Question

When a motorcyclist turns left from a curb lane into a curb lane, which tire track position should be used?

A.The left tire track position.
B.The right tire track position.
C.The center tire track position.
D.The tire track position is not significant as long as the motorcyclist is comfortable and at ease.

Answer 1

Pulling back on the right handlebar causes the motorcycle to tip to the left and turn due to countersteering, which follows Newton's third law of motion and involves shifting the bike's center of gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a motorcyclist pulls back lightly on the right handlebar while driving at highway speed, the motorcycle tips to the left and produces a left turn due to a physics phenomenon known as countersteering. By pulling the right handlebar towards the rider, the front wheel is momentarily directed to the right. According to Newton's third law, for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction, therefore, the bike reacts by falling towards the opposite direction, which is the left.

This action initiates the lean necessary for the turn, and once the motorcycle is leaning towards the left, the rider then steers the motorcycle to maintain the turn. The lean is essential as it changes the motorcycle's center of gravity, allowing for the turn to occur while the centrifugal force acts on the bike, helping to maintain its balance during the turn. This is a practical application of laws of motion in high-speed motorcycle riding.