I'm curious if the lean is initiated by counter-steer (like a two-wheeler) or by direct steer (like a Spyder)...
Countersteer only works where centrifugal force is the determining factor for balance. The Spyder (or any 3 wheeled vehicle) counters centrifugal force with a spread stance, not lean. Countersteering a Spyder, or a leaning 'Spyder' for that matter, will have the same effect as countersteering your car! :yikes: Please! Don't try this at home folks!
In other words, the outside wheel resists centrifugal force on a Spyder where lean achieves this on a 2 wheeled machine.
In theory leaning on a 3 wheeled vehicle will assist in resisting centrifugal force. But it still isn't the same thing as on 2 wheels.
On 2 wheels you balance falling to the inside of the turn with falling to the outside of the turn, it's 100% offsetting lean forces.
With the Spyder you can reduce centrifugal force by lowering your center of gravity (which gives centrifugal force less leverage to work with). In theory this can be done by leaning your 3 wheeled vehicle. But there are several reasons why this really doesn't work well.
First, you can achieve much the same thing by sliding your body to the inside of the turn and getting your butt below the seat.
Plus, to achieve lean on 3 wheels you have to increase ground clearance (raise the machine higher off the road) to give your hard parts room to lean without hitting the ground.
With the Spyder, since it does not lean, the engineers were able to get it pretty low to the ground. So you already have a built in advantage over a leaning 3 wheeler.
To me, a leaning 3 wheeler is a great concept on the surface but it is never really going to deliver what people are looking for.
If you want to fly, get an airplane, if you want to lean, get 2 wheels, if you just want to have an incredible experience, and more fun than a human being should be allowed to have... ride your Spyder and love every turn!
hyea:
