General Category > General Discussion
Centrifugal forces
faffi:
Hm. But the wider the tire, the further the contact patch will move away from the center line of the bike, creating a vector(?) that must be compensated for by more lean for any given speed, no?
Put it another way: if I want to take a corner at 50 mph, I must lean my bike more the wider the tires are. Also, the lower the CoG is, the more I need to lean the bike. I can compensate some, or perhaps all of this by moving the CoG up and/or to the inside of the corner. At least this is what I have picked up, even if I cannot give you the mathematics for it.
Huzo:
--- Quote from: faffi on June 14, 2026, 01:53:19 AM ---Hm. But the wider the tire, the further the contact patch will move away from the center line of the bike, creating a vector(?) that must be compensated for by more lean for any given speed, no?
Put it another way: if I want to take a corner at 50 mph, I must lean my bike more the wider the tires are. Also, the lower the CoG is, the more I need to lean the bike. I can compensate some, or perhaps all of this by moving the CoG up and/or to the inside of the corner. At least this is what I have picked up, even if I cannot give you the mathematics for it.
--- End quote ---
Hey Faff..
I do concede to your point regarding tyre width and its lateral distance away from the centreline. I should have allowed for that.
The point regarding the height above the point of support (ground), of the c of m is worth drilling into.
The height of the c of m has no bearing on lean angle, as long as the c of m is a straight line to the contact patch, the force trying to throw the bike to the outside of the turn, is equal to the force trying to throw it on it’s side.
You can perhaps appreciate, that if the c of m is way up high, then there is a lot of leverage trying to throw you “outside” but also that comes with a lot of leverage trying to drag you down.
They always balance regardless of how far up that 45 degree line you go.
Remember a vector is defined by its sense of direction and the amount of force is determined by its length.
aklawok:
Cornering rate vs/lean angle is a basic and instinctive equation. Mathematical interpretation will only befuddle. Enter low...exit high...that is it!!
Huzo:
--- Quote from: aklawok on June 14, 2026, 04:35:53 AM --- Cornering rate vs/lean angle is a basic and instinctive equation. Mathematical interpretation will only befuddle. Enter low...exit high...that is it!!
--- End quote ---
So can you enlighten us who are so easily befuddleable, what that instinctive equation might be ?
You know, I know, faffi knows and everyone including Donald Duck, knows that a bike leans into a corner, but can YOU tell me why ?
I mean….WHY ?
Also do you think for one moment that you get to determine how much lean angle you will use ?
Now something I do need educating on, what does “Enter low…exit high” mean ?
Vagrant:
Faffi, it's time to change your name to "Instigator"!
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