A Halrey-Davidson FXDR has a lean angle of 31 derees, for instance.

Harley, not Halrey, of course

I was still half asleep when I gave you the previous answer. Now, after a cup of java, I realize that wasn't what you were asking. Banking it is.

Okay, thanks, dude.

What is then meant by lean angle? Is it the angle when parking a motorcycle on the side stand?

no, lean angle tells you in degrees the angle a motorycle is leaning in a turn

Assuming a flat surface and no skidding, the lean angle of the motorcycle is related to it's speed and the cornering radius as follows:

theta = arctan ( V*V / r*g)

Where g is the gravitational constant.

Now, I think you can also show that the turning radius is related to speed and lateral acceleration as:

r = V*V / a

where a is the lateral acceleration.

Substitute r in the above and you get:

theta = arctan (a/g)

So to pull 1.0 g, then you need to be turning at a 45 degree lean angle. This is the theoretical limit assuming tires can't achieve coefficients of friction greater than 1.0.

In the UK we would say "lean (the bike) into the curve". I would tend to associate "banking" with aircraft.

To get around a corner, a motorcycle must be put into a lean angle.
To get around a corner, a motorcycle must be banked.

Correct?

Hm, dude, from what you wrote now, lean angle and bank seems to be the same to me.

Guess the Harley would start scratching the road surface with something when leaning to hard caused by too high speed. Correct?

Thanks
thziege

incline springs to mind... a lean angle requires a sensible diet...

@thziege: that depends on the Harley model. Something with floorboards (like an Ultra Classic) obviously would touch the ground much sooner than, say, a Sportster or a Dyna (besides being too top heavy for low angles to begin with).

Also, I s'pose lean angle and banking are interchangeable in theory, might just depend on how each one's used.

Alright, dude, thank you very much for your help!