Your first knee down moment

[SteadyEddie]

Read in another thread that Banditmad is going for his first kneedown next summer, when was yours ?
Mine was 1997 on a 1200 Bandit at a roundabout in Rochford, I thought I was a biking god when I first heard the scrape of slider on tarmac :grin2

[doodlebug37]

first road knee down, april 2004, just turned 17 on my old RS125! My mate Rob captured the moment, unfortunately a fraction to early, so my knee isnt quite down nor at full lean! still, not bad for avon avazro tyres lol

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/doodlebug37/DSCF0003.jpg

bet you can all guess where that is!

come on leaps and bounds since i think

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/doodlebug37/52.jpg

[ben@gerickes]

In 2005 on my ZX6R J1 in bradwell.....
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/11/32018153566.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=7115609)
And now days do it pretty much anywhere I can :)
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/9/26510405729.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6685044)

[NinjaMad]

Thats soo cool this thread i hope i can post here next summer, i have decided due to money that im keeping the bandit instead of other half getting my a bike for 21st as i dont get to ride it much so might as well keep the thing that is cheap to insure and i love to bits to ride etc fingers crossed guys hopefully someone can give me tips lol

[STEALTH52]

Please tell me this isn't another "you sign up, get loads of spam & other crap so i can have something free" things your starting again on your signature strip????

Think the last one was enough mate....

Getting back to the topic, First Knee down early this year & have to do it everywhere i can now:grin2

(Im sure the novelty will eventually wear off)

[NinjaMad]

no harm having that as a sig mate?? This thread isnt for what we got on SIGS its for getting Knee Down?????? Not harming anyone is it

[STEALTH52]

Na mate just thought you would of got the hint last time...........

Anyway.........

[NinjaMad]

thats why im not posting or anything its in my sig then if people wanna sign up fine if not no worries, all helps me getting word about for it as i got my PS3 now want a laptop..........

Anyway when was ya first knee down and ya got any tips??

[STEALTH52]

Pulled this off another forum for you....Gives you the general idea of things

Read this...
Here's a guide to getting your knee down, most of you that cant do it are gonna try anyway so I'll try and tell you what worked for me, getting your knee down is not an essential skill but it will give you more confidence in your cornering abilities.
The track is the safest place to learn it but your gonna try on roundabouts anyway, so here goes.

1. Body position. You want to sit as close to the tank as possible, your elbows should be bent, never lock them out. The balls of your feet should be on the pegs-not the arch of your foot or your heel otherwise your foots gonna touch down before your knee.
Unless your names Tommo your gonna have to hang of the bike, idealy your butt crack should be on the edge of the seat, keep your upper body in line with your backside as well, so you should be inline with your mirror.
When you extend your knee just fold it BACK as far as is comfortable, do not stretch down, the only way its gonna touch down is by leaning your bike not by stretching.
You should look as far ahead as you can about a quarter to a third of the way round the roundabout, NEVER look at your speedo or knee.

2. Location. Idealy a largeish roundabout with good visibilty and light traffic. Small roundabouts are harder to learn on as the difference in mph between upright and knee down is much less, thus requiring better throttle control.
Make sure there are no fluids and gravel on your chosen line, and remember just cos its clear on one lap dont assume it will be clear next lap.
When your circulating the roundabout dont hug the kerb, stay about a car width out, this will give you a better view ahead.

3.Knee Down.
Right you've done a few miles to warm your tyre's and approach your chosen roundabout, select an appropriate gear, I find second or third does the job. Remember although third isnt as responsive it will give more speed than second for a given throttle opening.
Indicate right and keep it on till your ready to leave.
You should assume your body posistion just before you tip in as doing this while leant over will unsettle the bike.
Now circulate the roundabout as fast as is comfortable, at this point it's a good idea to practice slowing down, smoothly roll of the throttle while holding your line and as the bike comes up one finger on the front brake does the job. If there's traffic approaching the roundabout assume they havent seen you and slow down. Don't try and go up the inside of traffic on the roundabout as quite often drivers going straight on will straightline the roundabout.
So your going as fast as is comfortable with your knee extended and it's not touching down, unless your toes scrapping your not going quick enough, so your gonna have to fight that mental block and open that throttle another increment & don't be afraid to push on the right hand bar a touch. Do a few laps to get comfortable with your new speed then re-evaluate and repeat.
Look at your tyre's, there should be no shiny bits on the rear and about 5mm of shiny on the front, although this varies depending on brand.
If your still not getting your knee down, just come back and try another day if youv'e leant a bit further then normal then youv'e achieved something and this will make you more confident in your cornering.

Disclaimer...Axeman assumes no responsibility for inflated ego's that may arise from getting your knee down.



And Watch this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M

[NinjaMad]

brilliant cheers for this i always wanted to so i guess now is the time well next summer anyway lol

[STEALTH52]

Just remember not to rush it, dont go out thinking today's the day cos it wont happen....take your time & do it gradually.
It pays to go out with someone that can do it so you can see their body position etc etc etc

[doodlebug37]

Just remember not to rush it, dont go out thinking today's the day cos it wont happen....take your time & do it gradually.
It pays to go out with someone that can do it so you can see their body position etc etc etc

in a funny kidna way i have to disagree with that, my first KD was unintended. but on the 125, we set out that day to get a KD, and waddaya know i succeeded lol

[SteadyEddie]

Loads of stuff on you tube on how to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCg3BMGe52M

[v8-powered]

Sometime in the early 1990's on a CBR400RR, on one of the tight little bends around Thurrock Lakeside.

[essexgirl]

Mine was a total accident and took me by surprise. It was in 1978 on my fizzy going round what used to be the golden goblet roundabout near Southchurch. It,s a wonder I did,'t flip the thing.I was really careful for about a week after that.:eek:

[stu600cc]

Mine was on the entrance ramp from the b187 onto the a127

[DoodleBug]

Burnham bends about 5 years ago on a lardy ZZR400, complete fluke, scared the bejeezuz outa myself :)

[r6paul]

First right KD was on a ER5 few years back, on a roundabout towards braintree.

First left KD was on the same ER5 on the bends past the traictor shop on the way towards the maldon bends

Also had it down on the R6 and CG125

[Cruel Dad]

1985 (I think) on a GP100.

Right knee.............................................. .......................................

quickly followed by elbow, hip, shoulder, chin, head and arse!

[sniffer dagenham]

1985 (I think) on a GP100.

Right knee.............................................. .......................................

quickly followed by elbow, hip, shoulder, chin, head and arse!


Fecking classic that. :laugh1:laugh1

Have almost got my knee down on the Cougar once. THers a slip road between Queen Victoria Street that leads on to Embankment and took it a bit too fast one day and missed the floor by a couple of inches.

Could I get my knee down on the DR? Then again I'd end up as above closely followed by elbow, hip.............

[jim7]

First kneedown was dunton fords roundabout around 98-99 on gixxer750.
Complete fluke,wasnt trying but somehow touched right knee down,dunno how i dont it just happened!

[kasandrich]

First right KD was on a ER5 few years back, on a roundabout towards braintree.

First left KD was on the same ER5 on the bends past the traictor shop on the way towards the maldon bends

Also had it down on the R6 and CG125


RESPECT

[Becky B]

1985 (I think) on a GP100.

Right knee.............................................. .......................................

quickly followed by elbow, hip, shoulder, chin, head and arse!


sounds similar to mine but on the A12 with help from a dozy driver in a scorpio couple of years ago

[harriebird]

Clearways, Brands Hatch in my first ever race weekend. brilliant. i have it captured on photo too which was a total fluke as it touched down for a microsecond!

i just realised it was almost a year to the day of my first trackday too :clap

[Comfortably Numb]

Druids @ Brands Hatch. (If you can't get your knee down there then you must have stabilisers on the bike or something) Will remember it for rest of my life like you do you 1st kiss etc :D

[S Boy]

Roundabout, near the old A12, years ago, GPX600, no sliders, burnt my knee !:grin2

[SDM]

My first and last knee down moment was 26 years ago................












































and she said yes....................:laugh1

[NinjaMad]

My first and last knee down moment was 26 years ago................












































and she said yes....................:laugh1
i really do hope i can add to this soon and yes that was funny stuff and if thats included then mine was 24th Dec 2006