Counter steering for an idiot

[Marc Leonard]

I've been trying to figure out the whole counter-steering theory. I've read a few books and just can't seem to grasp the concept of this riding style. Any information would be not only helpful, but greatly appreciated as well.

[Lost]

An example would be when you are making a left turn you push the left bar away from you. It makes the bike drop to the left.. It something you usually do by instinct.


(add) Steering in the opposite direction of the turn .....

[Marc Leonard]

I guess that i have been thinking too far in to it. Thanks for your help.

[Akino]

lets see ... basically i agree w/ lost ... if you want to go left, push w/ your left hand, and vice versa for going right. Naturally when you push towards the direction you want to go, the bike will lean. Just make sure to look into your turn ...

[Termin8r]

I remember when I finally got the concept of counter steering. It's really trippy when you think about it, but as Aaron (Lost) stated previously, you probably do it without thought. However, if you really want to try this out, I think I find the concept easier when on a freeway. As you're about to go onto a bend on the freeway, purposely push on the side of the bar that's the same direction that the freeway is bending. If bending to the left, push on the left bar. Of course, your body will lean toward that side as well and you will look through the turn as Jimmy stated. This will cause the bike to lean toward the left and follow the bend. Purty cool if ya ask me.

[r1repr7]

All true....

However, I hear countersteering as "pushing on the bar" pretty often. I like to think of it more as "pressure on the bar". Even in the sharpest turn, the degree to which the handlebars/triple tree ACTUALLY turn left or right is VERY minimal. As a matter of fact, if you were to look at the handlebar angle when leaned into a turn (really...don't do it), they would still appear as if you were going in a straight line. A very slight amount of pressure will make the bike fall left or right.

Even more crazy, at very slow speeds, you steer NORMALLY....no countersteering. Of course, you're only steering with the very top of the tire tread at low speeds. It all has to do with the shape of the tire. Think about this; if you were to measure the circumference of a tire at the very top of the tread, it would be MORE than if you measure the circumference at the left or right side contact patch. That lessening of circumference when leaned over is what causes the need for countersteer.

It's all about geometry.....crazy stuff!

[cypheir]

Even more crazy, at very slow speeds, you steer NORMALLY....no countersteering. Of course, you're only steering with the very top of the tire tread at low speeds.

I used to think this too... low speed equating to no counter steering, but I have recently revised this theory.

Think about it... even in low speeds you can counter steer... its dependant on the amount of acceleration you apply to your turn.

If you make a low speed turn, maintaining a constant speed, you will more than likely be steering like its a bicycle (i.e.: normal steering)

If you make a low speed turn with a decent amount of roll onto the throttle, you will (dependant on amount of roll on) be counter steering. (Note: the ratio of counter steering to accel are directly proportional to one another.) This is something that gave me a great deal of trouble at first until I realized it. Now that I've notivced, I have much less trouble with my low speed turns.

What do you guys think? Any differing opinions?

[Lost]

I still counter steer at low speeds, but it just initiates the turn. On a race track, you may counter steer thru the entire turn to tighten a line up. It largely depends on the turn and what you are trying to do. I used to counter steer all the way thru turn five at willow, to make up for my lack of hang off. Now i just hang off more.. Its a neat thing(counter steering) but i really try not to think about it.

[Pathogen]

If you are still confused about how countersteering works... then check out the following websites: (the first is pretty basic, but the second has just about every theortical aspect of countersteering)

http://www.vsa.cape.com/~wayg/mrep/csteer.htm
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP048.html

Hope this helps - If you are still confused, then God help you and take a physics class at a local community college!

[RubberSydeDown]

counter steering... ???

if u can turn the bike left w00t.
if u can take a left turn w00t.
if u can take a swooping turn and lean w00t w00t.
if u can take a swooping turn and lean off the bike and drag knee... then who gives about counter steering! :thumbsup: