Bicycle and Motorcycle Dynamics

Choose an answer from the three choices and True or False offered after each question and then "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz.

1. Steering inputs counter lean to maintain balance. At high speeds, the input required to return the bike to upright only needs to be small; a much greater input is required to maintain balance at low speed. It is _______ to maintain balance at high speeds. (Fill in the blank.)

• Easier
• Harder
• Neutral

2. The farther forward (closer to front wheel) the center of mass of the combined bike and rider, the less the front wheel has to move laterally in order to maintain balance. Which means, the further back (closer to the rear wheel) the center of mass is located, the more front wheel lateral movement or bike forward motion will be required to regain balance.

• True or False?

3. A factor that influences how easy or hard a bike will be to ride is trail, the distance by which the front wheel ground contact point trails behind the point where a line through the steering axis, the axis about which the steering mechanism (fork, handlebars, front wheel, etc.) pivots, intersects the ground. What is this factor?

• End
• River
• Trail

4. Another factor that can also contribute to the self-stability of traditional bike designs is the distribution of mass in the steering mechanism. What is NOT included?

• Front wheel
• Fork
• Engine

5. In order to turn, that is change their direction of forward travel, bikes must balance the relevant forces: gravitational, inertial, frictional, and ground support. What must they do to balance?

• Lean
• Stand
• Trip

6. Where does most of the braking force of standard upright bikes comes from?

• The front wheel
• The rear wheel
• The engine

7. What is it called if the rear wheel is lifted and the bicycle flips.

• Endo (‘end-over-end’)
• Stoppie
• Mannie

8. On motorcycles, light rear-wheel braking, sometimes referred to as dragging, can be a useful aid to stability when turning at low speed. What is it called?

• Dragging
• Braking
• Steering

9. How many moving parts does a bike have?

• 2
• 4
• 6

10. In vehicle acrobatics, what is the trick where the front wheel or wheels come off the ground and the vehicle is balanced on the rear wheel or wheels.

• wheelie
• stoppie
• lowsider

Check Your Answers

• 1. easier
• 2. True
• 3. Trail
• 4. Engine
• 5. Lean
• 6. The front wheel
• 7. Endo (‘end-over-end’)
• 8. Dragging
• 9. 4 (frame, fork, and two wheels)
• 10. wheelie

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