Oversteer And Understeer

[tricky_micky]

Originally Posted by NormanPCN

Understeer has the front following a wider arc than the rear. Oversteer has the front runing a narrower arc.

Just to add my $ worth.

I would go along with this one, explained in a nutshell!

This terminology has been around in motor racing for donkey's years, but I have never heard it reffered to when on a bike until I read this section. As I always say, You Never Stop Learning even if it is just a different terminology to what you have been used to be it a US expression or a UK expression.

I would go along with explanations such as those posted by Carl, but if we were reffering to it over here, the expression would be more like:

"You ran wide on that bend" for oversteer.
"You cut in early on that bend" for understeer.

Much easier to explain and understand when talking to most of our clients.

[Carl_T]

Quote:

"You ran wide on that bend" for oversteer. "You cut in early on that bend" for understeer.

Mick, Here it would be the exact opposite.

Understeer = running wide (understeer, not steering tight enough or front sliding away, opening the radius [either one]).

Oversteer = cut in early on the bend (oversteer or back stepping out and pointing the bike tighter "into" the corner, which tightens the exit line radius [if you don't slide out entirely]). This is also how it's used in auto motor racing.

[Blue STreak]

I don't watch NASCAR anymore. (The cars bear not even a remote resemblance to "stock" (show me that 2-door Charger or Ford at your local Dodge dealer, and show my any of the street versions with a roof line even remotely close to the NASCAR mandated roof), it bears more relationship to a circus than racing (the rules are constantly tweaked to ensure no one can really be consistantly better than anyone else--build a better car and NASCAR punishes you by changing the rules to let everyone else catch up). Full course yellows seem designed as much to let the pack catch up as for safety purposes, intentional contact between cars is not just tolerated, but encouraged, and watching accidents seems to be the primary motivation of most of the yahoos in the stands. And does anyone realize that real cars can steer in BOTH directions?

If NASCAR didn't encourage the sort of behavior that's become commonplace today, they'd bounce any driver who intentionally bumped another car for the next race, two races for a 2nd offense, and so on. One of these days another driver's gonna get killed because of these circus antics, and maybe then NASCAR will get back to racing again.

Round and round and round they go, when they'll crash, nobody knows

Anyway, In the good old days, NASCAR folks referred to understeer as "the car's pooshing," and oversteer as "the car's real loose."

[BigTom]

Thread Hi Jack alert

Nascar is a lot like a spec series, today. Car shape, spring rate, gear rate, etc, etc. Is still a lot better racing than anything else going today. F1 and Champ and Indy don't have any passing on the track, it is passing in the pits, only. Formula __________ and IMCA (fill in the blank, used to be Atlantic, I think is Toyota, now) cars are exactly the same.

Outlaws, Dwarfs, Silver Series is fun racing. I am 100 mi from the nearest track, so TV is where my racing jones comes from. Nascar is the most fun to watch. For me.

Besides, where else can you hear sombody say "oyle" or "tyrrrs" on TV. Ward Burton, where are you now?

The best part may be the intellectual banter from the TV commentators. NBC or Fox, doesn't seem to matter. Benny or Darrel? Boxers or Briefs?