Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > First Road Knee Down, When,Where and what Bike?

[RD]

My first time was during the late 1980's while riding dad's 1941 Harley-Davidson WLC750 (3-speed hand gear change and foot operated clutch ) behind me was dad and my mates in his 1943 Dodge 6x6 Personnel & Cargo Carrier, when we came to a mini-roundabout in Liphook (A3) I made a mistake, I should have rode straight through but I started to turn slowly (10mph) onto the mini-roundabout, dad tooted and indicated the correct direction so while still negotiating the roundabout I decided to go full circle and take the correct road (A3 London) at was at this stage a 17 year old decided to enter the roundabout driving a Metro. Already cranked over I tried to take avoiding action and pulled the front brake, not a good thing to normally but on an old Harley I found out to my horror it doesn't matter as the front brake (cable operated drum) doesn't work!! Apparently this is a common problem on these Harleys and bikes of this age, that is why riders wore boots with platform soles. I also used the rear brake but this didn’t slow the bike enough either so the inevitable crunch happened and unintentionally I managed to get my right knee down for the time, in fact the whole of my right leg. Minimal damage to me, bike and car. Needless to say that dad wasn’t a happy chappy.

[Ains.]

Originally Posted by CK

Off my 250 Superdream in 1979...........unintentionally

unfortunately, then my elbow, my ass & then shoulder followed & the bike was a write off

Same here. Eltham High Street, 250K4 in 1980.
Front wheel hit a wet manhole cover, knee, elbow, wrist. ouch.

Ains.

[Monty]

I have never got my knee down on the road Van-never really tried either-on the track is a different matter. I could never get my knee down on my old 900SS, the 996 was easy peasy, the ST4S you have to try quite hard, the TZ was just a case of going faster and faster until you were on the other side of ridiculous and then the knee goes down-massive corner speed by then too.

John

[beancounter]

Originally Posted by VanDaMauler

Mine was 1998, Yamaha Thundercat,out in deepest darkest surrey somewhere, near Boxhill...

Mate who owned a Blade took me out to this most perfect of roundabouts and thats where the cherry was popped...

Ahhhh!!! You never forget the first time..

Did you get your knee down on the V Rod?

Now THAT would be impressive!

[MARTIN H]

Mid 90s on a Blade, roundabout under junction 11 of the M65. Went round and round until I was dizzy/knee touched down. Slider wasnt in the correct position though and after another 10 or so laps I wore through the knee on my Nankai Doohan leathers. Found it very easy to do after that but probably only do it once or twice a year on the road nowadays.

[domski]

Bought a Dainese race suit the day before going to the 1995 TT with the intention to get my knee down... but failed miserably.

Got home, unloaded my RD350 YPVS from the van (we took it in the van as I actually wanted to get to the island!) and went striaght down to my local roundabout and got my knee down within about 2 laps! Result.

Spent the next 3 years destroying knee sliders before plowing into a Volvo and going racing!

Now I never get my knee down - go figure!

[Jon]

Originally Posted by domski

Bought a Dainese race suit the day before going to the 1995 TT with the intention to get my knee down... but failed miserably.

Got home, unloaded my RD350 YPVS from the van (we took it in the van as I actually wanted to get to the island!) and went striaght down to my local roundabout and got my knee down within about 2 laps! Result.

Spent the next 3 years destroying knee sliders before plowing into a Volvo and going racing!

Now I never get my knee down - go figure!

Looking at the size of the padding on youe DD bike, I'm not surprised. Its a wonder you can get you feet down :-)

[fil2]

Originally Posted by Jon

Looking at the size of the padding on youe DD bike, I'm not surprised. Its a wonder you can get you feet down :-)

LOL

Hark at you Mr " lets see how high i can jack the rear of my 583 up" ....lol

come on Jon it was pretty high ..lol

[domski]

Originally Posted by Jon

Looking at the size of the padding on youe DD bike, I'm not surprised. Its a wonder you can get you feet down :-)

True, although with slicks on I was very almostly dragging the pegs in Jerez, and couldn't help but get my knee down everywhere!!

Sadly have to use Diablo road tyres next season, and my 'style' don't work with knee down antics.

I wub slicks though

[VanDaMauler]

Originally Posted by beancounter

Did you get your knee down on the V Rod?

Now THAT would be impressive!

You know what!!! That gives me an idea...

Its low enough, the pegs grind out very easy, If we get a good day soon, I`m gonna give it a go, video and youtube it.....

Leathered up on a V Rod listening to the Village people`s Macho man...

Could it get any better???