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And then there's motorcycles, where the direction you'll turn will change depending on how fast you're going. :) At very low speeds, a motorcycle behaves like
by tjohns 9y ago
And then there's motorcycles, where the direction you'll turn will change depending on how fast you're going. :)
At very low speeds, a motorcycle behaves like a bicycle. Turn the handlebar right, go right.*
However, once you get up to normal vehicle speeds, it reverses and countersteering takes over. Turn the handlebar right, go left.*
It's one of the things they spend a lot of time drilling into your head if you take a motorcycle safety class, because a lot of folks get it wrong or incorrectly think that you turn by leaning. It's a UI problem that can very easily get you hurt -- but I'm not sure how you'd make it any more intuitive.
(*: Technically, countersteering is still in play at low speeds, even on a bicycle... but it's very subtle and most folks don't notice it, because you quickly correct the other way to re-balance the bike.)
- travisjungroth 9y ago> It's one of the things they spend a lot of time drilling into your head Which is why most training for practical things is pretty bad. You can't shove physical skills into student's heads. Tell them once or twice, then create a drill where they get to learn it themselves. In this case, I would have the student do low speed turns from straight. Ideally on a bicycle.
- tim333 9y agoAlso I find a lot of instructors are bad at physics, especially in skiing. 'Copy me' tends to work better than trying to follow a somewhat off explanation.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- tim333 9y agobeing nitpicky, turning the handlebars makes the front wheel go the direction you turn it. So to turn right at speed, turn the bars left a bit so the wheels move out a foot or so to the left and you're lent over, then turn it right so the bike turns right hard enough to stop you falling over further.
- TheSpiceIsLife 9y agoThis is why training wheels on bikes for kids are mostly useless as far as learning to ride a bike goes. Balance bikes are bikes with no crank or peddles, or just take the peddles off a regular bike.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]