allow your
 body to absorb bumps without feeding them through to the
 chassis. You want your body to act like part of the bike's
 suspension, not part of the chassis. Finally, grip the bars
 like you would hold a bird in your hand-tight enough to
 keep the bird from getting away but not so tight as to crush
 it.

 STAY RELAXED

 It's important to remain relaxed on the bike. Remember
 that once a motorcycle is in motion, the gyroscopic effect
 of the wheels and engine keeps it stable and going in a
 straight line. The rake and trail of the steering geometry
 keep the bike going straight even after the front wheel is
 deflected by a bump or rock on the road. The tire contact
 patch is behind the steering axis, which allows it to self-
 center. When a nervous rider clamps down hard on the
 bars it actually interferes with the bike's ability to straighten
 itself out. ...


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