Proper Footing on Sports Bike

Sport bikes are impressive in design, and equally impressive when you accelerate through the gears for the first time. The combination of aerodynamics and lightweight components with eye-opening horsepower sets the bike apart from other road bikes. Regardless of whether you're riding a 400 cc or 1000 cc model, proper foot stance is key to your safety and maximizing the performance features of a sport bike.
Design
If you park a sport bike on its center stand and mount the bike, you notice the tilt of the seat invites you to lean forward and hold the handgrips. In addition, you notice the position of the seat in relation to the foot pegs causes your knees to bend similar to a jockey on a thoroughbred racehorse. The design and configuration of the rider's position allows you to integrate with the bike's low center of gravity.
Foot Pegs and Stance
Looking at the foot pegs on a sport bike, you notice the right foot peg is positioned behind the brake pedal and the left foot peg is positioned behind the gearshift arm. A closer look shows the right and left foot pegs are not the same distance from the brake pedal or the gearshift arm. To understand the reason for this design, put on your riding boots, mount the bike and put your feet on the foot pegs. With the heels of your boots tucked tightly against the pegs, you notice the ball of your right foot is in position to depress the rear brake pedal. In addition, you notice the toe of your left foot is in position to operate the gearshift arm.
Shifting and Braking
You might be able to cruise with your feet in any position, but your feet must be in the proper stance with the heels of your boots against the foot pegs to shift and operate the rear brake. Typical of most riders, you might learn to brake and shift gears on a sport bike in a relatively short time. But you learn the importance of proper stance the first time you attempt to corner at faster speeds or do basic tricks.
Cornering and Tricks
Unlike most road bikes that rely on the weight of the bike to provide traction, the position of your body and feet are critical when cornering a sport bike. The bike is designed to lean well past its vertical axis when you corner, and leaning with the bike provides optimum traction and steering. Cornering on a sport bike involves moving your upper body toward the inside of a corner. To do this, your outside foot must be correctly on the peg to provide the leverage needed to push your rear end across the seat. As you exit a corner, you push with your inside foot to slide your rear end back to the center of the seat and straighten the bike. When you wheelie a sport bike, the elevation of the front end forces you back in the seat. Having your feet in the correct stance on the pegs allows consistent throttle control. Correct foot stance on the pegs is essential to cornering effectively and integrating with the bike's center of gravity. You risk personal injury and damage to a sport bike any time you attempt tricks where your feet are not in the proper stance.