Standing up offroad: what really happens to your center of gravity
34,637
Published 2024-04-06
So often viewers comment on my videos that I don't understand the concept of "center of gravity" or more properly center of mass, when I comment on the advantages and disadvantages of standing on your motorcycle when riding off-road. This is a video rant to explain when so many miss in those other videos
All Comments (21)
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People are daft, how on earth would anyone with a basic understanding of physics could think standing up lowers your COG?
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The comments demonstrate that the term "center of gravity" is as universally misunderstood and misapplied as the term "contact patch". The crisis is not in understanding, it is in finding correct words for what we want to describe. The fundamental of standing up while riding is that the rider is decoupled from the bike, and trying to talk about that in terms of CoG is inappropriate.
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Brett is 100% correct. Stand up and you raise your CoG. But you add another layer of suspension - your legs.
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The most simplistic way to describe the benefit of standing I've found is to describe the bike as being like a horse. It naturally wants to stay upright, and by itself, its perfectly capable of doing so, what screws it up is the dummy on it's back. So, when the going gets rough, stand up to isolate your weight, the bike will take care of itself, as long as you can take care of yourself by keeping balance, and keeping steady gentle inputs.
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from my MTB racing times we always said the best rear shock are your flexing legs, and you just approved it, nice nice, V!
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There is nothing here new to me but I just like listening you talk shop about bikes and riding. How you only have 149k subs boggles my mind though...
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Great video! One of the first channel for adv riding !
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Best explanation on this subject I've ever heard!
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Great channel, great host, and pure information.
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Please Bret, release pods Even this, it will make everyone curious and watch it on YouTube when explanation is needed ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»
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as any >6'2"ft >110kg+ rider that's ever tried to ride a enduro bike standing up a techy hill when the application of power is required will know this first hand, unwanted immediate wheelstands are the result, for those of average and below ability anyway. Your video has helped my understand why I feel more comfortable standing on hills on the heavier 890 , even though my mass still rising when I stand, is a lower % of the total vehicle/rider mass.
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Bret, you are perfectly right with your explanation, and if these people don't get it by now you shouldn't waste your energy on them. Love your content <3
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There is another benefit to standing; moment arm of the rider is increased which translates into more stability (try balancing a broomstick, the tape a 3 pound wrench to the upper end and then try to balance it- it will be easier to maintain in a vertical orientation). Another bene; improved visualization of road detail (i.e. potholes and ruts).
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Here in an excellent lesson in basic physics and mathematics as it pertains to motorcycles, presented clearly and professionally. Thank you.
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As usual, great rant
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Thank you for this!!!
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Exactly Bret
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The most important takeaway from this video for me is: "Whether we're sitting on the seat or standing on the foot pegs, the combined mass remains the same." Thanks Bret for another gem.
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Very informative presentation, as we expect from Bret. ;-) There is simply a dramatic change in the way the bike can be handled, and in the real results we get, when we stand properly. Itβs worth a great deal of effort to understand.
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Appreciate you Brett
