How Motorcycles Corner | EXPLAINED

How do motorcycles corner? Like what are the physics behind how much lean angle is needed for a given corner? Why can lighter bikes corner faster? How does counter steering work?

[@hobes9551]

Every vlogger on youtube: "This is how this works!" Mike on Bikes: "Well hmmm... This is how it actually works and here is the real physics in numbers. It's really not that complicated you know..." Me: "Holy F**k. Everything finally makes sense now"

[@SquarewhiteTV]

Thank you for making a comeback! Your content is my favorite on KZbin. I hope everything has been going well for you

[@asphaltart]

Dude, your videos are so good! Thank you for all the work that went into this one. Cheers from Germany!

[@bmwm3man]

Honestly, I just wish you published more content. I love everything you put out there. Keep being great.

[@mrwhite-qn3ku]

I love your channel, I'm actually buying a motorcycle and your channel helps me knowing the theory of riding a motorcycle. Please make more videos like this 😁

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

Mike: this is how a motorcycle steers Neo: hold my spoon

[@mikeskidmore6754]

You point out some facts I never thought about .. I tend to know more about how cars Handle .. Interesting the differance/// between cars and motorcycles..

[@Ghost2167]

Good to have you back after those few months! And also with such an interesting topic. You really can't learn enough about cornering

[@rikileechunhoo]

The one thing I learned at last is "no cornering beyond 45 degree" The rest i leave it to mathematician or inventor who are going to develope self riding robot later. Anyway very insightful and detail explanation Mr Mike. I may need to replay this for 100 times to crack it👍👍👍

[@benorim]

Thought this was supposed to be “easy to understand” 😂. Just tell people “it works. Try it”

[@dan1906]

It is very easy to understand. Give it a chance. Process it a bit at a time. Otherwise, maybe you should take up knitting.

[@benorim]

@@dan1906 I already knit. I ride motorcycles and I don’t need to understand the physics behind counter steering. It works for me, I know it works and that’s good enough. I’m a software engineer. I don’t go around telling people to understand how code works before posting dumb comments like yours.

[@dan1906]

@@benorim Software engineer, it figures. Oh the irony of you referring to my comment as dumb, in contrast to the subject of your original comment. Maybe next time ignorance is holding you back, try restarting the motorcycle. That should correct any issues.

[@mdtmdt4730]

I wanted to say that

[@baneoffsight4871]

@@dan1906 You're pretty arrogant aren't ya... I know, I know, my comment is totally unnecessary- and therefore so is yours. When someone says something is hard, telling them its easy literally makes no difference in their life... Just shooting ideas out there but maybe helping him or shutting up is a better solution?

[@gustavganserpelofswanlake]

Hey Mike! Explained with swedish precision! Thank you for the analysis, recommenable vid of yours again.

[@mazharkhadri5408]

Seen so many videos trying to understand countersteering, finally i understood after watching it here. Thanks guyz for the excellent presentation 👍. Love from the UAE 🇦🇪. Can't thank you enough finally my riding is so much faster and safer now.

[@unwrangler11]

Great cornering explanation and the formulas to calculate forces are helpful to understand what is actually happening. Thanks!

[@spex7503]

I've been riding for 25 years and this is the first time I've felt even close to understanding how a motorcycle actually turns. Outstanding.

[@mohba01]

aero industry and motorcycle have a lot more in common than people know, except no one is trying to fly to the moon in a Husky :)

[@Motorard]

The yaw, roll and pitch got me. Now I have a different perspective

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

I only know one common thing. No one knows how bikes and planes work.

[@devonnobles1083]

This explains everything I have been thinking about recently. Thank you! 😊

[@HennessyBoss]

I felt like I was in a physics lecture.. Great video and has a lot of information.

[@atreyustratula]

Your videos are some of the best on YT.. I’m a better rider because of your content

[@lovethytuber4770]

Been a while - happy you are back and enjoying your content as always!

[@jgsimons]

Good to see you back publishing context. Thanks.

[@CadaverCo]

I love your channel Mike! Keep em coming I love videos that go more in depth on how to ride at the limit.

[@ext_Trex_Arms]

well this is easily the earliest i’ll ever be on one of your videos

[@9ishesh]

Yeah

[@leewaken5059]

I been doing all this for fifty years...naturally. Very cool to "see" it all explained. Thank you.

[@fb3824]

One of the better treatments on the subject I have seen. Well done

[@Nazgul19]

Good video mate, it's been such a long time without a video that i started getting worried. Thank you for the good content (as always). :)

[@viurniel]

This video provides a better explanation than the vast majority of race track tutorials I have viewed.

[@ChadOHara98]

Great video Mike. This info helps everyone ride more intuitively, so thank you!

[@Gismo3333]

This is the best explained cornering of a bike, I have seen. This should be in all MC training to get a license. Instead now we have lots of instructors telling people that counter-steering is track riding only. They know noting about how a bike turns, and they are instructors teaching others to ride. No wander so many people die riding a bike, every year. People are not being told the truth. And are being told the wrong ting. It's obvious to see that most of the crashes with bikes are single crash. Going off the road not making the corner.

[@audisseybardelas2907]

a doctor, a fireman, a teacher, a stepbrother and now a biker? you have my respect man

[@xp4t790]

ah, i see... you're man of culture

[@gooseshawn]

Johnny Sins hahaha

[@tearupx]

Great to see you back man, your content is always top notch!

[@Nonicknameleftforme]

I have learned soooooo much from Mike about motorcycle physics, that the thumbs up and subscription are just too little to be honest. I mean I knew quite a bit by myself, but Mike explaining it with nowledge he gained from scientific sources makes you understand everything much better. The biggest danger for motocyclists I see, are YT channels, that try to explain motorcycle physics by using simple elementary school physics and then try to explain things like tire grip or motorcycle cornering. Everytime I am not able to exactly explain something to another rider, or they need to see it or understand it in their head I advise anyone then to the following three channels: Simon Crafar MotoVudu, Sylvain Guintolis channel and Mike on Bikes! I mean, putting him on par with these two means something, doesn't it? Thank you Mike for being such a great source for knowledge and technique!

[@stephenpierce2726]

Was just thinking how we haven't seen a video from Mike in a while. Thanks for the upload!

[@ragazzino2589]

This video help me alot in my motorcycle riding specially in cornering. Thanks to you man!

[@p.chakraborty4453]

I was dying for newer vids !!! Need more often !

[@ajangalbo]

As soon as i saw the thumbnail, i immediately understood the concept of counter-steering

[@potatopobobot4231]

Awesome video and explanations. Have you considered doing a video on physics of whips?

[@SQUID_Road_Glide]

Phenomenal explication! It is so difficult to discuss this subject with my Harley guys. They argue against the physics, as if my Phat-Boy needs to lean and their Glide doesn’t. The imperceptible weave reminds me of my first submarine cruise. The Boatswain kept tell the Captain how far left or right of track the boat was traversing compared to the plotted intended course. No such thing as a straight line! 2020 Phat-Boy

[@davebell3684]

Wow, high density information there mate. I'm gonna have to watch this again. I tried to read a book on bicycle physics a few times and realised that I can feel it better than understand it. Maybe understanding will not make for more enjoyment and I'm better off without it for something like this. I'm still enjoying the puzzles though.

[@proto7688]

I love these videos, thank you for your time.

[@IsturisMasaya]

This was the type of explanation I was looking for, thanks!

[@fauxvier8519]

THE LEGEND IS BACK

[@grongrod]

Best turnning explanation on KZbin, top notch!

[@maksimiliankiefergregl]

Very thoughtful video Mike. Thanks for posting !

[@tekjess_]

Finally a new video! Very informative!

[@xaraphyn]

Amazing video Mike! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@InvictusMotors]

Love your videos especially the physics aspect 👌

[@111jkjk]

You and your vids have been much missed!

[@Para-ni5lx]

Thanks for this tutorials!! And AWESOME collections of motorcycles !! Stay safe

[@tamboleo]

I always appreciate these videos as they go deep dive on the theory behind what we do. However, I didn't find a video where they explain you to have more confidence on the grip of the tires, on the street. How i can go faster without thinking i'm going to have a lowside for exceeding the lateral forces, eventhough i'm not by far at the 45 degrees limit. The theory is there, smooth on the gas, lean more, load the front tire, etc, we all have read the Twist of the Wrist Volume 2 but i can't really improve my leaning technique with only theory. There must be a way on it, without spending money on courses, or trackdays, just by practicing but with something to rely on, that you can feel. It's easy to feel the grip going away on a car, (understeering) but on a bike, the only feel that you have for lack of grip on the front is the impact with the ground and the expensive visit to the shop :( Maybe some leaning and G gauges that BIP when you are at some % of the limit that could grow your skills by setting the warning higher and higher...

[@pointlessdegenerates3568]

get a small dirt bike and rip around a parking lot, its low stakes cheap and the skills transfer to bigger bikes, you’ll be dragging knee in no time

[@RiderMarky]

This is an amazing video. Keep up the great work !!

[@Penafort]

Amazing to see the people that disliked this video are still alive

[@sherbettt]

Thanks a lot, author. You explain it very accessible.

[@robertooropezagamarra1428]

Thank you for a great explanation and very explanatory graphics! "easy to understand"... once you watch this video many times :D

[@muriuwangai3617]

This exactly what I have been missing. Plus well explained. I have subscribed

[@Motorard]

More videos like these please. I learn a lot from these

[@disekjoumoer]

Excellent presentation, Mike.

[@tehpwn3dlife]

Riktigt professionellt. Bra video tack!

[@worldtrailsasia]

Amazing explained on a very understandable way ! Bravo and thank you

[@christianadkins2305]

This video made me feel like I was actually in a corner. Well done 👏 ✔ 😌

[@user-kp7gb4hs8q]

Your videos always snag my attention to them, I must watch😎👍

[@ICE_Whisperer]

Well, this refreshed my memory and gave me something more to learn...

[@stephanesimard1692]

Nice stable young man ! The cruiser will join the studs eventually... Thanks for the pertinent info as always. Nice to finally understand gut feelings with equations :-)

[@JRodSMX]

Mike on bikes+supermotos= instant like.

[@leonardotheredacted7447]

Wow, lots of great information and a very easily understandable presentation!

[@GunCollector007]

As a new rider I really appreciate this video. Thanks

[@ashwinjith8523]

Awesome video and well explained.. To my view of riding.. Push the handle bars towards the direction u wanna go to make counter steering simple.. Am I right!!

[@daveinwla6360]

"When we introduce lean into this rotating mass", referring to the steering torque generated by leaning the bike, is how people can ride bicycles and motorcycles "no hands" - by steering with pressure of their knees against the tank or frame, causing the lean, and the front wheel to steer towards the lean.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

You don't understand. You lean right to turn right, but that causes the front wheel to turn left because the frame moves left when you lean right (equal and opposite force), and the wheel turns left because of gyroscopic precession, which leans the BIKE right, and now you are turning the bike right.

[@daveinwla6360]

@@DumbledoreMcCracken - See the KZbin video on MIT freshman Physics 8.01, lecture 24, on Rolling Motion and Gyroscopes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joG4pnmVmap2jKs For the front wheel rolling forward, a torque exerted by the rider's knees to the right would cause the front wheel to turn to the right. Using the professor's mnemonic, the wheel's momentum, which points left (using the Right-Hand Rule) follows the torque caused by the rider's knees - which points forward (again, using the Right-Hand Rule) - and the wheels' momentum vector "follows the torque" vector, turning the wheel to the right. Note that I didn't say that the rider had to lean to the right - just push his knees to the right, perhaps bending his body at the hip to do so. Using that mechanism, the rider can control the direction of the front wheel as if he were using his hands.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

@@daveinwla6360 already have

[@daveinwla6360]

@@DumbledoreMcCracken - Then, Dumbledore, you see that while standing (as motorcycle racers do upon victory) and pushing one's knees right, the front wheel turns right. Or while sitting, a rider can press on the right peg and move his knees and hips right, and the torque towards the right causes the front wheel to turn right. Don't try this at low speed, though, as the gyroscopic force needs some rotational speed of the wheel to become apparent.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

@@daveinwla6360 make a video. All I have to go on is about 10k miles of riding a bike, and about 1500 miles riding a motorcycle.

[@uycuongtran6382]

One more helpful video. Thank you so much ☺️

[@fullnoeleko]

Just great and usefull explanation... THANKS !

[@ashrayhebbar5885]

This video is a gem! ❤️

[@daveinwla6360]

This is the 1st KZbin video to mention yaw due to change of lean angle (roll rate). Bravo! But unless one has a degree in physics, no one believes that one. :-(

[@theonlyname4utoob]

Great Vid. Succinct with great pacing. Keep it highbrow.

[@daveyt4802]

Outstanding! As usual.

[@mariosnikolaou5212]

Really nice bro. Congrats!!

[@sihlengongoma2044]

i love your videos cause i always learn so much

[@manolomaru]

Suuuper video like always bro!!! :) :) ;)

[@victorv096]

Nice video and what a garage! haha Supermotos, dirt bike, adv bike, sportbikes, pitbike.. wonder how you find time to ride each and every one of them! Greetings from Brasil!

[@nightdipper5178]

Excellent, thanks for the work.

[@notaword1136]

Imagine discovering counter steering, it'd be so confusing and nonsensical

[@pointlessdegenerates3568]

I grew up riding dirt bikes and about three years ago (I had ridden for 12 years at this point) a friend had brought up counter steering and I was completely baffled by the concept even though I had inherently been doing it for years

[@notaword1136]

@@pointlessdegenerates3568 as someone who hasn't been allowed to buy a motorcycle until I move out (although I think I've found a work around, which admittedly will probably take me until I move out to finish) I'm assuming it was a similar feeling to when you think about breathing and have to actively think about doing it for a little bit afterwards

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@pointlessdegenerates3568 That makes all the difference. You grew up with the bikes and the bikes gets bigger while you grew up.

[@thehastywombat]

@@pointlessdegenerates3568 jumping onto a motorbike for the first time in my late 30’s and learning a bunch of theory (thanks to videos like this) on countersteering had me boggled a little bit. Until the first time I got comfortable riding on my own, and then it all come rushing back, the same feeling of riding my BMX’s and Mountain Bikes as a kid! Countersteering just comes so naturally, it’s the thinking about it part that’s hard 😂

[@akagi007]

Oh... my boy. Same me. Late 30 and first big bike (don't counting scooter ten years ago). Before buying bike watching videos and wondering about this counter-steering science. Than sit on a bike at motoschool and blink... its same as mountbike I rode 15 years... no science

[@yavuzkazanc1169]

Great video, great explanation, thank you.

[@paulkitchen5802]

Dude you explained this so well for people who have no concept! Yet, they still have no concept! But why does my KTM 1190 Adventure with 19" front, large wheelbase, 550 lbs and a rake and trail of 26 degree and trail of 4.72, turn on a dime? Compared to Street Triple 401lbs 24.3 degree and 3.75" is it all in my head? LOL You rock!

[@thepunisher1951]

Wowww, your videoes are absolute amazing

[@Shahar_C]

Great video ! Thanks! (Also, a great humor brake with that image at 8:12 🤣 )

[@zidemoto9485]

Very informative video..👍👍👍

[@RobDagger]

that was a great explaination, thank you very much

[@user-uk3ky6qc2n]

Great video!!! Would you do one for trail braking?

[@andrechristian3657]

easy to understand... nice explaination

[@johnschlesinger2009]

Brilliant video: thanks!

[@jetlag4free621]

Big big Motolove! Love my very own Kawasaki. Always putting up the good stuff like Delta Parole, Metallica, Alice In Chains and others when I am working on her and sometimes even on drive! Moto is life

[@shahriyarkalhor]

Congratulations 👏 this is the best and most complete explaination on motorcycle physics !! But u are going too fast and summerizing topics too quickly for viewers, if this video is for just a show off and recall for pros its greats. Thumbs up👍💯👏 But if its for newbis like me who love Motor cycles and have a love for physics it needs more explaining 🙂 Good work 👍 But it has a potential for becoming perfect.. plz explain more, slow down a bit, use easy words and examples.. cuz this video could be a life saver!! And mind opener for many people...

[@enigma_plus]

Thanks a lot, brother!

[@paullarouche4648]

Superb explanation!

[@Haplo59]

Solid content, good popularization

[@archiewilson4943]

Excellent video.

[@dan1906]

Thank you soooo much for using load transfer instead of weight transfer. Weight doesn't transfer unless some mass is moving about the chassis.

[@Temetnosce77]

Exceptional explanation

[@trashedlife1]

Finallyyy you are back

[@bigdavedogdad]

Excellent vid, but would love to see more summary of how it translates to real riding, like you did at the end for the "never exceed 45 degrees". For example, is it ever advisable to move your body weight in a corner if you realise too late you are coming in too fast to just lean? Is it ever advisable *not* to move you body on a corner in order to keep the bike as vertical as possible? When is it ever advisable to shuffle backwards/forwards? Should you brake in corners? Front or rear? When? Under what conditions? I love seeing the maths/physics behind it, but making the leap to useful road rules/advice/practice is tough.

[@hobes9551]

All of your questions are quite situation dependable. Trail braking is generally advisable because you transfer more load (and therefore grip) to front tyre. Rear tyre slip is usually more manageable than front tyre slip. Although if you don't know how to handle back tyre slip, you'll probably drop the bike anyway. So... Leaning into a corner won't create more friction, it just makes your suspension work better, which of course will create more friction on uneven surface if suspension can't handle the bumps on steeper lean angles. On the other hand the effect is negligible with modest lean angles. Of course if you only want to change your bikes center of gravity with leaning, that's a different story. The theory doesn't really relate to reality before you know how your bike handles in extreme conditions. On those edge cases, understanding the theory might help you make an informed decision how to correct bikes behaviour in specific situations. It's all about what you want to do? Get more understeer in corner? More grip to rear tyre to reduce understeer? Get your suspension to behave better on very bumpy corner? There are no general rules that you can easily make from this. It's more about "Hmm... I totally f**d up that last corner. Let's think about physics and figure out which specific thing might have helped in that situation and try it out so next time this specific situation happens, I'll be more skilled to handle it then". Riding outside track, skillset is mainly about worrying external issues like animals, potholes and such. On track the skillset is about driving your bike in the threshold of losing it. Drive like that outside track and you'll be dead sooner or later. If you wan't to be a better driver, go to track or other safe environment to find out how your bike behaves when you push it to the limit on specific situations. Then when you encounter those situations in real life, you know how the bike behaves just before turd is about to hit the fan. Then you know you are driving way too fast, considering the external issues.

[@bigdavedogdad]

@@hobes9551 I appreciate the reply. I get that applying theory is very situation (and depends on yourself and your bike) which is why videos with theory/physics are very interesting but it's very hard to translate and make useful. It's not possible to generalise and say "this technique is best", but there must be some more rules that are general enough to be useful given easy to understand caveats, just like the 45 degree angle one that was in the vid?

[@hobes9551]

@@bigdavedogdad I'd say not really. The ones we already have, basically covers it all. The level Mike addresses these issues is very theoretical and also stuff that you shouldn't encounter in regular street riding situations. Don't go over 45 degrees is more about being safe. You can go over that, but because you never know the condition of the street ahead or your exact tyre pressure you cant be sure how your rubber will behave. So it's more like "Don't be an idiot, you are not on a race track, so you shouldn't try apply these theories directly in street riding" type of tip. He just backed it up with theory to explain why it's such a bad idea. But why this theory is so hard to apply to regular riding? For a street rider, it's really not necessary to understand how counter steering works as long as it works. Also ie. slip angle or maximum lean angle is kind of trivial, either you make the curve or not. It only comes in when you go same curve over and over again and try to shave that last tenth off a second from your lap time. Then you start thinking about slip and lean angles and the possibility of changing bikes steering geometry to get that last bit of advantage. If you are driving so fast outside a race track that you really need to start thinking if your suspension drag is 6% not 2%, you are driving way too fast (and above your skills). Riding safely is a mental space more than a skill (like the 45 degree rule). Always drive so that you have some play. Never use 100% either bikes abilities (not very likely) or your own (much more likely). This way when you see that you've made a mistake you have some play to survive the corner. And how to know that you are using let's say 60% of bikes abilities and not 95%? It's easy, just try out how much your bike can handle. Track is a great place to do this and this is something no one can teach through youtube video. You have to experience it. When your metal space is correct, driving skill (safe and fast) is all about muscle memory and understanding how motorcycle feels in edge of traction. Unless you know where the threshold is, moving weight around or trying to make wheelbase longer because in theory it should help, is just a shot in the dark that can go catastrophically wrong. Main reason for this is that you are basically just guessing, not making informed decisions based on information available (= how bike is communicating to you). So good rule with the 45 degree rule is "Don't guess how the bike will react, know how it will react."

[@bigdavedogdad]

@@hobes9551 Yeah I understand that one wouldn't want to apply these theories to improve ones speed and performance on a road, but you *could* apply them to increases safety and confidence. The same physics applies for roads, but not for the same reasons. To refer back to my original example questions: To move your body so that the bike is more vertical would be advisable if you see a corner is rough or there is debris. Not a race situation, but the same physics. I suppose it may be confusing to combine road and race advice in one vid, though, so I accept why Mike isn't doing it, all I said was I would love to see a more digestible summary that would apply to more riding situations based on such thoroughly well described principles. The vid does an excellent job, but I am perhaps not the intended audience. Thanks for the replies.

[@prathapchandra]

great demonstrations

[@marcelfast1]

Perfect 👌, thanks!!!