Cycle World Podcast
Cycle World Podcast
Cycle World
WEIGHT TRANSFER and Motorcycle Handling--To wheelie or not?
1 hour 4 minutes Posted Mar 18, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
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How many ways have motorcycle designers gotten it wrong? So many! One of these was chasing an ultra-low center of gravity on motorcycles, only to find it made handling worse! How have we settled on 20-22 inches off the ground for center of gravity? Because it works, and transfers weight on the front wheel during braking and to the rear wheel when accelerating. The right C of G also assists us when tipping into a corner. Technical Editor Kevin Cameron and Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer discuss motorcycle weight transfer and motorcycling handling. Our favorite moments of weight transfer? Wheelies and stoppies, of course!