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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: calamari on July 22, 2005, 11:27:41 PM

Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: calamari on July 22, 2005, 11:27:41 PM
...
Do you lean forward when riding at high speeds?

I mean, the wind hits pretty nice your upper body at higher speeds, and not even the small windshield deflects enough air, so I wonder if anyone here leans forward and tucks the elbows or leave them in place.  :dunno:

And if you lean forward... how much? until your chest almost touches the tank?  :roll:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Roadstergal on July 22, 2005, 11:34:31 PM
I don't have to lean forward very far for my chest to touch the tank.   :(   And yes, I lean forward at high speeds, or when just cruising straight for long distances.  Keeps the buffeting down.
Title: Re: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Kerry on July 22, 2005, 11:42:53 PM
Quote from: subcDo you lean forward when riding at high speeds?
Absolutely!  That is, I used to before I got my big shield. :roll:

Seriously ... I used to turn on the throttle lock, put my chest full-weight onto my tankbag, loop a couple fingers of each hand under the handlebar - on either side of the handlebar clamps - and GO.  Steering was accomplished by pulling on the "wrong" side instead of pushing on the "correct" side.

Sometimes I would even tuck my elbows inside my knees.  And if my arms got too cramped or tired, I would take turns sticking the thumb of each hand into the top of the boot on the same side - so I could loosen up without my arm flapping in the wind.

Oh, and when my neck got tired of holding up my head, I would just rest the chinbar of my helmet on the tankbag too, and let my head "hang" from the chinstrap.

Yeehaw!  I feel another long ride coming on.... :lol:
Title: Re: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: ImJustPondering on July 23, 2005, 12:29:07 AM
Yah I start to lean forward over 90 :o
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: calamari on July 23, 2005, 01:41:47 AM
...
thanks for your replies. I was just wondering if I looked 'funny' by leaning after 90mph, but I really had to lean, because I could feel I started to literally 'hold on to the bike' with my hands since the wind was hitting my chest pretty hard.

you know, I should write some html with my experiences as a new rider. so many things that I've learned, such as:

+ you will develop stronger muscles on the back of your neck (after riding over 60mph for the first time and getting a sore neck for a few days)

and so on and so forth.  :thumb:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Cal Price on July 23, 2005, 03:10:21 AM
The big screen solves most of the related problems once you get it adjusted right. I always found the angle of the head was more important than upper body, you want to avoid that demon standing on your back trying to rip your head off by pulling on the helmet.

Related to this can anyone explain the aerodynamics of why your jacket puffs up at the front ? ? ! ? and pulls forewards 'cos it beats me.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Rema1000 on July 23, 2005, 05:57:45 AM
I change my position a little bit at about 65mph.  Below that, and riding straight up ("sit up and beg") is comfortable.  But above that, I need to tilt forward.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Blazinjr on July 23, 2005, 08:10:07 AM
Once I downshift to pick up speed and accelerate I lean foward and tuck in.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Roadstergal on July 23, 2005, 10:46:58 AM
Quote from: subcthanks for your replies. I was just wondering if I looked 'funny' by leaning after 90mph

You probably do, but the rest of us do, too...
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Blazinjr on July 23, 2005, 11:39:50 AM
Quote from: RoadstergalI don't have to lean forward very far for my chest to touch the tank.



What are you saying Roadstergal?     :?


Somethings geting in the way?     ;)
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Jazzzzz on July 23, 2005, 12:45:30 PM
Quote from: Blazinjr
Quote from: RoadstergalI don't have to lean forward very far for my chest to touch the tank.



What are you saying Roadstergal?     :?


Somethings geting in the way?     ;)

she's short, and the seat on her GS is shaved so she sits lower in comparison to the tank than you would with a regular seat.  :nono:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: The Lazy Destroyer on July 23, 2005, 01:42:13 PM
Yep, I'm in full tuck at anything over 80mph.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: pandy on July 23, 2005, 01:47:21 PM
I'm usually in full tuck anything over 60mph so I don't get blown off the bike!  :P

pandy  :mrgreen:


Quote from: The Lazy DestroyerYep, I'm in full tuck at anything over 80mph.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: davipu on July 23, 2005, 03:50:33 PM
you havn't seen the pics of her?  she's got a rack of watermellons, man.  I thought everyone knew.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: calamari on July 23, 2005, 05:45:47 PM
Quote from: davipuyou havn't seen the pics of her?  she's got a rack of watermellons, man.  I thought everyone knew.
who carries fruits while riding a bike?  :?
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: daneilah on July 23, 2005, 06:42:29 PM
I'll lean down on the tank bag to get out of the wind and to give my neck and back a rest.  Tuck your elbows right in and relax your wrists.

While riding like this I wonder "is this what it's like to ride a gixxer"?   :lol:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: pandy on July 23, 2005, 06:50:55 PM
I wonder the same thing, too, except for the fact that my knees are around my ears, and my feetzez should be further back!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

pandy  :cheers:



Quote from: daneilahI'll lean down on the tank bag to get out of the wind and to give my neck and back a rest.  Tuck your elbows right in and relax your wrists.

While riding like this I wonder "is this what it's like to ride a gixxer"?   :lol:
Title: Re: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: RVertigo on July 23, 2005, 09:45:14 PM
Quote from: subcDo you lean forward when riding at high speeds?
I lean until I can't lean any more...   Toes on the pegs, elbows and chest on the tank, peaking over the gauges...

It even cuts down on side winds...

Sometimes I do it at low speeds...  But, it's when I need to shift my position to ease some tension.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Roadstergal on July 23, 2005, 09:47:46 PM
Quote from: subc
Quote from: davipuyou havn't seen the pics of her?  she's got a rack of watermellons, man.  I thought everyone knew.
who carries fruits while riding a bike?  :?

Hey, I've carried watermelon on my bike...  Giving up cars doesn't mean giving up big heavy delicious things!
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: pandy on July 23, 2005, 09:50:46 PM
Much to my boyfriend's horror, we have to stop at the farmer's market each weekend during one of our rides. I fill BOTH of our tank bags with all sorts of veggies and fruit (yes, including a watermelon one day).

Bwahahaha!! He hates veggies, but he carries them in his tank bag for me...he's a keeper! ;)

pandy  :mrgreen:


Quote from: RoadstergalHey, I've carried watermelon on my bike...  Giving up cars doesn't mean giving up big heavy delicious things!
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: pandy on July 23, 2005, 09:53:50 PM
I've thought about getting a picture of myself when I'm tucked, just to see what it looks like...but...then I think to myself....."Self, are you NUTZ!? You don't want to know!!"   :P

pandy  :mrgreen:


Quote from: subc...
thanks for your replies. I was just wondering if I looked 'funny' by leaning after 90mph  :thumb:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: 97gs500e on July 23, 2005, 09:59:47 PM
anything over 70mph and I'm right on the tank.. cept my bike hasn't been running right the last two weeks :(

..gonna spend all day tomorrow tryin to fix that POS  :mrgreen:
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: Dima26 on July 24, 2005, 04:08:32 PM
I don't go into a full tuck (chest on the tank) at high speed but I do lean forward a little, approximately until you can easily put the left elbow on the tank. I used to tuck in completely during the winter though. It helps to be warm.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: dbNnc on July 25, 2005, 07:49:33 AM
I'm 6-foot-5 and not sure there's room on my GS500F to do much tucking and leaning.
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: aaronstj on July 25, 2005, 10:31:33 AM
Quote from: dbNncI'm 6-foot-5 and not sure there's room on my GS500F to do much tucking and leaning.
(Not to completely threadjack, but...) I'm 6'4", and about to do my BRC.  The GS500 is the bike I'm looking hardest at to buy, and partly because it looks to be bigger/has a higher seat than most of the other "starter bikes" out there.  Is that true, or am I way off?  How does the bike fit, for being so damn tall?
Title: Riding at high speeds (95+mph) sort of...
Post by: dbNnc on July 25, 2005, 12:08:58 PM
It's comfortable and a good first bike. I took the MSF course in Feb. and feel completely at ease with my '04 GS500F. I sat on a Ninja 600 at the same dealership and the higher, seemingly wider bars on the GS were better for me. I figure that at my height any bike is going to be a bit cramped, but the GS really isn't bad at all. I recommend it.