The Real Truth About Body Position That Will Surprise You

[@MotoJitsu]

Keep in mind, I have a PhD in the fundamentals...I'm really good at doing the minimum skills to corner: vision, throttle, brakes, counter steering and line selection, as this video demonstrates. Body position only becomes relevant when your pace determines you need it and most riders aren't riding quick enough to gain the benefits, they just hang off to "look cool" or for social media. Also, vision, throttle and line are really all connected and it all starts with the eyes, but I just listed them separately to make it easy to understand. The point is don't think you "need" to hang off the bike or lower your tire pressure in order to ride quick, just focus on the basics, what you use for every corner and become an expert in that. Finally, the past 3 days have been 70+ degrees at Palomar and the road was clean...obviously if it's cooler outside or you're riding on a crappy road, the pace would drop down big time...but still won't need body position. linktr.ee/GregWidmar

[@travelbiro]

I agree that body position should be adjusted according to riding speed, particularly when cornering, there's no need to overdo it. In my country, road conditions can be quite challenging, so it's important to carefully assess them while riding. Excessive body positioning during cornering can actually be harmful, and safety should always be a priority.

[@juicy9592]

Well i like to challenge that. You say you would be slower in worse conditions. You would be quicker if you hang of the bike in that case. Cause the bike would be more upright . Just playing the devils advocate here. And keep the conversation going😂

[@RichardVanags]

So you like to delete comments because they actually know more than you do???? So you are just a shill doing it for clicks and cash......

[@badgerman23]

You don't have a phd in fundamentals, you can't even choose the correct line at all

[@badgerman23]

@@RichardVanags 100% he delets comment that call him out on his bs. Notice how he no longer replies to people. It's because he gets challenged and cant back it up

[@easye1311]

Great advice. I don't ride fast enough so I never lean off of my bike and even as a beginner i know it's pointless with my easy pace.

[@mikasihite5346]

I think the point of this video was you can’t master both body position and fundamentals at the same time. Better to master the fundamentals first then understand how body position is beneficial to that.

[@prattspits]

Im a new rider, I ride zx6r , all I do is back roads, started practicing the fundamentals, then at some point I started focusing on speed and scaring myself, the other day Im riding in Jamul because that's where I live and ended up behind a BMW like yours , actually thought it was you but it was the white and Blue, any way the guy was going so fast but so smooth , just effortless, no body position or anything , after seeing that it snap me back to just work on the fundamentals and the speed will come.

[@ifjezsolt]

I would say it is for safety reasons. I think you mentioned that a bikes suspension works best when it is closer to the upright position. So when you are positioning your body, you need less lean angle. So while I think that observation is true, that people do it to look cool, there are definitely some benefits doing it. There is a bigger safety margin using body positioning when people are not as skilled and experienced as you are. So even though I agree with your opinion about the importance of practice, and learning the fundamentals, I think it is better to do it, if that avoids emergencies.

[@damansidhu77]

100% agree with this statement. It is safer to lean over as the contact patch is bigger, easier to brake hard if the bike is more upright and not dump it. And yes, it looks cooler too, but overall its more safe. You don't need motoGP angles on road riding, but just being inside the turn helps keep the bike more upright.

[@mikasihite5346]

I think the point was setting your priorities right. Better to understand braking and choosing lines than using body position with messed up lines and bad braking technique. If you can’t control the bike, hanging off would just make it worse because now you’re doing 2 things you don’t underatand.

[@xnor64]

I also thought that isn't it for keeping the bike more upright for reasons other than speed when you are on the street, not track. I don't know how correct it is, but I think that having the bike more up if you hit some surprising stuff on the road ,like sand or whatever, is safer. I never thought it would be because of speed on public roads.

[@mikasihite5346]

@ It is safer to use more body position and more upright for the bike. But honestly after going out on the canyons, you really must be going really fast to use it. Another thing is if you have good line choices, you don't really need too much body position or lean if you can hit the apex.

[@slavakaplon6672]

Hello, did you kill everyone? There's no one on the road! 😂

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

I did an experiment yesterday also. I road my ZX4RR on my favorite road with my weight off to the inside of the curves. I found myself using more energy than I needed to. I then road the same road with my Heritage classic and actually leaned the bike and kept my body straight up. It turned in a lot quicker with less energy because the weight of the bike was enough to load of the front tires edge.

[@Y-li]

I move more in wet to keep the bike upright. Other than the I lean upper body and head into the corners...counter steering does all the work.

[@Landlord1244]

Finally someone said it , I have been watching all kind of videos about this but I thought to myself while riding that I don’t really need to move body , I can’t counter steer most of the time and it works just beautiful for streets .

[@BiGDeE3]

here's the thing ... body position happens as a natural reaction to forces upon the body . You dont turn it off or on . Period

[@midas61]

He's talking about hanging off the bike in corners.

[@vijayam1]

Brilliant one Greg. I wanted to ask a question regarding the same in your life Q&A and here you are with a full-on video about tire pressure and grip. Thank you..

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

I recall Fast Feddie Spencer saying that he never leans off the bike street riding (i think).

[@braverabbit]

Suspension works better if you can reduce lean angle of the bike. The way that happens is using body position. Way am I doing it? For the about reason and mostly because is fun and feels good.

[@frank060272]

Most people leanover because it just looks cool and they do it in motoGP.

[@KurtG85]

Its fun.

[@TheAdawg5]

Exactly like ofc there's riders who shouldn't be doing it but most of us are out here leaning our bike over cause it's fun nothing more nothing less like sure I could ride easy and nice pace but there's a season for that as well as a season to get that bike leaned over like it was designed to do 🫡

[@travr6]

I used to do numerous track days. I find myself leaning even on my bicycle sometimes.

[@VenzoidsMotoDiary]

Love this video, I can see the speed and how to tackle each turn. The engine sound shows how to adjust the throttle on a certain curve and when to trail break. This is what I need on my skill level. Now I know the safest speed without learning the hard way. Thanks!!!!

[@Bugside]

I mean, trying to drag knee of is fun, I don't ride to be "the most efficient" or to do "the fastest time", when I take the bike out I'm trying to have fun

[@ayowser01]

Avoiding using bp forces you to take different lines for the same pace.

[@TomStratis]

I noticed that you are keeping the revs up in the power band. I mistake I used to make early on was unnecessary upshifts totally upsetting things till I realized how much better things went when I stayed in peak power range and used less braking. Great video to make your point, Good st!

[@twowheelstouring482]

On the road the only thing i want to move is my head to help initiate a turn as it helps looking into a turn too, counter steering gets me around pretty swiftly and safely. My butt could be glued to the seat.

[@dorinic]

I feel like I would have been guilty of trying to get a few gear changes in there, but I'm coming around to running in a lower gear than I normally would and utilising the available rev range better.

[@Liam1304]

A few years ago I was abusing my race 250 Ninja on a track day and came up against a very quick rider who had raced at the Isle of Man and was very successful in the Classic race bike scene. He rode a pre-war 350 Velocette - skinny tyres, little bitty drum brake. I happened to pass him as he came out of the pits onto the track. Both bikes had about the same straight line but of course I had better brakes and "supercorsers". He rode in the pre-war style of leaning the bike in underneath him while I was trying to move as much weight as I could to the inside. I could not shake him off, I think he could have passed me if he wanted to. Despite me doing all I could with lean angle (elbows in the grass) I think he was doing a lot better at loading his weight onto the front wheel, which is what the quick guys seem to know how to do. The more weight on the front the tighter the turn and the more you can open the throttle. Additionally, this posture seems much better for the street offering better visibility and control if the bike gets out of shape. If it low sides you are also on top of the bike not under it. Worth some thought.

[@clemc5457]

I rarely change my body position. If anything, I might move my head and torso a little off center if I’m going into a curve a little hot. I can really feel the difference in stability with this minor adjustment. Mostly, it’s about good vision, rolling off the throttle, trail braking, an appropriate amount of lean angle, etc. I did use body positioning on my (training) track day. My gosh, that day was SO much fun!

[@tjey379]

Great truths that I wish that I had heard when I had just started riding anyway before I got hurt last year I was aiming at getting the fundamentals of counter steering which I will get back to when I start up again.👍👍👍👍

[@mikeclfs]

04:26:52 Car coming around the corner? He's one lucky bastard. I give you that. Until, of course, luck runs out. RIP brother.

[@midas61]

What are you talking about????????????

[@John-ez3rd]

Idiot

[@SeanFisk]

XR is such a good bike. Love it

[@HBChandler]

Great video. I think I would have loved to see the cam adjusted up just a bit so that I can see more of the road ahead. Great time through there though. I’ve only done palomar twice. It’s a tricky one. Especially that downhill section

[@808Affliction]

Thank you Greg 🙏🏼

[@MiroBošnjak]

As always great video and if you know what to listen , great insight, thank you

[@TheTyrone1981]

A few of us hit the twisties at a decent pace. I have ALWAYS run stock tire pressure on my sports bikes. My buddies always have me shit about it until they saw me right behind them as we rolled at a hefty pace sometimes. They stopped giving me shit lol. I tried lowering pressure for a bit and I noticed I got less mileage out of my tires. Back to stock pressure I went lol. I use SLIGHT body positioning just to keep from being at the edge of the tire. I have about a quarter of an inch “chicken strip” on either side of the rear tire which I love. Let’s me know I’m not over leaning and I can still roll at a fun pace. my buddies use minimal body positioning as well. No sense in hanging off the bike. Feels way too disconnected

[@jeromecruz3237]

I always use counter steering with counter lean It works perfectly for me. I think you should only ever do body leaning when you need EXTRA weight to lean the bike A LITTLE BIT more.

[@Chqrliik]

I'd really like having a telemetry on the side of the screen, with throttle, brake and lean angle in real time, I think that could help a lot of us. Thanks for the video

[@heathenbiker]

I tend to use body position much more on wet rainy roads because i think that every extra bit of contact helps grip, and the maximum contact patch occurs when bike is upright. So maybe it's not needed, but when surface is slick i want bike upright as possible!

[@patrickmba7638]

That's brave of you. Leaning off in wet conditions. I'd much rather slow down and reduce the need to.

[@scottturner-zm1vu]

I'll probably be branded as a heretic, but I have a theory that body position does in deed help turn the motorcycle. This proven by letting go of handlebars on the motorcycle (or bicycle) and leaning your body to either side and the bike will turn in that direction (though more dramatically on a bicycle). Not claiming body position cannot be easily overridden by counter steering, but it does have an influence on the path. Just something I've been experimenting with last few months. I'll scooch over on the seat just a little going into the curve (normal everyday intermediate street riding), and the bike just seems a little happier to turn.

[@slapbgmi]

Please do this with insta 360.

[@asturiancetorix2552]

If you need to hang off while driving on the street, you are probably going too fast. Hang off looks overkill to me in most street situations, but I think from certain speed up it´s OK to move your weight to the inside, so you can help the thing to lean less. More free rubber, just in case a SNAFU situation appears.You know, no need for "dramatic hang off scrapping sliders thing". just "move your weight". But it´s much more relevant to master the really important stuff, like know how to look good, how calculate your path good, how to brake good... if you do this things good enough, probably you won´t need to hang off at all.

[@Highsidespecialist]

When people are working and trying to improve, you can help them without shaming them. There's a better way.

[@joakimjuhlin6551]

How did he shame people by explaining the obvious?

[@dero0rdead]

yeah but doesn't body position on the lean help reduce lean, so in result help reduce risk ? ( not implying you need to move for slow riding like the memes but.. )

[@gorduhn]

yeah but his point was more speed would require more lean hence throwing in body position to reduce the lean needed to take the corner at the same pace. yet most people don’t even ride fast enough to even need that much lean angle to the point where it’s dangerous

[@AudioAdvisory38]

I like the part where you hit the rumble near the end. Also let's raid the beer truck.

[@youtube-Mr.D]

wow you are moving fast, there are young people here who should not do this like you now!

[@supermalevitality8532]

Very fast run and I can tell you still had lots of margin for safety. I really want to be able to ride Palomar this quickly on my bikes

[@KneeGrinder97]

You need to make a video like this, but with the camera facing your body, it would be interesting

[@jeffwood4620]

I really envy the roads you get to ride on.

[@chrismoody1342]

I’m going to comment here. I ride a ZX6R and in state where there is zero curvy twisty roads. However there is a little county lake just a few minutes away that offer a winding road around the lake with some elevation changes. Posted speed is 20 mph mainly due to campers scattered around the lake. I tend to ride it in 3-4 gear trying to keep noise down. I can carry a 50 mph pace with no hanging off. If I was truly on the gas I could probably pick up the pace a little bit. But most the speed would be in places I could attain 70-100+ mph. It’s a public park/lake so I don’t make an ass of myself. Once I leave the lake, it’s 15 miles on a perfectly straight road home. That’s Kansas for you straight roads for miles and miles. I’ve studied the maps and riding around lakes is about as curvy as it will ever get. Granted some of the lakes have 30-100 mile of shoreline drives. But again it’s a park or residential homes.

[@baileylugnut]

When I was a less skilled rider, and was a bit fearful of leaning, there was no thought of my body position off the bike. Then, I take Lee Park's Total Control Advanced Rider Course. I followed a sequence of steps, for proper body position, to really lean over around a 40' circle. Talk about facing your fears! But, the more I practiced the drill, the more fear went down. My takeaway? Proving to myself just how far these bikes can lean. Do I need a hang off body position on the street? Nope. Just as Greg showed, this darn bike of mine will lean over in a neutral position. Now, no fear, just fun!

[@willow__pillow4]

I never thought people also lower their tire pressure for the street, even if they're going at a quick pace, I believe you can't heat them up enough to get the most grip out of the tire

[@andyarmstrong81]

You illustrate a good point, you don’t need body position to ride quickly. However is body position not just a way of reducing lean angle and therefore risk? While not necessary for the street is moderate body position a way of increasing the margin for error much in the same way as lane position on corner approach?

[@andrewplayer4009]

That was an awesome video! Thanks for posting! A few questions: 1. I'm not sure, but it looks like you went all the way up in 2nd gear, is that correct? 2. Left curves vs. Right: It seems like your head goes more to the inside on Left curves than Right ones. Is that my imagination, or is it real? 3. Body Position - I'm still a novice. But I shift my butt to the inside sometimes on curves simply because I don't yet know how far the bike can lean before losing grip. This takes away some risk of losing grip. What's wrong with that?

[@SlobaMusic]

you are the BEST....greatings from SRBIJA...

[@patrickputman5146]

About speed and body position, I don't think its necessarily true you don't get the benefit of it at slower speeds is it? If you can do a little body position, even not hanging off but just shifting weight, you can keep the bike more upright, have more traction, and be less likely to wash out if you hit something. Even going slow and keeping the bike slightly more upright is going to give you a better chance if you run over something

[@steveramirez8270]

Great video, I just bought the Triumph Speed 400 in Knoxville Tennessee. I still getting up early to practice slow speed maneuvers. I put my bike in a storage unit because I don't have a garage. It works out well because not many cars around and there are pretty empty streets in a long road-2-3 miles across the street. I just had minor knee surgery for Osgood Schlatter's and am at home recovering. The weather is great here and will try to get some speed, I have had the bike up to 60 mph in the early mornings and have almost gotten really good on counter steering, there are a few curvy roads nearby and I am still scared and don't know my limits on speed and curves. The dealership is an Indian/Triumph dealership, so many cool retro bikes. Have you ridden the Speed 400? What do you think and if there is another Indian/Triumph near you or stand alone, could you show us a cool test ride on the Indian FTR? I think I watch you on the Triumph Rocket one time...the interstate is close to where I keep my bike, I want to get my Speed 400 up to at least 75 but still scared or curves at high speed. This video helps me a lot. Thanks!

[@c138599]

Even though I'm on a V4S and might ride a little quicker than some I definitely don't ride crazily fast. My rear tyre wear is not dissimilar to what you show in this vid so I don't need to crawl all over the bike to get around corners. However there is still much benefit to be gained in positioning yourself "actively" - steering response is significantly enhanced and your body is positioned to maximise braking efficiency compared to when sitting bolt upright. When you find yourself off-line or suddenly need to hit the anchors having your body engaged instead of neutral in the saddle - even if we are just talking about shifting your bum a bit and leaning into the direction you want to go - makes the bike much more responsive. Or maybe it just makes YOU quicker to respond. Or both?

[@badgerman23]

he has fuck all wear what are you talking about...

[@unnf9971]

I have to take body position to account so I my suspension can work perpendicular to the road as possible because we such sitty garbage roads I constantly have to expect cracks, bumps, potholes and sudden change of surface level in every corner. With such nice wide roads you got there in the US this topic is indeed a much different conversation. There is a very damning side of this riding style... you have been leaning over the double yellow in every left curve like Michael Jackson.

[@3rduncle]

Couldn't agree more.

[@ботур8808]

you weren’t fast enough on those corners to need any body positioning

[@mhoeij]

But isn't that the point of the video?

[@YatinKanetkar]

I like the advice about not having to move around on the bike when you are not at the top top level of a pro racer. But, I really wish you had used a track as your reference or a course made with cones in a parking lot instead of a public 2 way road. Dude, we all look up to you and want to emulate the level of control you have on the bike. In my case, the thing that prevented me from going and repeating what you just did is that I have ridden enough to know that there’s a good chance that I won’t make it up in one piece if I tried. But a younger less experienced me with a fast bike probably would have gone ahead with it… For the next video use a track or a parking lot. I can guarantee that it won’t dilute your message at all…and for people who want try out the advice in this video, please do so on in a safe space.

[@badgerman23]

he's a shit rider, your better off finding someone who can ride

[@MYMOTO7]

BP is for Instagram riders

[@ChrisVanMiddelkoop]

body position is more fun though. we are on the street. don't care about times.

[@supreme53]

Thank you

[@headhuntersixx8164]

How do you like those tires?

[@prairieschooner2599]

Perfect demonstration. Even in tighter highway twisties (not track corners) myself and other heavy and sport tour riders almost exclusively use neutral body position and stock tire pressures. I don't see the benefit of knee dragging or seat sliding outside of the closed courses, for most riders. I'm sure it's fun though.

[@erginjos]

U use here only front brake?

[@future62]

People dont care about going faster or getting better, they just want to look cool. If you watch any production based motorcycle racing, most of those guys and gals are not hanging off like Jorge Martin. They are off center but still well between the handlebars. If they drag knee/elbow it's because of lean angle that the average rider/street bike is not coming anywhere close to. Stop focusing on how you/your bike/your tires look and get faster/better.

[@nightwishpower]

i was expecting more speed than that 😂

[@fmommen]

Are there any roads in the US with sharp corners? I never see any hairpins, like we have thousands of them in Europe.

[@BOB24502]

6:49 is slow bro… I did this same road in 4:38 on a grom while counter leaning (leaning opposite direction of the turn) every corner

[@stevelyk4454]

Thanks for the adrenaline rush😢

[@henkhenk4357]

Also valid for trackdays ? (Slow group).

[@willow__pillow4]

Practice the fundamentals to increase your skills. Add body position and track tire pressure to get better lap times.

[@palakkadankiwi9034]

You are a perfect teacher mate. I was trying a lot as a new rider before, but I felt lots of time slow and unsafe compare to others. After practicing what you say, it made a huge differences. Thanks for explaining everything so well. You are a legend.

[@scooty67]

Cool Deal

[@festusssss]

No comment on BP, but riding that close to--or as it seems in this video--over the double yellow line is not something to promote or demonstrate to newbies! Please stay on your side of the road.

[@Sunkenlol]

It's easier to develop proper body position when you're learning how to ride than it is to learn to ride without and try and fix bad/no body position. Once you get faster it's so much harder to undo something. Additionally, proper body position allows for the bike to be more upright with less lean angle and therefore is safer. This is really bad advice.

[@ScottPhx]

How sick are you of talking about body position by now?

[@Forwardoperationbase]

Why are we doing it ?? I can answer that simple question. It's all about looking cool and its also for personal joy. Simple!!

[@xB0RNFR0MPAINx]

Looking at those tyres man.... you should sell your bike😂

[@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294]

Please explain.

[@mrob456]

@@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294inside joke. Go watch his short about tires and chicken strips

[@willow__pillow4]

​@@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294It's a joke that if you have chicken strips you should sell your bike and get a smaller cc one because "you can't even get rid of the chicken strips"

[@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294]

@ Thanks. I found the short you referenced, which clearly is a joke: kzbin.infozBWbChRxKC0 Then there's this other short that is more serious: kzbin.infoTY1l0qfflH8

[@jst8922]

@@f.f.s.d.o.a.7294 chicken strips

[@juicy9592]

You forget one thing. What if i just want to feel like a pro rider. In the little free time i have. Can a man just have some fun and dream a little. Just get a way from my life and be someone else.

[@juicy9592]

This is hypotetical by the way

[@ricardomorales1039]

As long as your honest to yourself why not. Just don't day you're fast or doing it 'cause you need it

[@Renaissance_cycles]

What a clean run. Great day of practice! Thanks for the invite

[@ald1292]

Your channel is always informative… love it

[@pietrovardi9583]

Okay, I need to change underwear now... please do not try this at home!

[@jdmcali4330]

Let me know when you want the smoke up and down S grade or E grade.

[@badgerman23]

please record, I want to see how shit he is

[@georgemcpherson3706]

It's great being 64 on a sportbike and hearing crap about body position and have someone like you prove it makes no difference on the street GJ

[@twowheelstouring482]

Just watching your ride through and you got your head into the oncoming lane many times on the unsighted left turns??? Do as i say not as i do i see!!!!! Id suggest poor line discipline, come to the UK we have so much traffic you would change pretty quickly.

[@badgerman23]

He's a guy who has read books and picked up some buzz words. He can't ride for shit

[@Ramon51650]

Thanks for speaking to the seemingly endless tire inflation controversy.

[@bricklawson9745]

👍

[@hsntrkmnturkiye5326]

🙏🇹🇷