Does leaning increase the limit of cornering speed?

[BMWST?]

you are right but in the end it is tyre grip which is the ultimate factor...

[Rodney007]

Leaning may change the shape of the contact patch. Not the size.

o i c ,

[jtzzr]

If you leave the contact patch stuff out I would have to agree.

In order to achieve the highest possible cornering speed you'd have to hang off your bike (provided your tyres are sticky enough of course) - otherwise you'll be touching down footpegs, rocker covers, fairings, handlebars and wing mirrors before you get the maximum rate of turn.

I`m listening to ya brother, just bent the hero-knob and damaged the fairing on the northbound off ramp at East tamaki.

[Mikkel]

Essentially you are correct. I think ballast is wrong. Basically by leaning 'off' your bike you are lowering your centre of gravity (mass) further than if you did not lean and just stayed in the same line/angle as the bike. Not too sure of the physics involved on this. Try googling this.

Valid point. However, on a bike a higher center of mass will actually allow you to corner faster...
A lower center of mass is a benefit during acceleration and braking.

[White trash]

The silly old prick's right of course. That's why you see all the MotoGP racers sitting bolt upright on their bikes while cornering.

Oh wait.........

You don't need to post an elaborate thread to prove it to him, turn on a bike racing show on TV. Argument solved.

[Chooky]

Yer leaning is best....

[BMWST?]

36666
no need to post an elaborate thread to prove it to him, turn on a bike racing show on TV. Argument solved.

about half past one tomorrow on sky sport 3

[McJim]

On a kind of parallel point. If riders get their knee down on the open road it reduces the options they have when they meet:

a/ Large patch of cow shit left by a stock truck
b/ Arsewipe on a souped up jappa car with no springs on the wrong side of the road
c/ Jack-knifed boatie with a trailer load of boat.
d/ Peleton of cyclists
e/ Cow/Horse/Sheep or large farm animal of your choice that got loose coz farmer giles simply doesn't give a shit.

.....around a blind corner.

[discotex]

On a kind of parallel point. If riders get their knee down on the open road it reduces the options they have when they meet:

One could of course argue that if you're hanging off (but not knee down) you have more options than the person sitting bolt upright but at the edge of the tyre.

[Mikkel]

One could of course argue that if you're hanging off (but not knee down) you have more options than the person sitting bolt upright but at the edge of the tyre.

Only if you are of the opinion that there is only one way to turn... If you're hanging off to your left you'll be harder pressed to change your line towards your right and vice versa.

On the other hand, if you're sitting upright you can always slide off to the side to turn sharper.

[discotex]

Only if you are of the opinion that there is only one way to turn... If you're hanging off to your left you'll be harder pressed to change your line towards your right and vice versa.

I'm of the opinion you turn which ever way has clear road but there's a few things to keep in mind.

Firstly even if you need to widen your turn, chances are that you will immediately need to tighten your line more than it already was or you'll run off or into the on-coming lane.

Second, countersteering works just as well when you're hanging off.

Third, if you manage to prove that wrong with physics I'll resort to pointing out that one could always pull themselves up to the centreline with the outside knee as you do in a chicane.

On the other hand, if you're sitting upright you can always slide off to the side to turn sharper.

If you're at the absolute limit of traction the last thing you want to be doing is unsettling the bike by climbing around on it.

Ultimately it's horses for courses as with both approaches you should be leaving a margin for error.

[MSTRS:Me]

If you're at the absolute limit of traction the last thing you want to be doing is unsettling the bike by climbing around on it.

True. But bear in mind that most of us couldn't tell when the bike is on the limits for traction UNTIL it lets go. Also, that limit is constantly changing on the road, due to varying surface.
It's not clever to risk that on the road...take it to the track.

[discotex]

take it to the track.

I do exactly that and my road riding is much safer as a result

Not because I can ride faster but because I have a better idea of my safety margin.

[Swoop]

In order to achieve the highest possible cornering speed you'd have to hang off your bike

I'm sure there is some comment about "crusier riders" that should be made here...

[FROSTY:Me]

Actually I can see clearly what the "old guy" is getting at.
On the road you shouldn't be anywhere near your bikes limit for cornering clearance. tyre grip etc.
By staying with the bike and staying smooth you are putting less stress on tyres,suspension and chassis. As such you will corner better by staying with the bike.
Yes all the stuff you say in the perfect world where you are searching for the last .001% of drive then hanging off does make a difference.
On the real road in nZ Nope pure wank value

That said hey I happen to like sliding from side to side on my bike. I enjoy it --and given I currently ride for the fun of it then fugggit Ill carry on doin it