Steering problem
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 11,760
From: Omaha,NE
I can't believe anyone took this thread seriously. At all. The bike isn't capable of malfunctioning the way he described. If he actually rides this way, he wouldn't have lived long enough to join this forum. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14,438
Likes: 2,421
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
Was he going maybe 5 MPH?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Op, presuming you're not trolling,
You're likely merely feeling the forces of gyroscopic procession which make a spinning wheel less willing to be deflected. I.e., it's going to take some muscle to turn it at higher speeds. Not huge amounts of brute force, but it won't respond so well to merely a thought. The faster you spin the wheel, the more pronounced the forces become.
You're right about the front wheel pointing right to turn the bike right. And the guys talking about counter steering where the wheel points right to turn the bike left. Both statements are correct, but at different times.
Very oversimplified, countersteering initiates the turn by pulling the front wheel out from under the bike, making it lean over into the turn. You the rider then promptly compensate for the lean by bringing the front wheel back into the turn. You the rider constantly adjust the wheel angle to balance the forces and stay upright while you turn.
You're likely merely feeling the forces of gyroscopic procession which make a spinning wheel less willing to be deflected. I.e., it's going to take some muscle to turn it at higher speeds. Not huge amounts of brute force, but it won't respond so well to merely a thought. The faster you spin the wheel, the more pronounced the forces become.
You're right about the front wheel pointing right to turn the bike right. And the guys talking about counter steering where the wheel points right to turn the bike left. Both statements are correct, but at different times.
Very oversimplified, countersteering initiates the turn by pulling the front wheel out from under the bike, making it lean over into the turn. You the rider then promptly compensate for the lean by bringing the front wheel back into the turn. You the rider constantly adjust the wheel angle to balance the forces and stay upright while you turn.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Appears not to be a troll, but an actual human being who should consider a basic training course before he goes out on the roads to pursue his Billy Badass dreams. Clearly, he doesn't understand the basic physics of riding a motorcycle, and this makes him a danger on the roadways, not only to himself and passenger, but to anybody else sharing the general vicinity.
I take back my statement in Post #33, but agree with Posts #7/17/21/24/26/27/29/35/36/40...and actually all of the posts describing countersteering.
Sheesh. OP...back away from the motorcycle...
I take back my statement in Post #33, but agree with Posts #7/17/21/24/26/27/29/35/36/40...and actually all of the posts describing countersteering.
Sheesh. OP...back away from the motorcycle...
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,621
From: along the shore of Mishigami
Wonder if the OP has ever played with a gyroscope as a young lad. The tires on a motorcycle are using the same principles of a gyroscope. The moving of handlebars opposite of the turn you want (counter steering) is moving that gyroscope to the direction desired. When you are in a parking lot or slow speeds on city streets you can turn the handlebars to the right to go right because there is no gyroscopic forces in front of you. So go find a gyroscope and learn the mechanics of physics..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
Whether he is a troll, or just ignorant (meaning lacking information)...... Many of you would be surprised how many people riding on two wheels don't understand, or even know, about counter steer.....
For example, ask any kid riding a bike and they will tell you that you turn the bars in the direction you want to turn .... at speed, they have just learned to counter steer without giving it any thought. I have no doubt most kids on bikes BELIEVE they are turning the bars left for a left turn and right for a right turn...
I suspect there are a lot of motorcycle riders that give it no more thought than kids on a bicycle.......
I've been riding motorized two wheel vehicles since my first mini-bike at 11 years old... a couple dirt bikes, and at 20, my first Harley.... I remember a good friend, new to riding motorcycles, took a motorcycle riding course. I was about 27ish. He was all excited about all he had learned and started talking about it. He even said something like, "I'm sure you know all about this, but I never heard of counter steer....." He went on to explain it and I just pretended like I knew what he was talking about, when at first I thought he was crazy...!
That day while riding my motorcycle, I actually thought about what I was doing during my turns (slow & high speed), not just going through the motions from years of muscle memory... That's when the light kicked on.... I had been doing it (obviously) for years... and never realized the actual mechanics of what I was doing... I just did it!
I was a very good dirt rider, and had many miles on a street motorcycle. The prior 4 years to hearing about counter steer, I was in SoCal and my only vehicle was my Harley....
It IS possible that someone rides a motorcycle, has years of experience, and just never learned about, thought about, or concentrated on... counter steer.........
For example, ask any kid riding a bike and they will tell you that you turn the bars in the direction you want to turn .... at speed, they have just learned to counter steer without giving it any thought. I have no doubt most kids on bikes BELIEVE they are turning the bars left for a left turn and right for a right turn...
I suspect there are a lot of motorcycle riders that give it no more thought than kids on a bicycle.......
I've been riding motorized two wheel vehicles since my first mini-bike at 11 years old... a couple dirt bikes, and at 20, my first Harley.... I remember a good friend, new to riding motorcycles, took a motorcycle riding course. I was about 27ish. He was all excited about all he had learned and started talking about it. He even said something like, "I'm sure you know all about this, but I never heard of counter steer....." He went on to explain it and I just pretended like I knew what he was talking about, when at first I thought he was crazy...!
That day while riding my motorcycle, I actually thought about what I was doing during my turns (slow & high speed), not just going through the motions from years of muscle memory... That's when the light kicked on.... I had been doing it (obviously) for years... and never realized the actual mechanics of what I was doing... I just did it!
I was a very good dirt rider, and had many miles on a street motorcycle. The prior 4 years to hearing about counter steer, I was in SoCal and my only vehicle was my Harley....
It IS possible that someone rides a motorcycle, has years of experience, and just never learned about, thought about, or concentrated on... counter steer.........
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 7, 2018 at 09:30 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 587
From: Michigan
Whether he is a troll, or just ignorant (meaning lacking information)...... Many of you would be surprised how many people riding on two wheels don't understand, or even know, about counter steer.....
(deleted text)
It IS possible that someone rides a motorcycle, has years of experience, and just never learned about, thought about, or concentrated on... counter steer.........
(deleted text)
It IS possible that someone rides a motorcycle, has years of experience, and just never learned about, thought about, or concentrated on... counter steer.........
Last edited by Hammz; Jun 7, 2018 at 11:09 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 68
From: Hawaii
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