The chassis list teaches me stuff every day. Can't say that I contribute
much more than questions and links myself :)
I think the confusion about CofG has to do with low-speed vs high-speed
handling. Sure in the parking lot a GoldWing is easier to muscle around
if the mass is close to the ground. "Flicking into a corner" as the
moto-journos love to describe it, is all about countersteering causing
the bike to twist in the opposite direction, plus some really
complicated interactions of rake, trail, contact patches, braking forces
yada yada yada. I just try to absorb what the smart guys say and spit it
back....
" a ball about between the knees" - what was I drinking? I meant a ball
placed approximately between the rider's knees.....
cheers
JF
Mike wrote:
BS alert: low CofG is NOT a good thing necessarily in bikes, unlike
cars. I read this low CofG statement all the time in bike mags and
moto-journo reviews where they just parrot what the marketing dept
says. What the race bikes go for is "mass centralization" which
basically seems to mean the heavy bits are concentrated in a ball
about between the knees as much as possible. I do approve of the
chain drive FWIW. A lot of non-motorcycle types have a strange desire
to get rid of the chain, and use a hub motor.
just my 2cents of value. perhaps you don't agree?
Thank you. I get soooo frustrated with people saying that a bike
should have a low CG. At the recent Ann Arbor Green Fair I mentioned
to a guy that when I put the new Yellow Tops in my bike they had to go
in a little lower than the old Hawkers and I felt that had ill effect
of the handling. He tried telling me that a low CG was good and that
my ill handling must've come from somewhere else. We went back and
fourth a few times before he got angry and stormed away. That was a
very strange interaction.
I have not read Tony's book yet - can't find a copy at a reasonable
price - so I'm pretty ignorant, admittedly. However, I have a theory
that the CG location is a ratio of rake, trail and tire diameter.
I used to be on the Chassis Design listserv
(http://www.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/mc-chassis-design) but they
talked right over my head.
Mike
