[Andrew]

I have read quite a few posts talking about how a sport bike will be easier to lean for cornering for new riders. Is that purely to do with the physics of seating position and having more of your body weight over the engine? Or do the height and center of gravity also come into play?

[Budd]

It has more to do with the rake and handle bars. The rake reduces the turning radius. The higher handle bars make pushing on them a little more difficult. There is some geometrical calculation you can do involving the contact and its distance in relation to whear the fork and the tire intersect too. The greater the difference the harder to turn it. It basically all comes down to putting the weight over the front tire. The greater the angle of the weight from vertical from the front tire, the harder it is to get leverage and lean.

I think I have seen a drawing that explains it better than I can but I forget where. But it all comes down to leverage.

“I am the best I am at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine

[TheAbomb12]

I just bought a used ninja 650 (my first bike btw).. and I was amazed at how easy it handles. Its the first “sport” or sport-standard I have ever driven and I actually thought it was pretty easy- I was able to jump on and a Matter of a few minutes I was really comfortable with turning.

The bikes I previously ridden before was a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 during the MSF course; and my dad’s Honda Shadow (1100cc) which I actually drove for about 200 miles (the reason why I took the MSF course was to get a license so my father and I could take a trip).

Now keep in mind that the Honda is really heavy; but in the 200 miles that I drove the shadow, I am Still more comfortable in low speed turning with the 20 miles I just put on today on my Ninja.

[Kickprivate]

The rake angle is the angle measured from the forks to the forks vertical position. The trail is the distance measured between where the forks intersect the ground and where the tire meets the ground. If you extended the forks to a surface and measured between where the tire meets the pavement you will have your trail.

Combine this with the factors of riding position, handle bar placement, center of gravity and other factors and you have a rate of which you can lean the bike.

~Not your average hairless monkey
Kick

[Andrew]

So a sport bike is essentially easier because it’s more upright than an standard or a cruiser. It also has a shorter wheelbase and a higher center of gravity. So why do the MSF courses tend to use standards and dual purpose bikes rather than sport bikes. Is it the power or the problem of getting a noob to psychologically commit to a lean in the sport bike riding position?

Andrew

[acidpope]

I have a Ninja 650 too. They handle very nicely. It was my first bike and I didn’t have any problem feeling comfortable leaning it and I had never ridden a motorcycle before.

[Author]

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