we're talking MOTOCYCLES here , not Road Sofas =8-) .
-NAte
Jeff wrote:
>
> > Prolly was an old fart like me ~ when first I read of this in MCN
> > magazine , I said ' Bullshyte ! ' ~ then I tried it and Lo ! it
works
> > like a charm , I'd been doing it all along and just didn't
understand
> > the Physics involved ..
> >
> T'was an older gentleman, true...
> The physics are simple, once you get your head wrapped 'round 'em.
The
> average (read all) motorcycle has it's centre of gravity somewhere
above
> ground, usually some couple of feet. That's why most fall down
without some
> form of support. Now, when riding, that 'support' is the input
from the
> rider and the gyroscopic force from the rotating wheels. Rider
input is in
> two forms - leaning and moving the handlebars. Leaning is not too
effective
> on a bike weighing 500 pounds or more, but it is how many riders
steer,
> they're just unaware of it.
> Moving the handlebars is much more effective, but you need to be
aware of
> what you are doing to effect the appropriate response.
> The technique called counter-steering is the way bikes are
turned 'round a
> bend, and it works thusly: When you push on the right bar, the
wheel twists
> to the left (solid connection twixt 'bar and wheel, we hope...).
However,
> the bike leans to the right, and thus turns right. Why?? Turning
the wheel
> to the left moves the contact of the tyres to the left of the
bike, in
> effect moving the lower portion of the bike's weight to the left.
Since the
> centre of gravity is high, this makes the bike lean right. Think
of you on a
> skateboard (think of it, don't DO it!!). Now, whilst looking
forward,
> suppose someone kicks the board forward as well. You land on your
bum, no??
> That's because your centre of gravity is also high (loss of hair
does not
> lower the centre appreciably, I know by personal experience).
> Those are the basic physics of steering a motorcycle. Works the
same on a
> bicycle, but harder to tell, as leaning a 17 pound bicycle is
slightly more
> effective than the same lean effort on a Gold Wing...even with
empty bags...
>
> Jeff
>
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