wobble part 4: more on lane change and wobble

something i left in the comments which i think should be included in a post on lane changing and wobbling during class 2b lessons - a summary for tips during lane change:

1. Lane change from point a to point b in a straight line. If its not a diagonal straight line across lanes and u hv to change direction-wobble!

2. Identify your path / diagonal line and aim your bike early! Dont rush into it! This includes early identification of traffic from the back.signal, check mirror assess before blind spot!

3. if you are going too fast, use the rear brake only to control your speed. Using your front brake during lane change may cause wobble especially if you going to miss your lane change end point.

4. Turn your head slowly when lane change for blind spot check. Don't rush your head turning. Move your head only. Move your body abruptly you will jerk the bike and wobble.

5. Maintain throttle during lane change. Don't suddenly let go throttle. Confirm will wobble. Use rear brakes to control speed. Power to the rear wheel should be consistent.

6. Last tip doesn't only apply only to lane change: whether u wobble or not also dependant on whether suspension is upset or changes position during sudden change of direction or speed.

in the circuit u cant go fast so this will be even more impt. All steering and throttle inputs should be gradual.

Be mindful of the front fork and rear suspension at all times.

wobble? - part 1

intro
what never fails to intrigue me was the instructors always deduct points for 8.01, 5.02, 4.02 for WOBBLE. i had spent most of the time during my free time wondering if "wobble" is just a ill conceived notion to make us repeat modules and take more lessons =D

most of us will not be able to detect wobble in the beginning stages of learning, at least until we see one for ourselves. i had learnt to recognize one when i first spotted someone wobbling on his cruiser.
(it was pretty obvious 'cos the bajaj avenger had a really long wheel base and u can really see wobble in slowwww-mo)

to simplify, a wobble to my own understanding is given that your bike is on 2 wheels rolling along, the bike wobbles when it either tilts to the side and back and so on!
(you can visualise it as a roly poly toy tilting side to side only that your bike is still rolling forward!) see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roly-poly_toy

i.e. to say, the balance of the bike was UPSET when the wobble occurs while the bike was rolling forward.
you will note that the bike does not really wobble when the bike is turning or cornering.
(more on that later, when i discuss moving off from stopping with a sharp turn in a later post)

so when does your bike wobble?

1. when you're moving off
2. when you're stopping
3. when you are checking your blind spot,especially when you're doing your lane change!

in fact, wobble enough times during your lane change and some of us may have repeated 2.02 so many times just because of the wobble.

the first key important thing is eye-point.
this applies to all 3 situations.

it seems that as long the head and the eye points towards a certain area, the bike will go there!
you may consider your eye, nose and the level of your chin as a motorcycle path aiming device!

i.e. to say to avoid wobble, heads up level, focus on something far, so as to get used to the head position required!

- look up and don't look down when you're moving off!
- look up and don't look down when you are braking to stop!
- look up at something in the horizon.
  if a biker is in front of you "see" through his/her helmet!

this is repetitive, but it make sense! you have to try to know it.


situation 1: moving off
besides eye-point, wobble occurs commonly when you rush to bring your left foot up onto the pegs!

this would probably more obvious when you're practicing low speed control.

guide line: 

• if you're moving off and stopping within a bike distance, you do not have to bring up your left foot immediately! (hang your foot)
• if you're moving off and stopping beyond a bike's distance, bring up your left foot only when the bike has traveled straight with enough momemtum. foot should not be rushed to the peg or else it will upset the balance of the bike!
  
• for the more curious folks, a bike is around 2m in length. a car is typically 4m long.

why?

1. before the bike moves off, you're balancing the bike with your left foot, right foot holding the rear wheel stationary.
2. when the bike moves off, 2 phases occur:
• 1: bike attempts to roll forward and is unstable. bringing up your foot will caused the bike to wobble!
• 2: bike gains enough forward momentum, feeding the throttle the rear wheel causes the rear wheel to upright due to gyroscopic effect! 
3. its only during the 2nd phase onwards u can start controlling your body position so that wobble does not occur with sudden adjustment of the body!

all the above is related to low speed control, and control of the wobble at low speeds would help in eliminating the wobble when you start to move off!

i'll post more on situations 2 and 3 in a later post.