Maybe a stoopit wheel question

[blazer]

Ok, there is something I just don't understand and was hoping someone could explain it to me like a 4th grader. I also want to preface this question by saying my last superbike was my 916 (that my ex-wife sold with a forged title for $2100 with 3300 miles and one birthday on it - but that is another story).

Anyway, while I can understand the weight saving benefit of putting on light weight wheels, I don't quite get the affect on the gyroscopic action. It would seem to me that with more mass near the outside of the wheel, that there would be a larger gyroscopic force working to stabilize the bike. Now, if you reduce that with carbon fiber or magnesium rims wouldn't you be sacrificing that stability since you would have less mass rotating? And, if that is correct, do you hit a point of the lack of stability trumping the weight savings?

Or am I just looking at this all wrong?

Thanks!

B-

[viperclaw]

You would never be able to reduce the rotating mass enough to cause instability issues, especially at speed. Even the lightest tires will cause enough stability when they are being rotated.

Reducing the rotating mass, recuces the gyro effect of the wheels which makes the bike easier to turn. It will never be too easy to turn--unstable.