Good form vs bad form - photos

[pesto]

I had my sidestand-scrapes on my 696. Chances are you're leaning the bike over more than it has to be. Get your head down near the mirror and load the inside peg, have a cheek or so off the seat and it should stop.

Not a pro by any means but I've been there. More likely to scrape my toe now than my sidestand .

[uncalcetindelana]

Thanks Pesto,

I think you are right. I hang off a little, but it seems not enough to touch knee before sidestand. I'm using pretty much all of the tyre and I'm around 6ft tall. It shouldn't have to be.

[uncalcetindelana]

Alright,

I finally had my first trackday (ever!) on the Monster this past Sunday.

What an experience...I think I can finally relate to what people say about this. I don't even feel motivated to go to my favorite twisties. It's just another league.

A local guy took some photos of everyone, so I have some material:







The good:

-Even though I have a LOT to improve regards laptimes and what not, I consciously kept the bike as upright as possible, by hanging off, and comparing with other riders (even slower) on the same corners, I have much less lean angle: it works!
-I was never extremely crossed up.
-I look through the turn (bmx years doing 360s sure help!)

The bad:

-I guess I could hang off more. The track is short and technical, I'm so tired... it's very physical, and on some corners I just didn't feel like moving over AGAIN! Need to improve my stamina, too.
-I'm not terribly crossed up, but I'm barely making a parallel line. Need to get my upper body lower towards the "mirror".
-My knee is not perfectly extended. I just couldn't bother... as I said, constantly changing direction, I just wanted to learn good lines.
-My inner hand is trying a screwdriver grip, but again, I constantly felt I had no time to really get myself in a "perfect" body position. I know it's my fault, need to learn to move faster and more efficiently.
-Same with feet. My toes COULD touch down (never did).
-I need to breath. I was so excited, and impressed by the experience of taking corners faster than I thought advisable, my face looks tense even on the photos. My mouth dried up constantly.
-I need to loosen up more. I was never stiff-armed, but on tight corners I had this weird sensation that it was dangerous to hang off more, as if I was too low and could scrape my body on the inner side of the corner  ; of course, pictures tell me otherwise haha Need to have more confidence in this, and hang lower, with a more relaxed body. It's hard to explain, but I felt like I had to hold myself up on the bike, including the knee. I see Lindz photos again, and damn, how must HE feel then!!

Open to more critique

[pesto]

What an experience...I think I can finally relate to what people say about this. I don't even feel motivated to go to my favorite twisties. It's just another league.

Exactly 

The bad:

-I guess I could hang off more. The track is short and technical, I'm so tired... it's very physical, and on some corners I just didn't feel like moving over AGAIN! Need to improve my stamina, too.
-I'm not terribly crossed up, but I'm barely making a parallel line. Need to get my upper body lower towards the "mirror".

I know that feeling..."If I gun it here I'll just have to brake hard later...not worth it"  . Truthfully, I take a break each session for 2 minutes off the track to get my breath and recompose myself, then get back on. YMMV.

The 2nd part makes sense. When I hear "hang off" I sometimes wonder. I've found I don't really have to move my butt that much, it's the upper body. Sounds like you're on the right track....so to speak.  Mind that sidestand, too.

Good luck and thanks for posting, I love seeing Monsters on the track!

[Triple J]

Your butt half way off the seat is plenty as far as hanging off goes. Some do more, but it isn't really necessary. What's important is finding something comfortable.

[manwithgun]

figured that this might be something that the male contingent might like to study, both good forms and bad form...

[Slide Panda]

Ow ow ow make the beast with two backsing ow...

The first one, in red is already crashed, she's just not hit the Tarmac herself yet. The second is about sure to follow. There was some nasty rash doled out moments after that photo

[Speeddog]

Shenanigans.

Red jacket girl has been (badly) photoshopped in; mirror-imaged and sloppily cropped.

I'll go along with the crashing and not on the tarmac yet, just not in this picture.

Black jacket girl is doing a good job of hanging off Doohan Style.

I'm more concerned about the apparent target fixation on the concrete wall on the outside.

[red baron]

I'm more concerned about the apparent target fixation on the concrete wall on the outside.

Maybe looking for an exit line?

[Speeddog]

Maybe looking for an exit line?

Red jacket girl is photoshopped in.

No exit line necessary, apart from just completing the corner.

[The Don]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--kJkdy9I5E&feature=youtu.be
Id say this bloke has a good grip on things, enjoy

[SwiftTone]

Nope - when I go flat out I can just hang my upper body a little inward - that's all it takes at my size/weight - on road tires. If I was on slicks and wanted to use the added grip, then I'd need to hang off.

90% of the track day riders I see hanging off, don't need to - often with ass off and upper body resisting - upsetting the bike and disturbing their smoothness - IMO

I know this is old post but you have it backwards. If you were on slicks you wouldn't need to hang off for added grip. The slicks will provide the grip.

You're close to you max lean angle. Hanging off will allow you to keep the bike more upright and give you more grip if something unexpected arises.

[stopintime]

I know this is old post but you have it backwards. If you were on slicks you wouldn't need to hang off for added grip. The slicks will provide the grip.

You're close to you max lean angle. Hanging off will allow you to keep the bike more upright and give you more grip if something unexpected arises.

My primary reason to hang off (if on slicks and going faster) would be to avoid dragging parts (pegs and boots).

Hanging off, to have a little spare contact patch in case of something unexpected, is ok. It can be done to allow for adjustments, but also have a price in the form of instability.

My point is that track day riders often/"always" hang off without needing to.

[SwiftTone]

My primary reason to hang off (if on slicks and going faster) would be to avoid dragging parts (pegs and boots).

Hanging off, to have a little spare contact patch in case of something unexpected, is ok. It can be done to allow for adjustments, but also have a price in the form of instability.

My point is that track day riders often/"always" hang off without needing to.

In my opinion, if hanging off is what's causing the instability, then it sounds like you're not locked onto the bike. I have noticed the the Monster is harder to get locked on compared to say a zx6r or a RC51 (I have experience with these 2 bikes) due to th shape and size of the tank.  You should consult a track instructor or professional about this.

The track days I attend promote "hanging off" to one degree or another. Half a butt cheek and keeping the body in the same line is fine for the street just in case you encounter the unexpected.

[stopintime]

They usually promote hanging off to make it a habit for when/if it becomes a requirement.

I'm locked on and very stabil because I don't hang off  Grip pads and custom tank center hump help me with that.

My point isn't about me. It's about how many/most riders don't gain anything by hanging off, but since it's a sensible idea to make it a habit for when/if they become fast enough...

The instability is obvious though (mostly during braking and exit).