Counter-steering
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
With all due respect to an honest question (and disregard to the idiots),
Yes, that is what happens with countersteering. All of us have done it without realizing it from the moment we rode a bicycle.
Press left, lean left, go left. Press right, lean right, go right.
That's all you need to know.
Now, let's visualize this. If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the right (by pressing left on the handlegbars.) If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Conversely, If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the left (by pressing right on the handlegbars). If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Press left, lean left, go left.
Press right, lean right, go right.
Countersteering is only reinforcing what we already do intuitively.
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 580
Likes: 14
From: Texas
With all due respect to an honest question (and disregard to the idiots),
Yes, that is what happens with countersteering. All of us have done it without realizing it from the moment we rode a bicycle.
Press left, lean left, go left. Press right, lean right, go right.
That's all you need to know.
Now, let's visualize this. If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the right (by pressing left on the handlegbars.) If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Conversely, If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the left (by pressing right on the handlegbars). If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Press left, lean left, go left.
Press right, lean right, go right.
Countersteering is only reinforcing what we already do intuitively.
Yes, that is what happens with countersteering. All of us have done it without realizing it from the moment we rode a bicycle.
Press left, lean left, go left. Press right, lean right, go right.
That's all you need to know.
Now, let's visualize this. If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the right (by pressing left on the handlegbars.) If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Conversely, If you are sitting on a bicycle, straight up and down, and turn the handle bars fully to the left (by pressing right on the handlegbars). If you released the bars, which way would the bicycle lean?
Press left, lean left, go left.
Press right, lean right, go right.
Countersteering is only reinforcing what we already do intuitively.
I recently bought a new bike after not having ridden for a few years. The bike is heavier and has a lower center of gravity than my previous bikes.
The problem I have been noticing is that when I am on the highway and going around a somewhat gently curve, I am having to slow the bike down in order to lean it. But on the highway I do not want to slow down while going through these gentle curves. On my old bike, which was lighter and had a higher center of gravity, I could push down on the bars (push left go left, push right go right). That was not working for my new bike. I was actually doing the countersteering incorrectly but getting away with it.
But now I am thinking, and I will practice this soon, that if I push forward and not down, I will be able to start the lean without having to slow down, which is what I want to do while on the highway.
Also, just as side note, I was also refreshing my knowledge about wobbles today and I realize ( hopefully correctly) that there is a link between wobbles and countersteering. When we push left to go left we are shifting the center of gravity to the left that is why we fall or lean left when we do it. I think that what we are doing when we countersteer is we are initiating a controlled wobble. Of course we are not intending to wobble, we are just intending to shift the center of gravity. In a wobble, the center of gravity is constantly oscillating left and right. I posted another video in another thread that shows us ways to get out of the wobble by shifting our weight on the bike.
Last edited by MikerR1; Oct 11, 2016 at 04:11 PM.
Counter steering is simply making the bike lean in the direction you want to turn. Bikes don't steer, they lean. The more you push the further you lean and the more aggressively you'll turn. If you are satisfied with the rate of turn then you simply hold the bars steady at where they're currently pushed to.
Generally, countersteer is for speeds over .. 15-25ish mph. (each bike is a little different, you'll learn naturally where that transition occurs) If you're slower than that you'll want to turn the wheel in the direction you want to go.
Generally, countersteer is for speeds over .. 15-25ish mph. (each bike is a little different, you'll learn naturally where that transition occurs) If you're slower than that you'll want to turn the wheel in the direction you want to go.
The front wheel actually does steer. If you look closely when you are in a "lean" you will see your tire angled in the direction of your turn a few degrees. So, just lean will not get you around a corner. If you counterbalance the lean and straighten the handlebars to 0degrees the bike will go straight even when it's at a 45degree angle. Stunt riders perform this trick regularly.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Wow!
There's some good info in this thread, and some dubious information.
As I teach in my classes, "push left, go left, push right, go right" is really all the students need to know. Sure, we can go into a scientific conversation with frame geometry/tire contact patch movement/suspension travel changes, but the fact remains, "push left, go left, push right, go right."
For the poster that now rides a "heavier" bike, just push forward and the pounds will melt away.
There's some good info in this thread, and some dubious information.
As I teach in my classes, "push left, go left, push right, go right" is really all the students need to know. Sure, we can go into a scientific conversation with frame geometry/tire contact patch movement/suspension travel changes, but the fact remains, "push left, go left, push right, go right."
For the poster that now rides a "heavier" bike, just push forward and the pounds will melt away.
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 580
Likes: 14
From: Texas
Wow!
There's some good info in this thread, and some dubious information.
As I teach in my classes, "push left, go left, push right, go right" is really all the students need to know. Sure, we can go into a scientific conversation with frame geometry/tire contact patch movement/suspension travel changes, but the fact remains, "push left, go left, push right, go right."
For the poster that now rides a "heavier" bike, just push forward and the pounds will melt away.
There's some good info in this thread, and some dubious information.
As I teach in my classes, "push left, go left, push right, go right" is really all the students need to know. Sure, we can go into a scientific conversation with frame geometry/tire contact patch movement/suspension travel changes, but the fact remains, "push left, go left, push right, go right."
For the poster that now rides a "heavier" bike, just push forward and the pounds will melt away.
Last edited by MikerR1; Oct 11, 2016 at 07:36 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 8,744
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Make sure when you teach in your classes that your students understand what you mean when you say "push left go left, push right go right". Make sure they understand that you mean push forward, not push down. You cannot just say "push left go left push right go right" and leave it to the students to figure out what direction in which to "push" the handlebar. I am positive that some of your students will think you mean to push DOWN, when, in fact, you mean to push FORWARD!
For God's sake go out and try it for yourself. Or are you being this obtuse on purpose?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 11,730
Likes: 9,163
From: Georgia
This is a serious forum. How wil, you live with yourself when someone dies because of you **** poor advice. Screw you man. You're a murderer!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Counter steering at highway speeds is not so much as pushing. Very minimal movement. It might be better to say pressure. Put a slight pressure on the opposite bar to the way you are turning. The pressure is to the direction that the bar moves.