Weight? Where do you put it???

02FBlade · 12-03-2004, 10:40 AM

As I get faster lap times and are pushing the tires to the limits body position and weight distribution becomes more critical. I've been trying to determine how to distribute my body/weight for turnin, apex and exits. I found out when I really hang off the bike I was putting less weight on the rear and would spin alot....so I started moving my butt back an inch at the apex and that really helped keep the rear planted. I've also learned the hard way on how much you can load up the front pushing and braking at turn in to the apex...think I lowsided due to really loading up the front then when I transitioned off the brakes onto the gas it took enought load off the front to wash out.

How do you racers position your weight for turn in, apex transition and exits? Do you keep it about the same through all or move around? I'm worried about these small weight shifts I do when I'm really pushing the limits.

Trying to fine tune my style for those extra 10tenths....running with the experts next season and need to drop some time! Really need faster corner speed.

Thanks.

ccwilli3 · 12-03-2004, 10:56 AM

02F, you are no doubt faster than I...

Having said that, I do know, or have been told, not to move around any. Setup for turn in and once you turn in, maintain the present body position...

Good thread man, I hope some worthy riders (ie, I'm not worthy) post up some good stuff here.

CBRBob · 12-03-2004, 11:21 AM

Body weight slightly back duning braking, slightly forward during accel. Also you dont need an exaggerated 'pop up' when braking, this puts the weight higher and makes the bike want to stoppie, plus you tend to lock elbows and that upsets the bike when trying to turn.

CBRVFR · 12-03-2004, 11:59 AM

I tend to put weight on my ass and my gut. By the time I can't get my boots on, I know it's time to cut down.

Chrome Dome · 12-03-2004, 3:07 PM

I don't race, but I rode with the expert class at track days a few times this year (and I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night)... OK... That's not funny

But I noticed when looking at the pictures (one in particular) where I was in between two riders in a turn that I was leaning forward much more than the "faster" riders. They seemed to be sitting upright at the appex. I tried sitting back (and up) just a little and noticed less rear wheel spin when driving out. I was experiencing rear wheel spin in one corner consistently so I experimented with my riding position. It really didn't take much of a change to eliminate the spin (and my lap times were still consistent)

02FBlade · 12-03-2004, 5:24 PM

thanks for the feed back!

I think I start with my butt back at turn in instead of shifting it back at apex. The front should still have plenty of load on it. As long as the rear isn't slipping before the exit, I can put more weight on it...just don't want to take too much off the front! I guess, like CCwilli said, try to keep constant and balanced!

I can tell you guys I dropped a lot of time and ride much harder just by keeping my head down and dropping your shoudler. Look the Am vs the fast experts...all slow guys sit up too much!

Wondering Ab's take on this....

EatnAsphalt · 12-03-2004, 7:14 PM

Not sure if this will help you or not. Came from a Euro mag I believe.

CBR929RE · 12-03-2004, 7:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatnAsphalt

Not sure if this will help you or not. Came from a Euro mag I believe.

I think that was also in the book Sport Riding Techniques

abtech · 12-03-2004, 9:43 PM

Just keep in mind that your tires can either grip for braking or grip for turning once you get on the boil. At race pace, loading the front with turn in (instead of the brakes) works much better (and is much less dramatic) than attempting to brake and turn at the same time. I have found that getting off the brakes early and maintaining more corner speed with neutral throttle works much better than most people think.

Watch Michael Martin work in a fast corner. He gets on the brakes relatively early, but only uses them to set up his "designated" entry speed and then gets right off of the brakes entirely before he begins to tip it in.

I have been around the block on trail braking and as I have mentioned before, after 5 seasons of documenting crashes with GLRRA, 90 percent of them were lowsides and 95 percent of the lowsides were caused by using the front brakes midcorner in the heat of battle. The laws of physics can only be bent so far, then it's chaos . . .

regarding body positioning, I'm the wrong person to ask because when I am completely tucked, I'm still more upright than most riders are when they are cruising the pits . . . I do believe that once you begin your corner entry, you should keep your body leaned forward and not move around until you're getting back on the gas. Any body movement once you begin turn in just upsets the bike and makes it a lot harder to maintain your line.

CBRBob · 12-03-2004, 9:59 PM

Something to try as well........
Keep your body off the bike as you pick it up past apex. This keeps the bike turning as well as putting the bike back on the center of the tire. Once you can't keep your body off the side anymore, straighten up. It 'tricks' the bike into turning.

GhostRider · 12-03-2004, 11:12 PM

The weight usually goes around my stomach area...oh...<ahem>

Usually over the tank, to keep the front wheel down in the straights. But as for turning, kind of a neutral position (a happy medium of weight distribution between butt and hands) and hanging off the seat.