DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: northwestern NC
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
ORIGINAL: cray49a
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: So. Maryland
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Sure do. Read about it back in the 70's in Cycle magazine. Told a buddy of mine about it a couple weeks ago,he thought I was nuts. He's since tried it and says he doesn't believe what a difference in the whole riding experience for him. Try it-you'll like it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
I'm sorry but you are wrong. You can steer a bike with no bars at all. Check out the video I posted earlier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBw0yH509lw
that was a great video, meanbite. At 2 minutes into it, I saw a rider turn a bike in a tight circle both directions without touching the handlebars, at a relatively slow speed, slow enough that the front tire was doing the turning, justas the front tire turnsa tricycle. At that slow of a speedcountersteering has little effect.
Now, re-read my post, and the observation that Keith Code makes about turning a bike at speed. Big difference.
If we wiggle around enough without our hands on the handlebars, at speed, we can get a bike to start to turn one direction or the other. Now, try getting it to come back the other way, or try negotiaing a fast s curve, without putting your hands back on the handlebars. Just make sure your insurance is paid up first....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBw0yH509lw
that was a great video, meanbite. At 2 minutes into it, I saw a rider turn a bike in a tight circle both directions without touching the handlebars, at a relatively slow speed, slow enough that the front tire was doing the turning, justas the front tire turnsa tricycle. At that slow of a speedcountersteering has little effect.
Now, re-read my post, and the observation that Keith Code makes about turning a bike at speed. Big difference.
If we wiggle around enough without our hands on the handlebars, at speed, we can get a bike to start to turn one direction or the other. Now, try getting it to come back the other way, or try negotiaing a fast s curve, without putting your hands back on the handlebars. Just make sure your insurance is paid up first....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Everybody now days think you can't ride if you don't countersteer. Everybody needs to go to a motorcycle class to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I started riding in the 60's, no schools back then, went on to racing dirt bikes in the woods . Talked to a riding instructor at a HD dealer and he said if I have been riding as long as I have and still here to talk about it he Would NOT want to CHANGE anything in the way I ride.
Everthing don't have to be learned in the class room to do things. But a lot of folks thinks you do. Wonder how we ever made it back then.
Everthing don't have to be learned in the class room to do things. But a lot of folks thinks you do. Wonder how we ever made it back then.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
I don't know why I would comment on this subject, however, just get up to about 40mph let go with your left hand. push or pull slightly with your right hand. notice the bike goes the opposite direction. you can't make it go the other way. It's kinda funny way back in high school drivers ed class theteacher told us about counter steering.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 6
From: Livingston, Texas
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
ORIGINAL: tlb
I don't know why I would comment on this subject, however, just get up to about 40mph let go with your left hand. push or pull slightly with your right hand. notice the bike goes the opposite direction. you can't make it go the other way. It's kinda funny way back in high school drivers ed class theteacher told us about counter steering.
I don't know why I would comment on this subject, however, just get up to about 40mph let go with your left hand. push or pull slightly with your right hand. notice the bike goes the opposite direction. you can't make it go the other way. It's kinda funny way back in high school drivers ed class theteacher told us about counter steering.
We learned to ride by the seat of our pants. A lot of the thing we did back then can only be learned in class today.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
I dont think I learned to ride in Drivers Ed., kind oflike learning to read in an english class. I started riding a mini-bike when I was about 7 years old. The same as most high school kids, post 69, Drivers Ed. was provided and taken in high school. I am happy you learned to ride on your own, but I fail to understand what your point is.
ORIGINAL: cardboard
Got out of Highschool in 69 we didn't have drivers Ed in school.
We learned to ride by the seat of our pants. A lot of the thing we did back then can only be learned in class today.
ORIGINAL: tlb
I don't know why I would comment on this subject, however, just get up to about 40mph let go with your left hand. push or pull slightly with your right hand. notice the bike goes the opposite direction. you can't make it go the other way. It's kinda funny way back in high school drivers ed class theteacher told us about counter steering.
I don't know why I would comment on this subject, however, just get up to about 40mph let go with your left hand. push or pull slightly with your right hand. notice the bike goes the opposite direction. you can't make it go the other way. It's kinda funny way back in high school drivers ed class theteacher told us about counter steering.
We learned to ride by the seat of our pants. A lot of the thing we did back then can only be learned in class today.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
For hose of you that think you are not countersteering at any speeds over 20mph, I want you to try something. Next time you are out riding, try to deliberately turn the bars to point the wheel in a specific direction. You will, undoubtedly, go the opposite. I tried it myself and learned on my own that countersteering is unavoidable. You will see for yourself. Remember, be very deliberate about trying to turn the bars in the direction you want to go.That's the only way to prove it to a non-believer.
Novice
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From:
RE: DO YOU COUNTER-STEER?
Countersteer leans the bike at an angle that via some physics gives you an angle on the tires that counteracts inertia's desire to stand your bike up. Of course, you know, that after the momentary countersteer you mildly steer much like you would at low speeds to keep the bike from falling flat on the road.
All counter-steer is how you lay the bike on its' side.
All counter-steer is how you lay the bike on its' side.