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A Bit on RidingJul 01 '00 Write an essay on this topic.There are a lot of people riding out there, new riders and old, that are still using their body weight to lean their bikes into a turn. Now, this works, but in my opinion, it is not the way to go. GYROSCOPIC PROCESSION Gyroscopic Procession is the force on a gyro that transmits energy 90 degrees in the direction of rotation to a force applied to it. Take a cruise ship; if a large wave hits it on the side, the gyros transmit the force along the length of the ship, thus keeping the over-charged passengers from blowing lunch. Another example; if you push a spinning top, it either goes left or right (depending on it's direction of rotation) from the direction in which you pushed it. Now, what do a top and a cruise ship have in common with a motorcycle? The wheels on the bike are gyros. So, you're riding your bike. You come up fast on a high speed right hand turn. Instead of leaning your body to the right, and forcing the bike into a lean by shifting the center of gravity, try this: turn the handlebars in the direction opposite to the turn. In a right hand turn, then, you want to push the right bar forward just a tad. Gyroscopic procession will drop the bike into a right hand lean. The harder you push, the more the lean. Even with the bars turned gently to the left, the bike will lean to the right and then turn to the right. I find that you have a much higher degree of control using this method. It sounds strange, but it works great. Use an easy touch; most people do this without thinking about it if they're riding with only one hand. Different bikes will obviously react differently to the amount of force applied. Once you get this down, you'll never find yourself leaning again. You should practice this technique riding solo, on uncrowded roads at speeds over 30 MPH. BRAKING Use the front brake first. You will not go over the handlebars. It's like a car-85 to 90% of the braking is done by the front brake. I own a wrecker, and almost every motorcycle accident I come upon, there is almost always one skid mark, fishtailing up to the point of impact. Your first reaction to an emergency situation should be with your hands. In with the front brake, in with the clutch, then apply the rear brake. This should be practiced until it is second nature. I really can't stress enough how important it is to use the front brake first. It is NOT a car! Dropping your right foot down is only going to lock up your rear brake. Too much of your attention will be focused on fighting the fishtailing, and not enough on maneuvering around the obstacle in question. These riding techniques have saved my butt more than once. I've been riding for over 25 years, and was taught these techniques by an old flat tracker. These are the techniques that the racers use. They work for them, and they'll work for you. With a little bit of practice, you'll be dragging your cases on the ground in no time, with full control. The best advice I can give you on riding a bike is this; use that front brake.  |
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