A place to learn about the physics of motorcycling.

Motorcycle Physics

I've been fascinated by motorcycles since I was a child. I've owned and ridden them since I was a teenager. What keeps a motorcycle on two wheels? What are the physical forces behind the simple (OK, not so simple) act of riding a motorcycle?

Lean angles, countersteering, force vectors, rotational velocity, inertia, inverted pendulums... what's with all this stuff?

Motorcycle Physics Books

Here are some useful books related to the the physics of motorcycle riding and racing.

Talk Back!

Do you know of any good books about motorcycle physics? Leave a comment and let us know!

Motorcycle Dynamics

The term Motorcycle Dynamics is often used as a more general name for motorcycle physics.

Motorcycle Dynamics Resources

Here's a list of the online resources about Motorcycle Dynamics

Motorcycle Physics Videos

Motorcycle Physics Videos

Here are some of the motorcycle physics videos I've found on the web. If you have JavaScript disabled or otherwise blocked, you probably won't see much on this page. C'mon, lighten up! Enable JavaScript!

The boring physics of steering a Motorcycle (YouTube)

Motorcycle Physics (YouTube)

The Lazy Motorbike: Countersteering, a physical View on it. (YouTube)

Officers study physics of motorcycle crashes (ksl.com)

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Officers study physics of motorcycle crashes

Counter Steering and Bike tips (YouTube)

Motorcycle Physics Resources

Web Resources

Motorcycle Physics Resources on the Web
Well, I don't think you can do much better than this terrific page titled The Physics of Motorcycles on MotorcycleJazz.com. Go there and read it right away! We'll be here when you get back.

Motorcycle Turning

"Question: If you are on a motorcycle going down the highway, and you press on the inside of the left handle grip, why do the wheels turn to the right, but you turn to the left?" Answer here

Edutopia

Speed 101: Motorcycle Racing as Real-World Physics Lab

Sarah Carter Shares Her Thoughts

Despite what some people may think, motorcycle roadracing is not only a highly strenuous sport, but there is MUCH more involved than just twisting the throttle and turning the handlebars.
The Physics of Motorcycle Racing

Motorcycle Physics Papers

Physics and the Art of the Motorcycle (Physics Today, September 1998/Volume 51/Issue 9)
The Art and Materials Physics of the Motorcycle (Falco, Charles M. -- American Physical Society, 2008 APS March Meeting, March 10-14, 2008, abstract #D3.001)
Motorcycle Dynamics resources on carsim.com:

This page contains a limited bibliography of technical papers related to the modling [sic] and simulation of motorcycle dynamics. Much of the work has been done in the UK, where Prof. Robin Sharp works with the same symbolic code generator (VehicleSim Lisp, formally known as AutoSim) used by Mechanical Simulation.

Other Pages

A Point of Physics (PDF) discusses gyroscopic forces, angular momentum, and includes a few interesting sketches. Short and to the point, discusses steering by moving the rider's body... but... according to Keith Code's No B.S. test bike it's not the body lean. Very interesting... (Popular Mechanics)
Motorcycle Dynamics at Padua University
Applied Motorcycle Dynamics - A Case Study By Greg Du Val
Motorcycles and the theoretical Motorcycle Safety forum.
A Hairy Ride - Motorcycle Physics (physicsforums.com)

Wikipedia holds forth

Well, sometimes Wikipedia can be useful. ;D

Other stuff

Why keeping balance is easier at speed

Talk Back

If you know of any great motorcycle physics resources, drop a comment and let us know.

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