I dont understand countersteering.

[ClydeGhost]

What? Push to the left turn right, push right turn left. EH? I was just sent this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8IdTq3_3WI&feature=relmfu and was unsure about counter steering. I don't understand this and I fear that if I try it I may just end up having another accident. Can someone explain further rather than 'push left you turn right if you're going more that 10mph'

Or is it something i'll pick up eventually?
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Honda CBF125 : Suzuki GS500

[sheriffjonny]

If you really think about what you do already, you will probably find you are doing it anway. The idea behind it sounds weird. If you think about it, when you go round a corner, you lean into it, you don't actually turn the handlebars into the turn.

Say you were going around a left bend, you lean into the turn, now if you were to turn your handlebars to the left, you would actually be putting the wheel sideways against the direction of force, if you turn the wheel slightly to the right you will negate this effect. Just remember that you aren't making any big dramatic turns here, it really is a slight movement. Als it comes down to the speed you are going, at lower speed you may actually turn te handlebars as you don't have to power to keep you up against gravity if you lean into it
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Current bike........'09 Honda CBF 125, seeking new big bike............New bike found '01 Honda VFR 800

[soforene]

[Alpha-9]

Don't think about it.
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Fzr-600 1999

[J.M.]

If you're turning a corner you are counter-steering. You're already doing it on your everyday riding.

Also it's a common miss-belief that leaning off of the bike causes you to turn a corner sharply. The image below shows that even fully leaning off of the bike, without counter-steering, you're just going to go in a straight line:
https://moto-technique.co.uk/images/counterSteer.jpg

Basically counter-steering is what causes you to turn. When you lean the bike over, the bike naturally does it. Understanding what it is merely enables you to consciously do it.

The image below shows counter-steering in action. Basically, when the wheel is turning to the right (push the left bar forwards), the bike actively tips to the left:
https://image.sportrider.com/f/8858452/146_0110_zoom+ducati+front_side_view.jpg


Edit: Images fixed. The college filtering policy is such a pain in the arse. Tor, I love you.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[ClydeGhost]

That's cleared it up a little, sorta, kinda, maybe, should've, eh. There I was thinking that I've been doing it wrong all this time. So, like, basically, as you're about to turn you slightly push the handle bar to the left (if taking a right turn) but then bringing it back to the right? right? by leaning? What I do is move a little to the left then turn the handlebars back to the right. I'm very shaky round corners anyway and this is how i've always done it.
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Honda CBF125 : Suzuki GS500

[Alpha-9]

Those images failed entirely J.M, not even the direct link works

[tlartist]

Maybe think of it like this. Push with your left hand if you want to turn left. Push with your right hand if you want to turn right. Try it at speed to see what happens. Ride toward a point on the road and press somewhat hard with left hand to go left. Might also help to turn your head to the left as well.
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[Gazza M]

when you want to turn, you basically need to shift the centre of gravity of you and the bike out of 'line' with the wheels, so the bike counteracts this by turning.

all that countersteering does is very slightly steer the bike to the outside of the turn to initiate the lean - then the turn will come.

so - to turn right - push on slightly on the right handlebar. bike will lean to the right. very little input is needed really.

if you feel a bit shaky doing it, try on a pushbike to get a feel for countersteering - this makes it a lot easier to see what is going on.

HTH
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Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Teflon-Mike]

Youre already 'Counter-Steering'. You just dont do it conciousely.

The principle, and its over proliferated explanation is gyroscopic progression.

This is the pehnomonon of a rotating body, when subject to a deflecting force to react with an opposing force, but offset by 90 degrees.

Example is to get a push-bike wheel, hold the spindle in each hand then get some one it give it a good spin.

Try and turn it to the left, and it will react by trying to tilt top left.

Have a play.

On a motorbike. works thus; if you put PRESSURE on left bar, G-P makes bike try and LEAN left, hence steer left, propagating steering.

And you DO THAT NATURALLY of you would have CRASHED long before now! Its how bikes steer!

What people are talking about is CONCIOUSE Counter-Steering, which is to DELIBERATELY and CONCIOUSELY load the bars to MAKE it do that MORE, and hence lean and steer faster.

Rather than how you do it sub-conciousely, which is to use a little 'ahead lean' tilting your upper body from the centre line, and applying a very SLIGHT pressure to the bar to make it tilt and start turning.

Once you have got the idea, you can use the effect to speed up tuirning, or as I do on heavier bikes, make them move more readily with less body movement or effort.
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

How to steer a bike
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[pinkyfloyd]

As said above numerous times. Your already doing it without thinking. Its the mental block that happens when you actually think about the physics involved in counter steering that melts your head.

You only really need to think about it when you want to learn more about cornering and improve your technique. The hardest part is getting your brain to understand that you have to essentially start the turn by pushing the bars in the opposite direction than you want to go. IE push on the left bar to turn left, or right to turn right. Its alien and against logic but it works.

Best thing to do, to fully understand how it works, is practice. Get yourself onto a straight bit of road with very little traffic and ride along as you would normally and gently push one of the bars forward a tiny bit. (too much and you'll end up in a hedge). Note what way the bike dips. Bear in mind a bike leans INTO a corner.

When you take the same technique and think about it as you are cornering you will find that you will improve your cornering speeds and confidence. After a while it will become second nature. When the bike is leant over just push the bar away a tiny bit more and the bike will tighten up in the corner.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Alpha-9]

Seriously, don't think too hard about it.

Leave her alone and let her build her confidence up in general before worrying about advanced riding techniques. The poor girls bombarded with overthinking and seemingly scared of riding now


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Fzr-600 1999

[ClydeGhost]

Ah, okay. Cheers guys! I see sunlight and dry roads I think i'm going to try it out and see if I can do it consciously!

THANKS BUNCHES!!
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Honda CBF125 : Suzuki GS500

[snikks]

I found this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFm3honeTQo helped me to get my head around the idea. Quite a good explanation.

That said, the best way to learn it is to just go out and (very carefully) try it. You'll soon get a feel for it.
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- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[Rogerborg]

Do it consciously, have the "Oh, so that's how it works!" moment. Then forget about it.
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[Sako]

have to agree with the people who mentioned going out and trying it - its the only way you will get your head around the concept - best of luck!

[TheSmiler]

Whenever I see threads like these I always think of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LR6eS2NWf4
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[ClydeGhost]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAY. I went out on my very first proper ride to work today, was very shaky still at pulling away/turning/cornering but I thought 'Fuck it' and went on my way. I haven't had a proper ride because of the weather but now that it was nice and clear I took advantage. IT WAS GREAT. Ugh, it felt awesome, I don't know why I was so terrified, but I guess that's always the case. I also tried the counter steering and I get it now, I'm not going round a corner at high speeds but I get it. CHEERS BUNCHES GUYS
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Honda CBF125 : Suzuki GS500

[Flatbadger]

Sounds like you've CBT'd successfully - well done!

I was concerned that I'd get confused with counter-steering - I just lean in the direction I want to go and what the handlebars do doesn't concern me, nice and simple.

[Jynister]

[John933]

I had the same question running round in my head for some time. Just could not get my head round it. Let me take you on a journey and may be you will see. Go back when you where very young and rode your push bike round with no hand's. Remember them day's? We all did it. Then the next thing you found was that you could go round corner's with no hand's a new skill. That one piece of information should tell you that you can steer a bike with no in put to the handle bar's. So what's happening?. You move your weight the bike tip's to one side. The bike turn's. You get up right again and the bike goes straight. Simple. The same on Power two Wheel's.

The turn left to go right, or the other way round is. Just as simple. In this case if you are travelling in a straight line. And do a quick short movement to one side. The change in direction will throw all the weight to the other side. Now if you quickly lean with the weight. So you want to go left. Bang in a quick nudge to the right. The bike is falling to the left. You lean with it to the left. Changing the steering to go left, And you are down low getting round at a good rate of knot's. It just drop's the bike in quicker. All in all you don't need that kind of quick movement on the road. Just leaning in the right direction will get you there. Once you do it and worked out what's happening. As I did. Hell I thought I don't need to turn that quick.

That kind of steering is for the race track, not the hight-way,
Hope that help's
John933
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[pendulum]

[Ayrton]

Dont try to hang off just to get the bike to turn. I was trying to do this at one point until i watched twist of the wrist and learnt to put pressure onto the bars instead.

[bikertomm]

Learnt this within the first couple of days of riding, I knew it would work, but when I came up to a smooth left hander and pushed forward gently on the left grip -

Mind = blown.

Epic, I find it helps balance the bike, leans it in nicely and ever since I have actively countersteered

Doesn't feel like you are wrestling with the bike at all which is almost what it felt like on my first day. ( I was doing it wrong )


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