Weight and watch

Well don't just sit there, move around. That's not just a great line to hand out to wimps and nerds at parties, it also applies very seriously to motorcycling. Given that the average Indian motorcycle weighs around 125 kgs, and that we generally weigh say, 70 kgs, our bodies invariably make up a whole chunk of the total mass of the man-machine combination.

Look at the process of motorcycle development. Engineers in white coats spend hours trying to locate the masses for best dynamic effect. Which is why words like Mass Centralisation have gone on to define the track and sales records of certain motorcycles. Which means, if you just sit there and watch the scenery come in through your faceshield, you're probably not making the most of it. There's nothing wrong with it, I reiterate. But you could do better.

How? The addition of your body to the motorcycle's mass changes the centre of gravity of the motorcycle. In effect, the motorcycle would probably behave a hell of a lot better if it didn't have you on it. However, while the motorcycle's CG is more or less fixed, your ability to move your weight around means, you have control over how the CG changes. At least to some extent.

How do you use this? Slide back in the seat to gain traction from the rear wheel. Useful when trying to make progress in slippery conditions. Or slide forward when trying to maximise front-end grip. Very useful under braking and while cornering medium-hard. Get one bumcheek off the bike towards the inside of the corner, and suddenly you gain more traction, more cornering clearance. Lose thirty kgs, and instantly more performance... you get the picture.