Dragging pegs

[Mfidget]

Okay, since I probably am starting to have a reputation as a reckless newbie, I guess I'll ask this question. Flame away!

On my 03 Intruder 800 (S50?), I have stock pegs, which are pretty long. Once in a while, during a low-speed turn, I'll drag the prgs on the street. Besides making a horrible sound and scaring the beejeezuss out of me, it seems to not hurt either the bike or the handling at that point.

Am I right in thinking the spring-loaded hinge that pulls them out of the way will offer a fair margin for error? In other words, given a low-speed (< 30 MPH) situation, am I in pretty much okay shape? Or is that dragging sound a harbinger of impending death (which the MSF people said I should avoid at all costs)?

All responses welcome, even ones that tell me I'm stupid.

----Mfidget

[themeatmanlandry]

I ride a Bandit (a tall bike), and apparently I'm a chicken (I have references), so I have never dragged a peg. I can't be of much help.

Just be careful that your boot doesn't get caught or something.

[SuzukiGirl1]

When you start dragging pegs, it can mean a couple things.

You may have chosen to sharp of a turn angle...try entering the corners on the very outside, your bike should be closest to the inside at the apex (sharpest angle) of the curve, and then you should move to the outside again as you exit the curve. This helps you straighten out the corner and keeps your lean angle less dramatic. Just think outside-inside-outside...which I'm sure is something you'll remember from your class.

Also, if you are practicing this technique and you still are having problems, then you may want to evaluate your countersteering techniques and how your body is positioned on your bike when cornering.

If you are trying to keep your body straight up or slightly to the opposite side of the bike lean, you end up needing to lean the bike over farther to compensate. Try sliding your butt over a tad towards the side you are leaning and think about pushing your outside leg against the tank. This will allow you to keep the bike a bit more straight, but still giving you a nice tight turn.

I hope I'm not confusing you too much!!

[Paladin]

Excuse the simplistic drawing and correct me if I am wrong, but you are saaying you want to slide your body to the inside of the turn so as to shift the center of gravity to allow the bike to remain more upright (dude on the left) as opposed to trying to keep your body upright (dude on the right) which causes the bike to lean further. Both cases the lean angle of the center of gravity being identical.

[themeatmanlandry]

If you shift the center of gravity to the inside of the turn, the bike doesn't have to lean AS FAR to make the same turn, I believe.

(FWIW: Sliding your rear around on the seat before you make a turn looks a little goofy around town, especially on a cruiser. Also, you're likely to attract some unwanted attention from the cops, should they notice you using racing techniques on the street.)

The only cruiser I've ever ridden was the GZ250 I rode in the MSF class. I believe that cruisers have a tendency to scrape pegs in sharp turns.

[oldgeezer]

According to the guy in our MSF class, when you drag a peg, it is an indication that you are beginning to get close to the point where your tires will begin to loose traction with the pavement. You aren't at that point just yet, only close. Dragging the pegs will not damage the bike. So really, given perfect conditions you should not have any problem if you drag the pegs. However, on wet or loose pavement, you could go down. Generally, I try position myself where I am not faced with making a turn that sharply. It is one of those things that help keep the shiny side up. On a low speed turn (emphasis on low speed turn), I would avoid leaning with the turn, you really should keep your upper body vertical. Be safe and have fun.

[tlwisner]

Just don't hit something with your dragging peg, or you could easily dump the bike. Yeah, cruisers drag parts because they have less ground clearance along with their low center of gravity. If you find peg dragging to be frequent and bothersome, look for a different bike with greater ground clearance.

[themeatmanlandry]

. . . or lose that cruiser and get yourself a sport standard!!

I kid . . . I kid . . .

[wsharp]

It don't hurt to drag a little... This is my bud bdrag.

[c50tiger]

A couple or 20 years ago, when I was young and bulletproof, I drug the pegs on my old Honda CM400 with reckless abandon. Usually at less than 30mph, but a few at slightly higher speeds. Startled me a bit the first time, too. Only time I dropped it in the process was while travelling less than 10 mph leaving a parking lot. Strategically misplaced bit of sand and gravel, meet front wheel. Still have a scar from that one.

[Uncle Bob]

Usually scraping the pegs on a cruiser is no big deal but must be considered a warning that you are getting close to dragging something that is not hinged.

When it scrapes ( or preferably before ) just lean more ( yes I said lean more ) and give it a little throttle.

[bhamon]

2 questions:
1) do floorboards stick out more or less than foot pegs?

2) does your bike really have good traction until after the pegs start scraping?

[c50tiger]

Originally Posted by bhamon

2 questions:
1) do floorboards stick out more or less than foot pegs?

2) does your bike really have good traction until after the pegs start scraping?

Uncle Bob is probably way more qualified to answer this than I am, but I think the answer to both would be "depends". I never actually measured, but feels like the floorboards on my C50 don't stick out any more than the pegs on my old street bikes. But they may be a bit lower to the ground. Pegs on different type bikes are positioned different. Tire traction would depend on tire and road condition. Keep in mind brand new tires will have less traction than those with 100 or so miles on them.

Now I'll shut up and let Uncle Bob fix my errors

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by bhamon

2 questions:
1) do floorboards stick out more or less than foot pegs?

2) does your bike really have good traction until after the pegs start scraping?

1- Depends on pegs and floorboard but as a general rule the width is the same however usually the hinging mechanism of floorboards is bigger/bulkier which would allow less clearance once the boards start folding up as compared to pegs.

2- Yes the tires ( once broken in ) will have good traction till the pegs touch down ( and even after ) as long as the conditions are right. EX: I wouldn't suggest you try scraping the pegs in the rain or when the weather is near freezing.

[bhamon]

This thread is well-timed! I was out in my neighborhood and making a simple turn when I scraped my floorboard on the left. Reading about it here made it not as scary, but I still felt a pretty good pucker

[Mfidget]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

If you shift the center of gravity to the inside of the turn, the bike doesn't have to lean AS FAR to make the same turn, I believe.

Okay, I may be simple, and I DON'T want to appear argumentative, but if I want to shift the center of gravity to the inside of the turn, wouldn't I need to shift my weight opposite the turn direction? {See picture}

----Mfidget

[Mfidget]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

When it scrapes ( or preferably before ) just lean more ( yes I said lean more ) and give it a little throttle.

Really? More? Man, that seems counter-intuitive! Is that part of the same center of gravity adjustment? I'll try it, but it sounds weird! (As if a LOT of things I learned in MSF didn't seem weird. Counter-sterring seemed just plain crazy the first time I heard it, too.)

----Mfidget

[Uncle Bob]

Of cousre I'm talking about leaning your body more which will ( as the diagram shows ) right the bike and still maintain the same center of gravity.

[Mfidget]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Of cousre I'm talking about leaning your body more which will ( as the diagram shows ) right the bike and still maintain the same center of gravity.

Oh -- okay. That makes sense. Thanks, Uncle Bob -- I'll try it!

----Mfidget

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by Mfidget

Okay, I may be simple, and I DON'T want to appear argumentative, but if I want to shift the center of gravity to the inside of the turn, wouldn't I need to shift my weight opposite the turn direction? {See picture}

----Mfidget

Shift your booty to the inside of the turn.

Turn right, shift right, turn left, shift left.