revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:37 am I don't know what your qualifications are?

Some of the 'usual' ones, some less-so, a couple of very unusual (in the UK).

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:37 am Having said that, I temporarily changed the way I used my gears to satisfy the IAM test requirement.

Their test, their rules.

But what didn't you agree with?

Horse wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:07 am

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:37 am I don't know what your qualifications are?

Some of the 'usual' ones, some less-so, a couple of very unusual (in the UK).

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:37 am Having said that, I temporarily changed the way I used my gears to satisfy the IAM test requirement.

Their test, their rules.

But what didn't you agree with?

20 in 2nd, 30 in 3rd, 40 in 4th etc, using higher gears than I normally would in line with riding economically. I don't understand the advantage of riding economically

Every racer's boots have a hole in the balls of feet area where they've pressed down on the pegs.

If I saw a pupil with feet on the pegs I'd say he was like riding a cart horse.
Toes on pegs tips the body forward and now a racehorse.

Yorick wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:41 am Every racer's boots have a hole in the balls of feet area where they've pressed down on the pegs.

If I saw a pupil with feet on the pegs I'd say he was like riding a cart horse.
Toes on pegs tips the body forward and now a racehorse.

When you're on your Husky where do you put your feet, honest question, when I first started riding off road seriously, I had to force myself to put my instep on the footpeg as it felt weird.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:44 am

Yorick wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:41 am Every racer's boots have a hole in the balls of feet area where they've pressed down on the pegs.

If I saw a pupil with feet on the pegs I'd say he was like riding a cart horse.
Toes on pegs tips the body forward and now a racehorse.

When you're on your Husky where do you put your feet, honest question, when I first started riding off road seriously, I had to force myself to put my instep on the footpeg as it felt weird.

Yup. Instep on peg. Was toes at first, but kept slipping off. More grip with instep

I still stick my knee out though

My old track boots

Yorick wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:00 am My old track boots

I usually wore the left sole first.

Right foot up for the rear brake when stopping and "Hendon Shuffle'

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:39 am 20 in 2nd, 30 in 3rd, 40 in 4th etc, using higher gears than I normally would in line with riding economically. I don't understand the advantage of riding economically

Does your car have an 'instant' fuel consumption display?

Have a play, ideally on a long uphill. Set cruise control. Pick a low-ish gear, go up one, go up one. Watch the display.

You may find it makes no difference to fuel consumption.

What will change is rate of acceleration and slowing. So, IMHO, far better to choose on the likelihood of those being needed.

Horse wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:51 am Like I said, I could quite happily lift up off the seat with instep on the pegs.

You've got longer legs than me


I feel 100% more comfortable with the balls of my feet on the pegs. But the Monster makes that a very extreme knee bend (for me) cos it is the smallest bike I've ever ridden!! LOL So I do have to shuffle a bit between instep and comfort.

Most of my bikes I couldn't have stood much up off the seat with insteps on the pegs!!

I believe that foot positioning on the pegs has a mental effect (or is it vice versa?) With toes on pegs you mentally feel more alert, ready and generally 'up for it'. Unless in heavy traffic, instep on pegs means you're mentally just dolloping about. Off-road is a different box of frogs, obvs.

Noggin wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:28 am

Horse wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:51 am Like I said, I could quite happily lift up off the seat with instep on the pegs.

You've got longer legs than me

They reach the ground, that's just about enough. 29" FWIW

If you have your legs straight from seat to pegs - you must have some bend at the knee - how do you put your feet down when stopping?

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:33 am I believe that foot positioning on the pegs has a mental effect (or is it vice versa?) With toes on pegs you mentally feel more alert, ready and generally 'up for it'. Unless in heavy traffic, instep on pegs means you're mentally just dolloping about. Off-road is a different box of frogs, obvs.

That's possibly something you've trained into yourself?

i don't tend to think too much about where my feet are, just as long as i can change gear/brake when I need to, and I'm comfy, then it's all good. I think they tend to move about as needed, sometimes I find myself with the balls on the pegs when I realise my knees are aching, or vice versa, I realise that they've ended up with heel of the book hooked on the peg, quick adjustment and carry on. Neither situation changes my mental state (that I've noticed!)

Rockburner wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 12:50 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:33 am I believe that foot positioning on the pegs has a mental effect (or is it vice versa?) With toes on pegs you mentally feel more alert, ready and generally 'up for it'. Unless in heavy traffic, instep on pegs means you're mentally just dolloping about. Off-road is a different box of frogs, obvs.

That's possibly something you've trained into yourself?

i don't tend to think too much about where my feet are, just as long as i can change gear/brake when I need to, and I'm comfy, then it's all good. I think they tend to move about as needed, sometimes I find myself with the balls on the pegs when I realise my knees are aching, or vice versa, I realise that they've ended up with heel of the book hooked on the peg, quick adjustment and carry on. Neither situation changes my mental state (that I've noticed!)

I'd agree with that. It isn't something I think too much about, it tends to happen naturally. Trying to think about stuff you do almost as a habit can be a bit weird, but I have noticed that when I'm on the balls of my feet I feel a bit more 'let's go!' I'm not entirely sure whether the mental state causes the action or the action causes the mental state, to be honest...

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 12:55 pm

Rockburner wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 12:50 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 11:33 am I believe that foot positioning on the pegs has a mental effect (or is it vice versa?) With toes on pegs you mentally feel more alert, ready and generally 'up for it'. Unless in heavy traffic, instep on pegs means you're mentally just dolloping about. Off-road is a different box of frogs, obvs.

That's possibly something you've trained into yourself?

i don't tend to think too much about where my feet are, just as long as i can change gear/brake when I need to, and I'm comfy, then it's all good. I think they tend to move about as needed, sometimes I find myself with the balls on the pegs when I realise my knees are aching, or vice versa, I realise that they've ended up with heel of the book hooked on the peg, quick adjustment and carry on. Neither situation changes my mental state (that I've noticed!)

I'd agree with that. It isn't something I think too much about, it tends to happen naturally. Trying to think about stuff you do almost as a habit can be a bit weird, but I have noticed that when I'm on the balls of my feet I feel a bit more 'let's go!' I'm not entirely sure whether the mental state causes the action or the action causes the mental state, to be honest...

the other thing I forgot to add is that if I'm on a d/c or m-way (and bored), I'll often take advantage of the 'cruiser-pegs' on the BMW (aka the cylinder heads ) to stretch my legs out for a bit. That can help a lot just with letting my knees take on a different angle for a short time.

I used to ride with the balls of my feet on the pegs but don't anymore. It's just more comfortable not to.

I see quite a few people who have done some road riding or even some track riding but have never had a bike license. As well as having the required clutch control and balance already learned from previous experience you can spot them as soon as they start a slalom for MOD1 training as they ride with balls of feet on pegs then after the 2nd or 3rd cone the foot suddenly shifts and tries to find the rear brake to drag to keep the bike slow and stable.

For getting through the test and the slow speed manoeuvres its better to ride with instep on the peg as the correct position as it places the foot exactly where it needs to be for rear brake control without moving your foot about.

If i am slow filtering through traffic i ride in that position, apart from that its balls of feet on pegs as it feels more natural and comfortable to me.

Can I just point out that the INSTEP is the top, front of the foot?

The bit at the bottom is the ARCH.



I've no idea where motorcyclists got this so muddled but it's been going on for years. I have to confess to making the same mistake myself!

You boys love to argue about stuff you agree on.

Skub wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:35 pm You boys love to argue about stuff you agree on.

Baffles me too. If I need to use the controls, my feet are where I can reach them. If I'm cruising, it's where they are comfortable. And on track, I've got them well out the way so they don't drag.

Does it need to be made any more complicated?

The Spin Doctor wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:40 pm

Skub wrote: Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:35 pm You boys love to argue about stuff you agree on.

Baffles me too. If I need to use the controls, my feet are where I can reach them. If I'm cruising, it's where they are comfortable. And on track, I've got them well out the way so they don't drag.

Does it need to be made any more complicated?

This sums it perfectly!