Ducati Monster Forum

I'm not sure if this should be in riding techniques or not, so feel free to move it....

I was running errands today and decided to do a little fun riding afterwards. I headed out towards the PCH, here in SoCal, via Sunset Blvd. and for those that live here you know it's kind of a fun ride. Anyhow, I've been practicing my leaning as much as I can trying to get more and more comfortable leaning further over. I started a lean, the same as I always do, but I didn't talk myself through it like normal. It just felt natural, next thing I know I feel a scrape. My first thought was WTF happened to the bike.
I pulled over as soon as I could to check what happened. This is what I saw...

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/swangas/Ducati/IMG00130-20100303-1719.jpg)

It doesn't look like much but that little white mark at the sole is what the road did to my boot!! (And yes, I know those are not proper riding boots. Like I said I was just running errands at first.) I am always conscious of where my left foot is on the peg, I keep it snug to the shifter with the top of my foot touching the shifter itself. So it's not like the tip of my boot was hanging off the peg.
Once I got to the gas station to fill up I took another look at the bike to make sure it was just my foot that got rubbed. I took a look at the rear tire and this is what I saw...

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/swangas/Ducati/IMG00126-20100303-1620.jpg)

That space on the tire between the wear marks and the sidewall is only about an inch and a half!! I know it may not be that big of a deal to most but it is to me, considering I've only been riding seriously for about 5 months now. The point of this post is that I'm getting more comfortable on my bike and being able to lean more and trust the bike shows it.

Thanks for letting me share my excitement!!  ;D [beer]

toes on the pegs ;)



 [thumbsup]

Great advice, Thanks   ;D

head over your shoulder

Take the Lee Parks ARC Class when you get a little more comfortable. Don`t rush it, it will come.

So you ride with you toes a bit under the lever? Like when you would shift?

If so, as said, you should move you foot back. Imagine if you drew a line across the ball of your foot. You'd want that line across the center of the peg.

+1 to the rst of the comments.

Oh and if you have a buddy that can follow you with a video camera, it can be a great self evaluation tool.

Congrats on your new found confidence.  It is nice once you start riding without the constant inner monologue reminding you of everything you need to be doing. 

But now that you're starting to get comfortable you really need to learn about propper body position.  If you're dragging stuff before you even use up all the available tire you're not positioned properly.  You should be able to use up the rest of that 1.5" of tire before you drag anything.

Toes on pegs and hang off more!   [thumbsup]

I would recommend the balls of your feet on the pegs.  But that's my opinion and we all know we all have one.   :)

+1 on toes. at least move back to the balls of the feet. the bike is far more capable than where you are at now, so remember not to chicken out mid turn, straighten up, and ride off the road.

Up on your toes! Not that it would be easy in those shoes, but with your proper riding boots on...  ;)

I personally keep the peg where the toes bend, really easy to shift weight around and just "feels right" for me, my build, and my bike.

Not true for stock low-exhaust monsters.  The right exhaust pipe and the left side-stand ball will scrape before the tire gets all the way to the edge.  But you can work on body position to keep scraping hard parts from being too much of a concern.  Once you get more comfortable leaning you'll want to tuck your chest in low against the tank and slide a butt cheek off the seat.  In other words keep your weight low and to the inside of the turn.  This allows the bike to stay more upright.  And makes you feel like a bada$$.

My first bike was an M620 and I used the entire tire without dragging a thing.  Even with the low ride height, and stock exhaust, I was able to use the entire tire without dragging anything.  I used it as my first track bike until I got fast enough, leaned far enough, to drag stuff.  But I used all the tire before that happened....all but about 1/4" anyway.

Notice the tires.....no scratches on the bottom of the can or pegs.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4408531167_604912fbe8_o.jpg)

This is about how my tires looked after a typical ride.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/swangas/Ducati/IMG00126-20100303-1620.jpg)

This is after taking a one day ClassRides class.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t180/bobspapa/013-5.jpg?t=1267813207)

being able to practice in a safe environment helps build confidence in not only your skills, but in what the bike and tires can do.

+1

I learned more at my first track day than I did in my first 6 months of riding.

Notice the pic of my bike I posted?   All stock (even had the emission junk).  I didn't waste a dime on mods.  I put my money into gear and track fees.  Best money I ever spent on anything motorcycle related.

Exactly ;)

+1 on track time!

I drug my toe one time... scared the shit outta me cause it was on red mountain pass and there are no guard rails on that road...

Never ever rode on anything but the balls of my feet since then.  [thumbsup]