What's the difference between car racing lines and motorcycle lines

[gorsad]

As the title may have told you, I'm a complete motorcycle noob. But ever since I went to the used motorcycle lot with my dad, I've developed quite a liking for them. I heard that motorcycle racing lines are really different to car racing lines. Wikipedia says that a biker turns in later to limit the amount of lean needed, but this doesn't really give me any solid idea of what a motorcycle line looks like. Could anyone please give me a detailed explanation of what's the difference between motorcycle lines and car lines.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They may be physically different because of the differences between the vehicles in question, but they achieve the same thing: both racing lines and motorcycle lines are the fastest line through a corner.

 

[gorsad]

Thanks, but what are the physical differences. That was my question

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The physical differences will vary from corner to corner and from vehicle to vehicle.

 

[gorsad]

Thanks a lot.

 

[TheCracker]

The only real difference i can imagine between car and bike racing lines would be down to the extra width of a car. Through a chicane where you have a left quickly followed by a right (or vice versa) a bikes line will be more direct than a cars due to the bike only having one line of wheels. A car's line around a corner with curbs may be shallower too, bikes are unlikely to ride curbs in the same way.

 

[gorsad]

Thanks.

 

[Hun200kmh]

As a biker I will say this. Bike's lines must be much more fluid than cars, remember you have less weight but also just a couple of inches width of tyre contact, against the full width of two monstruously large tyres in cars, especially LMPs and F1s.

So, I really don't understand how wikipedia says that bikes turn in later than cars. According to my own experience, bikes start to turn in BEFORE cars, and return to a straight line acceleration status AFTER cars do.

Bikes are much slower than cars in slow corners, again because of mechanical grip lacking. In fast corners they don't have the cars downforce but their lightness helps. Acceleration and braking are also helped by their lightness (compensates the lack of grip needed tp put the power down or to decelerate).

All in all, the bike's movement needs to be approached as a "continuum", while the car is more free for sudden "change-of-direction" movements.

 

[hawkeye122]

The bikes tend to take very broad lines around corners. In an LMP car or F1 car (See Lewis Hamilton, 2007-2008) you can brake very late on the inside, slam the wheel to the left, and come out on the out side of the following right hander a bit ahead of your opponent. Cars can take much more unorthodox lines to allow for easier passing.

 

[gorsad]

Thanks Hun and Hawkeye, those explanations give me an actual visual image.

 

[PAPPACLART]

A bike will always cover less distance around any given track versus a car as they are smaller with there racing lines though a corner covering less ground. Also certain corners like chicanes, some can be straight lined by a bike due to its size, while a car will have to flick from one direction to the other. Broadly speaking lines are very similar to cars, the big difference coming from braking points and the application of throttle while exiting a corner.