Motorcycle Knee Down: Best Places to Practise on the Track

[@petrolheadJJ]

1) try to get your knee down. 2)succeed and feel like MM93 3)drag knee everywhere 4)start trying to save the sliders because they're expensive. 5)realize dragging knee is a consenquence, not a goal.

[@TheKingie07]

Haha exactly bro! Especially on naked's realise real quick the extra effort required to hang off enough to touch down is so over the top, fun to do at times but not real world useful.

[@SquidRider]

.... holy shit this is the most true shit I've ever seen lol

[@performancebasedheatingair8006]

Funny, I couldnt get my knee down for the longest will running some decent lap times in A group. One day i realize im not putting my foot in the right place at the right angle. A little change in position and ive got both knees down on practically every corner. And coincidentally I wear my pucks down more than halfway over the weekend. Go to buy some more and realize how much they cost! BWahahaha.....and now its MUCH less knee down....lol

[@funkynerd_com]

It may be a consequence, but as he said, the first time it happens can be somewhat disconcerting. But "trying" to do/force it, you are somewhat more prepared for it when it happens. I agree with this approach. Force it, get it down a few times so you know what it feels like, then get over it and move on.

[@franklinwilkerson2061]

Well I lost the front and the rear one time cornering but saved it because my knee was down. That’s worth quite a few knee sliders to me. Plus it’s super fun!

[@EVil-ob8in]

My confidence was building. After each session I felt my bike lean was greater and greater. I hurried back to the pits at the end of each session to check if my chicken strips were completely scrubbed off - just a tiny edge untouched. Then I really went for it. This time I would nail it. Wow, it felt like my ear would touch down but still no knee down. Damn it! I give the inside bar a little prod and down she went….my knee, my elbow and the bike :-(

[@qbobcode1823]

Clarke Curve brands hatch Indy circuit was my first on track knee down. Had done it on the road prior on the larger roundabouts. Pick a dead one at night and me and a mate would spot each other until touchdown. I agree, a massive psychological barrier and once done you can just move on.

[@dindanio1]

Love your series. Think its absolutely awesome. Would you consider covering the topic of fitness regimes that can be covered to battle fatigue whilst out on track or some attention training exercises to do in the winter seasons. Again brillant page i highly reccommend it to all my mates.

[@LifeatLean]

Definitely something I want to dive into. However I wouldn't feel qualified enough myself. It is something I'm looking into though.

[@drifterxl12]

Saw this vid yesterday again, had a trackday today and was able to push myself to get a kneedown. Now i finally understand what i was doing wrong. Not locking my foot good enough into the heelplate. Im riding so much more stable in the corners now. The "forcing into kneedown" really made me do it. What a great tip

[@lewifive0]

My ‘first’ was Druids at Brands. What a sensation, like the first time you...🤔

[@TheKingie07]

My experience was using a horse shoe type hairpin on a track (taupo, nz) where i just practiced going lower and lower feeling how sticky the tyres really are at high lean. Eventually touched down which was a two fold experience exactly as you say, i realised how far i needed to stretch to touch down and subsequently realised how comfortable i can be at such a high lean angle. Scariest part of it and since is touching bottom of my boot or footpegs down as it just catches me out everytime and i immediately take angle out though its not a bit deal. A challenge i have now is i can touch left knee down no problem on nice corners but have never touched right knee, have an existing back issue which i think is causing me to lean differently so i don't stretch out as far to the right but it does not slow me down so its quite inconsequential at this point.

[@Cameravastleggers]

Got my knee down for the first time on my second trackday, in the second session. Since then it became natural and was feeling more confident every lap. I was having problems scraping the pegs, getting my knee down sloved the problem!

[@cs-electronic]

So very true what You explain. You bring it very good to the important points.

[@johnbrewer8954]

I raced 250cc production on an LC Yamaha and won races at club level. I never ever touched my knee down anywhere apart from when I crashed. I did a lot of "work" reducing the ground clearance too, so nothing touched down at all. The only place I caught the exhausts down was in the chicane called Hall Bends at Cadwell park. Anyone taking daft lines on a race track to get their knee down is a danger to others and slightly loose in the head. The top guys do it easily, they are on pukka race bikes with a lower seat and on slick tyres.

[@simonpatcharin]

Corner 2 Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney Australia was my first knee hit, was accidentle as I was following a faster Rider on a moderner bike, 1990 GSX-R 750 Slingshot to a 2004 1000RR track bike on my 5th track day. From then on I got such a buzz as I got better n better each day. I improved that much I started to scrape the fairings on corner 2.

[@paulperry8800]

I've only done 1 track day so far and like most people I set myself the goal of getting my knee down. Like many, I didn't get there but I did take away lots of confidence in increased lean angle and in other areas like braking and corner entry speed. I'm happy that I'm a better rider than I was, even though i didn't reach my goal for the day. I've got the bug now though and will be back for more!

[@SuPpOsEdLyThIsIsCoOl]

Loving the videos Dan as always. I can relate to this video - it took me 6 track days I finally got my knee down at Luffield corner - silverstone. I was always at a decent pace in my group but the knee touch never came... until I got my body way off (more than what I felt comfortable with) and opened my leg out into the corner. Knee down isn’t a big deal but it’s taught me I’m not leaning off the bike as much as I should be. Previously I’m scrapping toe sliders but knee wasn’t close to the ground!! I’ve got away with it due to being smooth and having good rubber I reckon. I think my focus now is to believe I’m steering with my body as I know my counter-steering is ingrained in me and is probably doing most of the work!

[@kovrcek]

Turn C in Brno - very long left corner which I also scraped pegs first. Very good advice to choose your more confident side and to pick longer corner. And pushing a little by little (mm by mm) your lean angle psychological limit until you get comfortable at those lean angles. Good body position is a must, I know many people who can go very fast but have bad position so they can never touch.

[@chrisdrake5680]

Hi Dan. I learnt how to do it on quite a twisty piece of track and having touched the left knee down I found I could do the right on the very next corner. Confidence. Anyway... I was doing a 600 day at Donington and unfortunately mismatched with another lad which worked out fine as I ended up as a one to one. But after this first run the lad who was a novice wanted to get his knee down by the end of the day. The instructor gave him some guidance which I felt wasn't the best however I kept quiet until the instructor was out the way. I then explained what I knew (from your guidance) about body, shoulder, elbow position and when you think you've got your arse off, get it off some more and then more. He came and thanked me later having achieved his goal and thanked me for the advice. Keep up your good work and tips as they work well. Regards Chris.

[@williamvuillet5101]

For me a curve with a horse shoe shape did the trick because as you said you have plenty of time to adjust and the speed you carry in mid corner is enough to get you confortable. With a 600cc at least. Thanks Dan always insteresting! Keep it up!

[@savstar8663]

Old Hairpin at Donington (On Dunlop Sport Touring Tyres👀) 👍🏻 I did the Ron Haslam Race School. It was my first time on a track and as soon as we got upto good pace my instructor was dragging it everywhere. I highly recommend you do something similar as correct tuition will get you a long way rather than keep doing frustrating trackdays assuming your technique is correct. The way I saw it is if he can go round that corner at that speed with his knee down then I can do it. I obviously didn't want to crash but I felt more comfortable not being on my bike as well even if the rubber (Dunlop Roadsmart 3) were less desirable. This just proves that modern day tyres are alot better that us!! By the end of the session I was dragging it everywhere but I was probably the quickest out there... not blowing my own trumpet but just stating that you will find it a lot easier if you can pluck up the courage to keep picking up corner entry speed and trusting the bike will stick (as I guarantee you won't be going anywhere near the limit) Also one more thing... I never did it on the road before or since. It's just not safe especially with the condition of the roads in the UK. Stay safe and ride easy people 🙏

[@mrjaycam7086]

It just came with added confidence for me. If I remember right it came after I had just fitted a new set of Dunlops on the bike and then it happened in turn four at ECR. Felt a bit strange at first but after that the psychological barrier was broken and it was natural. Now I've transitioned to a liter bike and I'm waiting for that first touch with it.

[@CarloPiana]

Best advice is not getting crazy about it. It will come eventually. To me it took a full season. After, I had to change bike because I was leaning beyond the shape limits of my bike, touching exhausts and fairings of my Kawasaki. Z1000 sx. Trailbraking was an icebreaker here. Get fast and drive smooth. Have fun and push a bit more each time, don't get in the panic zone. And possibly spend a few quids in competent coaching to make sure you're not making some obvious mistake.

[@OomGielie]

Finally got both my knees down on my 3rd track day with my MT09.. Seems I've learned and applied a thing or two from Life at Lean :) Thanks mate

[@yousafamin6167]

Your a good Man & the best by far on here.......Hope you & yours are happy n well 👊🏾👳🏾‍♂️

[@SportbikeUnitedRiderz]

Excellent video ! Took me years too. Now with ease only because of practicing good body position for sure. 🤟👍

[@stuartmartindale1686]

After around 8 trackday just wasn’t happening and was getting very frustrated finally at Anglesey managed it then soon as it happened once felt like it took my speed and confidence to the next level after feeling I was getting nowhere before

[@camgere]

This sounds strangely familiar. The Toyota Business Practices 8 Step Problem Solving Method has been documented numerous times. It goes something like this: 1) Describe the Problem 2) Break the Problem Into Smaller Pieces (Reductionism) 3) Set a Target Goal (Partial Solution and Changing One Thing At A Time Are OK) 4) Analyze the Root Cause (Genchi Genbutsu (Go Look, Go See)) 5) Develop Countermeasures (Potential Solutions) 6) Test Countermeasures 7) Reflect On What You Have Learned. Loopback If Necessary 8) Incorporate Solution Into the Appropriate Documentation

[@mujtabakamal]

A long corner will help beginners to practice kneedrag. On streets on a naked bike i dont hangoff ,i just use my upper body and i still get a better lean angle and i'm much faster .

[@OJMAH]

do you know gymkhana? they have heavy lean angle even in low speed 1st gear. just find good emtpy space and make proper circle. master it at low speed then accelerate more . i would say you can elbow down on under 50km/h turn with proper bike and skill.

[@hipposnakeyo]

As someone who rode a stock Ninja 650 with real short legs(28' inseam) I had to go much faster than a taller guy on a supersport to get my knee down but it's still doable, just focus on correct body position(do not hang too much to sacrifice stability) and how to go faster, it will happen.

[@nivotron960]

Melbourne and Godard’s at Donnington or Lodge at Oulton 👍

[@aJAWSOMEocelot]

Yes buddy! Melbourne and Godard's were my first as well !

[@Mojoissimo]

Thanks man - great video, as always! Not silly at all that people sometimes naturally focus on this, and put nicely into perspective by you, as usual! Cheers!

[@simonlee3885]

Loving the series brother. I still have not gotten my knee down on the track. It’s so agonizing !!

[@LifeatLean]

Keep at it Simon. It'll happen!

[@derekstewart9236]

Once you push to make it happen, it happens and then you end up picking your knee up once it touches. Good body position is absolutely the thing

[@minigpracing3068]

One of the things they try to do in the MiniGP classes is to get your elbow down because that shifts the entire body way over. Can't say I'm even close to that level.

[@mhilde7744]

Thank you, Dan....you never disappoint!!!👍

[@scaryghetto]

Thank you for your videos! Best

[@larkinflight]

Great vid, as always. Are there any where you advise how to prepare your everyday bike to use on a track? I mean, how to protect it when you slide or something?

[@Andrii_G]

Track bodywork will help you not worry about it too much. Frame sliders are tricky as they sometimes make the bike tumble. It also helps having the bike that crashes well and fairly inexpensive to fix.

[@repsolr1der921]

i am ussually the fastest or the second fastest on the intermidiete group and i have never ever draged my knee on the track (only been to the track 3 times in the past 5years). i wanted to knee drag when i went to supersport bikes ( i was enduro before went straight to liter bikes) i achieved that on the road a few times on every corner i wanted to do it and never did it again it was only making me slower. a proper knee drag i guess shoould come at racing pace (my lap times are 10% slower than the race pace on the track i go from time to time and 5% slower that the top fast group riders) dont focus on knee draging, focus on improving your skills guys good luck

[@one-of-us9939]

Thanks my brother

[@djg9589]

I actually got my knee down at Ron Haslam School this year. Very frustrating up until I did as could carry very competent pace in the inters. And, it was at Melbourne Loop I did it ! After the initial touch and drag, it unlocked something and I touched the knee down both sides on the next lap. Very weird but so cool 😁👍🏻

[@88yota]

Best line of advice from this video is PUSH past your limits (comfort zone). It's helpful to be on a turn that you know well, and then you can start to push your own limits each lap at that turn.

[@NY1075]

this is so right

[@NY1075]

this is so right

[@erikpollak6664]

The only thing that is keeping me from getting my knee down are my jeans 😁

[@felixkroeber4024]

Is anyone here gonna be racing at the Kyalalmi 9 hour race?

[@toadamine]

Took me three times riding a street bike to get my knee down.. Though I could drag handlebar on a dirt bike when I started riding street... Lol 😁👍 Now I try not to drag knee generally, it's just to save it when things start sliding... I also shortened and raised my foot controls for more ground clearance...

[@kierongilligan718]

It's like losing your virginity, Melbourne at donington park was my first.

[@erixlast6020]

Left one is easy to get down

[@johnwilliamson2867]

Sports bike with good tires better still race slicks on warm to hot days mid summer and a dry track. Follow some one that's faster than your pace just not the fastest guy out there. Get your butt off the saddle point your leg out and get your feet back on the pegs. Remember smooth and continuous roll on the throttle and loose grip on the bars. Just believe the guy in front can so you can too and do it. Don't try and catch up just do what they do. After a while the fear goes away as trust in the tires grip builds. Knowing you have good tires and good track conditions is the biggest part of it the rest is knowing that if they can do it so can you .

[@MoveupTvchannel]

Why don't the bike fall r tip u off side ways when the bike lean that way? How does it stay n the balance tilt down side way with out slide aside with the rider

[@craigdewar6301]

Find a quite area that has a small to medium sized roundabout = best place to practice getting your knee down haha

[@meytavarieli1938]

Its easier to practice in a parking lot at low speed. Much safer to.

[@blackalpha9463]

And then.. I want to be become a professional racer.. But I'm from middle class family, nd also I haven't financial supported from any others or family.. If I trying to be become of those.. Is it possible..? Is the racing give the any amount of money to survive my life with the career..?

[@NY1075]

try to find sponser

[@pogger976]

Practice*

[@scottwitt7597]

Eventually you'll get to a point where getting your knee down just makes you mad while thinking about the additional dollars being ground off on the track 😂.

[@kavinkarthik55]

I from India

[@yamondakawazuki8941]

***Practice

[@LifeatLean]

For the millionth time, 'practise' is a verb in British English 😉

[@yamondakawazuki8941]

Life at Lean Oh man, I’m sorry I didn’t have my brain cable plugged up google’s asshole to see any of the other 999,999 British English lessons in your comments😘😘 jk love and appreciate your content bud keep it up, I was just trying to help you out

[@LifeatLean]

All good my man!

[@marcandres4254]

Deleting coments you don't like.... how mature....

[@blackalpha9463]

Dude.. Pls give the subtitles below.. ☹️

[@scrotiemcboogerballs4967]

If you cant understand him there's something wrong with you.