Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWn60
......... It seems to me that if you load up the front as much as possible by being as far forward on the seat as possible, there is that much more load that could be transferred to the rear by increased throttle before losing front tire traction (a wheelie)........
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There is something incorrect with that concept.
You can transfer loads between tires by deceleration, acceleration or body re-positioning, but
there is only one amount of load to work with: weight of bike + weight of rider.
A portion of whatever load you transfer onto the rear tire with throttle, will be transferred forward when you move your body as far forward on the seat as possible.
You obtain exactly the same result by seating more aft and giving a little less throttle.
Your comfort and access/effectiveness on the controls is extremely important, the throttle is the correct way to distribute the load between both contact patches and suspensions.
Using the brake and the throttle you can load and unload each contact patch and suspension from zero to max (weight of bike + weight of rider) and vice-verse.
However, you can only achieve a small fraction of that range by shifting your body a few inches respect to the wheelbase forward or aft.
Increasing traction by transferring load over a tire has a negative effect: the suspension is also loaded and it is harder for that loaded contact patch to follow the irregularities and undulations of the asphalt and hence, to stay loaded as intended (too much on crests and too little in valleys).
Because of the above, increasing traction by transferring load not always works as directly and cleanly as expected.
Another collateral effect of transferring load over a tire is the change in the geometry and feeling of the steering.
Loading the front reduces trail and rake angle, which makes the steering lighter or more responsive but less self-recovering or re-centering.
Loading the rear has the opposite effect.
In order to quickly stand the bike up on exit via counter-steering, you need some load (and hence traction) on the front tire.
Yes, the acceleration tends to open the radius of the described circle, but that happens relatively slowly.
Same as a single tire can, a bike can keep a lean angle while describing a circular line without having contact of the front tire with pavement.
In order to force the bike out of that leaned condition, you need some front traction for counter-steering.
