Apparatus and method for stabilizing a motorcycle during turning maneuvers

A vehicle comprising:

• at least one wheel;
• a frame;
• a support member attached at one end to the frame;
• a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers;
• wherein the contact point comes into contact with the road surface approximately when the vehicle reaches a greatest desired lean angle;
• wherein when the contact point first contacts the road surface at a first lean angle, the support arm prevents the vehicle from exceeding the first lean angle.

A method of stabilizing a vehicle during a turning maneuver on a road surface comprising:

• providing a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a frame, a support member attached at one end to the frame, and a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers, wherein the contact point does not come into contact with the road surface until approximately when the vehicle reaches a preselected greatest desired lean angle, and wherein when the contact point first contacts the road surface at a first lean angle, the support arm prevents the vehicle from exceeding the first lean angle;
• initiating the turning maneuver;
• leaning the vehicle until the contact point on an end of a support member attached to the vehicle comes into contact with the road surface;
• and
• completing the turning maneuver.

An apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle during turning maneuvers on a road surface comprising:

• a support member attached at one end to the vehicle, the support member comprising an inner member and an outer member that can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other to adjust the length of the support member, the inner and outer members being held in place with respect to each other with a pressure clamp, set screw, latching key, bolt and nut, or hook pin;
• a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers;
• and
• an adjustable lean stop, the adjustable lean stop being a length adjustment mechanism for setting a greatest desired lean angle, wherein the contact point comes into contact with the road surface approximately when the vehicle reaches the greatest desired lean angle.