Is it even possible to drag peg on a late model Nighthawk with the stock tire?

[jrj_51]

So, I was coming off the highway at a decent rate of speed (70ish) to an off ramp rated for 25 MPH.  I leaned it over farther than I thought it would go, got the trail braking in on it and somehow managed to scrape the pavement with my right boot.  I didn't think the stock tire size/width would allow for that kind of lean.  Has anybody else managed to pull that off?\


BTW, I've got a '91 750.

[hppants]

70 in a 25?  Way out of my league.  But I suppose it's a physics question.  I've seen plenty of Goldwings on the Dragon.  If they can scrape the luggage, then I'm sure you can drag the peg.  Also, wonder if the banking on the ramp was helping you a bit?

[hppants]

I've seen plenty of Goldwings on the Dragon.

Edit - on Youtube videos, not in person.

[cmyers]

JrJ, it would be really close to low siding on you by the time you drag a peg. Nighthawks have a pretty high ground clearance when compared to a sport bike. I have drug my toe several times and even worn the tire all the way to the sidewall lip, but have not reached the pegs. I dont know your riding position, but what I found with mine was that if my feet were incorrectly placed on the arches instead of the balls, my "toes" were a good inch below and away from the peg.

Easy way to check is lay the bike on its side, with a friends help and some cardboard or blanket to prevent scratches.  See how far over the bike goes before the peg reaches the ground and then ask yourself if you want to lean that far.

[coffee_brake]

Yes. It can be done.

 










But it can only be done if you are NOT leaning with the bike like you should. In my case, I was showing off for a motorcycle cop who had just done a U-turn on his Harley. I did the same turn right behind him and scraped my peg loud enough that he turned around to see what the noise was.

I used to scrape all the time but now I find I can take the turns quicker if I lean over the inside grip (this goes for any motorcycle, of course). I always knew I was supposed to lean with the bike but it took me a while to learn how to do it. This also gives me a tad more lean angle on the bike itself, in case I *need* to lean farther, or there's a bump in the road. It's smarter to ride just as quickly through the curve and NOT scrape, isn't it?
I have stock length shocks and the tubes are all the way out in the triple trees. My tires are stock size and inflated to proper PSI. And, at 150 lbs with all my gear on, that bike ain't squattin' neither.

[jrj_51]

The ramp isn't really banked that much, but it is inclined and that may have helped.  Like I said, I was trailbraking, so my foot was either on top of the brake pedal or ready to cover down in a hurry.  I understand that the Nighthawks have a pretty good amount of ground clearance with the pegs way up in the air and that's why I was wondering.  I was pretty amazed/impressed/proud to feel my boot scraping pavement, but I figured hitting peg meant running out of tire.

[piscatorial_phd]

I came close one time coming off a ramp a little too hot in Greenup, KY. Honestly, I don't want to do it again on the NH. That little 250 Hyosung I had I could do it all the time, but not with the stock Shinko tires. Those Shinkos will last forever because the rubber is so hard, but they can slip. I got some sticky rubber Dunlop tires that made me feel like Spiderman!

[Sobek]

I've seen plenty of Goldwings on the Dragon.

Edit - on Youtube videos, not in person.

So I just youtube'd dragon and Goldwing, and found this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/whVXD3ex9DA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"
That really sucks..... But aren't you supposed to lean when you turn.... ughhh.

Sorry to 

[Bumblebee]

That really sucks..... But aren't you supposed to lean when you turn.... ughhh.

Look at the direction, speed and turn rates the kamikaze's were going. Looks completely self inflicted to me.
IMNSHO they didn't even attempt to stay on the road.

Classic target fixation and rear braker.

[cmyers]

well put Bumblebee, that bike could have made that turn, but as soon as you start braking the bike wants to stand up instead of lean over.

[Moedad]

And, at 150 lbs with all my gear on, that bike ain't squattin' neither.

No miniskirt and heels?

[Eville]

The scrapes on the bottom of my pegs say "yes"

[Snoopy]

Speaking of scraping pegs, anyone else on a 700s have metal nipples on the bottom of there pegs?

[hppants]

Yeah - mine's got them.  When I first met Loki and he was checking out my bike, he looked down on the pegs and confidently stated that he was sure the bike wasn't ridden hard.  He then show me the tabs and said that they were not worn down from scraping.  That impressed me - 

Apparently, when one scrapes these down to the peg, you are supposed to replace the peg and hang the old one like a trophy of some sort.  I'm sure I won't be earning that trophy any time soon.

[Burgi]

I'm still working on eliminating my chicken strips. 

[Brittles]

My bike has those "feelers" and I don't see any signs of them ever scraping the ground. I've never tested it, but it looks like it would take some serious leaning to get them to scrape.......as in being on the verge of lowsiding.

[Bumblebee]

well put Bumblebee, that bike could have made that turn, but as soon as you start braking the bike wants to stand up instead of lean over.

Then the lack of training and/or lack of primacy skills kicks in, the brain shuts down and the rider turns into a passenger that functions in the prescribed procedure called "panic braking" instead of emergency braking and maneuvering.

[rapta619]

does cuttting a corner to tight on a 750 virago and catchin the peg and almost sending the bike into the ditch count...cuz um...i did that 

[LOKi]

Easy way to check is lay the bike on its side, with a friends help and some cardboard or blanket to prevent scratches.  See how far over the bike goes before the peg reaches the ground and then ask yourself if you want to lean that far.

Not accurate. When your leaned over enough to actually scape the pegs the g-forces on the bike will compress the suspension making the bike lower. If you just lean it over with help of your friends your missing that part of the equation. To more accurately test this use some straps to compress your suspension first.

Note: I noticed that the shaft driving bikes actually get taller when you get on the gas. So accelerating in the turn might counteract the compression do to g-forces. Anyone try this?

[cmyers]

Note: I noticed that the shaft driving bikes actually get taller when you get on the gas. So accelerating in the turn might counteract the compression do to g-forces. Anyone try this?

Actually this is true for all bikes; checkout Twist of the Wrist for an in depth explanation of this and how it affects cornering.

And my suggestion of leaning the bike over until the pegs touch with the help of friends, will just give an approximation as to how far over the bike needs to go.

[hppants]

Note: I noticed that the shaft driving bikes actually get taller when you get on the gas.

I showed him that.... more than twice..... he he he.   

[lew750]

So, I was coming off the highway at a decent rate of speed (70ish) to an off ramp rated for 25 MPH.  I leaned it over farther than I thought it would go, got the trail braking in on it and somehow managed to scrape the pavement with my right boot.  I didn't think the stock tire size/width would allow for that kind of lean.  Has anybody else managed to pull that off?\


BTW, I've got a '91 750.

I used to scrape my boots frequently in the the mountains on my '95.  Depending on your foot position, it's not that hard.  Now, whenever I start to lean into a corner, I put the balls of my feet on the pegs.  I still scrape the pegs occasionally, usually when hitting a compression in the middle of a turn.  I'm not a sport rider, so I'm sure the more aggressive riders scrape all the time.

[Soupskin]

I've scraped mine while practicing in the grocery store parking lot.

[Zaxeiler]

I'm a fairly new rider and have only been riding since January.  However, even with that said, I recently was riding through a local park and I scraped the bottom of my foot against the ground.  It's a fun area to ride because there are 2-3 areas where the curves are almost u-turns and it's beautiful.  I don't ride the aggressively, but, with my left foot down (with my toe under the shift mechanism) I drug my foot against the pavement and wore some rubber away.  That's probably an inch or two below the actual peg, but if you're an aggressive rider, I'm sure it can be done.

Zac