Countersteering, huh?

[CB ARGH]

Remember the lower the speed, the LESS physical effort is required to turn the bars. May be able to turn them further, but it doesn't take much.
This is due to the big Gyro you are trying to make change direction.
Double the speed, 4 times the force... or there abouts. I just made that up, but I'm sure it is a square relationship.

Cheers boss!

Thanks to all of the above, it really helped me understand it a lot clearer!

[Motig]

You lot and your bloody countersteering ! When this subject came up eons ago I thought " Shit, I'm not doing that " Then proceeded to go out and try to do it thinking "Gee its not easy" gave up went back to riding like I normally do and "voila !!" I'd been doing the damn countersteering all along

[MDR2]

I hate science.

Might give it a go on the push bike (don't have a bike at the moment). In motocross I never did the above and got a lean into the corner... is it a thing that you just do without realising perhaps? I honestly don't know

Seeing as how everyone else has an opinion I feel I have to waste some space on the net

I asked my dad about this back when I started riding and he interrupted me while asking and said don't even try it. If you've ever ridden a push bike then your already likely to be doing it, the moment you start thinking about it and TRYING to do it you'll come to grief

So yeah, he also seems to think it's just one of those things you automatically do.


Then again, he also tells me if you don't fall off you're not going fast enough...

[CB ARGH]

"It's only close when it hits"

A comment from my father when he almost backs into my neighbour's Holden.


Ha.

[CHOPPA]

think of it like pulling a rug from under your feet, pull it left, you fall to the right, pull it right and you fall left...

nicely put...

[CookMySock]

the moment you start thinking about it and TRYING to do it you'll come to grief

There is a problem with this however - one day if you HAVE TO SWERVE then do you bar-push or do you not bar-push? If you are going to be this rigid in your thinking, and train yourself not to bar-push, I'd say you are up shit creek in an emergency when the situation was foist upon you.

DB

[Swoop]

Some people will be along soon to confuse you and attempt to discourage you from believing in the magic of counter steering.

Burn them!

... gave up went back to riding like I normally do and "voila !!" I'd been doing the damn countersteering all along

[MDR2]

There is a problem with this however - one day if you HAVE TO SWERVE then do you bar-push or do you not bar-push? If you are going to be this rigid in your thinking, and train yourself not to bar-push, I'd say you are up shit creek in an emergency when the situation was foist upon you.

DB

I think you've got me wrong dude, what I was trying to say is that it's something that comes naturally, if you intentionally force it to happen, your putting to much effort into it. I get what you mean of course, perhaps Im struggling to convey what I mean though. Each to their own I guess, living is learning etc

[FiBee]

A lot of people throw their weight around to turn the bike and in the process of doing this they end up pulling on the outside bar which is the same as pushing on the inside bar. This however doesn't have the same control as pushing on the inside bar. The process is simply to push on the inside bar and then relax.

So (on a side note)... does moving your butt over to the inside help with cornering at all? I was told to always move my butt over when cornering (high speed obviously, not to do a super-fandangly hang-off on the lil' trip to the dairy ), but I notice a lot of guys don't move at all??? I notice it unsettles my bike when going through tight twisties, so am trying to remember not to move over in those situations, but knowing that all I need to do is push harder on the inside bar for higher speed corners would save a bit of energy (& seat cover wear )

[klingon]

StClingin, as soon as you get your bike, I suggest you enrol in the BRONZ Ride Right Ride Safe course. It is held every month at the Whenuapai air base. You get to learn the theory of countersteering, see it in action, then try it out yourself in a variety of conditions.

Best of all it only costs $50 for a full day course! Worth every cent.

[quickbuck]

So (on a side note)... does moving your butt over to the inside help with cornering at all?

Yes it does.
It moves the centre of gravity of the bike, and thus the machine doesn't have to be cranked over as far in the corner to go around the same radius.

Remember when getting over from side to side, you should be on the balls of your feet, and doing it in a nice smooth action to avoid rapid unsettling of the suspension.

Hope this helps.

[Ixion]

I started riding long before countersteering was invented, and I always disconnect it on my bikes. I don't trust such new fangled notions.

I knew that it would come to no good when they started putting suspension on frames.

[CookMySock]

I think you've got me wrong dude, what I was trying to say is that it's something that comes naturally, if you intentionally force it to happen, your putting to much effort into it. I get what you mean of course, perhaps Im struggling to convey what I mean though. Each to their own I guess, living is learning etc

I'm gettin ya now bro.

It moves the centre of gravity of the bike, and thus the machine doesn't have to be cranked over as far in the corner to go around the same radius.

Remember when getting over from side to side, you should be on the balls of your feet, and doing it in a nice smooth action to avoid rapid unsettling of the suspension.

I don't get on my feet, or move my butt at all. The bodys' center of gravity is quite high up, and much more is to be gained by moving your head and shoulders. It's easier and more comfortable too. To move to the left I put my chin up toward my mirror and roll over sit on my left bum cheek - rinse and repeat for the right side. The more weight "out" I need, I just put my shoulders out further - so I don't slide my arse whatsoever, just roll from one bum cheek to the other.

I find it is very easy to pull on the opposite bar too. Cough, I find I am settling into this habit, and I wonder if it is a bad thing. Should I stamp this out and return to the push ?

DB

[jrandom]

I knew that it would come to no good when they started putting suspension on frames.

I watched Easy Rider last night.

I don't know why I never noticed it before, but by gawd, Fonda and Hopper were struggling with those raked-out hardtail pigs they were riding! You can see them wobbling and bouncing and weaving all over the show with decidedly unrelaxed facial expressions in every scene where they're riding toward the camera.

The discomfort, I suspect, would be pretty intense if one actually tried to ride such a machine from LA to New Orleans.

[The Stranger:Me]

I notice it unsettles my bike when going through tight twisties, so am trying to remember not to move over in those situations

It shouldn't unsettle the bike.

My personal view. If you are unsettling the bike however, you should not try hanging off in those situations.

2 things to consider.

1) There is a lot of weight in your head and upper body. Whether or not you are moving your butt, no worries, move your head and upper torso to the inside of the corner. Head and torso has a greater benefit (to cornering) than your butt anyway. A lot of people focus too much on thier butts and loose sight of the fact that all their effort was just wasted as their upper body is counter leaning. Kiss your inside mirror.

2)If you are unsettling the bike, it likely indicates an issue with the way you are doing it. A lot of people seem to pull their weight up on the bars then shift their weight on the bike. Both will unsettle the bike. Perhaps try just standing (a little) up on the balls of your feet and countersteering the bike over beneath you and then resting down again. No need to move your weight fore/aft or sideways at all.