It was all going so well...

[yaigi]

Hi there, new to these forums, so I'm just going to jump straight in there with my first post.

I did my CBT back in March, got myself a nice little YBR custom, been riding to work and back pretty much every day no matter what the weather and going out for longer rides at the weekend.

Did my first lesson as part of my mod 1 prep last week, did another today, all went well, learned about counter steering. Ace! Or so I thought...

On the way home, came around a roundabout in the wet and tried out a bit of counter steering. Not entirely sure what happened next, must have put a bit too much counter steering in and sideways I went. Couldn't have been doing much speed as only skidded about 1m, but my head hit the floor and the bike tipped on top of me.

A guy came and checked I was ok, I was, the bike was (just a rip to the rubber of the foot peg, bit came off the end of my handlebars and scratched back of mirror) so I pulled to the side and just composed myself a minute, checked my bike more thoroughly and got on my way.

I'm not worried about getting back on, I guess there was a chance this was going to happen, but my necks hurting a bit and got a bruised knuckle.

Soooo, not about to give up on counter steering, did it plenty of times without messing up, but I'm guessing in the wet, on a roundabout, doing about 30mph wasn't the best idea for a beginner?!

What was the first time you came off like?!

Got a couple of weeks til my next lesson as on holiday so replacement visor in order and a bit of time to get over my embarrassment I guess

[_matt]

First time i binned it was on ice on a 125 scooter. tried to pull into a layby doing 40 and it was just sheet ice, went straight off sideways and slide for 15 meters or so.
pretty scary, but also totally my fault.

welcome to the forums!
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1990 Yamaha XV 535 (Alive Again!) / 2007 Jinlun Texan 125-11 (formerly 2k3, wrong details, now going rusty in the back garden )

[J.M.]

Counter steering is the only way to steer a inline 2 wheeled vehicle like a motorcycle. People commonly confuse counter steering as something you learn in addition to your bike cornering, really though being taught counter steering is merely being consciously aware that it's happening and being consciously aware of how to do it.

With cornering on a motorcycle, especially in bad conditions, it's all about being smooth. It's possible that you tried counter steering mid-corner, gave it too much and upset the bike, making the bike fall on itself. Upsetting the bike mid-corner is not something you should do. If you're going to make adjustments in the corner, you have to ensure to do them smoothly.

It's also entirely possible that your front wheel hit a slippery patch like some diesel on the road and slipped out from under you.

Good job on providing a soft cushion for the bike though!

Glad to see that you're accepting it and getting back on. Unfortunately with biking it's probable that you will fall off a couple of times whilst you're learning and getting to grips with biking. Always get back up.

My first off was a roundabout too. Unlike you however, I failed to turn the corner and hit the curb, sending me and the bike on to the embankment.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[mad4it028]

i think its bad them even mentioning counter steering its not somthing you need to worry about just riding normal you will counter steer alittle dont try an do it on purppose counter steering is just an affect of leaning the bike
anyway good luck with your test take note next time you lean into a right hand bend your bars will go left slightly thats counter steering somthing that happens not somthing you need to try and do

goodluck and welcome
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[Knightsy]

Yo, welcome to the forums.

My first off was at a small bend, thanks to the a lump of mud I didn't notice and rode onto it bit too fast. Lost the front, followed by me failing to save. Went sliding down to the roadside, got up, got pissed about shit on my jacket, picked the bike and few bits (mirror, half of the clutch leaver, and an indicator) and off I went Needless to say, I was pissing myself every time I saw wet mud for next 3 months

Good that you were ok, live and learn mate.
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[Bomberman]

[blito]

I was taught counter steering on my cbt. Only takes a little forward pressure on the bars to make the bike lean. Thats all it is. An aid to leaning the bike.
I wonder if you maybe hit a diesel spill! Roundabouts can be evil in the wet!
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2012 Zontes Monster

[ThoughtContro...]

[Hetzer]

[EazyDuz]

I ride extra careful over roundabouts as they are common for diesel spills/road crap in general
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[bikertomm]

Next time you are going round a gentle bend (one that you know)

say it's a right hand bend.

very gently push forwards your right handgrip

the bike will effectively sort it's lean postiion out and you will glide round the corner

You'll then wonder how you've been getting round corners previously

I had the same problem, having ridden mountain bikes and bmx for years, i just thought it would be the same. I knew something wasn't right on the first day.. me just trying to force the steering around corners lol

Then I found 'actively' countersteering is epic!
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Zen Dog]

Sorry to hear about your crash. Do you think perhaps you countersteered a bit too enthusiastically?

125's are very light, with thin tyres and crap suspension generally, you can easily overwhelm it if you get a bit too violent with the bars "chucking it in"...

Just a thought.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Stiffler]

Drives me nuts when people talk about upgrading their bike handling skills by counter steering. I first encountered it's mythical benefit being preached on a cyclists forum well before I got a motorbike. Took me a while to figure out what they were talking about was nothing special or unique it was just a name for what everyone already does when they lean.

Some people like to over analyse and give every aspect of riding a name and turn it into a technique or skill. Sometimes I think they enjoy the theory more than the riding itself.

Sorry to hear you crashed, really disappointing that you were given the impression counter steering was something you had to actively seek out and do.
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[numpty2]

Falling off in the wet is an initiation ceremony. Getting back on proves you are serious about riding, well done.

I am with most of the others as far as the counter steering argument goes. I have been riding for nearly 30 years and I've never really felt the urge to analyse what I do. Generally speaking, the smoother the ride, the better (no sniggering at the back!)

And roundabouts, especially in the wet, are very dangerous places simply because you can't see enough of the road surface. You've got diesel spills, white lines, manhole covers, debris. Play about on nice sweeping corners that you know, where you can see all the road surface in front of you.

I fell off on ice in my first week of riding, I grabbed a handful of front brake and down I went.

[J.M.]

[Andy_Pagin]

[Ribenapigeon]

I agree with the above post regrading speed on a roundabout.

If I'm negotiating a roundabout or sharp slow corner in the wet I sometimes activly keep the bike more upright by hanging my arse off it a little and steer conventionaly so as to have a more upright machine in the case of a loss of traction. All counter steering does is get the bike to lean over the rest of the steering action is conventional. I think people miss this point. A light 125 even at speed does not need much counter-steering input to lean it even at speed. I can get my WR125X over just with shifting my hips and no noticable hand input. It does sound like the OP just went too fast and hit the dreaded oil/fuel patch.

By the way, a bit off topic but related. Has anyone else noticed how ridiculously short the neck of the filler pipe on lorrys fuel tanks are? And how often you see one has obviously spilled or when getting filled has spilled over. Can haulege companies be reported for this? In this age of H+S surely these short necked fuel tanks should be banned. All it would take is a few extra inches of pipe.

[Qwiktune]

All 3 of my off's have been in the wet, lol.

First one, taking a corner a little too fast for the weather conditions, no damage to me, bent bars on the bike.

2nd was hitting a rabbit down the back lanes, threw me off, once again, no damage to me, smashed indicators, clocks, mirror and plastics to the bike, i was going about 40 though.

3rd was a few weeks ago now, going round a round about, outside a petrol station and the back end just went, i wasnt even going fast, the slowest of my offs probably. Guy in a van came over and helped.

Typical this though, slowest fall, no damage to the bike, but this is what my ankle looked like, managed to some how trap it between the bars and tank. God knows how.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376830_10151117078971718_797202604_n.jpg



Ride safe, and like other have said, dont think about counter steering, although i might not be the best to give advice on this! haha
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CBT Passed: 25.05.11, Theory Passed: 12.07.11, MOD1 Passed: 01.04.12, MOD2 Passed: 20.07.12
bikes: Lifan LF125(stolen), Sukida sk125, GPZ 600r, CBR 600F

[sheriffjonny]

is your instructor trying to get a few more pennies from you? Surely if you were prepping for your tests, it would have been more beneficial to be going through the test list?

End of the day glad you're ok though.

Kwiktune, that looks painful. I bust my leg a couple of months and the bruising lasted for ages, it got worse over the first week
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Current bike........'09 Honda CBF 125, seeking new big bike............New bike found '01 Honda VFR 800

[Ribenapigeon]

Big rabbit!

[Sid_The_Sloth]

My first off was a few months ago. Had been riding a couple months by this point on my YBR. in the wet approaching a small (but not mini) roundabout, I was in the right hand lane prepared to go straight over. I get onto the roundabout going left to get round the curve then literally as soon as I started to lean even slightly right the bike slid from under me. I landed on my right elbow hip and shoulder but thankfully all padding done it's job and I was completely un harmed. Luckily I was only going 15mph whien it happened. The bike however receied... bent right foot peg and rear brake lever, cracked indicator casing and smashed bulb, smashed fly screen, and bent bars.

A mate of mine came off yesterday and unfortunately wasn't so lucky... a big reminder to all our 2 wheeled friends out there to ride safe and ALWAYS WEAR FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR!... RIP Stu Fearns.

[yaigi]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! Been in Portugal at a festival for a week so will be back on the bike again tomorrow

Noticed when I was getting changed in my tent one night I had the most almighty of all bruises on the top of my thigh from the fall haha! Made sleeping in the tent all the more difficult!

Thanks for all your advice on counter steering, just to elaborate a little, we were taught it as a way of doing the swerve bit of the Module 1 test, seemed to make sense to me, and up until the point I fell off, it did seem to make steering the bike that little bit easier, like, more effective with less input needed from me if you know what I mean?

I think it must be good to know about if you can consciously get yourself out of a hiccup with it, but obviously it can also go the other way, as I have now learned. Can't wait to get back on tomorrow though, looking forward to it!

Oh and to the person who referred to me as "he" - it's a "she"

[yaigi]

[Sid_The_Sloth]