Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Riding Position

So, yesterday was a great riding day, here in central PA, and I decided to run the bike for a couple hours last night.
As I was rounding a corner last night I noticed a Hardley rider flying (I say “flying” but we all know pigs can’t fly!) around the corner in the opposite direction. I noted his riding position: Heels on the pegs with his feet turned out, while leaning far back with his arms straight. I chuckled in my head, thinking “man, I wonder how he would react in a panic from that position.” So, I continue on my trip, pick up some four-lane and cruise at around 70. At this point I began to think that there had to be something to that rider’s seating…was it more comfortable being stretched out? Would it be more comfortable for me, at higher speeds, when I can take my foot away from the shifter and brake as I let the miles click by?

So, I took the arch of my boot off the pegs and rested my heel upon them…NOT BAD! Ok, that’s the first part of the experiment and it felt great. Now for the second half of the experiment, sitting back. I leaned back slowly and in moments my arms were straight…WOW! I felt like I was in a Lazyboy!

Here I was, going down the road at 70, completely relaxed, not fighting the wind and watching the miles tick by. After this new discovery I’m curious: How do you folks like to ride? Are there other riding positions, for other riding scenarios, that I haven’t discovered yet? Let me know.

I have floorboards and a Corbin seat with back rest. On a long trip I rest the back of heels on the brake and shift pedals if I need more room. I really neeed to buy one of the new highway bars with pegs.

well i am not sure yet i just changed to footboards and havent got them just right yet need to put risers on and hopefully be right. but with pegs i used to rest my heels on the pegs when sitting on motorways and daul carriage ways i also took rear hangers off and fixed the reaer pegs a bit more forward so i can sit up anfd hook heels on them

I like being stretched out like you said while I'm cruising down the highway. I also have a Corbin seat with backrest for long trips. Sometimes I put my heel on the pegs and ride like that a while. Always leaning back on the highway. Be aware of your situation, if nobody is around, you don't need to be so tense. Relax and stretch. Enjoy the bikes size. Now, for tearing up the twisted roads, my seating position changes to a more aggressive style.

The alternator cover always has a tell tale of long distance riders.

I either stretch out....heels on pegs and a slight lean back or I sit very upright and swing my feet back to the rear pegs, hook my heels on em...kinda sport bikeish.

If Im in an area where I am unfamiliar or I see a curve coming up its back to the normal riding position.

If I need a stretch but dont have time to relax (in a manner of speaking) I move one leg at a time as described above being careful so that I dont relax my brake leg when I may need brakes (on roads with lots o driveways) or my shift leg when I may need to downshift (i.e. on inclines)

you can put your legs up on the tank & stick your legs straight out for a good stretch

Maybe YOU can put your legs up on the tank. I have trouble swinging my leg over the Corbin back rest to get on the bike. No one ever told me getting old was going to hurt so much.

I lean back heels on the pegs often for a change of position.

Most of the time I'm pressing the kneepads into the tank, sitting up on the front of my seat. I can tuck in behind the Flyscreen, but usually am not.

On longer stretches I ride with feet up on the rear pegs, and I can really lay on the tank then, or sit up and ride like I'm on a taller-saddled bike like a Tiger. I just keep reminding myself my butt's only 26" off the ground. (Suspension compression)

I like to ride with legs straight back, knees just above the passenger backrest, and a death grip on the handlebars. I do however, have my right thumb lightly resting on the Kill Switch. You know just in case. It makes me feel like I am really flying down the highway.......

Tom

Hmm, I've never tried putting the feet on the rear pegs, that sounds interesting. If it's comfortable I'll keep my rear pegs on the bike, as I was originally planning on removing them since I've removed the pillion seat and replaced it with a rack...no two-up for me!