Body position

[kingisept]

Hello. I ride a VTR1000 firestorm so it more a sport touring then it is a sports bike.
When I want to push myself a little bit instead of just putting along, I positon myself lower on the bike with my lower torso sitting on tank where the tank protector is, both forearms horizontally in line with the bike and me butt pushed back towards the back of the seat so pretty much tucked in I guess. It's such an uncomfortable position but it makes it feel like the motorcycle tends to handle better instead of sitting more upright like when you just cruising along. Also when cornering does your knee/leg tend to come out? Coz I keep hearing about hugging the tank with legs/knee but when I corner it just comes out automatically or feels like the right thing to do? Am I doing this right? Sorry for asking the dumb question, like I should know if I ride right?

[AMCQ46]

we might all ride in different ways depending on our body shape, but I am only riding in the way you describe if I am going above 100mph in a straight line, so need to tuck in away from the air blast. When I am going fast on a nice winding road, I am sitting forward in the seat so my weight is over the front end and my legs are gripping the tank to remove as much force off my hands / handlebars, so the only input is to steer the bike. ... arms relaxed and not locked straight.

then when cornering, my inside knee is going out and my outside leg is locking into the footpeg and the petrol tank to provide a solid connection to the bike, again taking the load through my core and not loading my body weight onto the bars.

[freeridenick]

With the position you described, my guess is that you feel the bike is cornering better because you're counter steering more effectively: with your forearms horizontal you're much more able to push the inside bar away from you, so the rate of lean is greater.

I tend to do what Al said and point my inside knee down and out towards the apex. I also tend to weight my inside elbow cheek as trigger to stop me becoming stiff and upright. Another thing I like is to point my inside elbow at the apex. This is straight from track riding and it reminds me to put my shoulder into the turn too. Basically all little tricks to make me relax and move to lead the bike rather than follow.