Which Bike Steers Better

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Saw this on ADV.  No way am I gonna try this, but perhaps some of you younger guys would like to give it a go.  Maybe a wheelbase difference could explain the difference?

https://youtu.be/QHzZTN6psA8

[Grumpy Goat]

Saw this on ADV. No way am I gonna try this, but perhaps some of you younger guys would like to give it a go. Maybe a wheelbase difference could explain the difference?

https://youtu.be/QHzZTN6psA8

Not only a wheelbase difference, but more importantly I think a steering lock difference. My S1000R has much less of a steering lock than the RS and as a result it has a wider turning circle I am sure, even though the wheelbase is probably a little bit smaller. It is also much lighter bike. However, how this translates during riding into turning feel does not equate to the actual turning circle of the bike. The S1000R is more “flickable” than the RS but in a parking lot the RS would win.

[Duckbubbles]

I wouldn't (couldn't) do that with any bike I own. It would end up on the ground pretty quickly. Granted, the RT steers "lighter" than the RS. I think it comes down to geometry setup and maybe the telelever vs. conventional fork design. I'll still keep my RS.

Frank

[Duccrazydave]

Oddly enough, when I’m making trips to the grocery store, this is how I ride. The fuel savings really add up :-)


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[Lee]

Saw this on ADV. No way am I gonna try this,

If you're going to Colorado I'm willing to try it with your bike

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Saw this on ADV. No way am I gonna try this,

If you're going to Colorado I'm willing to try it with your bike

Well, my red frame would do these tests without the human input. So no need for you to risk putting your back out.

[Grumpy Goat]

Love this banter ... Nice way to get in the "red frame" bit, Bob. You do have the unique colour in our bunch and I like it.

[Ray]

Saw this on ADV. No way am I gonna try this, but perhaps some of you younger guys would like to give it a go. Maybe a wheelbase difference could explain the difference?

https://youtu.be/QHzZTN6psA8

This is not a test of turning radius, steering lock, or anything related to performance at speed in a curve. All this tests is the comfort this guy has pushing bikes through a slight lean around a parking lot. By the time he got to the RS, he was all worn out - or scared of dumping such a good looking bike....

[Lee]

This is not a test of turning radius, steering lock, or anything related to performance at speed in a curve. All this tests is the comfort this guy has pushing bikes through a slight lean around a parking lot.

Yep

[Duccrazydave]

I'm not so sure this isn't some type of punishment. "That'll be 10 laps of the parking lot for you, young man. No! You push that bike!"

[runnerhiker]

I think the biggest factor on this demonstration is "rake and trail" - the front steering geometry. Also tire geometry.

[azqkr]

When I had the 07 GT I did two police cone courses and could do 18 foot circles all day pretty easily.

My 2012 GS could do 18's and sometimes I'd get to 17's on a good day. 18's were fairly easy.

My 16RS, I struggle to get 20 foot circles accomplished. I've got 20's down but it's a struggle to keep from doing 21's or 22's. 22's on the RS are a breeze like the 18's were on the GT and GS.

I'm not sure why it's harder for me with the RS, but I believe it has something to do with the steering dampner and how far the bars will turn/lock. Right turns seem to be easier than left turns while on the other two motors, the circles were as easy left or right.

[Toruk]

The front axle on a RS is forward of the downtube centerline. This increases turning radius compared to the R which has the axle on the centerline. This also increases high speed stability on the RS. It is a small difference that many do not notice. The RT with the telelever front is a completely different geometry!    

[colirv]

The front axle on a RS is forward of the downtube centerline. This increases turning radius compared to the R which has the axle on the centerline.

I would have thought this would only increase the turning radius by an inch or so - barely noticeable.

[Grumpy Goat]

The front axle on a RS is forward of the downtube centerline. This increases turning radius compared to the R which has the axle on the centerline.

I would have thought this would only increase the turning radius by an inch or so - barely noticeable.

Even small changes in steering geometry can make large differences in mechanical advantage and steering effect / handling. I suspect that the effect on the turning radius, while indeed small, is insignificant compared to the effect felt at the handlebars. Offsetting the front axle from the centre axis of the front fork as shown above is a way of increasing trail and rake while keeping the frame common between the two models, possibly for manufacturing cost reasons. Increasing the trail adds to the directional stability but makes the bike stiffer to turn. The RS is very stable at high speeds.

Here are a couple of articles that might be informative:

https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/a...-geometry/
https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/motorcyc...-geometry/

[colirv]

Useful articles, thanks, although as an engineer I am familiar with the different variables. My English diffidence might have misled you!

[Grumpy Goat]

Useful articles, thanks, although as an engineer I am familiar with the different variables. My English diffidence might have misled you!

Not really. I was posting for the benefit of others who read the post, including those who are not involved in the thread at all or even members of the Forum but are on the Internet viewing these public posts. Many of those may not be so aware.