|
|
Post by 81 on Nov 3, 2007 9:57:03 GMT -5
Sometimes when I've taken a corner too fast, I add more countersteer so I don't go into the opposing lane (on a two-lane road) and lean over soooo far that I scare the begezus out of myself. On my Suzuki C50 cruiser, I know when I've leaned the maximum when the floorboard scrapes the pavement, but scooters can lean over much farther than a cruiser, so how far can I safely lean over on my Kymco People 250?
When I find out, I'm going to add "curb feelers" to the scoot to tell me when I've reached the maximum safe lean limit.
Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by Jacine on Nov 3, 2007 10:56:40 GMT -5
Information on you scooter should provide the maximum safe lean angle in degrees. For example the Harley Vrod series (not the VRCSR) has a maximum lean angle of 35 degrees. The VRCSR had a lean angle of 40 degrees. You should be able to get the information in the specs of the site or in your manual.
|
|
|
|
Post by T W I S T E R on Nov 3, 2007 16:49:45 GMT -5
yep, it's in the manual or:
when it falls over, you done gone too far. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by scooterollie on Nov 3, 2007 16:55:38 GMT -5
Yeah, right. In our Chinglish manuals?!? (LOL)
|
|
|
|
Post by newc77 on Nov 3, 2007 17:08:30 GMT -5
No such info in my Lance manual. Maybe in a Kymco though. Slow down '81' and follow the recommended method of brake, look, lean and roll on that throttle. Don't want you getting road rash or worse!
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by Jacine on Nov 3, 2007 17:46:17 GMT -5
If the distance between the road and the lowest part of the scooter (floorboard, jiffy stand whatever) is over 5.5 inches clearance distance lean angel is 45 degrees. After that you fall over. less than 5.5 and down to 5.1 is 40 degrees. 5.1 to 4.5 is 30 degrees. and down from there. Depends on tires and center of gravity of vehicle. The maximum I have seen on any racer is 45 degrees. The minimum on a lowered cruiser is 10 degrees.
|
|
|
|
Post by T W I S T E R on Nov 3, 2007 19:18:12 GMT -5
No such info in my Lance manual. Maybe in a Kymco though. Slow down '81' and follow the recommended method of brake, look, lean and roll on that throttle. Don't want you getting road rash or worse! Tom KYMCO manual: Do not suddenly stop or sharp turn or scooter may fall over. Avoid dangers. Close throttle before turn. Open then after. see, I have instructions. |
|
|
|
Post by Dennis D on Nov 3, 2007 20:47:56 GMT -5
The Helix manual also says to brake and close throttle before the turn, and then gradually open it after the turn!  |
|
|
|
Post by newc77 on Nov 3, 2007 20:50:04 GMT -5
That's what I would expect from a Znen manual. Well I know I went too far when I hit the ground I guess. Ha-ha.
|
|
|
|
Post by WarrenS on Nov 4, 2007 21:05:06 GMT -5
I will try to answer this question. The amount of lean depends on traction and grounding of hard parts.
The hard parts that will ground first are the side stand and the center stand. They can lever the tires right off the road. After that comes the body work.
Traction depends on tire quality and the surface you are riding on. Sand, gravel, and oil can affect traction.
Traction is a shared commodity. Your tires not only keep you from sliding sideways they also have to move you forward, steer, and stop the scooter.
When you are accelerating or braking you have less traction for preventing slides. A demonstration of this is when someone burns a donut.
I watch motoGP racing. They lean their cycles so far that they are touching the track with pads on their knees. They have don't have any stands and run very sticky slicks.
|
|
|
|
Post by tomtom on Nov 4, 2007 22:58:54 GMT -5
Don't sports bikes have something called "frame sliders" that you attach to the sides of the bike in case you drop it? In one of the You Tube blogs one of the bloggers was talking about these on his Ninja (TheJosh or Columbia7200). I wonder if you could attach a pair to a scooter?
|
|
|
|
Post by WarrenS on Nov 5, 2007 9:52:13 GMT -5
They are a popular accessory for sport bikes. I have even seen some that light up. It would be hard to put them on most scooters because of the lack of exposed frame.
|
|
|
|
Post by RetroAJ on Nov 5, 2007 17:37:33 GMT -5
Attach your "lean angle" feelers and have two of your friends tip the scooter over each way until the scooter is just about to contact the ground. Then back it off an inch or so and set your feeler. Just don't let your friends drop it.
Or just slow down a little.
*A J*
|
|
|
|
Post by scooterhaas1 on Nov 10, 2007 19:42:13 GMT -5
depends on what scooter. I was sporting aroung on a roketa fiji scooter (150cc) and it handled pretty well. I was taking turns pretty fast and trying to determine the answer to your question. The fiji has somewhat sporty profiled tires. I switched to a roketa bali that my brother was riding and it was not as good. I didn't figure in the different tire profile. I leaned it over too far and if you look at the tire it would have leaned past the contact patch. Both tires broke traction at the same time and I lowsided at about 20mph. Wouldn't have been too bad but I was within 5 feet of a curb and the scooter slid into it at full speed. The front triple tree bent pretty bad. Basically it was totalled. The dealer wouldn't fix it because he didn't want liability of the frame possibly being damaged. I think all I need is the front stem and maybe the forks. Though the rear wheel may be bent as it wobbles. Hope it isn't the frame. It was my mom's scooter that I borrowed to thrash and it didn't have insurance yet. I ended up replacing her scooter with a roketa catalina 150 which is better but has some minor frustrating glitches that I am resolving. Anyway--- I would say if you're not going that fast they can lean over pretty far but be careful as there is no warning when they fail. (or get sporty profile tires and not the touring tires)
|
|
|
|
Post by YellowScooter on Nov 11, 2007 9:22:40 GMT -5
With the stock tires I couldn't lean it very far. the basic 35mph twisties were about all she could handle. Michelin Pilot sc tires on the other hand, I have to all but lay the bike down to max out their sidewall capacity.
|
|
|
|
Post by 81 on Nov 11, 2007 11:03:13 GMT -5
Scooterhaas1, holy cow, I feel badly that I instigated an action on your part that totalled your moms scoot. I'll be more careful in the future as to what I write about.
Frank
|
|
|
|
Post by mgreenfield on Nov 11, 2007 21:44:15 GMT -5
Problem isn't leaning too far, it's leaning too far on surfaces that dont offer enough traction to scoots that have suspensions that are generally pretty crummy compared to motorcycle suspensions.
It's one thing to make a sweeping turn on your M/C at high speed on open highway. It's another thing to make a tight right turn on your scoot in a city intersection loaded with oil drops and slick plasticized white lines.
|
|
|
|
Post by scooterhaas1 on Nov 17, 2007 14:29:39 GMT -5
81 I did that before I read the post. Only my stupidity is to blame. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by "Big Guy" on Nov 21, 2007 20:42:00 GMT -5
Okay, here is the definative answer to your question. I didn't want to type it, so here's a screen shot of my manual: 
|
|
|
|
Post by WarrenS on Nov 22, 2007 10:14:53 GMT -5
Well that sure clears things up. ;D
|
|
