Question on counter-steering

**riffer** · 11th October 2007, 09:55

Plenty of info on countersteering on this forum.

Here's a few I found quickly looking:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=39752

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=49983

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=44511

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=41457

Want to know more? The easiest way is to go to Search (its one of the options in the blue Tabbed field at the top of the page, go to Advanced Search, and enter the Key Word(s): steering and select the forum: Survival Skills

**Roj** · 11th October 2007, 10:09

Originally Posted by Strider

What is the ......?

Having read the previous posts, welcome back to riding, take your timeand relax, if you are able to do some of the courses recommended it can be a big help,

If not try and find a menotr to get you back into riding.

**avgas** · 11th October 2007, 10:13

Originally Posted by smoky

I've got an idea - lets make really fast light bikes and stick a pimple arsed hormone induced beginner on it.

good on ya mate - your bikes a hell of a lot safer than some of those 250 screaming death machines - go like a strangled fart, and can't stop at all.

Yeh i have an idea - leave L platers to drive semi's too.
Just cos its not fast doesnt mean its easier than a 250 single :P
Also if i can get a GN125 to do 130 2-up dont give me bullshit about torque etc

**MSTRS:Me** · 11th October 2007, 10:16

Originally Posted by Roj

Having read the previous posts, welcome back to riding, take your timeand relax, if you are able to do some of the courses recommended it can be a big help,

If not try and find a menotr to get you back into riding.

+1. Best advice is to remember that one never forgets how to ride, but you gotta appreciate that you will be rusty. Oh - and that bike design has come a long way in the last few years in terms of power output and tyre technology.

**smoky** · 11th October 2007, 20:14

Originally Posted by avgas

Yeh i have an idea - leave L platers to drive semi's too.
Just cos its not fast doesnt mean its easier than a 250 single :P
Also if i can get a GN125 to do 130 2-up dont give me bullshit about torque etc

Not sure I follow your logic (presuming you have one)
Who said their bikes not fast?
Doing 130 two up on a 125 ! is that an achievement? I never said anything about torque?

Point I was making was; our government has decided to limit the cc of bikes that learners can ride – yet there are some pretty amazing small bikes that have the ability to get up there and really boogie – they don’t always have the same performance ability to stop due to being light weight, smaller brakes, smaller tyres and so on. They take a bit more skill to ride than some larger cc bikes.
Some smaller bikes have a better power to weight ratio than larger bikes in the 400 cruiser range.

**enigma51** · 12th October 2007, 23:13

Originally Posted by Strider

I have a full license, Just been many years since I last rode and just needed some under standing and refresh my memory on cornering and what counter steering is.

No problem with the counter steering question but refreshing? must have been a very long time

**Reckless** · 12th October 2007, 23:45

Just remember countersteering is usually only done at the moment of turn in.
I had a mate that swears he pushes the bars slightly the opposite way all the through the corner. He thinks thats countersteering. Thats quite wrong!
You are much much better to lean in with your shoulder mid corner and let the bike do its thing without assisting it with un-natural opposite locking type bar movements. Most people don't even know they are doing it upon turn in, and thats quite ok!

Over doing it is described quite well and breifly here http://www.thunderbike.co.nz/worksho...ersteering.htm

There is also quite a few good vids on U tube if you do a search.

My opinion only! I may get a lot of replies saying you do this or that and there are a lot of different techneques to tuck the bike in extra. But generally I think I'm pretty correct??

**Strider** · 13th October 2007, 18:51

Had a ride from the Lower Hutt all the way up to Kapit coastlands. It has refresh my confidence again in my riding so no prob in the corner. Just a lot of wind around on the Hutt motorway and the Haywards hill. So other than that it was a RUSH getting back into riding.

**Strider** · 13th October 2007, 18:54

More riding the better I will build up my Confidence.

**Toaster** · 13th October 2007, 18:58

Originally Posted by enigma51

There is no such thing as truning when you ride a boulevard

Ain't that the truth!!!

Mine has so much gravitational pull, the road sticks to the bike.

**Toaster** · 13th October 2007, 19:03

My advice:

Practice as often as possible and challenge yourself a little more each ride.

Countersteering is vital on cruisers, especially the big ones.

Don't forget to look through the corners and look well ahead - not straight ahead. Works really well and helps pull you round the corners and straighten up nicely. (remember "look where you want to go").

Entry position is important. Stay wide as long as you can then turn in, follow a smooth curving line and you should sit nicely for the exit. This was you can maintain more speed and keep it smoother.

**crash99** · 15th October 2007, 10:45

Read
A TWIST OF THE WRIST VOLUME II
THE BASICS OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE RIDING
BY KEITH CODE
for a real understanding of how all these things work together.

**avgas** · 15th October 2007, 16:14

Originally Posted by smoky

Some smaller bikes have a better power to weight ratio than larger bikes in the 400 cruiser range.

Actually alot of Sub-250's have better power to weight than 400's. As someone that went from a 150 smoker to a 400 single, to save my life and my license i know. But if you have a look at what this guy is riding as a first bike - you can see the reason for my comment.
My feeling is if you have to ask about cornering, while owning a 50+hp machine.....well lets just say i hope the road is gentle to you.
If i had not ridden a bike for 10 years, the first thing i would do is go out and buy a cheap, gutless bike to re-learn how to ride......then after i had some skills i would buy a bigger one.
I'm not talking the govt. bs that comes with cc rating....im talking common sense. 400cc cruisers are ok in my books for "learners" or re-learners. Not the best option for them - but better than 'anything goes'
I'm sick of seeing people destroy lovely creations because they don't have the skill to own them.
Ego's kill more people than women.

**duckonin** · 15th October 2007, 16:44

It's all good strider, take your time you have a good set of wheels between your legs, be gentle with the bars, next time out wriggle the bars at 80ks get it figured out how responsive your machine is you may be surprised..most of all keep your tire pressures right makes all the difference...

**Strider** · 15th October 2007, 20:20

[QUOTE=avgas;1247835]Actually alot of Sub-250's have better power to weight than 400's. As someone that went from a 150 smoker to a 400 single, to save my life and my license i know. But if you have a look at what this guy is riding as a first bike - you can see the reason for my comment.
My feeling is if you have to ask about cornering, while owning a 50+hp machine.....well lets just say i hope the road is gentle to you.
If i had not ridden a bike for 10 years, the first thing i would do is go out and buy a cheap, gutless bike to re-learn how to ride......then after i had some skills i would buy a bigger one.
I'm not talking the govt. bs that comes with cc rating....im talking common sense. 400cc cruisers are ok in my books for "learners" or re-learners. Not the best option for them - but better than 'anything goes'
I'm sick of seeing people destroy lovely creations because they don't have the skill to own them.

Looking at your profile, at 24 years and some who rides a sport bike. Does that make you an expert on cruisers and who should be riding what ever cc's? So are are you saying I should be starting of on a 400 cc (looking at your profile pic) I would say that bike would be mush more faster and dangerous than a 800cc cruiser, cruise being a bike to sit back, taking my time riding and enjoying the ride compare to a sport bike made for speed. I will stick with my choice the right choice.