[Ducati] Reversing Rotors

[Rob Allen]

I have a couple of comments on Mr. Edwards' post...

On 5/18/06, cedwards105 <cedwards105 at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>
> "Lock the bars straight".. My perception was that the handle bars, for the
> experiment, were to be locked so they could not be used to aid in the
> bikes
> ability to change direction.


We've had this discussion here before, and IMHO if you "lock the bars
straight" then you're really not talking about a motorcycle anymore...at
least not in the sense that "motorcycle" is commonly accepted.  As Don said,
no one's doubting that you have to turn the handlebars in one direction or
the other to make the bike turn.


Another point raised, how do people change direction when doing a
> wheelie..Again, if you watch this carefully, if the person is attempting
> to
> turn left, the right handle bar is pulled. That's why a person appears
> crossed up, just prior to the bike changing direction.



Sorry, Dude, I call bullshit on this one.  NO ONE is going to convince me
that countersteering is going to have an effect on a moving motorcycle when
the front wheel is off the ground.  Honestly I think the dynamics change
from when you have one contact patch versus two.  Take a wheel off a bicycle
and roll it down the street.  If it leans left, it's going to turn left.
That's reality, baby, and there's nothing to countersteer when you've only
got one wheel.


You can also prove to yourself that countersteering works by doing a simple
> advanced MSF accident avoidance drill in a parking lot.


Last comment, for the record: I never doubted that countersteer works.  I'm
a huge proponent of, believer in, and conscious practitioner of countersteer
(as opposed to those who practice countersteer and then deny it).

I just also believe (and you appear to agree) that you CAN steer with body
English alone...as long as you're not riding some gizmo that looks like a
motorcycle but both wheels are locked in a straight line so they can't turn
at all.  =)

-- 
-- Rob Allen
-----------------------------------------------------------
1997 748/853 "Regina Gialla" (Gia) (aka Bombo)
2001 BMW K1200LTC "BatGirl"
2004 Suzuki DRZ125L
2005 Suzuki DRZ200 Dual Sport
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Be strong enough to stand firm when you're right,
Be humble enough to admit when you're wrong,
And be wise enough to know the difference.