Steering in bicycles and motorcycles
Abstract
Steering a motorcycle or bicycle is counterintuitive; to turn right, you must steer left initially, and vice versa. You can execute this initially counter-directed turn by turning the handlebars explicitly (called counter-steering) or by throwing your hips to the side. Contrary to common belief, gyroscopic forces play only a limited role in balancing and steering [D. E. H. Jones, Phys. Today 23 (4), 34-40 (1970)].
- Publication:
-
American Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- July 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1119/1.19504
- Bibcode:
- 2000AmJPh..68..654F
- Keywords:
-
- 01.50.-i;
- 45.05.+x;
- 45.40.Cc;
- Educational aids;
- General theory of classical mechanics of discrete systems;
- Rigid body and gyroscope motion