Bicycle Leaning VS. Motorcycle Leaning

[dragforcequeen]

Simple question to answer I'm sure:

 

As the cold months (hopefully) come to a close, motorcyclists everywhere come out of hibernation to work on their bike, getting ready for riding season. In the meantime, I have been riding my bicycle in order to hone my skills but I noticed something bizarre....

 

As I countersteer and take the lean to make a proper turn, I have a tendency to lean my body; a normal response for a motorcycle rider. However, I noticed its not necessary.

 

Contemplating why this is, I came up with a couple possible reasons but I'm not sure.

 

- Weight (Bike and person)

 

- Velocity

 

- Gyroscopic Force

 

Anyone wish to shed light on my dilemma? Every time I coutersteer into a turn on my motorcycle I almost always have to do some sort of leaning to compensate for weight displacement. I know the higher the speed the more I need to lean but I'd like a scientific, more refined explanation.

 

Thanks guys.

[studiot]

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/bicycle-path-geometry.107435/

[dragforcequeen]

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/bicycle-path-geometry.107435/

Thanks for the good start Studiot. It seems to touch on a couple of things but it is such a specialized topic that it would take some digging to find an answer.

[imatfaal]

Cycling (both motor- and the purer form) is a highly complex and surprisingly hard to understand sport - that's why it takes such interesting, well-rounded, and generally super-human people to properly enjoy it. Well that's my take on it - which has nothing to do with the fact that I spend about one tenth (*) of my life at present on my bike.

 

* Just realised in typing that figure that I may have gone over the border from hobby into obsession.

 

If you have an action camera it is worth pointing it at your hands on a well-known ride - when watching you will know what corner is coming up but still be surprised at what you do with your hands instinctively (well I was)

[StringJunky]

...If you have an action camera it is worth pointing it at your hands on a well-known ride - when watching you will know what corner is coming up but still be surprised at what you do with your hands instinctively (well I was)

You need to stay in more.

[Moontanman]

I am a long term motorcyclist counter steering is a way of life, i tend to lean into curves when I'm driving a car, so many hours of bike riding I guess, I've never really noticed a counter steering while riding a bicycle but I usually ride a bicycle very sedately compared to a motorcycle...

[dragforcequeen]

I am a long term motorcyclist counter steering is a way of life, i tend to lean into curves when I'm driving a car, so many hours of bike riding I guess, I've never really noticed a counter steering while riding a bicycle but I usually ride a bicycle very sedately compared to a motorcycle...

I think my initial question was too wordy. I guess my primary concern was how much lean is associated with bicycles as opposed to motorcycles in a turn and why that is.

Thanks again for all of your help.

[Robittybob1]

I think my initial question was too wordy. I guess my primary concern was how much lean is associated with bicycles as opposed to motorcycles in a turn and why that is.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Firstly you are not going as fast. So you don't need to lean over as much. On a motorbike the rider moves his weight so to lower the center of mass without having to lean the bike over too much.

The tires will lose traction if the sidewall starts contacting the ground.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Robittybob1

[dragforcequeen]

Firstly you are not going as fast. So you don't need to lean over as much. On a motorbike the rider moves his weight so to lower the center of mass without having to lean the bike over too much.

The tires will lose traction if the sidewall starts contacting the ground

Yeah that is exactly what I was thinking as well. My first guesses being weight and velocity.

 

Thank you sir.

[Robittybob1]

Yeah that is exactly what I was thinking as well. My first guesses being weight and velocity.

 

Thank you sir.

In a high speed race "The tires will lose traction if the sidewall starts contacting the ground" becomes the essential issue. The tire is a circle and has a certain circumference. If the sidewalls contact the ground they are on a lesser radius and hence shorter circumference, so both the tread and the sidewall can't be gripping at the same time.

[Moontanman]

I have scrubbed my knees while going around turns on a motorcycle, it takes special tires and suspension set up to lean that far,The best place to see this is during a motorcycle race, I like the superbike races..

[imatfaal]

I have scrubbed my knees while going around turns on a motorcycle, it takes special tires and suspension set up to lean that far,The best place to see this is during a motorcycle race, I like the superbike races..

 

If you like Superbike see if you can check out the Isle of Man TT races. Like Superbike but on real roads around some beautiful hilly countryside - the speeds are unimaginable.

[dimreepr]

 

If you like Superbike see if you can check out the Isle of Man TT races. Like Superbike but on real roads around some beautiful hilly countryside - the speeds are unimaginable.

 

 

 

You appreciate the speeds even more when you’ve ridden those same roads, like a lunatic, and still fail to even come close to the times set by the pros.

[Moontanman]

 

If you like Superbike see if you can check out the Isle of Man TT races. Like Superbike but on real roads around some beautiful hilly countryside - the speeds are unimaginable.

 

 

I have watched the isle of man TT races on TV, I wish i had been there in person for some of those races, wild stuff...

I once watched a flat track race and had one of the riders in my lap when he lost it and went into the crowd, good times...