Counter steering..

[GearboxGeezer]

Hi,

I was reading a website about motorbike riding tips and this website ( i cant rember the name or anything but it was from new Australia )

But anyway it said that if ur going at 70mph round couners and stuff its actually better to counter steer... I could under stand it if u was controling the rear end coming out or somthing like that but it just dosnt seem right to turn the opposite way into a bend?

Is this a good thing to do or is this website just trying to kill people? And can u explain why its a good thing if it is a good thing.

[veeeffarr]

You can't corner without countersteer.

You will do this slightly subconsciously when you are cornering.

Doing it when you are aware of counter steering allows for quick change in directions (Like if you suddenly spot a rabbit in the road or something) and lets you tip the bike into corners more.

[-Savage-]

nah countersteering is gently turning the handlebars the wrong way when cornering lol, it sort of happens naturally as you lean in.

search here, there are plenty of posts on it as far as i know.
____________________
My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
Peugeot Speedfight 100, Kymco Hipster 125, GSXR750K5, Jawa TS 350

[GearboxGeezer]

so is counter steering making the front wheel point to the oposite side of the bend or is it just keep the wheel straight with the bike?

[-Savage-]

the front wheele should point out of the bend. you kindo of push on the bar on the inside, pull on the bar at the outside.
____________________
My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
Peugeot Speedfight 100, Kymco Hipster 125, GSXR750K5, Jawa TS 350

[cLaTTeReD]

when you countersteer the wheel stays inline with the bike, it just cranks the bike over more

the handlebars dont actually turn

[V4]

I remember being told to try it on my cbt, bloody scared me, never really understood it and don't knowingly do it.

Is it a high speed or a low speed thing?

Leon

[cLaTTeReD]

All you need to do to try it is go along at a reasonable speed about 30/40 the push the right bar and you feel the bike turn to the left - easy

[Kickstart]

Hi

It is something you naturally do from a fairly low speed.

Bikes do not corner by steering, they corner by leaning. Theory is that the tyres act like a cone lying on its side. Your steering input just makes the bike fall over so that it is leaning.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Vin]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Probably is somewhat natural from a push bike. But really just something you rapidly learn without thinking about (like walking on 2 legs).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Wave2k]

you only notice it when you bend your yokes and it feels weird.
____________________
Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[jonnay]

I remember reading about it and trying it on my ped when I was new to bikes and anything to do with them in general... it worked really well, and it's helpful doing it conciously because you can flick the bike out of trouble's way, as someone has said. Only thing I'd say is be careful doing this.... I've done it a bit "hard" once or twice, which has resulted in a tankslapper - seriously scary on the NSR, but even more so on a moped

Just go out and practice very gently pressing the bars whilst you're going down a straight road, to get the bike to weave from side to side. Don't try it straight away in corners, just get the feeling for it - you only need to do it VERY lightly for it to work properly.

Jon
____________________
::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[akaDAVE]

[Suzuki]

[Vin]

[cLaTTeReD]

[MikeH]

At anything over 70 I have to consciously use it to muscle the KLE over otherwise it ain't going anywhere but in a straightline. Useful for quick overtakes too when nipping in and out of moving traffic, 'tis a handy weapon to have in your armoury and it's got me out of a couple of spots mid corner when I've gone in a bit too quick and nearly shat myself
____________________
Busa Junkie

[Villers]

Its your best friend, especially if you are too hot on a bend. Instead of staring at the curb, hitting the brakes and making the bike stand up and graciously travel through a hedge you can use countersteer to give you a better chance of getting it back. If the pegs arent scraping you may have a chance of giving more lean, that means using the counter steer. Saying it and doing it are two different things however.

Also good to shimmy the bike to one side really quickly in a straight line to avoid a bit of road debris.

For those not too sure, on a quiet straight road apply a slight bit of push forward to the right hand bar and it will take you to the right. Vice versa for the left. If you give it a thump it will move the bike quickly to avoid stuff.

Be careful though!


____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Dazbo666]

I remember being shown, and practicing counter steering on my DAS last year... from memory it was in a quiet car park at the beginning of the 1st lesson after CBT??

I realise it feels unnatural when you 1st make a conscious effort to do it, but once you get used to the technique it actually makes steering and handling much easier. Stick with it, it all slots in to place once you get used to it
____________________
1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[lurker]

hard enough trying to get your head around it on the bike never mind off it..
..best just to give it a go and not think too much about why it works.

[Silver]

Easiest way to get your head round it is to ride up the road (slowish, but not too slow) and try and turn left by turning the bars left. It's quite an eye opener. The go back and do what you would normally do, only this time pay close attention to your natural movements.

[0ddball]

The reason it sounds strange is people (or at least i did) picture actually turning the bars properly, like a 45 degree turn or something. Where as in practice you only apply a bit of pressure and turn the bars a couple of degrees.

I find it is neccessary to force the counter steer when cornering at speed (100mph+) as the bike fights to stay upright more.

[geordiecbrblo...]

Countersteering linky

[G]

Incidentally, counter steering may be where the myth that you mostly turn your bike with body weight comes from.

If you lean your body to the left, your left arm natually pushes forward on the left bar a bit. This obviously makes the bike tip to the left, so people often think that it's leaning their body that's causing this to happen; not realising that it's actually their hands moving the bars the opposite way.