well spoken...
>
> 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
>
