DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,350
Likes: 647
From: Vegas, baby!
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
ORIGINAL: chadriggs
Only, and I repeat ONLY, in right and left hand turns.
ORIGINAL: cray49a
CURIOUS. How many of you use counter-steering predominantly?
CURIOUS. How many of you use counter-steering predominantly?
Ron
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From:
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
ORIGINAL: meanbite
I can't believe this thread went on for so long! Anywho, here is what I see as the bottom line.
First, I refer to counter steering as a deliberate act by the rider, not the physics of the bike. With that in mind here is the bottom line.
Counter steering - the rider forces the bike to lean to one side or the other of it's center of gravity by turning the wheel in the oposite direction thereby pulling the tire out from under the center of gravity and leaning the bike to the opposite side.
Body steering - similar affect but it is the drivers weight shifting to the side of the turn that causes the bike to lean.
What's the difference?
In counter steering the bike reacts first based on handlebar input. In body steering the rider reacts first and then the bike has to catch up with the redistribution of weight. This is why countersteering is more precise, responsive and overall a better way to turn a bike. Ok, I'm going to bed!
I can't believe this thread went on for so long! Anywho, here is what I see as the bottom line.
First, I refer to counter steering as a deliberate act by the rider, not the physics of the bike. With that in mind here is the bottom line.
Counter steering - the rider forces the bike to lean to one side or the other of it's center of gravity by turning the wheel in the oposite direction thereby pulling the tire out from under the center of gravity and leaning the bike to the opposite side.
Body steering - similar affect but it is the drivers weight shifting to the side of the turn that causes the bike to lean.
What's the difference?
In counter steering the bike reacts first based on handlebar input. In body steering the rider reacts first and then the bike has to catch up with the redistribution of weight. This is why countersteering is more precise, responsive and overall a better way to turn a bike. Ok, I'm going to bed!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver, B.C.
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
you can just lean or change you weight and a bike will turn.
CN
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth, TX
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
I steer with one handa lot ofthe time, changing lanes and going around sweepers. Yeah, one handed riding will definitely teach you countersteering QUICK!
As far asbody steering goes, if the center mass of the body is outidethe bike's vertical axis (bike leaning, but body in more upright position), then bike will be leaning more to make the turn. Conversely, if thecenter mass of the body is leaninginside the curve more than the center axis of the bike, the bike doesn't have to lean as much to make the turn.
Teek
As far asbody steering goes, if the center mass of the body is outidethe bike's vertical axis (bike leaning, but body in more upright position), then bike will be leaning more to make the turn. Conversely, if thecenter mass of the body is leaninginside the curve more than the center axis of the bike, the bike doesn't have to lean as much to make the turn.
Teek
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From:
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
ORIGINAL: chadriggs
This discussion can be put to rest by studying this picture for about 3 seconds. This guy is leaning like a champ but his bike ain't turnin'. The missing component? Countersteer.
ORIGINAL: cray49a
This guy is NOT countersteering. He is driving like a car. Note the handlebars are turning into the turn not straight ahead or left as they should be in the case of countersteering.
Note racers hang off the side of their bike to increase the inside weight so they do not need to lean the bike over as far in a high speed turn. For those of you going HUH! ... If the rider stayed in the center of the bike during a high speed turn the required lean angle fora given speed is greater than the required lean angle if the mass of the rider is shifted toward the inside of a turn for the same speed. That is why they try to drag a knee, They are trying to get the smallest radius turn without over leaning and unloading the tires.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
The act of countersteering causes the bike to lean, but once leaned over, the wheel will point in the direction of the turn. From that picture, you cannot make the determination if he consciously counter steered or not. It won't do him any more good now, as he's already scraping. His one chance now is to quickly press left to bring the bike back up and go straight off the road before he runs into the oncoming rider. If the rider continues to go wide, hopefully the oncoming rider knows enough to also press left and go around behind him on the inside, i.e. evasive manuever.