Here's what I got, it's all true.
Ducati actually raised the height of some weight in the CG on the new Panigale stating it was improving handling. That is hard to wrap my head around. There are a great number of variables in play some of which have little science to prove outright when in combination with all elements. That is to say, there is still a little "magic," in motorcycling eg. how a GP bike gets past 60° lean angle for example. Should be impossible by some physics.
There is the big force, centrifugal force, Center of Gravity exponentially increases the effect of centrifugal force, which is why leaning way off your bike dragging knee helps so much.
...Ah I think I just answered my own question.
SO: Weight in the correct position on a tipped bike in a curved vector, will put that weight INSIDE the turn, decreasing exponentially the effect of centrifugal force (pushing the bike outwards in the curve) and increase the effect of centripetal force (opposite, pushing the mass inside the curve) therefor creating a greater overall ability for traction in curved vectors.
Then there's gyroscopic force coming from all rotational mass: Wheels, flywheel, axles, engine parts. This is why turning right used to be more sucky than turning left and also why you counter steer bikes, how they stand up so magically when applying pressure on the bars in a deep lean goes balls out fast. This is why Ducati started spinning some parts clockwise and some counterclockwise to nullify this force.
I'm pretty sure "Unsprung weight" has the biggest effect of the combination of these two, what I think Don14R was calling “below the suspension."
Aerodynamics is a big one, Ducati was first to make aerodynamic fairlings and first to put wings on bikes in motogp, someday they'll get to cornering downforce like F1 has, which is why F1 breaking distance is 6 TIMES LESS THAN MotoGP's breaking distance at Mugello after the front straight. I think
DucatiKev was pointing that out in his astute example of dew point relative to air pressure. I'd only seen that brought up in golf before. Headspin.
What else makes performance handling?
Tire magic: Friction + Adhesion= traction Other factors?
Red makes you go faster everyone says.
Thoughts?
...snip...
Every pound lost “below the suspension” equals almost 10 pounds above
So while maybe ti exhaust or a magnesium axle adjuster are not that big of a deal to everyone - wheels, carriers, chains and stuff like that very well could be
Those concerned with performance that is...
Yep.