[SilverStorm]

Okay, this is a very new subject to me (I just stumbled upon it today, keep in mind I still don’t have a motorcycle) and just wanted to clarify what it is exactly.

From what I can tell, if you want to turn right, then you turn the handlebars to the left just a bit and the motorcycle will lean towards the right, allowing you to turn. Then you turn the handlebars to the right so you can steer the rest of the way through the turn.

Is this right (it’s backwards is what it is…)? It is still a fuzzy subject for me, although I suppose it will become clearer once I get my motorcycle.

My family has a scooter that I have been practicing the whole two-wheels-on-a-motor sort of thing. Although it doesn’t have a clutch, could I practice counter-steering on it?

This is all very confusing, I guess I will consult with the YouTube gods more and see what else they have to say on this and other beginner topics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C848R9xWrjc

That’s the link of a pretty good video about counter-steering on YouTube. It also gave me a nice “A-ha!” moment I enjoyed (hopefully that turns into a link, if not then I guess everyone will just have to type in the random letters and numbers…sorry!).

[ShannonG]

I had a countersteering moment quite by accident today and it all made sense. The way I see it, when you lean into a turn the tendency is for the front end of the bike to fall in the direction of the turn. By pushing on your inside handlebar you counter that force. So, to turn left you would lean left and push on the left handlebar. It doesn’t happen unless you’re getting a good lean into a turn.

[RydRy]

dont try to countersteer at higher speeds- this is only for when going slowly! you will lean the way you weant to turn and push the handlebars that way at normal travelling speeds

[Ben]

Actually countersteering is ONLY for higher speeds. When you are going sub 10mph you can turn the handlebars like you would on a bike to get the motorcycle to go in the direction you want.

In fact you can even practice countersteer on a bicycle if you get going fast enough, that’s how my riding mentor showed it to me.

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

[ShannonG]

It happens very naturally when you start to take corners a little quicker. It’s not something you have to really plan for; the front end of the bike drops into you hand and you correct.

[RydRy]

haaa dont even ask me listen to ben here

[SilverStorm]

Okay, this makes a lot more sense now, thank you! I guess I’ll go practice on the scooter sometime….geez can’t wait for those MSF courses….

* * * * *
Ooooh
And our freedom is consuming itself
What we will become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow
~Muse, Take a Bow (lyrics)

[shaggles]

This is the way my MSF instructor explained/demonstrated countersteering:

Stand astride you bike or scooter holding it in a balanced position with the wheels parallel.
Press forward with your left hand and note what happens. The bike will start to lean to the left.
Straighten up the bike and bars and press forward with your right and the bike will lean to the right.
Once you get used to how much you have to press to make the bike lean (not much) practice it while moving. The long you press the more the bike will lean. The reason it’s important (as explained by my MSF instructor) is to do with the weight of a motorcycle and the speed. Depending on how fast you’re moving and how heavy your bike is you might be able to initiate a turn just by throwing your weight to one side but as you move faster the rotational force of the wheels act to keep you upright and especially with a bike that weighs 2 0r 3 times what you do it becomes hard to muscle it over. You have to use countersteering or it just won’t lean. Or maybe it will lean but not far enough. Anyway that’s how I learned. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

[ShannonG]

Your explanation is way better/accurate than mine. Cheers!

[SilverStorm]

Yes that really does help! I’ll have to practice that, the way you explained it is more user friendly (everyone else’s helped a lot too!!!), I just get a better “visual” picture reading it. Heh…I’m a visual learner…

* * * * *
Ooooh
And our freedom is consuming itself
What we will become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow
~Muse, Take a Bow (lyrics)

[SilverStorm]

Haha and my neighbors are into motorcycles apparently…just went outside and there are like five sport bikes in their driveway (one is a Ninja 636 that’s what it said at least lol) so maybe they can demonstrate Guess I’ll have more help than I bargained for

* * * * *
Ooooh
And our freedom is consuming itself
What we will become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow
~Muse, Take a Bow (lyrics)

[smadaakram]

counter steering is awesome when u first realize how it works and that ur doing it without even thinking bc it’s just so natural

//@R!<

[AzN LogiK]

it’s about putting pressure on the handle and you’re tipping the bike over in one direction essentially, and naturally (by physics), the bike will try to correct itself by going the other direction

[SilverStorm]

Haha I’m glad it comes naturally cuz I’m just afraid of accidentally learning how to fly while trying to countersteer

* * * * *
Ooooh
And our freedom is consuming itself
What we will become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow
~Muse, Take a Bow (lyrics)

[megaspaz]

ShannonG correctly described countersteering… to turn left, lean left, push on the left handle bar.

Take notice that countersteering is not the same as counterbalancing… Sometimes people use the two interchangeably, but counterbalancing is shifting your weight on the bike in the opposite direction of your bike lean. Example, if you’re leaning your bike left, you counterbalance by focusing your weight away from the left by either shifting your bum to the right on the seat some or putting more weight on the right footpeg or both. Uturns are a situation for using counterbalancing.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[Author]

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