Foot Anchors - there when you need'em ^TM                            FootAnchors.com

Home          Frequently Asked Questions            Home   

What is the big deal about Foot Anchors^TM ?

Some riders may think that foot anchors are so simple and primitive, and cannot possibly yield so many benefits at the same time. Even technologically complicated advances in motorcycling do not produce such a wide array of positive results. How is this possible?

Foot Anchors do not introduce anything principally new. However, they remove the natural limitations preventing a rider from utilizing the core fundamental principles of physics and riding to their full extent. Everything else follows, and the resulting positive ripple effect produces a variety of benefits such as increased corner speed, improved stability, more relaxed body position, quicker turn-in rate, and higher rider confidence. It is the combination of core fundamental principles of physics and riding that you have to thank for all the benefits. Foot anchors merely unlock the door leading to them. You are the one who has to walk through that door in order to experience a different world of riding. It is your choice.

When will Foot Anchors be available for my bike?

Our work and designs are driven by your demand. Let us know what bike you have, and this will get us moving in the right direction.

Why can't you make a kit for my bike today?

Sure, we could. But such kit would cost you around $600, possibly more, thus making it a very unattractive product. It is a simple scale of numbers when it comes to manufacturing, and especially when it comes to precision machining. Setup costs are significant, and have to be spread over a significant number of produced units. Then, it becomes cost effective, and the savings are passed on to the buyers, making the price acceptable. Because Foot Anchors represent a brand new product, we simply don't know what bikes to make the kits for. And, remember that we need to make many kits at once in order to keep the price down.

Where do you manufacture Foot Anchor Kits?

Foot Anchor kits are proudly made in The United States of America using high quality precision machining.

How quickly can I adapt to riding with Foot Anchors?

There is a learning curve in getting used to foot anchors. For racers and quick learners, it may be as quick as a couple of riding sessions, for others it may take a few riding sessions. It took our test rider 5-7 rides, 30-40 min each, to get completely comfortable. The key is to develop new riding reflexes related to your leg and foot work, as well as to train some of the leg muscles which were not used before. However, the benefits of foot anchors become obvious even during the initial use. After a few sessions, your foot work will become precise and almost effortless, so you would have to spend very little attention on it.

Can I make my own Foot Anchors? Can I sell my own Foot Anchors to others?

No, you may not make your own foot anchors. No, you may not sell your foot anchors to others. First of all, this would be unethical because you would be in violation of our Intellectual Property Rights which cover not only a specific design of Foot Anchors, but any design, any shape, and any method of attaching them to a motorcycle. Second, you would be risking a costly lawsuit which could devastate you financially. Third, you would likely skip many months of research, development, and testing. Fourth, you would likely miss many fine points related to design, manufacturing, and deployment of foot anchors.  As a result, your product is likely to suffer in function and safety, with the risk of devastating consequences for those who deploy it. However, if you are interested in entering into a licensing agreement with us, please get in touch with us and we will consider your proposal. We will also offer a dealer/re-seller program. Please contact us for details.

Will the additional weight of Foot Anchors slow me down?

Foot anchors add approximately 1.5 -2.0 lb to your bike's weight, which is less than the weight of a good meal, and is also around the weight of one riding boot. If your riding includes mostly straight line acceleration (e.g. drag racing, or highway riding), then theoretically the additional mass will reduce the acceleration rate by some miniscule amount. However, for this type of riding you probably don't need foot anchors in the first place. On the other hand, If you love taking turns, foot anchors will allow you to maintain higher average speed in turns, so exiting every turn you will be going faster than before. The miniscule reduction in acceleration exiting the turns would be negligible compared to the additional speed you gained thanks to foot anchors. 

The additional increase in rotational mass would theoretically slightly reduce the bike's ability to turn-in quickly. Such reduction is very small considering the fact that foot anchors are light and are attached to a motorcycle very close to its Center of Gravity (CG). What is more significant - your ability to increase the turn-in rate when utilizing foot anchors will offset such miniscule reduction of turn-in rate many times over. 

In short, the benefits of foot anchors greatly outweigh small negative effect associated with the additional weight foot anchors introduce.

In what colors will Foot Anchor Kits be available?

We will start offering silver color first, later on black color, and will consider other colors in the future.

For what bikes you will not be able to offer foot anchor kits?

Foot Anchor design relies on the assumption that Foot Anchor Mounting Plate is attached to the bike's frame through the two front footpeg/rearset assembly mounting holes, which should be unobstructed. If this is  true for your bike, we will be able to offer Foot Anchors for your bike. If the two front footpeg mounting holes are obstructed by a specific adjustment of your rearset, consider moving your rearsets by one or two positions backward for a more aggressive riding position, thus providing access to the two mounting holes. Regardless of the challenges, if there is a demand for a specific bike, we will find a solution.

Will Foot Anchor Mounting Plate be in my way?

Foot Anchor Mounting Plate is approximately 1/2" thick (12.7 mm), and stays very close to the bike's frame. It will not impede your ability to place your feet on footpegs, operate the shift lever, and the rear brake pedal.

What is the most optimal position of Foot Anchors?

Recommended starting point is approximately 3" - 4" (7.5 - 10 cm) above the shift lever and the rear brake pedal respectfully. Depending on the size of your riding boots, it may be slightly different. There has to be about 1/4" (6 mm) clearance (i.e. free movement of your foot up and down) when your riding boot is placed under the foot anchor and above the shift lever/rear brake pedal respectfully. More precise details are provided in installation instructions.

What is critical when positioning Foot Anchors on your bike?

When you slide your foot forward on a footpeg (e.g. in order to downshift, or to apply the rear brake), the heel of your riding boot acts as a stop preventing your foot from moving farther forward. This is the maximum forward position of your respective foot. Usually, you can comfortably operate the shift lever and the rear brake pedal in such foot position. The same applies to engaging a foot anchor. A foot anchor should be positioned close enough to a footpeg so that it could be engaged when your foot is in such maximum forward position. If a foot anchor is positioned too far forward,  you would be unable to quickly transition your foot forward and under a foot anchor because the heel of your riding boot would act as a stop, causing an unexpected delay at the exact moment of time when you expect to perform a quick transition.

You should be able to easily slide your foot under a foot anchor and back, and without accidentally exerting any downward pressure on the shift lever/rear brake pedal respectfully. That is why there should be around 1/4" of free play for your foot in such position. Without such extra clearance you may inadvertently cause an accidental shift, or apply the rear brake. Positioning a respective foot anchor too close to the shift lever or to the rear brake pedal may cause your foot to rub against them, causing a delay when you need to move your foot backward.

Positioning foot anchors too high makes it difficult to apply consistent upward pressure needed to deploy foot anchors. Such circumstances may result in your inability to effectively apply upward pressure on a foot anchor in order to deploy it. With insufficient upward pressure, your respective foot may slip from under a foot anchor.

In short, you have to find an optimal position for a foot anchor in order for it to perform flawlessly. If at any time you change the location of a footpeg, it is most likely that you have to also re-adjust the position of the respective foot anchor.

I installed Foot Anchors with stock footpegs, but plan to purchase aftermarket rearsets in the future. I am concerned the Mounting Plate will not fit after I install the new rearsets. What should I do?

You simply need to use different spacers, and there is a good chance your kit already has them. If not, please let us know what rearsets you purchased, and we will send you the spacers absolutely free.

What will be your refund policy?

Please refer to our money back guarantee.

What if I need technical support?

Your satisfaction is our main priority. Let us know what is the problem, and we will do our best to help you as quickly as possible.

What if I lost or accidentally damaged a part?

You will be able to purchase individual parts.

Can I use Foot Anchors to jack up the bike?

No, you may not. Foot Anchors are designed to hold the rider's outside foot and leg in place. They are not designed to hold the weight of a motorcycle. By supporting your motorcycle on jack stands placed under the foot anchors, you may introduce structural damage to vital Foot Anchor components not visible to the eye as well as damage the indentation on Foot Anchor surface which is vital for proper functionality. Such structural damage and/or degraded indentation quality may lead to a sudden catastrophic failure of Foot Anchors during riding.

Can I stand or jump on Foot Anchors?

No, you may not. Foot Anchors were designed to reliably sustain an upward pressure from rider's partial weight. They are not meant to be utilized in a way when a rider stands/jumps on one or both Foot Anchors. It may be tempting for some riders to utilize Foot Anchors in such unapproved way, e.g. for stunting. While Foot Anchors may temporarily sustain such use, this only creates a false sense of safety because such use of Foot Anchors may cause them to fail unexpectedly due to developed structural damage not visible to the eye.

Do Foot Anchors require any maintenance?

Very little. Periodically, visually inspect the assembly and make sure all fasteners are tight. Indentation on Foot Anchors is important for proper functionality. Run your fingers periodically over the surface of Foot Anchors to make sure the indentation is intact. If you accidentally damage the indentation so that it becomes dull, the respective Foot Anchor needs to be replaced.

My bike was in a crash. What should I do?

It is your responsibility to make sure the Foot Anchors are fully functional and safe. You can inspect them visually for any possible damage, check the indentation on Foot Anchor surface, and even disassemble your kit and check individual parts. If you discover any damage, or the indentation on the surface of a foot anchor is damaged, they have to be replaced. Even the smallest crack is an indication of structural damage. Using a magnifying glass in good lighting conditions carefully inspect the parts for any possible damage, and replace the damaged parts.

Would I be able to continue my race and/or track day if I damage or break a Foot Anchor?

Very likely, Yes. First of all, we'd like to point out that foot anchors are located a few inches above the shift lever/rear brake pedal respectfully, and therefore are less likely to sustain any damage to begin with. Your existing footpegs and the bike's bodywork are likely to sustain damage in a crash, while effectively protecting foot anchors from coming in contact with the ground. If the damage to a foot anchor occurs, there are a few possible scenarios. 

1. This is the most likely scenario. If the indentation on the surface of a foot anchor is damaged, you have to unscrew the damaged foot anchor and replace it with a new one.

2. If the foot anchor is intact, but the mounting plate is slightly bent, check the following. Make sure the mounting plate and the foot anchor have no cracks. Re-tighten the foot anchor to the mounting plate, and check tightness of other fasteners. Check and make sure the indentation on the lower part of foot anchor is intact by running your hand over it. If it is, you con continue with the same foot anchor, otherwise it has to be replaced. Avoid bending to restore the original position as this may cause more damage. To test foot anchor functionality, put on a thick glove and pull foot anchor upward with your hand with the force of approximately 70 lbs. Observe, and look for an excessive movement, cracks, or other damage. If you don't notice any, the foot anchors may be suitable to continue riding. You would have to make such a decision yourself. Please remember it is your responsibility to make sure the Foot Anchors are fully functional and safe.

3. Foot anchor is designed with the weakest point where the circular indentation starts closer to the mounting point. If the foot anchor breaks off at this point, simply unscrew the leftover piece using 19 mm wrench, and install the replacement foot anchor per installation instructions. Perform all checks described in item 1 and 2.

4. The mounting plate is made of slightly softer aluminum than the foot anchor. The foot anchor may be ripped from the mounting plate, destroying the threads of the mounting plate hole, however leaving the mounting plate intact, possibly slightly bent. You may consider re-using the foot anchor by mounting it through another hole in the mounting plate. While this may not be the most optimal position, this will get you through the day. If the foot anchor indentation is damaged, such foot anchor has to be replaced. Consider moving the footpeg of a rearset to a different position in order to find a suitable position for the foot anchor.  If there is no suitable location to re-install the foot anchor, you will need to replace the mounting plate. Perform all checks described in item 1 and 2.

You may encounter scenario not described above. Use your judgment, and when in doubt always err on the side of safety. Being prepared pays off - keep a spare foot anchor, maybe even a spare mounting plate, mounting screws, respective allen wrenches, and 19 mm hex wrench handy.

Do you offer warranty?

We offer a lifetime warranty for all parts. If a part fails or deteriorates during normal use, we will replace it for free. This does not cover accidental damage to foot anchor components. However, you will be able to purchase necessary replacement parts.

What if Foot Anchors are not working for me?

We are here to help. We will be more than happy to discuss your specific challenges, and guide you through the learning curve. Let us know, and we will communicate via emails and/or phone calls. Keep in mind that we too had to go through the same learning curve, and our own experience is fresh and plentiful.

Why the expected increase in corner speed is a range and not a specific number?

This is because it depends on a few factors which are unique for every rider. One factor has to do with physics. The more the rider shifts the upper body to the inside of a turn, the  faster the bike can travel through the same turn and with the same lean angle. The heavier the rider, the more pronounced the improvement in speed will be. This is because a heavier rider would put more of the weight to the inside of a turn. Improved stability, more relaxed body position, being less tired and less likely making a mistake - all of these factors inspire confidence. This makes a rider more comfortable going through the same turn faster because in the past a rider simply didn't have the confidence to do so. It is the added confidence factor resulting from the use of foot anchors which allows a rider to up the pace without even realizing it. 

For example, if you consider a racer who has a light weight, whose confidence is high to begin with, and who is used to the bike being unstable, slipping and sliding quite often, such rider may experience an increase in corner speed within 3% - 6% range, which is still pretty good considering how extreme such riding is. On the other hand, if you consider a street rider who is heavier, gets uncomfortable at the first sign of instability, gets a little tense in turns, and is only moderately confident in turns, such rider has the potential to make a significant improvement in corner speed - anywhere within 20% - 30%.

Do foot anchors benefit track riders or street riders? 

Foot anchors benefit both categories of riders. Track riders want to go faster while preserving safety margin, being stable, and confident. They want to quicken their turn-in rate. They want to be able to tighten a line to pass someone, or to avoid getting off the track.  

Street riders may choose to go a little faster through turns while at the same time having increased stability, improved safety margin, more relaxed body position, being less tired as a result, and having overall higher confidence in turns. They want to be able to quickly change direction or tighten a line in order to avoid an obstacle on the road, or in order to stay in their lane. 

In short, it is the same set of improvements, but optimized differently by different riders, and for different types of riding. No matter what level, every rider who starts utilizing foot anchors will experience significant and noticeable improvement in their riding.

Do I need to remove Foot Anchors if I want to go for an easy ride? 

You don't have to. You still need to be precise with your foot work when using the shift lever or the rear brake - which becomes automatic after a few sessions anyway. If you do decide to remove foot anchors, you don't need to remove the entire assembly. Leave mounting plates in place, and remove foot anchors only. 

I am an experienced racer. Will I benefit from Foot Anchors?

Absolutely! You will get all the benefits associated with the use of Foot Anchors, and what is more important, you will be able to increase your corner speed anywhere between 3% - 6%, maybe even more. If you consistently spin your bike's rear tire on corner exits and are used to controlling the spin by applying slight downward pressure on the outside footpeg, you may need to adapt to a different technique by slightly pushing the bike away from you while moving your head farther away from the bike. 

Deployment of foot anchors changes the dynamics of weight distribution in your favor. Without foot anchors, the only way to hold on to the bike in turn is to press the outside leg against the tank (airbox) while pressing the foot against the outside footpeg. Most of the rider's weights is still on the inside peg, and some of it against the outside of the tank - still turning the bike to the inside. The rider's body posture easily upset by any instability such as shakes, or slides.

Holding a rider's outside foot under the foot anchor and his upper leg on the seat creates a rigid structure putting more weight on the seat, and only some of the weight on the inside footpeg. This creates a more reliable rider attachment to the bike, and less weight on the inside footpeg, thus promoting a more stable body position which is not susceptible to shakes and slides.

Try experimenting, and when you adapt to foot anchors, you will be unbeatable. It is quiet possible you will be spinning your rear tire less often because the bike will be at a lesser lean angle on corner exits.

Holding on to the bike while its rear tire is slipping and sliding is a challenge for every racer. Oftentimes, a racer may fall or almost fall off the bike in such circumstances for a simple reason - there is nothing to hold on to. Abrupt body movements caused by shakes and slides create unwanted inputs which further contribute to the bike's instability. However, when utilizing foot anchors, the outside foot and leg are reliably anchored to the bike. Holding on to the bike during shakes and slides becomes effortless. Unwanted body movements along with the resultant undesirable inputs are virtually eliminated. Such stability in turns translates into better control, more relaxed body, less fatigue, and improved overall confidence.

Are you turning the handlebars so aggressively at corner entrances that your arms get tired, wishing you could somehow increase the turn-in rate even more? When utilizing foot anchors, you could do just that - quicken the turn-in rate. The amazing part of it is that you can achieve this with little additional physical effort on your part, and without using up valuable traction of the front tire, which becomes especially critical when riding in the wet.

Is your bike running out of lean angle although your tires have plenty of traction left, and feel that these circumstances limit your corner speed? When utilizing foot anchors, you are able to shift your upper body farther to the inside of a turn, thus tightening the line. You would have to add more speed, otherwise you would hit the inside curb!

Increasing average speed in turns by only 3% doesn't sound like much. However, this also means that you start every straightaway with higher speed, and you can have higher speed at every corner entry. So, your overall average speed may increase by about 3%, maybe more. This means that a race that used to take you 33 min to complete can now be finished in 32 min. From a different perspective, a lap time of 01:40 (100 sec) may be reduced to 01:37 (97 sec). This means a mid pack racer may move up to the top six, and a lead group rider may become a champion. In MotoGP, the effect is even more drastic - a back marker may become a champion.

I love the idea, but I'm afraid my friends will laugh at me. What should I do?

Give it a shot. Be upfront with your friends, and patiently explain all the benefits, and the learning curve. In the end, true friends will appreciate your insight and courage. They will stay your friends and will support you. You will only earn their respect. Those who laugh at you and leave - are not your real friends.

I am a track day organizer/coach. How Foot Anchors may benefit my organization?

One of the important goals for a track day provider/coach is to foster confidence in riders, especially the confidence to ride through turns. In big part, the lack of rider confidence in turns can be attributed to the combination of a number of concurrent requirements - picking the turn-in point, setting the speed, turning the bike in, hanging off, looking through the turn, keeping eyes in line with the horizon, managing throttle, staying relaxed, and probably a few other more subtle requirements. The use of foot anchors alleviates most of these issues because the new technique expands on the same fundamental principles of physics and riding already used by every rider. When utilizing foot anchors, the sudden relief a rider experiences significantly boosts rider confidence in turns, making it easier to focus on other aspects of riding - like simply enjoying the experience, or taking the riding skill to a new level.

In short, a track day organization promoting, advocating, and educating riders about this new riding aid would significantly help riders to overcome so many barriers to effective cornering.

Track crashes is a sour spot many track day organizers are battling very hard. Most of the crashes involve a single bike where a rider made a mistake. A big part of crash dynamics involves inability to foresee a line through a turn; inability to quicken a turn-in rate; excessive lean angle; keeping upper body on top of the bike; being tense in turns; stiffness of the upper body, hands, and arms; target fixation; rider fatigue; and inability to tighten a turn. Use of foot anchors helps to alleviate these conditions, and therefore has the potential to significantly reduce number of crashes - a very desirable outcome for both, track day organizers and riders.

Did you know that despite the popularity of track days very few sportbike riders attend track days - around 3-5%? As to the rest of sportbike riders, many of them simply lack the confidence to do track days. They seem to be unable to break through this invisible barrier, and find every excuse to avoid riding on the track. Utilizing foot anchors can break this barrier, and attract many new riders to attend track day events, if only they are given the hope and the chance to gain the confidence they need. The resultant increase in track day demand means more track time could be reserved for a season and at the cheaper rate, which in turn means more profit for a racetrack organization as well as more choices and lower prices for riders - a win-win situation.

I am a sportbike manufacturer. How Foot Anchors may benefit my business?

Foot Anchors remove the natural limitations preventing a rider from utilizing the core fundamental principles of physics and riding to their full extent. Everything else follows, and the resulting positive ripple effect produces a variety of benefits such as increased corner speed, improved stability, more relaxed body position, quicker turn-in rate, and higher rider confidence. 

A manufacturer utilizing this new riding aid would significantly improve riding experience in so many areas, making their sportbikes more attractive to potential buyers This would translate into increased sales, and a reputation of an innovator.

It would be easy to add foot anchors to the existing sportbike designs, with virtually no technological barrier. If you are interested in licensing agreement, please get in touch with us.

What should I expect if I decide to use Foot Anchors on my bike?

Expect to go through the learning curve for the duration of a few rides, but also expect to be amazed in the end. Don't expect a miracle the moment you install foot anchors. Expect to take your time and learn how to ride with them. Expect to feel different and even uncomfortable at first. Once you are past the learning curve, you will be amazed. But even on your first ride you will experience the benefits of foot anchors.

When you are standing with both feet on the ground (like at the traffic light, or at the starting grid of a racetrack), foot anchors may be touching your lower legs - in the same way footpegs do. It feels unusual at first, but after a few times  you will get used to it. You will be able to adjust the length of foot anchors for your individual preference. 

When you start moving and need to bring your feet up on the footpegs, you have to move them up and around the foot anchors. Again, this feels unusual at first, but after a few times you will get used to it. After a few sessions, you will be doing it automatically. Avoid wearing baggy pants while riding. Baggy pants may get caught on a foot anchor when your feet are on the ground.

You may confuse the left foot anchor with the shifter once or twice because your left foot muscle memory hasn't adjusted yet. This will not be an issue after a few sessions.

Can my foot get stuck under the foot anchor?

It is a valid question. However, we could not find such circumstances. The foot anchor only holds your foot when your foot is under the foot anchor and you exert an upward pressure. Anything else, and your foot is free to move. Indentation on the foot anchor surface is designed to prevent foot movement in the lateral direction (away from the bike) when the upward pressure is present. That's what prevents your foot from slipping while being in a turn. However, it doesn't prevent longitudinal movement (parallel to the bike - forward and back) even with some upward pressure. This means you can easily slide your foot out from under the foot anchor any time and with little effort.

How come I haven't seen racers utilizing foot anchors?

The invention of Foot Anchors is so new that most racers are not yet aware of the existence of this new product. There are many factors determining a rider's ability to go fast and safely around a  turn, and obviously fast riders understand it and excelled in those respective areas. However, any rider – be it a beginner, an experienced rider, or a champion – would get the benefits associated with the use of foot anchors.

How to quicken my turn-in rate?

Once your outside leg is solidly anchored to the bike via a foot anchor and is not moving anywhere, you are able to shift your upper body aggressively to the inside of a turn, thus effectively transferring the momentum of your upper body movement into the bike's turning momentum, and without any additional steering input. Time such an aggressive move with your steering input in order to achieve an effective and fluid motion without provoking any unwanted inputs to the bike. This significantly quickens the turn-in rate without any additional steering input.

How to quicken S-turn transitions?

As you are pulling up your upper body from the inside of the first part of an S-turn, and as your body crosses the seat while the bike is straightening, quickly transition your outside foot from under the foot anchor, while moving your other foot under the foot anchor on the other side. Continue moving your upper body aggressively to the inside of the second part of an S-turn. The newly engaged foot anchor holds your outside leg in place for the second part of an S-turn, while helping you to transfer the full momentum of your upper body transition into the bike's rolling momentum, and without the additional steering input. Time your actions with your steering input in order to achieve an effective and fluid motion without provoking any unwanted inputs to the bike.

S-turn transitions require quick and precise foot work. Until your related reflexes are fully automatic and precise, do not attempt to maximize S-turn transition rate as you would be risking falling off the bike if you fail to engage a foot anchor needed to hold your upper body for the second part of S-turn transition. Instead, focus on practicing S-turn transitions at a slower pace, and pay special attention to your foot work, body movement, and steering inputs so that all of them create a flow of fluid, continuous, and almost effortless motion. When you achieve this, the increase in transition quickness will come naturally and without trying too hard.

Can I ride with shoe laces?

No, you may not. There is a good chance your shoe laces may get caught on a foot anchor. Some street riders wear shoes with laces while riding. Some shoe designs allow to hold laces in place with Velcro. Regardless of shoe design, it is a bad idea to have anything with laces on a bike - not only when it comes to foot anchors, but for riding in general. There is always a chance that laces can get caught on a footpeg, foot anchor, shift lever, or a brake pedal. After multiple uses, Velcro may fail, thus exposing shoe laces, and creating a potentially dangerous situation.

What is the most optimal body position to effectively utilize foot anchors?

You will benefit from foot anchors without any changes to your existing  body position. However, as you continue riding with foot anchors, you may notice that your existing body position starts evolving gradually without any conscious effort on your part. You can take a more proactive approach and optimize your body position further. To learn about the most efficient body position when riding with foot anchors please refer to The New Body Position  page.

What others in motorcycling community think about Foot Anchors?

Merits of this invention have been privately recognized by others in motorcycling community, including aftermarket manufacturers, tuners, other test riders, track coaches, and racers, which in turn gave us the confidence to develop this product. Those opinions were expressed in private, and therefore out of respect for privacy of the people involved, we cannot disclose who they are.

Will you have dealer/re-seller programs?

Yes, we will, including drop-ship options. Please contact us for details.

Top