Final answer:
To effectively control a motorcycle, it is important to keep your feet firmly on the footrests and knees slightly bent to help manage the forces involved in maintaining balance and vehicle control.
Step-by-step explanation:
To control a motorcycle well, keep your feet firmly on the footrests and your knees slightly bent. Proper body position on a motorcycle is crucial for maintaining control and balance.
When you ride a motorcycle or a bicycle, controlling the vehicle involves managing the forces acting upon it. Just like riding a bicycle, where you must lean at the correct angle to maintain stability, especially when making a turn, riding a motorcycle also requires an understanding of these forces.
When turning, the force exerted by the ground must align with the motorcycle's center of gravity to ensure stability. The force acting on the motorcycle wheel divides into two perpendicular components: the friction force parallel to the road surface, which provides the necessary centripetal force for the turn, and the vertical normal force, which counteracts the system's weight. Having your feet secure on the footrests and knees slightly bent aids in managing these forces and maintaining balance, which is governed by the nervous system.