Wet Bank Holiday head scratcher

[the_lone_wolf]

Here's one to think about...

Why are bikes with long bang power pulses better at "finding grip" than many small pulses, GP bikes are going to great lengths to achieve this by balancing crank shafts and changing cylinder firing times etc, but no one seems to have explained why it grips more from a physical perspective

You mean the time between each pulse of power?

If this is what you mean, then the longer the time between each pulse of power (from each cylinder firing) results in a longer time of the rear tyre not receiving power; this means it has a chance to recover from the stress imposed by the pulse, and grip better. It may only be a small amount of time, but compare the old 500cc "big bang" engines to the "screamer" engines.

Matt

If you've ever had to kick something along rather than drag it smoothly you'll have seen why. The space gives it time to get grip.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

You mean the time between each pulse of power?

yes kind of, basically having the power come in in one pulse then letting the drive train rest between them, was reading an article about the honda gp bike and they were changing the timing so that all 4 cylinders fired within a quarter of a revolution

adrenalife - that makes sense

Interesting. Doesn't a larger, briefer bang or (series of rapid bangs in a few degrees of crankshaft turn), destabilize the bike/cause the rear tyre to slip more in the first place?
So an electric bike would be quicker and no more difficult to ride, if you had it deliver "POW-POW-POW-POW-POW" power, rather than dead smooth "powwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" power?

But if the power (say from the electric bike) is totally smooth and consistent and you lose grip, you've had it - no pauses in the power to recover grip and you'll go off the road/track like you're on ice.

Then take something with gaps between the power pulses - gives someone enough time to save it if they start to slide as the tyre has time to recover grip.
I think, or am I talking rubbish?

If the above is right then in theory a bike with smooth power should only be able to slide and lowside, not highside (unless it catches something while sliding) whereas something with big power pulses (a v-twin) offers a much better opportunity to highside but slightly less chance of sliding.

Oi - Burgess - can I join your team!? You look like you could do with some help with those tyres...

That's always how I read it too Gonzales - "big bang" is kinda like ABS for accelerating.

Think of it as ABS in reverse

Woo! Great minds and all that

Don't forget these are choices being made by teams who will do ANYTHING to shave milliseconds off lap times and give them an advantage. I don't think it will change your world.