Having spent many years riding bicycles with no hands on the bars, I can attest that it is possible to steer (a little) by shifting one's weight. HOWEVER, on a motorcycle--as with a bicycle--when you shift your weight from side to side, the vehicle must react in order to remain balanced. The bike's frame is hinged at the steering head, and the spinning wheels and their traction on the road resist direction changes far better than the steering head bearings. I think that "body steering" on a motorcycle actually causes a slight counter-reaction in the handlebars, which leans the machine and initiates a mild turn, just as you would do by counter-steering in the normal way. This butt-to-bar reaction is obvious on a bicycle, where weight, gyroscopic effect, and wheelbase are all far less than on a motorcycle. Try this on a bicycle and you'll see the bar moving to counter your shifting weight. The motorcycle in motion is in a constant state of falling-over/self-correction, and so immediate, subtle and ceaseless is this game of balance that we never notice it's going on at all. But without the front wheel being able to react to the shifting weight of the bike itself, the bike could never stay upright. If you don't believe me, then weld your front-end and frame together at the steering head and see how far you get. Even on the 'No BS Bike", the regular steering head remains active even as the rider grips the second rigidly mounted handlebar. I'd wager that it's possible to get a mild body-steer turn out of the No BS Bike, but the whole point of Mr. Code's "no body-steer" exercise is to prove that you can't EFFECTIVELY steer a motorcycle by shifting you weight.
-Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: "Henry S. Winokur" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 1:00 PM Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > While I'm on remember our discussion re my 'body lean' steering which > > attracted a great deal of attention from other interested parties, I have > > quietly 'listened' to all that has been said and have little to > > argue with, > > but just to annoy you again and keep the pot boiling can I volunteer that > > since setting the hare running I have consciously considered my steering > > action and have to say that at no time do I deliberately > > push/pull, bang or > > thump the bars, but I am aware that I institute a turn by leaning my upper > > body in the direction I wish to go in, and control the turn by > > adjusting the > > position of my body. > > I'm not going to get into an argument on this one, Tom. I believe that you > can't body steer a MC, no matter what you or others say. And when I say > "steer", I mean change its direction substantially. > > Without seeing how you corner, it is difficult, or impossible to decide > whether you are "body steering" as you like to call it, or using the handle > bars. I believe you have to use the bars if you going to substantially > change your direction, and all other things being equal, I don't believe > you'll be able to manage it with body steering, or whatever you want to call > it. > > Henry, no valium, Winokur
