Racing Motor Cycle Adhesion

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Racing Motor Cycle Adhesion

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  • #757636
    Peter Cook 6
    Participant
      @petercook6

      Just a bit of curiosity from a non biker. Watching a bit of the Japanese Moto GP race while eating lunch, I was intrigued by the forces that keep those things on the track when cornering. The TV coverage occasionally showed a graphic which gave speed and lean angle. At times the bikes were cornering with 60+ degree lean angles at 80+mph.

      I wondered if one of the motorcycle guru’s on here could explain what magic is holding the bike on the track. I couldn’t see any significant aerodynamics adding to the downforce in the same way as four wheel racers do. Instinctively it looked as if they should slide off sideways (as they clearly do when it all goes wrong).

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      #757657
      bernard towers
      Participant
        @bernardtowers37738

        its mostly down to tyre compounds which are different for different parts of the tyre so harder comps in the middle and softer towards the wall. aero is a bit more difficult on a bike because of the lean thing, you need the aero on the straight but if it was the same on the corner the bike would fall over, i suspect  as the bike is leant over the aero is also leaning so doesn’t have the same effect. Now for the experts to come along!

        #757666
        DC31k
        Participant
          @dc31k
          On Peter Cook 6 Said:

          ..what magic is holding the bike on the track.

          There is a nut on the top of every MotoGP bike that controls how fast it goes. Halfway down that nut are two balls. The size of the balls determines the corner speed.

          #757669
          SillyOldDuffer
          Moderator
            @sillyoldduffer

            Friction between road and tyre resisting centripetal force.  Newton’s equal and opposite reaction.

            The angle is determined by how much friction is available.  That depends on the road surface, what the tyre is made of, and how much of it is in contact with the road.  I guess a racing tyre will be made of a soft rubber rounded to squidge more as the bike tilts.  Better grip than a road tyre in exchange for rapid wear.

            Obviously limits to how far a bike can tilt, and motor cyclists are extremely vulnerable to oil, water, ice, leaves, gravel, metal covers, or smooth asphalt repairs.  Or expecting a road tyre to allow Guy Martin style cornering on the way back from the pub.

            I’ve avoided the maths because I will certainly get it wrong.  Look up centripetal force, or perhaps someone good at sums will explain!

            Dave

            #757672
            duncan webster 1
            Participant
              @duncanwebster1

              Google suggests coeff of friction for F1 tyres is 1.6. Couldnt find anything on racing bikes. This suggests angle of lean 51 degrees,

              arc cos(1/1.6)

              In my youth there were Avon Roadrunner tyres, which were a sort of half ellipse in cross section to put more rubber on the road as you leaned over. They cost too much for me, I just used regular tyres.

               

              #757673
              Grindstone Cowboy
              Participant
                @grindstonecowboy

                Could there be anything gained by the fact that the sidewall of the tyre will be trying to “climb up” the road surface as the angle becomes more acute? Or more accurately “across the road surface in the direction of the top of the bike”, dragging it into the bend.

                Rob

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