gogoKawi

I had an interesting conversation with a bunch of folks today about getting your knee down on a public road. I didn't realize that you could get a ticket for that in Virginia. It's equivalent to popping a wheelie. I don't know about MD or DC, but I figure it is probably the same. Do you think that getting a knee down is the same a wheelies or endos? Do other states have a similar law? Thinking about it for a while, I guess there is really no reason to get a knee down on a public road.

steverparker

To get a knee down you are probably speeding.

kahearn

you could be turning off of a highway where the speed limit is 45 onto another one where it's 45, and trying to save gas money by accelerating (+/-) the least possible amount for the turn therefore carrying as much corner speed as possible.

I think that law is BS. If one is speeding, give one a speeding ticket...don't give an officer an excuse not to clock someone for what is really a law targeted for speeders.

ZoomSplat

I've gotten my knee down on freeway off ramps, in parking lots, and hauling ass on back roads. The only time I've done it at less than the speed limit was rolling in circles in a parking lot. You pretty much have to be carrying a pretty good deal of speed to do it, or at least much more speed than is "safe" for that particular corner on a public road, which means speeding. In most cases it would probably even be considered exhibition of speed or whatever your local PD has dubbed dangerous driving. When I'm on the more popular public roads I'll keep my knees in. Still hang off, just don't dangle it out there. It attracts attention, its one of the things they're looking for.

EvilTwin

Most "stunters" I know can't ride fast enough to get their knee down, so no, it's not the same. Knee down is more equivalent to drifting in a car, only the experienced and ballsy can do it and do it well (I am not necessarily in that category )

bradlee08

so then drifting in a bike is compared to having sex in a car, while speeding through a stop sign, in a work zone?? lol

CelticStar

I've never thought of knee down as stunting really.

As for the speed issue? I can get my knee down at 30mph or 130mph so you don't have to be speeding to do it.
My first knee down was on the public road but nowadays I tend to keep it for the track, more for safety than anything else, I don't know what crap is on the road on the next corner whereas I can pretty much know what is on a track surface....

givuhcky22

hahahah sounds about right.

MistressOfMayhem

Hmm... Interesting.

I think it depends on where you are riding. My stomping grounds have plenty of corners that are so tight and that drastically change in elevation that its easy to get a knee down even if you are slow as shit. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are speeding excessively but that maybe there are a combination of factors in your body positioning and the lean angle of the bike that make that happen.

Case in point : Decreasing radius uphill hairpin turn that you exit 9-10 feet above where you entered. In roughly 100 miles of riding (round trip) we usually climb from 450 foot elevation, to 5000 feet and drop back down again. It's very easy for a person to get a knee down in the tighter corners where the elevation changes are so drastic.

However, generally speaking you are probably hauling some serious ass if you are getting a knee down on public roads. The more important thing to keep in mind, is if your knee is on the asphalt than how much of a margin of error are you really leaving yourself to dodge that jackass who swerves into your lane? (all legalities aside)

On the note of stupid ass laws though: Riders in my area (sportbikers specifically) have recently learned that it is illegal to ride with one hand on the bars. So for instance, if you are stretching your back and rest your left fist on your thigh, you get a ticket for that; regardless of how alert and in control you are.

givuhcky22

I feel like i just read something from a text book.
that last law about hands is insane. there's so many reasons why one would take a hand off the bars so that law should be crushed. as far as i know, its ok in VA to have one hand on cus i ride next to cops all the time with a hand on my thigh.

MistressOfMayhem

Hahahaha What can I say, there's some bomb ass technical twisties in my back yard. I call it my 'happy hour' ride because I can usually cover it in time to get home for an early supper at the end of my work day.

Doris

Getting your knee down is all about lowering the centre of gravity, not going fast you can get a knee on the ground at reasonably slow speeds on a tight corner, i'm not that good but I have a mate who is by far a better and much more confident rider and he can get both knees down one once entering once on and once exiting on a roundabout near ours, not travelling much over about 40mph in what is effectively a 60mph zone. Very quiet, not unsafe and one of our usual places of practice for cornering and riding.

It isn't against the law in the UK as far as I know however the police don't look kindly on it. TBH yes you can hit a corner and get you knee down but most of the time you can still if within the legal limits get round sitting on the bike as normal.

Problem is that isn't as much fun.......

wiffy

in uk u cant get ticket for dragging ur knee but poping front gets u knicked,sounded like a drug habbit that ,popping front,

bradlee08

ridiculous law! with stomp pad tank grips i feel like i can control the bike with just my legs as well as i can with 2 hands or even one. and it doesnt take very long for your hand to travel, maybe a foot to the bar. sounds like someone is in need of an excuse to write out tickets :/

Huslnuracing

thats retarded