Can't grip my bike, help

VxeR
Profile picture for user VxeR
Posts
207
Joined
12/28/2015
Location
IT
VxeR
Edited Date/Time 8/23/2017 6:35pm
I have a 2016 SX125, and the seat is narrower than the plastics so I can't reach it. I tried grip tape but no difference. I was considering either this seat https://seat-concepts.myshopify.com/collections/ktm/products/ktm-2016-s… because it seems wider than the oem, or braces because I heard that being "bulky" they make gripping the bike easier.

I'd like to avoid getting the seat because it's very expensive+60$ shipping to Italy. At least the braces would be more useful.
Anyone else have this problem? And which braces would you recommend for this purpose?
|
Camp332
Profile picture for user Camp332
Posts
8678
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Zoo Jersey US
Camp332 8/23/2017 7:48am
8/23/2017 7:48am
Do you even lift?
Harry Backmon 8/23/2017 8:15am
8/23/2017 8:15am
If I remember correctly, elikoz/huskytamir had this same problem, but he wears a cold-war era Bulgarian track suit when he rides - which is a very slippery polyester. I don't think he ever received a satisfactory answer. Stegz Pegz were mentioned to him. Tried those?
JWACK
Profile picture for user JWACK
Posts
2568
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
NM US
JWACK 8/23/2017 8:18am
8/23/2017 8:18am
Sounds like a kegel problem broseph.
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
9411
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 8/23/2017 8:20am
8/23/2017 8:20am
It's not just your knees that you should be gripping the bike with...it should be everything from the knee down (toes pointed in, feet, ankles, calves/shins).

The Shop

See All »
JohnMatrix
Profile picture for user JohnMatrix
Posts
331
Joined
1/31/2017
Location
Irvine, CA US
JohnMatrix 8/23/2017 8:20am
8/23/2017 8:20am
Ever try gripping the bike with your ankles/calves? I find pinching the seat with my knees exhausting. On my last bike the seat was hard to grip so I changed my technique to grip the frame with the inside of my boots and it seems to work a lot better for me.
JohnMatrix
Profile picture for user JohnMatrix
Posts
331
Joined
1/31/2017
Location
Irvine, CA US
JohnMatrix 8/23/2017 8:21am
8/23/2017 8:21am
Titan beat me to it
snackfedbear
Profile picture for user snackfedbear
Posts
1062
Joined
10/18/2016
Location
Southern, CA US
snackfedbear 8/23/2017 8:25am
8/23/2017 8:25am
Turn your toes in brah
NJKawi913
Profile picture for user NJKawi913
Posts
265
Joined
6/5/2017
Location
Somerset, NJ US
NJKawi913 8/23/2017 8:29am
8/23/2017 8:29am
I've has the same problem in the past and found it was a lot of body position issues. I can't speak for you're case exactly, but when i found the right neutral attack position i was able to hold on without the bike feeling like it was taking off from under me.
VxeR
Profile picture for user VxeR
Posts
207
Joined
12/28/2015
Location
IT
VxeR 8/23/2017 9:40am
8/23/2017 9:40am
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get thrown back.
bvm111
Profile picture for user bvm111
Posts
10095
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV US
bvm111 8/23/2017 9:53am
8/23/2017 9:53am
Go to a skate shop and buy a huge roll of grip/ deck tape and make your own patterns and cut to fit. I have found this to last about 2 weeks and once you have a pattern made it's easy to replace. The grip tape isn't as course or abrasive as the stuff sold online I have found and gives just enough grip to assist but not destroy my boots or gear.
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
9411
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 8/23/2017 10:25am
8/23/2017 10:25am
VxeR wrote:
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get...
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get thrown back.
Maybe you aren't leaning info the acceleration enough?
NJKawi913
Profile picture for user NJKawi913
Posts
265
Joined
6/5/2017
Location
Somerset, NJ US
NJKawi913 8/23/2017 10:33am
8/23/2017 10:33am
VxeR wrote:
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get...
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get thrown back.
Titan1 wrote:
Maybe you aren't leaning info the acceleration enough?
I tried this pretty good drill with a sharp set of footpegs you get on the gas hard and try to get the balls of your feet pushing into the front edge of the pegs. That helped me feel the bike stay planted under me, and from there i was able really use my knees to root myself into the bike.
slipdog
Profile picture for user slipdog
Posts
10055
Joined
7/25/2009
Location
Nor Cal, CA US
slipdog 8/23/2017 10:35am
8/23/2017 10:35am
The best thing I ever used was from Tech Spec. They use to make them custom fit for MX bikes but the market was too small and they stopped. You can still buy their general griper sheets and cut them to fit your frame.


http://techspec-usa.com/motorcycles/general-sheets.html
Bret
Profile picture for user Bret
Posts
831
Joined
8/10/2008
Location
Mission Viejo, CA US
Bret 8/23/2017 10:41am
8/23/2017 10:41am
snackfedbear wrote:
Turn your toes in brah
X2
TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
36880
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 8/23/2017 10:54am
8/23/2017 10:54am Edited Date/Time 8/23/2017 10:55am
Acerbis makes lower-frame-guards with a rubber "gripping" surface.

Try these and learn to use your lower legs and ankles to squeeze the bike.

Also, I've had better luck hanging on with my knees on the FX/TX or FE/TE model GAS-tank (EX/XC on the KTM).


Good Luck!
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1793
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 8/23/2017 11:22am
8/23/2017 11:22am
What worked for me on my 450 is to not whack the throttle open to the point of being too weak to fight the force. Also try leaning forward more when accelerating.
thorns
Profile picture for user thorns
Posts
723
Joined
4/25/2013
Location
NZ
thorns 8/23/2017 12:26pm
8/23/2017 12:26pm
Not sure if they are available in the states, but check out Steg Pegz. Look stupid, but man do they work well.
RCF
Profile picture for user RCF
Posts
548
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
PA US
RCF 8/23/2017 12:53pm
8/23/2017 12:53pm
Here's a problem I see with steg pegs, sometimes you need to get over the back of the bike and they lock your legs . had to talk my son's girlfriend into taking them off her bike


Pit Row

See All »
Craig742
Profile picture for user Craig742
Posts
64
Joined
4/18/2015
Location
Allison Park, PA US
Craig742 8/23/2017 2:42pm
8/23/2017 2:42pm
Put this on your legs and wait 10min. should be good to go



smoothies862 8/23/2017 6:11pm
8/23/2017 6:11pm
another vote for toes and skateboard tape
motogrady
Profile picture for user motogrady
Posts
3931
Joined
1/27/2008
Location
WV US
motogrady 8/23/2017 6:35pm
8/23/2017 6:35pm


wsc96
Profile picture for user wsc96
Posts
1019
Joined
8/26/2013
Location
AU
wsc96 8/23/2017 6:56pm
8/23/2017 6:56pm
How tall are you? Taller seat and/or lower pegs might help.
imoto34
Profile picture for user imoto34
Posts
3780
Joined
1/28/2010
Location
TN US
imoto34 8/23/2017 7:06pm
8/23/2017 7:06pm
wsc96 wrote:
How tall are you? Taller seat and/or lower pegs might help.
Yes, you look 6'0 or more in your pic.

If you are not starting the "grip" at your feet, that is the first problem. Grip starts down low, you don't actually try and grip with your knee its self. Its actually a little hard to teach someone to hold on with more then those hands, just takes time. Just think of some of those little bitty pro guys who are wfo with the 450 that has xx amount more power then the regular joe can get.
TbonesPop 8/23/2017 9:32pm
8/23/2017 9:32pm Edited Date/Time 8/23/2017 9:34pm
VxeR wrote:
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get...
No matter how hard I squeeze with my boots, they just slide right over the plastics. They're not grippy, as soon as I accelerate I get thrown back.
Titan1 wrote:
Maybe you aren't leaning info the acceleration enough?
NJKawi913 wrote:
I tried this pretty good drill with a sharp set of footpegs you get on the gas hard and try to get the balls of your...
I tried this pretty good drill with a sharp set of footpegs you get on the gas hard and try to get the balls of your feet pushing into the front edge of the pegs. That helped me feel the bike stay planted under me, and from there i was able really use my knees to root myself into the bike.
A better practice drill is to ride standing up on a flat practice area. Grip the bike with your legs, toes in. Take your left hand off the bars and keep it to your side thus holding on to the bars with just your right hand on the throttle. Then slowly accelerate and keeping your left hand off the bars for about 5-10 seconds. Then get on the brakes and slow down for about 5 seconds. When accelerating, learn to lean forward into the acceleration and let the bike "push you". When braking, lean back against the braking forces. This subtly teaches you to grip with the lower half of your body and to properly lean with acceleration and braking. The whole time, your left hand is off the bars at your side.
VxeR
Profile picture for user VxeR
Posts
207
Joined
12/28/2015
Location
IT
VxeR 8/24/2017 3:15am
8/24/2017 3:15am
wsc96 wrote:
How tall are you? Taller seat and/or lower pegs might help.
imoto34 wrote:
Yes, you look 6'0 or more in your pic. If you are not starting the "grip" at your feet, that is the first problem. Grip starts...
Yes, you look 6'0 or more in your pic.

If you are not starting the "grip" at your feet, that is the first problem. Grip starts down low, you don't actually try and grip with your knee its self. Its actually a little hard to teach someone to hold on with more then those hands, just takes time. Just think of some of those little bitty pro guys who are wfo with the 450 that has xx amount more power then the regular joe can get.
Yeah I'm 6'1. I do grip with all my legs, toes in and all that, but as I said, no matter how hard I squeeze, my boots just slide all over the place. I aldready tried skateboard tape, but it didn't do anything
VxeR
Profile picture for user VxeR
Posts
207
Joined
12/28/2015
Location
IT
VxeR 8/24/2017 3:15am
8/24/2017 3:15am
Titan1 wrote:
Maybe you aren't leaning info the acceleration enough?
NJKawi913 wrote:
I tried this pretty good drill with a sharp set of footpegs you get on the gas hard and try to get the balls of your...
I tried this pretty good drill with a sharp set of footpegs you get on the gas hard and try to get the balls of your feet pushing into the front edge of the pegs. That helped me feel the bike stay planted under me, and from there i was able really use my knees to root myself into the bike.
TbonesPop wrote:
A better practice drill is to ride standing up on a flat practice area. Grip the bike with your legs, toes in. Take your left hand...
A better practice drill is to ride standing up on a flat practice area. Grip the bike with your legs, toes in. Take your left hand off the bars and keep it to your side thus holding on to the bars with just your right hand on the throttle. Then slowly accelerate and keeping your left hand off the bars for about 5-10 seconds. Then get on the brakes and slow down for about 5 seconds. When accelerating, learn to lean forward into the acceleration and let the bike "push you". When braking, lean back against the braking forces. This subtly teaches you to grip with the lower half of your body and to properly lean with acceleration and braking. The whole time, your left hand is off the bars at your side.
I'll try that out thanks

Post a reply to: Can't grip my bike, help