Motorcycle Physics and You (Lesson 1)

[l5rfanboy]

I've received a number of inquiries from friends about the nature of riding a motorcycle. Today I'd like to discuss four topics; Turns, Traffic, Turbulence, and Being Comfortable (I really did try to come up with a 'T' word). These are LJ-cut to save space on others' friends pages, and I'll likely be putting other motorcycle-related posts behind

Comments

[shannybug]

An interesting read. I'd read it if you wrote more.:)

Enjoyed your post!

[anonymous]

Just wanted to extend a gentle correction. A "tank-slapper" is actually the term applied to oscillation in the front wheel induced at high speeds, usually because the force of acceleration has taken weight off the front contact patch, or the tire is worn to the point where it no longer has traction at high speeds. At it's worst, the wheel pivots wildly back and forth, pounding into the steering stop. This causes (at least on sport bikes) the handlebars to appear to slam into the sides of the fuel tank, hence the name. Most after-market catalogs sell hydraulic rods, called "steering dampers" which help reduce the oscillations.

What you described is known as a "high-sider," when the bike gets slightly perpendicular to the path of travel and the rider is flung off the "high side" of the bike.

Enjoyed your post! It's great to see folks encouraging others to join the family of riders.

Ralph Couey
www.race-the-sunset.blogspot.com

Re: Enjoyed your post!

[l5rfanboy]

Thanks for the added information; yeah, it was a bit of misinformation, but I hope the folks reading this experience neither tank-slappers or high-sides of any kind! My brain was probably on auto-pilot while I was writing this. In the next edition I'll talk about breaking and falling, which will cover high- and low-siding, as well as ways to prevent both.

-- Poetics
BayAreaRidersForum.com (BARF)

[fiannagalliard]

inquiring minds would like to know ;)

[kaoticrequiem]

"Tranquility"

[cereph]

Interesting!