Webmaster posted on February 17, 2010 13:12
Point six of being in the correct standing position is the placement of your head. As we are riding down the trail in the standing position, not really accelerating or decelerating, we should have our head located over the handlebar mounts. This allows us to stay centrally located on the motorcycle which maximizes our ability to control and maneuver the bike plus react easier to the trail conditions and obstacles present.
When we are decelerating or riding down a hill we need to move our body and head position further back on the motorcycle to help counteract the forces created with this action, that is you being thrown forward and/or the rear of the motorcycle coming up off the ground. Utilizing the effect of gravity on your body weight is the key with this. We achieve this by bending at the hips and “pushing” our butt towards the rear of the motorcycle, and by straightening our arm out the further we move back. The heavier the deceleration or the steeper the downhill the further we need to move our body weight to the rear of the motorcycle. For the most extreme of these trail circumstances you will be at full stretch with your butt out over the rear fender of the motorcycle.
When we are accelerating or riding up a hill we need to do the opposite and move our body and head position further forward on the motorcycle to help counteract the forces created with this action, that is you being thrown back and/or the front of the motorcycle coming up off the ground. Again, utilizing the effect of gravity on your body weight is the key with this. We achieve this by bending at the ankles and somewhat straightening out our body the further forward we go. The heavier the acceleration or the steeper the uphill the further we need to move our body weight to the front of the motorcycle. For the most extreme of these trail circumstances you will be at full stretch with your head out over near the end of the front fender of the motorcycle.
The final key point of your head position is to remember to be looking forward down the trail, not down just in front of the front tire. Not only does doing this give you far greater balance but it also gives increased time to identify, interpret, and react to the obstacles and conditions that are approaching on the trail ahead. Too many riders have crashes due to this one reason of not looking far enough ahead to give them the adequate time to avoid these possible accidents.