Motorcycle Lean Angles Explained - MotoGP vs. WSBK | GTAMotorcycle.com

Motorcycle Lean Angles Explained - MotoGP vs. WSBK

Something really bothers me about equating more lean to more speed.

It might be more informative to explore what's different when two bikes take the same corner at the same speed, with one leaning more than the other. Keith Code might do this in one of his books, it's been a while
 
They equated getting off the bike enables more speed.
Look at the first diagram - rider is stationary on seat. Shows the lateral G forces etc.
Thought it did a very good job of explanation in pretty easy layman's terms.
 
Not exactly rocket science, simple elementary school physics...
What's with motogp vs wsbk?
 
Alex_San said:
Not exactly rocket science, simple elementary school physics...
What's with motogp vs wsbk?
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MotoGP = Cutting edge prototypes with massive funding. The F1 of the Motorcycle world.
WSBK = World Superbike. Bikes start as street bikes and are greatly upgraded.

At Jerez, the single lap records are about 2 seconds apart to give you a general idea.
 
BigEvilDoer said:
MotoGP = Cutting edge prototypes with massive funding. The F1 of the Motorcycle world.
WSBK = World Superbike. Bikes start as street bikes and are greatly upgraded.

At Jerez, the single lap records are about 2 seconds apart to give you a general idea.
Click to expand...

Well, I know that much, thanks...I meant in the context of lean angles...
 
Some of the g forces seemed high for sticking on the road. Are they reasonable? Are the for "ideal" conditions?
 
Alex_San said:
Not exactly rocket science, simple elementary school physics...
What's with motogp vs wsbk?
Click to expand...

Gyroscopic precession, circular motion kinematics, moments of inertia... yeah, not elementary physics, but I appreciate the sentiment.
 
redridernl said:
2 seconds isn't close...
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It's close when you consider the different machinery. It's always interesting to see when comparing from one class of racing to another class with vastly different engines, chassis, tires etc. how close they actually are. You'd think a 50hp increase and changing nothing else would yield huge margins but it doesn't. Now, when watching qualifying between very similar bikes, a big production is made of tenths and hundreds of seconds. That's why 2 seconds sounds like a lot.
 
iegod said:
Gyroscopic precession, circular motion kinematics, moments of inertia... yeah, not elementary physics, but I appreciate the sentiment.
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Hmm, really?
What does leaning off the bike has to do with all this stuff? You're canceling the centrifugal force using your gravitational pull, so that the resulting force goes through the tire contact patch (the object base). The harder you lean, the more upright the bike...simple stuff...
But hey, use the fancy words, we all like to look smart...
 
Alex_San said:
Hmm, really?
What does leaning off the bike has to do with all this stuff? You're canceling the centrifugal force using your gravitational pull, so that the resulting force goes through the tire contact patch (the object base). The harder you lean, the more upright the bike...simple stuff...
But hey, use the fancy words, we all like to look smart...
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as centrifugal force. There is only centripetal. And while you may brush aside the kinematics of what's going on by using simple words like leaning, the equations and mechanics are anything but.
 
iegod said:
If you bothered to read your own reference you'll note it's cited as a fictitious force as it doesn't exist.

Anyway that's besides the point I don't think it's going to be a useful endeavor to continue down this road.
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I agree with being pointless to continue, with the note that a force being fictitious does not mean it doesn't exist.
 
jc100 said:
I thought that was exactly what fictitious means.
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The use of the word fictitious in the discussion of forces does not mean the same as "a work of fiction" or "a product of fantasy" in the literary sense. Fictitious means it can exist in a certain frame of reference, and possibly not in another frame of reference. Centrifugal forces exist in an inertial frame of reference but do not exist in a stationary frame of reference.
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