razer's definitions

center of mass

The point in a system of bodies or an extended body at which the mass of the system may be considered to be concentrated and at which external forces may be considered to be applied. Also called barycenter or centroid.

In general, an object with a lower center of mass is more stable. This explains why weebles wobble but they don't fall down.

by razer December 26, 2006

need for speed

Phrase popularized by Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun and commonly applied to those who enjoy participating in activities involving high velocities, including aviation, sky diving, downhill skiing, and most forms of motorsports.

Motorcycle roadracers share a pathological need for speed.

by razer December 26, 2006

death wish

Term commonly applied to those who engage in activities that significantly raise their risk of severe bodily injury or death.

Base jumpers must have a death wish.

by razer December 26, 2006

trail braking

Late braking technique used by expert motorcycle roadracers in which the brakes continue to be applied beyond the point at which the motorcycle has been leaned over and has entered the corner. Trail braking is used primarily to delay the onset of braking for a particular corner as long as possible, and thereby overtake another rider. The technique requires a great deal of finesse and skill in order to avoid the loss of front wheel traction, which usually results in a low side crash.

Any attempt at trail braking by a novice rider, although usually unintentional, almost invariably results in a low side crash.

by razer December 26, 2006

low side

Motorcycle roadracing term used to describe a crash in which the bike is leaned over while cornering and falls down towards the inside (i.e. the low side). A low side usually occurs when front wheel traction is suddenly lost.

The flip side of this (no pun intended) is a high side crash.

Billy lost the front going into Turn 1 and low sided.

by razer December 26, 2006

high side

Motorcycle roadracing term used to describe a crash in which the bike is leaned over while cornering and flips back up towards the outside (i.e. the high side). A high side usually occurs when rear wheel traction is suddenly lost and the rider's panic causes him to abruptyl close (chop) the throttle. As a result, the rear wheel suddenly and forcefully regains traction, violently flipping the bike away from the direction of lean and throwing the rider skyward. Most racing injuries occur as a result of a high side since the rider has much further to fall.

The flip side of this (no pun intended) is a low side crash. These crashes are usually minor since the rider falls off much closer to the ground.

That clueless squid lost the rear halfway through Turn 7, chopped the throttle and high sided his brand new, chromed out R1 into the hay bales.

by razer December 26, 2006

cornering

Term used to describe the act of riding a high performance motorcycle through a corner (or curve) of a closed race track or road course. An expert rider is able to corner his machine at high velocity by increasing the lean angle of the motorcycle while at the same time hanging off of the machine, a technique that is often accompanied by knee dragging.

Cornering is the most difficult skill to master in the sport of motorcycle roadracing.

by razer December 25, 2006