Imagine having correct lower body position but incorrect upper body position. This disastrous combo won't send you to p1 but to the infirmary!
If you want to improve your motorcycle road racing skills on the track, you need to master your upper body position. In this blog post which is the direct continuation of the previous post on lower body position, I will explain everything you need to know about upper body position, from the basics to the advanced techniques.
What you will learn:
Basics of upper body position: How to position your head, shoulders, and hips
Benefits of upper body position: How it affects your balance, stability, and cornering
Common mistakes of upper body position: How to avoid them and fix them
Advanced techniques of upper body position: bodyweight steering, hanging off
If you haven't read our article on mastering lower body position we highly suggest reading it because it will help your body position on track days massively along with this article.
Why upper body position is important?
Upper body position is important because it affects your balance, stability, cornering speed, and tire wear on the track. It also helps you avoid collisions with other riders.
By leaning your torso and head towards the inside of the turn, you can reduce the lean angle of the bike, increase the contact patch of the tires, and maintain a smooth line through the corner.
By tucking your head behind the windscreen and keeping your shoulders low, you can minimize air resistance and increase your top speed on the straights. By lifting your head and chest slightly, you can create more drag and slow down the bike for braking.
Basics of upper body position
The main goal of upper body position is to align your body with the bike and the direction of the turn. This means that you should move your upper body to the inside of the curve, keeping your head over the handlebar and your eyes looking ahead. By doing this, you reduce the lean angle of the bike, which increases traction and reduces tire wear.
There are three main components of upper body position: head, shoulders, and hips. Let's look at each one in detail.
Head: Your head should be over the handlebar, as close to the mirror as possible. This helps you see the apex and exit of the corner better and also lowers your center of gravity. You should keep your chin parallel to the ground, and avoid tilting your head sideways or looking down.
Shoulders: Your shoulders should be relaxed and dropped, not tense or shrugged. You should move your shoulder to the inside of the turn, creating a gap between your shoulder and the tank. This allows you to lean more into the corner without pushing the bike away from you.
Hips: Your hips should be rotated to the inside of the turn, following your shoulders. You should slide your butt off the seat slightly, about half a cheek or less. You should keep your knees bent and grip the tank with your inner thigh. This helps you support your weight and control the bike with your lower body. Hips are considered part of both upper and lower body position hence we will need to go more in depth on it.
Benefits of upper body position
Balance: Your upper body position affects your balance by shifting your center of gravity. The more you move your upper body to the inside of the turn, the less you have to lean on the bike. This means you can keep more contact patches on the tires and have more grip.
However, if you move your upper body too much to the inside, you can lose balance and tip over. Therefore, you need to find a balance between moving your upper body enough to reduce lean angle, but not too much to lose stability.
Stability: Your upper body position affects your stability by changing the weight distribution on the bike. The more you move your upper body to the front of the bike, the more weight you put on the front tire. This means you can have more braking power and steering response.
However, if you move your upper body too much to the front, you can overload the front tire and cause it to slide or tuck. Therefore, you need to find a stability between moving your upper body enough to load the front tire, but not too much to lose traction.
Cornering: Your upper body position affects your cornering by influencing the bike's geometry and aerodynamics. The more you move your upper body to the outside of the turn, the more you increase the bike's wheelbase and rake angle. This means you can have more stability and straight-line speed.
However, if you move your upper body too much to the outside, you can reduce the bike's agility and cornering speed. Therefore, you need to find a cornering balance between moving your upper body enough to increase stability, but not too much to lose agility.
Common mistakes of upper body position
Not leaning enough: Some riders are afraid to lean their upper body into the turn, which creates a mismatch between the bike and the rider angles. This reduces the contact patch of the tires and makes the bike more unstable. To avoid this, you should lean your upper body as much as or more than the bike, and use your outside arm to push yourself into the turn.
Not looking ahead: Some riders tend to look down at the apex or the exit of the corner, which limits their vision and awareness. This can lead to target fixation, panic braking, or running wide. To avoid this, you should look ahead at where you want to go and scan the track for reference points, hazards, and other riders.
Not relaxing: Some riders tense up their upper body, especially their arms and shoulders, which makes them grip the handlebars too tightly. This can cause an arm pump, fatigue, and loss of feedback from the front tire. To avoid this, you should relax your upper body, breathe deeply, and use your legs to support your weight on the footpegs.
Not being consistent: Some riders change their upper body position from lap to lap or corner to corner, which makes it harder to find a rhythm and a reference point. This can affect their confidence, timing, and accuracy. To avoid this, you should find a comfortable and effective upper body position that works for you, and stick to it throughout the session.
Advanced techniques of upper body position
These aren't essential for beginner riders but they can certainly benefit intermediate and advanced riders who have mastered the basics and are seeking to get more from their performance.
Bodyweight steering is a technique that involves shifting your weight on the seat to steer the bike without using the handlebars. This can reduce the amount of input needed to turn the bike and make your steering smoother and more precise.
To perform bodyweight steering, you need to move your hips and shoulders slightly to the opposite side of the turn, creating a counterbalance effect. For example, if you want to turn right, you need to move your weight to the left side of the seat and lean your upper body slightly to the left. This will cause the bike to lean to the right and initiate the turn.
Hanging off is a technique that involves moving your upper body further to the inside of the turn, creating a larger lean angle for the bike. This can increase your cornering speed and stability, as well as reduce the risk of losing traction.
To perform hanging off, you need to slide your butt off the seat and lean your torso, and head towards the apex of the corner. You should also keep your outside arm relaxed and bent, and use your inside arm to support your weight on the tank. Your outside leg should grip the tank firmly, while your inside leg should point towards the ground. Your eyes should look ahead at where you want to go, not at the ground or the bike.
However, they require practice and confidence to master, so don't try them without proper guidance and training. Remember that upper body position is only one aspect of riding technique, and you should also pay attention to other factors such as braking, throttle control, line selection, and vision.
How to practice and improve your upper body position
Start with the basics. Before you try to master the advanced techniques, make sure you have a solid foundation of the basic principles of upper body position. These include: keeping your head up and looking ahead, relaxing your arms and shoulders, gripping the tank with your knees, and leaning your torso into the turn.
Use a reference point. A reference point is a visual cue that helps you determine when and how much to lean your upper body into the corner. You can use a marker on the track, such as a cone, a curb, or a sign, or you can use your bike, such as the handlebar, the mirror, or the windscreen. The idea is to align your head with the reference point as you enter the corner, and then move it further inside as you go through the corner.
Practice on a bicycle. A bicycle is a great tool to practice your upper body position without the risk of crashing or damaging your motorcycle. You can use a bicycle on any road or parking lot, and practice leaning your upper body into the turns. You can also use a camera or a mirror to check your form and correct any mistakes.
Get feedback from an instructor a coach or fellow riders in the pit. If you want to take your upper body position to the next level, you might benefit from getting feedback from an experienced instructor or coach. They can observe your riding and point out any flaws or areas of improvement. They can also give you specific drills or exercises to work on your upper body position.
Be consistent and patient. Improving your upper body position takes time and practice. Don't expect to see immediate results or compare yourself to other riders. Focus on your progress and be consistent and patient with yourself. Remember that every rider has their style and preference, and there is no one right way to do it. The goal is to find what works best for you and your bike.
FAQ Section
Q: What is upper body position in motorcycle road racing?
A: Upper body position is how you lean your torso, arms, and head when you corner on a racetrack. It helps you balance the bike, reduce wind resistance, and increase cornering speed.
Q: How do I improve my upper body position?
A: You can improve your upper body position by following these tips:
- Keep your arms relaxed and bent at the elbows.
- Rest your outside arm on the top of the tank.
- Move your crotch to the edge of the seat on the inside of the turn.
- Lean your upper body forward and low over the tank.
- Look through the turn with your chin over your inside wrist.
Q: What are some common mistakes with upper body position?
A: Some common mistakes with upper body position are:
- Holding too much tension in your arms and shoulders.
- Rotating your hips around the tank instead of moving laterally.
- Keeping your upper body too upright or too far back.
- Looking down or away from the turn.
- Not locking your outer knee into the tank for support.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have explained the importance of upper body position for motorcycle road racing on the track. We have discussed how to achieve a proper upper body position, what are the benefits, and how to avoid common mistakes. We hope that this guide has helped you understand the fundamentals of upper body position and how it can improve your riding performance and safety and you have gained an understanding of motorcycle body positioning by reading our previous article as well. Remember to practice regularly and always follow the track rules and regulations.
Tell us any feedback, suggestions, or any topic you want covered in the comments. We'd love to hear it❤️
Faster. Better. Safer.
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