Lean Angle and Contact Patch

[Ken C]

You are the tire expert, Dave. I will always defer to your knowledge of the engineering details. I was just wanting to deflate the old myth that the contact patch changes significantly enough for it to matter to the average rider.

[BlueStreakFizzy]

Its the loading of the radial tire that is increasing the contact patch, which is an obvious statement. more pressure on the tire, more of it will be touching the pavement.

[Mad Max]

So, the reason to hang off is to: 1.keep hard parts from dragging 2. keep the bike upright so that you keep the contact area as far away from the edge as possible to prevent "running off the edge" 3. reduce the drag that occurs when you ask the tires to roll on the smaller outside part of the tire 4. to use body weight to influence control.

To add to this list, keeping the bike as upright as possible also allows the suspension absorb bumps in the road better.

[Ken C]

Yep. Good addition.

[Paul_E_D]

I wonder if one can really "run off the edge" of a tire? I think most people can drag parts before running off the edge. My 125 had massive clearance and I still couldn't run off the edge.

[Ken C]

Even the above average rider will never run out of tire on the street. And only the faster track guys even have a chance of doing it.