Knee Dragging 101

[Ken C]

This may be of interest to a few of you:
http://www.ridinginthezone.com/knee-dragging-101/

[Ken C]

First time I touched knee down was about 15 years after I raced at the old Bryar track in the mid-eighties. Not many people dragged knee back then, so very few had anything that resembled pucks. It wasn't until I got the MZ in 2002 that I picked up the pace enough to get a knee down. Like many NHMS kneedown virgins, turn 6 was my first. How about you?

[brady]

T1 midway through my first season racing, the noise spooked me good.

[Ken C]

I'm hearing that a lot...how the first time it happens that it spooks people. I remember how I flinched good the first time I touched my footpeg in turn 6 on my VFR800. The first time with the knee was not so bad...I was ready for it and knew it was coming at any corner.

[MarkMarine]

I had been riding Palomar following my buddies a month after I bought my first bike. I bought full leathers, and went to Palomar determined to put a knee down. I put the bike down three times, low sides because I just didn't have the skill, but I got my knee down and kept it there. After that people told me I hung off TOO much, but it worked for me, I was loose enough to walk the back tire on exits.

Probably half of this is body positioning. I think when people are learning it is better to hang off more, even exaggerate it. Do everything you can to be off and forward, until you get your knee down. (The other half is drive, not skill) then you can put your knee down and use the Tarmac to bring you into the bike, get closer to a "normal" body position as your speed increases.

I see it all the time in the penguin schools. A constant refrain of "hang off the bike more." Just do that, your knee will be down.

[tsorfas]

Not just the first time I touched my knee on the ground but the first time every year back at the track spooks me enough to make me lift the bike up a bit after a long winter.

[Ken C]

There is a reason why knee dragging is a badge of honor. If it were easy, everyone would have scuffed knee pucks.
Here's a little track day instructor secret: I notice when newbies glance at my knee pucks in the classroom. I know to them that it is an indication of credibility...and it makes me feel a bit like a superhero. Get in a classroom with a bunch of racers and nobody cares or notices knee pucks.

[MarkMarine]

There is a reason why knee dragging is a badge of honor. If it were easy, everyone would have scuffed knee pucks.
Here's a little track day instructor secret: I notice when newbies glance at my knee pucks in the classroom. I know to them that it is an indication of credibility...and it makes me feel a bit like a superhero. Get in a classroom with a bunch of racers and nobody cares or notices knee pucks.

True, but I'm sure we ALL remember when we did care.

[GixerJockey]

T2 at NHMS... on my first track day. Scared the crap out of me, but I collected $15 in winnings. Three people bet $5 each, against it happening.

[Petorius]

Mine was T14 at NYST this year. I dragged peg there a couple laps in a row and it terrified me, so I made an effort to really get off the bike the next time around. I was fully prepared for it and it still scared the sh*t out of me.

[nt650hawk]

When I started out on the track I did not want to/afraid to put my knee down. T6 I touched puck and it scared the crap out of me but you know what it was not that bad. Then I wanted more and more.....

[brady]

I remember how I flinched good the first time I touched my footpeg in turn 6 on my VFR800.

I was really used to dragging pegs, sidestand, etc., not sure why the knee still surprised me that much!

Get in a classroom with a bunch of racers and nobody cares or notices knee pucks.

I find myself looking at how trashed their leathers are and wondering if I should give them a wide berth!

[GixxerJosh]

I have yet to get my knee down, It will come with time. Only 2 track days under my belt. I def. have the lean angle as I have dragged my boot tips 3 or 4 times and I have Sato's set really high up, Just have to get the body position right and consistent and I will be there this year I hope. I am trying hard to learn and improve and at the same time keep the Gixxer Shiny

[nhbubba]

18 years of riding, 7 track days at NHMS, an ARC class... and I still haven't put a knee down.

[Manny]

Wirelessly posted

At my first track day I remember coming back from my last session wondering how close I was to having my knee down only to find this!

[GixxerJosh]

Wirelessly posted

At my first track day I remember coming back from my last session wondering how close I was to having my knee down only to find this!

I have one like that, This was my 1st track day. :-(

[nhbubba]

Yep.



Check out capt'n toes-out! Toes are cheaper than peg sliders, right?!

[aldend123]

Yep.
Check out capt'n toes-out! Toes are cheaper than peg sliders, right?!

That's what the smooth part on the edge of the boot is for, right? Are toes any cheaper than that center stand touching down?
I have the same duck-footed problem, thanks partially to my older bike's cramped leg ergos. I've started using the edge of my boot as a feeler. I didn't really get the knee thing as a feeler until I started dusting the ground with my boot. I've noticed the boot just scuffs right along, doesn't really grab. Anyone have any thoughts on if it's eventually going to grab and twist my angle?

Scuffed shoes : Just as impressive to neighbors and friends, but without all that silly lean?

[backinthesaddle]

1A a couple years ago. Seemed like a weird place as quite a few had dropped it there that day. Sound of the puck on the ground was a surprise. Turn 6 following Tony this year in the bowl was first peg dragging (fixed with more body hanging off). NYST was first boot slider dragging and that felt more odd than the knee dragging.

[GixerJockey]

Just since it hasn't yet been said:


Knee = GOOD!
Toe = Bad!
Peg = REALLY REALLY REALLY FUCKING BAD!!!

[carsick]

I find myself looking at how trashed their leathers are and wondering if I should give them a wide berth!

Hi Brady! Yes, yes you should...

18 years of riding, 7 track days at NHMS, an ARC class... and I still haven't put a knee down.

Musta touched a little when you've come off.

Check out capt'n toes-out! Toes are cheaper than peg sliders, right?!

I keep my toes in tight, but I drag my heel in T9 at the same time as my knee, it looks silly in pics.

[backinthesaddle]

Just since it hasn't yet been said:


Knee = GOOD!
Toe = Bad!
Peg = REALLY REALLY REALLY FUCKING BAD!!!

Elbow (by itself, not with rest of body, lol) = ??

[Cheese]

First time was at NJMP Thunderbolt. Just a quick tap before I retracted it immediately from the initial startling. After that they dragged more frequently and for longer durations. I figured the pucker moment was over until later that day when I had one dragging in either T10 or T11 for what seemed like forever so I again retracted it in fear that it was going to heat up and burn me. I'm no serious track rider but in my mind there's a certain comfort level or familiarity that is achieved when it's dragging. You know you've been at this lean angle before so if you keep everything smooth, you'll make the turn again.

[nhbubba]

Are toes any cheaper than that center stand touching down?

I get that comment a lot. Believe it or not, there are plenty of other parts of that bike that are going to touch down WELL before that center stand does. I did touch down foot pegs all the time. And in truth I think I would rather put a retractable peg with feeler down than my toe.

Musta touched a little when you've come off.

If we are counting that, then I first went 'knee down' in the straight after T2. But I don't think we're counting that.

[The Snowman]

I got my knee down for the first time on my 2nd trackday (2nd day of a 2-day event) in 2008 in T6. Annalisa was on hand to capture it . . .