Learning to ride a motorcycle affecting squats

salemsaberhagen
salemsaberhagen Posts: 54 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been learning to ride a motorcycle; not able to turn yet. So, I've been muscling the bike around using my legs. My IT bands/hip flexors (outside) have been really sore. It's been affecting my squats. I'm not sure if this will eventually strengthen my squatting or sabotage it. Anyone have any ideas?

Replies

  • littlefoot612
    littlefoot612 Posts: 156 Member
    I can't answer about your squats but can offer suggestions on riding. First of all, who's teaching you how to ride or are you DIY? I've ridden motorcycles for 35 yrs (taught my hubby how to ride too) and have never turned using my legs. If you don't want to take a rider education course, try an empty parking lot and ride in wide circles, gentle turns and get the hang of leaning into your turns. When you get a bit more confident, try riding between equally spaced cones, maybe start 12-15 feet apart then gradually moving them closer.
    It would be better if you worry about learning to ride your bike safely because if you crash, squats will be the least of your worries. Hope you figure it out because it is just the greatest feeling to be out riding.
  • lynseya83
    lynseya83 Posts: 84 Member
    I ride a motorcycle and have never had tired legs from turning. Sounds like something needs tuned up a little with your bike practise to help you turn more easily than using your legs. Maybe get an experienced biker pal to have a look and give you some tips and hints? Sometimes it takes someone to have a look from the outside to tweak your technique a little!
    Happy riding!
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    I've been learning to ride a motorcycle; not able to turn yet. So, I've been muscling the bike around using my legs. My IT bands/hip flexors (outside) have been really sore. It's been affecting my squats. I'm not sure if this will eventually strengthen my squatting or sabotage it. Anyone have any ideas?

    Off road or street? I can't speak about street as much but off-road you do use your legs for steering as well as holding the tank/seat tight between your legs. It should improve flexibility as you get used to riding.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    learn how to counter steer- seriously. Yes it's going to eventually effect your squats- mostly because you're going to try to muscle it around a corner at some point at speed and instead of turning you're going to go splat and drop at 300+ pound bike on your leg- then you're squats are just going to go in the toilet.

    get off the road- or get some help until you learn what counter steering is.

    You can only muscle it around up till about 25 mph- then you're boned.

    Take the MSF course and actually learn how to ride.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Anyone have any ideas?

    yeah, use your hands and tilt the handles in the opposite direction while leaning like everyone else before you end up as an organ donor
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I am confused as to how you muscle a bike round a corner using legs. You use your legs to ride a bike...yes. But you lean into a corner to get the bike to turn.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I ride a motorcycle. Your legs aren't involved in any way, other than your feet to shift and brake.

    To turn, you just lean. No legs are involved at all. Your legs should be resting comfortably against the bike and feet on the pegs.

    to be fair- if you're riding aggressively- you ARE using engaged legs to hold yourself onto the bike (outside leg jams into the tank)- BUT- that's a whole different ball of wax than just "turning"
  • aylajane
    aylajane Posts: 979 Member
    Probably not the best to comment since I am a new rider and just had my first decent crash last week... But I have been doing hip flexor stretches since I started learning to ride, as I get a massive hip cramp after awhile on the bike. ANd my squats are better than ever, though that may be because I use the foam roller religiously on every part of my legs and have been doing squatters stretch a few times a day for over a month to help with ankle and hip flexibility on squats. The bike had nothing to do with that, but the muscle strength in my legs has saved the bike from falling while standing still a few times (not this last one, but that wasnt standing still.... )

    Good luck (better than me at least :) )
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Take the MSF course. Now.
  • brucerc311
    brucerc311 Posts: 11 Member
    Agree with all of the others: Take the MSF Basic Rider Course! For wide slow turns, lean your body. For sharper turns, push with your right hand to turn left and left hand push to turn right (Counter steering). For super tight turns you'll need to learn counterweighting. The MSF BRC will teach you all of this, as well many more excellent riding practices. You can then take the Experienced Rider Course and take your own bike through the paces.

    It's got horses, but it's not a horse, tiring out your legs can be hazardous to keeping a good seat and stopping safely.

    Take care, have fun, and welcome to riding!

Categories