Thread: Almost Falling Down

How can we practice what motorcycle race drivers do when they make a sharp turn? Their bikes are almost flat on the ground and it seems like they are gonna fall down.

I would like to know how that is done as well. It amazes me the balance that they seem to have turning those sharp corners. One wrong move and it's all over!

You need to have speed to make this stunt, if we can call it this way. You also need a big bike that has big tires because that would be easier to control than thin tires like used on motocross.

So speed is the main factor here. But how does a racer keep his bike from felling down in that challenging position? Does it has something to do with the centrifugal (or centripetal?) force?

I don't watch a lot of cycle racing because frankly, it scares me to death. I don't know how those guys get so low and not fall. It reminds me of those of thunderdromes.

A couple of things contribute to how low race bikes can lean into the turns, first look at the tires, the tread wraps around to the sides, maintaining grip when the bike is in a turn, second, low center of gravity. I almost forgot the third element, steel gonads

First of all I wouldn't have even attempted that when I was young, now I do not have any sense of balance. I am totally mystified how you would even practice this sort of thing!

Originally Posted by vroom

So speed is the main factor here. But how does a racer keep his bike from felling down in that challenging position? Does it has something to do with the centrifugal (or centripetal?) force?

Yes, it also has to be a sharp turn. The combination of the speed and the turn radius keeps it from falling. And it's centripetal force, I think.

yes you bare right its correct