Here's what really matters about body position when riding a motorcycle

Here's what really matters about body position when riding a motorcycle

Here's what really matters about body position when riding a motorcycle

Over 100 responses crowded the comments section, with a large percentage attributing the crash to the pilot's body position. For a trained rider, the real reason was clear to see: the rider leaned the bike, started applying throttle, and then continued to lean more, in conjunction with more throttle. It's an easy way to crash. We simply call it “add throttle and lean.” The pilot's position was more or less neutral, not suspended but not counter-pendant either.

There seems to be an obsession with body position that dominates the attention of many novice riders. It's not too hard to imagine why. It's the most obvious thing you can see, and quite fascinating if you're talking about a top-level MotoGP rider. For a beginner in the sportbike arena, most riders confuse “good body position” with “sticking hard.” How come? Because Marc Márquez does it and he's really fast, duh!

In reality, however, where does body position fit in the hierarchy of essential cyclist skills? Before we can evaluate this, we need a clear statement about the goal of body positioning. A clear body position statement should be applicable to any bike, rider and riding style.

The starting point: the goal of the body position

Keith Code says: “The goal of body positioning is: harmony with the bike, freedom of movement on it, precision control over it, with the minimum amount of effort needed.”

There are numerous variables that influence good body positioning. How your riding gear fits is often overlooked. Some gear is comfortable in a neutral position but prevents a rider from hanging. A cyclist's height in relation to the bike is another thing, not to mention the type of bike. Injuries, pain and the resulting limited movement are another obstacle for some. With these and other variables, it always helps to bring things back to the essentials: does your body position put you in harmony with the bike, with freedom of movement, precision control and minimal effort needed?

Today's riders are looking for a silver bullet: a pill, a piece of advice, that video, that quote from Rossi, that will make them better. In our school we have compiled a list of 58 different elements for body positioning. When all 58 are done correctly, it looks like it's as good as it can be. The problem is that most cyclists are doing more than half of the list correctly, but which ones are a completely unique and individual thing. This is where a good mentor, coach, or a trained pair of eyes can cut through a lot of the fog. Simply emulating a top-level driver may not always be the ticket to the first step towards driver improvement.

Returning to the question I posed earlier: where does body positioning fall in the hierarchy of essential cyclist skills? A difficult question to answer due to the variables. However, if we start with a rider in a neutral position, I would say the following elements should be good before trying to model a rider in a MotoGP position: when to open/turn on the throttle in a corner, how to apply/release the brakes, how to steer efficiently/precisely, how to choose a line when cornering, where and when to look when cornering, and when to relax your arms.

So what's my point? There are key foundations that many overlook that, until addressed, permanently hinder any real or lasting improvement. Don't get me wrong, standing back can have huge benefits, especially on a sportbike on the track, and at our school we dedicate a considerable percentage of our time and effort to body position. For some, hanging out can be a complete game changer. But it's a "first things first" thing. For example, can the cyclist consistently hit an apex? If not, fix it before going any further.

This is where the Dunning-Kruger effect comes in : it's a cognitive bias in which people with poor skills at a task overestimate their abilities. Telling a rider they need to refine basics like line, brakes, or throttle can be met with irritation or even resentment. It usually takes a gray-bearded veteran on a sport-touring bike, sitting upright, zipping past a fully equipped novice on the latest exotic machinery before they stop to consider that something might be missing in the basics department.

In any case, when considering your body position, keep in mind the key elements that really matter: harmony, freedom of movement, precision control and minimal effort necessary.

Shipping times are approximately 7 working days , shipping is via negotiable express shipping.

Our international couriers may experience slight delays due to the current situation, in any case our assistance team will always be at your complete disposal for any eventuality

• EMAIL ➡️ Digitalnowinternational@gmail.com