The sharper the swerve, the

• A. The less the motorcycle must lean.
• B. The more the motorcycle must brake.
• C. The more the motorcycle must turn the handlebars sharply.
• D. The more the motorcycle must lean.

Answer: (D)

In a turn, the rider and motorcycle lean into the curve so that the combined force of gravity and the outward (centrifugal) force from turning passes through the contact patches of the tires. A sharper swerve means a tighter turning radius, which increases the lateral force you must balance. The lean angle grows as the radius shrinks (at a given speed, tan of the lean angle increases as R gets smaller), so you must lean more for a sharper turn. Braking or turning the handlebars sharply aren’t the direct determinants of how much you must lean; the key factor is the required balance to stay upright through the curve.