Counter steering

[bikeriderscotland]

Pressure at work made me put this one up, honest ......
Then again, going back to basics is never a bad thing - eh ?
Have a look, and see what you think guys.

 

[DMotovlogs]

I was expecting you to be counter steering yourself mate Good explanation though

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Counter steering is a good help for emergency swerving, and getting your knee down less effort in tipping it in

 

[RacinJason]

I know that all dirtbikers will have no idea and will think countersteering is stupid, I came from that situation. The thing I didnt understand at first is why we do it: its just used to lean the bike over. Its basically an aid in leaning the bike if you are making a quick turn and exiting a turn quickly. You dont actually keep steering left to go right.

 

[malJohann]

Also for changing direction, but combine it with weight transfer to the pegs for best effect. This lowers your CG, making the bike more flickable. Once leaned over, there are a number of ways to change your line while maintaining the same corner direction, but unless its an emergency, counter steering would not be needed.

 

[malJohann]

I know that all dirtbikers will have no idea and will think countersteering is stupid, I came from that situation.

Ever come out of a fast corner with loose dirt? Where is your front wheel pointing in relation to the back? Dirt riders know plenty about counter-steering.

 

[RacinJason]

Ever come out of a fast corner with loose dirt? Where is your front wheel pointing in relation to the back? Dirt riders know plenty about counter-steering.

Thats an extremely different situation. Countersteering on asphalt is used at the beginning of the turn to lean the bike over and at the end to straighten the bike back up, in other words you use it as a gyro. On dirt you are using it to keep the bike from over-turning.

 

[malJohann]

Thats an extremely different situation. Countersteering on asphalt is used at the beginning of the turn to lean the bike over and at the end to straighten the bike back up, in other words you use it as a gyro. On dirt you are using it to keep the bike from over-turning.

I know, both have to do with turning though, I just pointed out that dirt riders also use it, even if the reason may be different.

 

[RacinJason]

I know, both have to do with turning though, I just pointed out that dirt riders also use it, even if the reason may be different.

Yeah, we just dont see it like road riders do, thats why we are so quick to object to it. It doesnt work the same way on dirt.

 

[malJohann]

Yeah, we just dont see it like road riders do, thats why we are so quick to object to it. It doesnt work the same way on dirt.

There IS always SuperMoto too you know!

 

[Nerb]

I did a video on this to. Its always a great topic

 

[bikeriderscotland]

An interesting wee thread developing here .....
Unfortunately I have to go to work now, but will watch the video asap.

 

[SwissMotard]

This is something I need to learn as a relatively new rider.

 

[Ludicrous Plaid]

There is some misinformation posted in here. Just watch "Twist of the Wrist 2". It spells it all out scientifically.

 

[Lurch]

This is something I need to learn as a relatively new rider.

Learn? You already do it every time you change direction at speed. Another way to experience it isn't push on the left bar to go left, pull on the right bar gently.

Counter steering and the triple tree geometry is an amazing bit of physics that means our bike leans when we turn and we have the rubber pointing outwards in a turn, not our heads sliding out across the bend.

 

[bikeriderscotland]

I was expecting you to be counter steering yourself mate Good explanation though

Sorry about that !
Bit more difficult in a van, eh ?

 

[bikeriderscotland]

Well, I've never really been stuck for words, but in this one life changing moment, I'm kind of, (well, as we say here, gobsmacked !)
That was a great video, as videos go, but I think we just sort of missed the main bit, - "countersteering", maybe that comes later ?
I was really impressed though, with the way you sneaked into that car park, - at the first junction, I thought you were having a really bad day, and were going to miss out on the only two exits that wee junction offered, and end up in the trees, but then you played an ace, and went in between, clever stuff !!
So, your bikes have steering wheels ? - bugger eh, - when you've got to push on the inside bar ?
Keep up the good work !!

 

[AndyManCam]

+1 for the weight on the footpegs.

I've been doing this a lot alongside countersteering.

The idea being that when you're turning left, you push right to tip the bike while at the same time push down on your right footpeg. enough that you're actually taking a fair bit of your body weight.

This does 2 things. It shifts your body weight to the left and therefore inside the radius of the turn. It also focusses the point at which your body weight is acting on the bike low down on that right peg which keeps your centre of gravity low. The added bonus is that if your weight is down there, it's not being transferred through the bars so the front wheel can do it's thing unhindered and go from countersteering to turning in with the bike.

Make any sense?

Anyway, it works for me. Guess you have to try it. You're probably already doing it! I had a LOT of time to practice it on the track which was great.... except I strained EVERY muscle from the waist down!!

 

[bikeriderscotland]

+1 for the weight on the footpegs.

I've been doing this a lot alongside countersteering.

The idea being that when you're turning left, you push right to tip the bike while at the same time push down on your right footpeg. enough that you're actually taking a fair bit of your body weight.

This does 2 things. It shifts your body weight to the left and therefore inside the radius of the turn. It also focusses the point at which your body weight is acting on the bike low down on that right peg which keeps your centre of gravity low. The added bonus is that if your weight is down there, it's not being transferred through the bars so the front wheel can do it's thing unhindered and go from countersteering to turning in with the bike.

Make any sense?

Anyway, it works for me. Guess you have to try it. You're probably already doing it! I had a LOT of time to practice it on the track which was great.... except I strained EVERY muscle from the waist down!!

That's interesting !
I've heard a lot of riders talk about press down on pegs, but I assumed they were pressing down on the side they were turning into, you're suggesting the opposite ?
I feel a video coming on .....

 

[O8ride]

Been thinking a lot about counter-steering recently, but not from the scientific point of view. More along the lines that every time we turn a corner it is actually happening all by itself because we do it naturally. IT feels like we are steering left to go left, but by concentrating on what the parts of your body are really doing, you can actually feel your hands doing the opposite, ie countersteering.

Some people put a downer on counter-steering, and claim you steer with your body through leaning. But I see it all as the same thing. Unless you're on a cruiser with a big fat seat and really low down - then your backside is so sunk in, it rarely moves anyway.

All good stuff