Question on counter-steering

**Blahhh** · 14th January 2007, 02:36

Woohooo.. I seem to be able to lean my body into the bend whilst countersteering now. After reading the posts here and re-evaluating my body posture, I discovered the reason I leaned against the corner was because my inside elbow was straight (kinda like forcing the bike down). Taking a corner feels so much better when I bend my elbow into the corner.

Now I am going to focus on my eyepoint, ain't too good at that yet!

**Strider** · 10th October 2007, 15:03

What is the best way to turn a bend/corner and what is counter steering? I need to build up my confidence on the cornering of my riding. Just not sure on how to best way to lean / turn at speed. Do I stay to the left of the road to turn left and same for the right or do I go a wide and turn from just in side the centre line?

**enigma51** · 10th October 2007, 15:10

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

**TLMAN** · 10th October 2007, 15:20

Originally Posted by Strider

What is the best way to turn a bend/corner and what is counter steering? I need to build up my confidence on the cornering of my riding. Just not sure on how to best way to lean / turn at speed. Do I stay to the left of the road to turn left and same for the right or do I go a wide and turn from just in side the centre line?

Countersteering - try it!!

Push the left grip forward and youll veer left
Push the right grip forward and youll veer right

Its that simple.

**yungatart** · 10th October 2007, 15:21

Get yourself a mentor.

**The Stranger:Me** · 10th October 2007, 15:32

Counter steering is essentially pushing on the left bar to turn left and vica versa.

For any given speed which is easier, a tighter curve or a more open curve? A more open curve is the correct answer. So why not start your left bend from the RHS of the lane and your right curve from the LHS of the lane? This produces the easiest curve.

As to leaning, try it on a round about some time. When it is clear to do so try keeping a consistent speed and leaning your upper torso into the corner then try leaning it away from the corner. As you lean in you will find the bike wanting to stand up to hold the same arc and you lean out you will find the bike wanting to lay over toward the corner more to keep the same arc.

So leaning in will give you more ground clearance. That said, I can't say I have ever seen a cruiser rider lean independently of their bike.

**avgas** · 10th October 2007, 15:37

get a little bike until you graduate....
rest of us had to

**GaZBur** · 10th October 2007, 15:40

Originally Posted by yungatart

Get yourself a mentor.

Great Idea.
If you are trying to push yourself in corners then please make sure you late apex a corner. That gives you more room when you stuff it up, and you can guarantee you will the harder you push. Most good road riders do that all the time without thinking about it, not the fastest but more survivable cornering style.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex_(racing)

**enigma51** · 10th October 2007, 15:40

Originally Posted by avgas

get a little bike until you graduate....
rest of us had to

Fucking amen

Sorry dude but a boulevard is not the bike to learn things like counter steering on

**bert_is_evil** · 10th October 2007, 15:47

Surely when someone asks about countersteering it's because they don't know what the term means, not that they don't know how to do it. It would be impossible for anyone who's ridden a motorcycle/pushbike at any speed greater than 10kph not to have countersteered at some point (unknowlingly)!

**Pumba** · 10th October 2007, 15:49

Is Ride Right Ride safe in the Hut? If it is best you get along to ASAP

**limbimtimwim** · 10th October 2007, 16:10

Go on one of Andrew's courses, it's worth the day out of your life to do it.

http://roadsafe.co.nz/contact/contact.htm

Talk to him about what course is for you. He has a tuition style that you'll either love or hate, but give him a chance. You will spend A LOT of the course talking about the best way around a corner.

Also go along to this: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=57104 and talk to people. The vast majority of people there will be glad to share their thoughts and answer your questions.

**smoky** · 10th October 2007, 16:16

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Counter steering is essentially pushing on the left bar to turn left and vica versa.

So leaning in will give you more ground clearance. That said, I can't say I have ever seen a cruiser rider lean independently of their bike.

ha ha ha - not the kind of thing you do much on a cruiser

When they say push the handle bars- they are talking about a gradual pressure being applied - try it, It works.

look up driving lines or apex of a corner on google

One thing though - get off the brakes when your cornering, unless you're wanting to back into a corner using your rear brakes, the general rule is, You can't go around a corner and be on the brakes at the same time.
Most learners I've riden with are hard on the front brake and go striaght ahead instead of around the corner.
You're better off taking your chance in the corner, even if you're going too fast, than to stay hard on the brakes.

**terbang** · 10th October 2007, 16:48

Originally Posted by The Stranger

For any given speed which is easier, a tighter curve or a more open curve? A more open curve is the correct answer. So why not start your left bend from the RHS of the lane and your right curve from the LHS of the lane? This produces the easiest curve.

Bingo and it also lets you see further into the curve as you enter.