Driving a Motorcycle

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Figure 1: The gyroscope is spinning on its axis. Figure 2: A force is applied to try to rotate the
spin axis. Figure 3: The gyroscope is reacting to the input force along an axis perpendicular to
the input force.

© HOWSTUFFWORKS 2018

Driving a motorcycle is very different from driving a car. Since motorcycles are
two-wheeled vehicles, they topple over when they stop moving. A moving
motorcycle is affected by gyroscopic forces that are unique to two-wheeled
machines. As a result, new motorcyclists must develop the skills necessary to
handle their machines and must be licensed before they can drive their
motorcycles on the street. In particular, motorcycle riders must master the art of
steering, braking and changing gears.

Steering

Steering a motorcycle at low speeds is a straightforward process. The rider simply

turns the handlebar in the direction he wishes to go. This only works at speeds
below five miles an hour. If a motorcycle is traveling any faster, the rider must use
a different kind of steering, known as counter-steering. This type of steering
may seem counterintuitive. That's because motorcycle riders must push the
handlebars to the left to make the vehicle turn right and vice versa.
Here's how it would work out on the street. Imagine that you're riding a
motorcycle on the interstate. In front of you, blocking the right half of your lane,
is a wreck or some other obstacle. If you're a novice rider, you might be tempted
to push on the right side of the handlebar, thinking this will turn the bike to left.
In reality, this will steer the bike to the right, directly into the obstacle. Instead,
you should push on the left side of the handlebar, which directs the front wheel
to the right but steers the vehicle to the left.

Why does a motorcycle work this way? The motorcycle's wheels act
like gyroscopes and create gyroscopic forces when moving at speeds above five
miles an hour. One of the most interesting effects related to a gyroscope is a
phenomenon known as precession. When a force is applied perpendicular to a
gyroscope's axis of rotation, the resulting motion is perpendicular to the input
force. This motion is called precession, and it's what causes the steering in
motorcycles to be counterintuitive. It's also why instructors often arm their
beginning riders with a simple mnemonic: "Push left, turn left. Push right, turn
right."

Braking

Stopping a moving motorcycle requires that the rider use two brakes -- one on
the front wheel, controlled by the right hand, and one on the rear wheel,
controlled by the right foot. Both brakes should be used at the same time,
although the front brakes are more powerful and will typically provide 70 to 90
percent of the total braking force. New riders often fear using the front brake, but
it should be applied every time a motorcycle is slowed or stopped. Many
accidents are caused by riders braking incorrectly. According to the California
Highway patrol, locking up the rear brakes is a factor in the majority of
motorcycle crashes.

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Changing Gears

Early motorcycle clutches were operated by a foot pedal in the same way that
automobile drivers use clutches. This was awkward and dangerous because it
required that the rider's left foot be off the ground when the bike came to
complete stop (at an intersection, for instance). British designers solved this
problem with a hand-operated clutch. Today, hand-operated clutches and foot-
operated shifters are standard on all models.

Braking Advice

When a motorcycle experiences a rapid deceleration, weight shifts to the front

wheel. This makes the back of the bike lighter and can result in the rear wheel
locking up and skidding. In this situation, riders should simply keep the rear
brake applied and focus their eyes on the horizon where they want the bike to
go. The bike will continue to skid, but in a controllable manner with little
fishtailing.

When the front wheel locks up, riders should ease off the front brake. If they
don't, the front wheel can tuck under the bike, causing a fall. The best way to
avoid a front lockup is to use a technique called "staged braking." In staged
braking, the rider progresses through four stages, with each stage corresponding
to a greater amount of pressure applied to the front brake:

 Stage one has the rider applying the brake just to the point where there is
the slightest friction between the brake pads and disc.
 In stage-two braking, the rider progresses to stage one, then continues to
apply a steadier force.
 By stage four, which is usually reserved for emergencies that require rapid
deceleration, the rider bears down on the brake as hard as possible, but
only after progressing through the other stages.
This kind of progressive braking will serve motorcyclists in all driving situations
and will usually prevent a front lockup.

In the next section, we'll explore the many different types of motorcycles.

HELMET HEAD
Many states require that motorcycle riders wear helmets. Helmets perform two
functions in a crash. The outer shell, which is constructed of fiberglass or
injection-molded plastic, distributes energy from an impact across a wider area.
An inner lining made of polystyrene absorbs most of the shock of the impact.