Camber: How Does it Affects Us?

It’s rare that you’ll find tracks that are completely flat, and even a track built on the flattest area of land will still feature some undulation, even if it is only slight.

These elevation changes will offer up some shifts in characteristics for each corner in the way of chamber. But just what is chamber? And how does it affect our approach to a corner?

Let’s find out.

What is Camber?

In the simplest terms, camber refers to the elevation change between the left and right edges of the track, which create an angled surface of road that you will ride across. This ‘angle’ in the surface of the road will mean your approach will often change.

When talking about camber, there are two main types that are referred to. These are positive camber, and negative camber, both of which will have a different way of altering your cornering plan.

Positive Camber

What it is?

Generally speaking, a corner with positive camber will be higher on the outside of the corner and lower on the inside, so the track will slope down from the outer edge to the inner one.

How does it affect us?

Positive camber through a corner is something that is always going to help you out. As is displayed in any sort of speedway bowl, you can travel quicker when a corner is banked because there are less sideways forces acting on the tyres.

In terms of motorcycles, if two riders are travelling at 50mph, one around a flat curve and the other around a positive camber curve, the rider going around the banked curve will be able to get around with less lean angle.

Alternatively it means that you can actually travel around the corner faster with the extra clearance you have now been given by having positive camber.

Another benefit will come from our good old friend gravity. The sideways forces on the tyre want to push them to the outside of the turn, but because the turn is sloped into the middle, gravity will help fight that outward force and pull the tyre down the slope (to the inside of the turn).

Game Plan

Now, in an ideal world a positive camber turn will be perfectly bowled, but this is not always going to be the case.

If some sections of a corner are flat and others have positive camber, you may prefer to stray off the ‘ideal line’ to make best use of the camber.

Watching Motocross riders is a perfect example of this. They can get through some corners quicker by travelling right around the outside of the turn, making use of the large amounts of positive camber there.

Also, with positive camber on a corner exit, you are going to be able to be a little more aggressive with the throttle compared to a corner that is completely flat.

Negative Camber

What it is?

Negative camber is simply the opposite of the above. When the track is higher on the inside of the turn compared to the outside, this is classed as negative camber.

How does it affect us?

Again, the disadvantages will be quite the opposite of positive camber.

To travel at the same speed around a negative camber turn you are going to have to use more lean angle (relative to the road) to get around the turn.

Gravity will also want to be pulling you downhill (to the outside), effectively increasing the side load on the tyre as you travel around the turn.

Game Plan

So what does this mean? It means you are going to have to be a little more cautious with your throttle control, particularly on corner exits.

There is a corner at Cadwell Park in the UK that is known as highside city, and that’s because people get caught out by the negative camber on the corner exit. Riders get a bit too greedy with the throttle in this tricky area and sure enough, lose rear end traction.

As with altering your line to find positive camber, could you alter your line to remove the adverse effects of negative camber? If you can’t avoid the camber on the exit, for example, you could try employing a more squared-off line so you can stand the bike up earlier and get the horsepower down.

As with the throttle, if you’re having to brake in a section of track that is falling away because of the camber, again you are going to have to consider taking things more easily.

A Hidden Danger

If you have read my Throttle and Turn article you’ll know that you don’t really want to be adding throttle and lean at the same time.

What do you think would happen then if you are performing your normal mid-turn throttle roll on and the corner you are travelling around suddenly presents you with negative camber?

You won’t be touching the bar to lean the bike more, so you’re ok, right?

Wrong!

When you hit the negative camber, unless you slow your speed down, your lean angle relative to the road will only increase, effectively adding lean angle while you are rolling on the throttle.

To combat this, you don’t need to slow right down, just back off your throttle roll on during this tricky section of the corner.

So that’s camber. It can be a great help, or it can be a hidden trap waiting to snap. In many instances, track designers put these challenging elements in on purpose to test the riders/drivers of the circuit.

It’s your job as the rider to assess each corner and see if you can utilise the camber, or if you have to watch your step because of it.

Picture by David Rosen