Can't Stop Squeezing Legs

moorehouse77

moorehouse77

Joined
Jun 15, 2019
Messages
21
Age
43
Location
Socal
Bike
2006 ST1300
Anyone else have this issue where you subconsciously squeeze the tank with your legs? I'll be riding along going straight down the freeway and for whatever reason I start clenching my legs against the tank. The rest of my body is loose and comfortable. I have to force myself to loosen up my legs and then 10 or 15 minutes later I notice i'm clenched again. Not sure what this is but it makes for tired legs after 500 miles. :shrug2:
 
Sounds like a nervous habit to me! The only time I squeeze my tank with my legs is when I'm taking one of my hands off the bars, or taking both hands off the bars... :rolleyes:
 
This is my 4th streetbike over the last 15 years. I also ride offroad a lot in the desert. I'm 38 this year maybe I'm just starting to fear getting hurt. I don't know.
 
Did you this on your other bikes you previously have ridden? If not, maybe the seat on your ST doesn't fit you correctly. Stock seat? Maybe an aftermarket seat would suit you better and you would be more relaxed while riding. Just a thought.
 
Wonder what you'd do on a bike like mine? :oops: No tank for the knees to squeeze.
I used to do that when I HAD a tank between my knees but only in fast sharp turns. Still have a tendency in the same fast sharp turns to want to do that but now I've learned to simply squeeze at the feet and ankles instead. Knees were getting sore when they would slap together.
 
Didn't notice doing it on the other bikes. Ive had 2 Honda CB's and a Bandit 600. This bike has the biggest tank I've ever owned. Stock seat for now. Definitely want to replace it. Possible I'm just getting used to such a BIG bike.
 
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I squeezed the tank like crazy on that first ride. Haven't done it since. I was worried about the weight.

I'll wedge one knee in while climbing around on the bike (knee in the outside of a bend). But not both.

Different folks, different strokes. Is it causing you a problem? Muscular pains? If not... Quit worrying & keep riding.
 
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Bikeric said:
My ST1100 seat used to make me slide forwards towards the tank before I had it sorted by our local seat guru. Maybe your 1300 seat is making you do this to compensate for slipping "downhill"?
Click to expand...

This actually makes the most sense! I do feel some down hill motion very slowly bunching my pant legs up into my soft parts. Maybe a new seat needs to got to the top of the list!
 
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This title almost exceeds my College Girls Wearing Thongs title. I'm jealous.
 
moorehouse77 said:
This actually makes the most sense! I do feel some down hill motion very slowly bunching my pant legs up into my soft parts. Maybe a new needs to got to the top of the list!
Click to expand...
That was my thought and experience when I first got my ST.

You can manhandle the seat so the back of the rider's seat sits one notch lower than the factory design dictates. This makes the seat level and reduces the slide. This diagram shows the three 'official' positions and two unofficial positions (2a and 3b) that make the seat fairly lever and help reduce sliding forward under deceleration. From the ST1300's Owner's manual with my annotation:

st1300-seat-position-diagram-jpg.241619


You could also try riding a scooter and see if the 'leg clamping' persists. This might confrim your holdover from off road riding. If you do a lot of longer riding the factory saddle may need to be replaced anyway.
 
I picked up the habit from my early riding years when I had no fairings or wind screens. Tucking in tight to become more aerodynamic when going fast or to stay warm and dry in adverse conditions
 
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