[Munch]

Well figured the idea came up again and everyone loves to try their variation on what counter steering is or does. And since I am old enough to remember being forced to play with stuff like Lego’s, Lincoln Logs and gyroscopes I got to thinking maybe this would help out.
It helped my 10 year old daughter understand some of the mechanics of balance on a motorcycle and why it turns the way it does.
Gyroscopes= Your motorcycle wheel
I am in hopes that this link skips the front page but if it doesn’t you can skip to page 2.
After watching the video I told my daughter when she got home to take her front wheel off her bike and let some spin it for her while she held it. Then told her to try and turn it on her own. Now she understands the gyroscopic forces a lot better and understand what that big counter steering word is in reference to. And a second benefit is now she got to understand wheel balancing to! 2 birds 1 stone.

[yugen852]

Hum… interesting.

[eon]

Your 10 year old daughter understood that explanation? Man, I must have killed off too many brain cells over the years as that was clear as mud to me.

I hate to get into a discussion of counter steering as it seems one of the most misunderstood and hotly debated topics out there BUT….. isn’t gyroscopic forces what keeps your bike upright? It’s got nothing to do with the steering part?

[Munch]

When vertical…yes it keeps your bike upright. When you initiate the “counter steer” by pushing on the handle bar the result kicks off the “precession effect”. Which means the gyro (your tire) basically wants to fight back against the force…the more you push it ..the more it fights back. Helping the bike to lean. Then the traction and centrifugal force comes into play to help keep you from laying it down. Same effect if you want to “pop” upright outta lean to go back straight in a hurry.

[owlie]

Ah, no mention of centrifugal force in the article. This is enough to keep the Physics major in me happy…

I loved David Hough’s explanation until he messed it up with that C-word. I understand why people use it, but the word is enough to raise my hackles.

[zeppelinfromled]

I remember that whole discussion in physics, which is when I was introduced to the word centripetal. I wish I had paid more attention in physics class.

[CBBaron]

From riding bicycles, especially recumbents I know that the reason you countersteer has mostly to do with getting your bike to lean by moving the contact patch out from under the center of gravity. With a two wheel vehicle you lean into the turn. When you turn the handlebar the tires start to move in one direction but the COG stays moving in a straight line, so you start to fall. Once the bike is leaning you can complete the turn.
Same reason you accelerate out of a turn. In a turn you tires are following a path describing a circle with gravity and turning forces balancing your COG inside but above your tires. When you accelerate in a turn the turning forces increase, forcing your COG harder to the outside of the turn, bringing your bike back upright.
Sure gyroscopic procession makes the bike a little more stable but it is a minor player in the process.

Craig

[yugen852]

You know, I think I understood. Seems very logical.

[eternal05]

…I had to.

Centrifugal Force

[owlie]

Ha!

I love that strip.

[Author]

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