Countersteering advice...

[MSTRS:Me]

I've found that works for me - Jantar said counter-steering like this is not uncommon.

I can see why some people do it this way. It's all that practice pulling the bourbon closer, isn't it?

[R-Soul]

And some people just dont like going round left-hand corners....

But they generally dont race NASCAR...

[R-Soul]

Shit, I love left handers, can drop the knee like a you-beaut racer. It's those right handers that freak me out, think I'm scared of putting my head into oncoming traffic or something...
Embarassing on rides eh...

Me too!! at least we have established that
a) I am not (much of) a freak
b) It is not the physical forces that make turning one way or another more difficult (maybe to a small extent with the gyroscopic forces)


PHEW!

[R-Soul]

Good! I previously believed that situation could not be recovered. Well done!

Steve

I like what you say and the way you say it!.


Now I have another question for you: I completely stumbled upon this effect. When I (almost) stand up on the inside foot going around long sweepers (i.e put most of my body weight on my inside foot) then the bikes stability increases a huge amount. Why? Is it because the unstable coupling between rider and bike is lower down?

This probably would be impractical on cruisers because of the body positioning....

[R-Soul]

And on the confidence front, the better I feel about countersteering the more confident my riding is becoming; whether it's just psychological or I really do have more control over the bike remains to be seen but either way it's doing me a lot of good

The really cool thing about counter steering is that whether you are riding a CBR 250RR or a BMW1100RT (cruise missile) you WILL the same control of your bike (at least until the damn thing comes to a stop - then you try holding up 300kg). I can personally account for this.

[MSTRS:Me]

I like what you say and the way you say it!.


Now I have another question for you: I completely stumbled upon this effect. When I (almost) stand up on the inside foot going around long sweepers (i.e put most of my body weight on my inside foot) then the bikes stability increases a huge amount. Why? Is it because the unstable coupling between rider and bike is lower down?

This probably would be impractical on cruisers because of the body positioning....

I believe it is because it allows the suspension to work better. But you should always weight the outside peg - it has the same effect of settling the bike, BUT it also tends to stand the bike up slightly (and push your body further to the inside to counteract that)

[R-Soul]

[QUOTE=MSTRS;1129473773]I believe it is because it allows the suspension to work better. QUOTE]

But why/how? I will try teh outside peg on the way home today... thanks!

[MSTRS:Me]

It shifts your rear-most point of contact with the bike to a more forward position (and lower). Therefore there is less weight on the subframe/seat and hence the loading on the rear shock through the pivot point of the swingarm is reduced, allowing more travel in that shock.
I'm not sure this is right, but it sounds good!!

[discotex]

It shifts your rear-most point of contact with the bike to a more forward position (and lower). Therefore there is less weight on the subframe/seat and hence the loading on the rear shock through the pivot point of the swingarm is reduced, allowing more travel in that shock.
I'm not sure this is right, but it sounds good!!

It does sound good and given this is the internet who needs facts

I'm sure someone with a physics degree they got off a weetbix packet will be along to correct you imminently.

[Maki]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WqR_Pya3pU

Some very nice counter steering at around 1:19

[discotex]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WqR_Pya3pU

Some very nice counter steering at around 1:19

I guess you could say that's still counter steering in the most literal sense of the term but it wouldn't be a helpful definition for a newbie.....

Backing it in like that is always lovely to watch but every time he's changing lean angle anywhere in that vid he/she's counter steering - not just when they back it in.

[Dirty Heathen]

Got some question to ask if thats ok did not want start a new thread so posted in here.

So I have have actually been counter steering and being aware that I am doing it rather then just doing on auto mode.

Please don't laugh if this sound stupid but I am form mx bikes so concerning is a whole different ball game.

So say I come to a left hand corner doing say 50km I push my left hand bar forward the bikes goes into the left turn with a nice lean on but all of a sudden half way through the corner I relies that i am coming close the inside of the corner and I need to adjust and go wider what do you do?.

I thought about pushing the bar left but I am guessing that wont steer me wider but instead counter steer me even closer to the edge so if I push my right hand bar forward would that just high side the bike?

Sorry if it sounds stupid but I am just going through alot of this stuff in my head before I get out on the road.

[MSTRS:Me]

Not stupid. If your scenario happened, you would simply give a little push on the right side or the bars to ease the lean/turn-in.
Remember - push on one side to turn in that direction, push more to tighten, or push on opposite side to straighten up

[magicmonkey]

Well, after having another read through this thread and now I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with countersteering I decided to start adding a few other things into the mix on my rides this weekend.

Weighting the outside peg, while far from being second nature, is making me feel a lot more comfortable around corners, the bike just feels more planted and secure on the road. it's almost as if by forcing more weight onto the outside you're forcing the tires onto the road more and giving yourself more of a contact patch (that's right folks, I'm getting to know the lingo too!). That might not be what actually happens but it makes enough sense in my mind for me to visualise it like that so it’s good enough for me. I still need to spend a lot of time practicing this to get comfortable with it as it's a forced response at the moment but, as with the countersteering, practice will make it second nature eventually.

The road I've been riding on is great, by now I know all the corners and what speed I can comfortable take them so I've added changing lines mid curve to the mix as well. I'm being really cautious with this one as I don't want to be unpredictable if there are cars around or I can't see around the corner but when I have been doing it I've been quite surprised at how much of a change you can make to your line while keeping within the comfort zone (mine is a rather small comfort zone at the moment but it's getting there!)

The other thing I've been playing with is using the throttle to change the line, as I'm on a GN there just isn't enough acceleration to make the corner go wider (and I'm not comfortable accelerating hard while in a corner just yet) but letting off the gas will tighten it up pretty smartish, quite a bit more than I was expecting as well! So another thing I'm going to have to spend a bit of time on is learning about throttle control in corners and at higher speeds (I do a lot of riding in traffic so my slow speed throttle control gets daily work and is improving as quickly as it needs to).

I need to find myself another road as well, the coast road is great and all but I do need to have a run somewhere that I'll have to deal with the unknown again, that's probably the most important skill I'll ever have to learn!

[george formby]

Well, after having another read through this thread and now I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with countersteering I decided to start adding a few other things into the mix on my rides this weekend.

Weighting the outside peg, while far from being second nature, is making me feel a lot more comfortable around corners, the bike just feels more planted and secure on the road. it's almost as if by forcing more weight onto the outside you're forcing the tires onto the road more and giving yourself more of a contact patch (that's right folks, I'm getting to know the lingo too!). That might not be what actually happens but it makes enough sense in my mind for me to visualise it like that so it’s good enough for me. I still need to spend a lot of time practicing this to get comfortable with it as it's a forced response at the moment but, as with the countersteering, practice will make it second nature eventually.

The road I've been riding on is great, by now I know all the corners and what speed I can comfortable take them so I've added changing lines mid curve to the mix as well. I'm being really cautious with this one as I don't want to be unpredictable if there are cars around or I can't see around the corner but when I have been doing it I've been quite surprised at how much of a change you can make to your line while keeping within the comfort zone (mine is a rather small comfort zone at the moment but it's getting there!)

The other thing I've been playing with is using the throttle to change the line, as I'm on a GN there just isn't enough acceleration to make the corner go wider (and I'm not comfortable accelerating hard while in a corner just yet) but letting off the gas will tighten it up pretty smartish, quite a bit more than I was expecting as well! So another thing I'm going to have to spend a bit of time on is learning about throttle control in corners and at higher speeds (I do a lot of riding in traffic so my slow speed throttle control gets daily work and is improving as quickly as it needs to).

I need to find myself another road as well, the coast road is great and all but I do need to have a run somewhere that I'll have to deal with the unknown again, that's probably the most important skill I'll ever have to learn!

Good on ya! Reads like your noticing when you have the bike nicely balanced & under control with the throttle & how it will react to your input. May you enjoy many years of such pleasures.