Steering technique

[RiderOfTheSto...]

I race motocross but don’t ride on the road at the moment. This may be a stupid question but I was wondering how many of you push the handle bars in the opposite direction when cornering. In some situations I find that this lets me bank the bike quicker and also to get the bike back upright quicker. Is this standard practice when riding on the road?

[KevTM]

countersteering?

i've only just learned about it a few weeks ago and have been using it on the road, works a treat! i think most people will use that technique as it seems very important, especially to get out of trouble

[sv_cath]

Countersteering is best - makes for controlled smooth cornering every time

[phill.c]

this might sound stupid but how is this actually done??

[Annabella]

Don't try to do it. Basically just put enough pressure on the bars when cornering (the opposite direction to which you'd steer).

Like Cath said, makes it smooth, and helps the bike lean into the corner.
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[RiderOfTheSto...]

I guess that it would be used a lot more commonly on the road than I would on a track. What I find useful is that that I’m already in the opposite lock position to power out of corners that don’t have berms. I don’t suppose that that is much of a factor on the road though, plus you guys would be leaning down with the bike and I will be staying vertical.

[RiderOfTheSto...]

By the way Annabella, what is going on in your photo??

[phill.c]

i'l have to give it a try when i get my 400, is it hard technique? and do people only use it when going at high speed or can it be used at low speeds?
cheers

[RiderOfTheSto...]

It can be done at low speed. Just gently push the handle bars in the opposite direction and feel the bike start to lean over.

[Stew]

If you ride a bike then its something that you probably already do to some extenet without realising it. Basically counter steering is when you apply extra weight to the bars/clip ons to help the bike tip into a corner. For example, when you want to take a left turn you apply pressure to your left handlebar, this forces the bike to fall to the left and tip into the turn. While riding in a stright line just apply a little pressure to either of the bars and see what effect it has, you don't need to shove the bars or anything just a little bit of weight on the bars and you can see/feel the effect.

At first this may sound strange, it did to me, because my initial thought was 'if you push on the left bar it turns the front wheel to the right to make a right turn' this would be true perhaps if you were to keep the bike totally upright as if you were on a trike.

afaik counter steering also helps you keep a bit more tyre in contact with the road.
____________________
"Unlike public school you don't need to have your arse up and your head down to go a long way...."

[ProXimaCore]

It's really easy. I didn't realise I was actually doing it till I read a past post about this. You can practice it riding in a straight line. Next time you're riding down a straight road try pushing down on one of the bars and you'll feel yourself starting to drift that way. It's a subtle movement so don't be too aggressive on it. You'll get a feel for it if you give that a try.

[edit]yeah what stew said...[/edit]
____________________
Honda NSR125R -> Suzuki GSXR400R GK76a -> Kawasaki ZX636 B1H -> Honda CBR400RR NC29 -> Nothing

[dandit]

I've been practising counter steering on my sachs and bloody hell what a difference it makes I now have hero blobs on my tyres but I'm not even on the edge i dont get it but it dont half make a difference i can go from 40 - 50 mp to 60 -65 round roundabouts its fun in the right conditions
____________________
WHAT DO YOU MEAN 100 MPH THATS IMPOSSIBLE I STILL HAD 3 GEARS TO GO OFFICER. Currently riding a naked cbr 600 and driving a 52 plate 2litre tdci mondeo

[izzi81]

That's really interesting! Having recently got the big bike I've been wondering about riding techniques etc., I'm going to investigate this next time I'm out
____________________
"The problem with the French is they have no word for 'entrepreneur' " George W Bush
Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese
https://www.bikepics.com/members/izzi81

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

To a certain degree (when riding at over 5mph) everyone countersteers. I learned it early enough to have a bit of a laugh, even if i did forget it and get thrown into the air as punishment for arsing about .
____________________
https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[PsychoHippy]

It is probably the best (if not only) way to ride smoothly at speed, however it stops working at lower speeds (sub 20mph or so) as the bike starts turning with the turn of the bars.
____________________
I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

(unrelated) hehe good to have you back Mr H.
____________________
https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[PsychoHippy]

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

You all counter steer at higher speeds. You just dont realise it.

I tried it a month or 2 back. It feels nice. I forgot to keep trying to do it, as i was still getting used to my bike. Now im ready to have another go at it.

I would say though!!! If you are a beginnner dont worry about it! Seriously i can go wrong if you have little riding experiance. Wait untill you are good enough riding.

As i say, everyone does it at speed, its only when you actually make an effort and accentuate the action does it become apparent, the potential for this method...