Countersteering and leaning

[CookMySock]

That's the single most important thing I reckon. Not only do you look where you want to go, but your eyes use the horizon for balance.

This keeping your eyes up is all good, and it would have saved my arse last time I went down in the long grass, but there comes a time to slow down a bit and just enjoy being on a bike rather than cornering it like a jet fighter 24/7. You guys are right in saying "watch the fucken road", but you are missing others' and my point - and that is to fucking slow down and go do your racing on the track, before you kill your ugly self. Again. kthx.

Steve

[Jantar]

....there comes a time to slow down a bit and just enjoy being on a bike rather than cornering it like a jet fighter 24/7. ....

Sometimes, just sometimes, you can come up with something that makes sense.

[Maha]

This keeping your eyes up is all good, and it would have saved my arse last time I went down in the long grass, but there comes a time to slow down a bit and just enjoy being on a bike rather than cornering it like a jet fighter 24/7. You guys are right in saying "watch the fucken road", but you are missing others' and my point - and that is to fucking slow down and go do your racing on the track, before you kill your ugly self. Again. kthx.

Steve

I am 100% sure that a massive amount of members on here will never heed what you or Katman and even myself for that matter, say in reguards to how anybody should ride their bike. They will make their own minds up as to how they will treat the road and themsleves while on the bike. There is good advice on here from to time, slowing down isnt one of them it seems, that is up to the individual, its not for anyone to preach, it just wont work.

[Jantar]

Although "slowing down" doesn't need to mean "ride slow". Tomorrow is the Chatto Creek 1000. I'll be aiming for around 17 hours, and to do that I won't need to ride flat out. Keeping to around 100 kmh with 5 fuel stops of 5 minutes each and 1 food stop of 30 minutes is 16 hours 55 minutes.

So all going to plan I'll have a slow ride with a fast time.

[dipshit]

what the fuck are you doing giving riding advice? arnet you the one who promotes looking at the scenery whilst travelling around one of the most notorious routes in the country? and what state is your bike in again?

He is also the fuckwit that forces his kid to ride without any insurance and rides around with his headlight on high beam. Prat.

[98tls]

He is also the fuckwit that forces his kid to ride without any insurance and rides around with his headlight on high beam. Prat.

Really?do tell

[dipshit]

Really?do tell

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...33#post1809433

[98tls]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...33#post1809433

Priceless..........

[Radar]

Hi all,

So, advise, please. Is that correct? If so, how does it work? And how would you suggest somebody tries that the very first time?

Here's my 2cents, FWIW: The term "countersteer" was probably thought up by some academic or ACC type person who was not a bikie. I say FORGET the whole idea of countersteering because it just confuses things. Anyone who rides a bicycle [fast] automatically countersteers - you don't have to think about it since it comes naturally even though when it is analyzed or explained academically, it does not seem to make sense.

On an ACC 'ride safe' DVD Aaron Slight was asked to explain countersteering and while I forget his exact words, he dismissed the term "countersteer" and said something like "You simply LEAN into the direction you want to go."

One of the biggest difficulties for beginning bikers is to LEAN far enough so that they do not run wide on a curve. It seems as though you will fall over but you won't (unless you have crap tyres and its wet or you hit sand, etc.). My advice is to choose a corner on a quiet road with no traffic and ample visibility, then practice leaning your shoulder into the curve; do this repeatedly until you can get around quickly while leaning as far as you can without freaking out. You may learn how to do this within a short time but many riders find it takes something like 6 months / 6,000 km to lean properly.

Here is a great video showing how far you can lean. I'd love to see someone ride like this for their Basic Skills exam!!

[MyGSXF:Me]

This keeping your eyes up is all good, and it would have saved my arse last time I went down in the long grass, but there comes a time to slow down a bit and just enjoy being on a bike rather than cornering it like a jet fighter 24/7. You guys are right in saying "watch the fucken road", but you are missing others' and my point - and that is to fucking slow down and go do your racing on the track, before you kill your ugly self. Again. kthx.

Who said anything about speed & racing here??? this is a noobie asking about countersteering! Keeping your eyes UP & looking to where you want to go, is the most important thing!

[98tls]

Who said anything about speed & racing here??? this is a noobie asking about countersteering! Keeping your eyes UP & looking to where you want to go, is the most important thing!

Yep agreed,ive long said the best way to learn to ride a bike is buy a cheap trail bike and go have a play on a riverbed,moving/weight transfer/countersteering etc etc can be easily understood in such circumstances rather painlessly.

[Fatt Max]

Hi Pascale, welcome to KB!

It does seem a bit weird to think you push your handlebars in the wrong direction to turn easily I agree, but it is true, and it does work.

Have a go at this. Take a left hand corner, nice and gentle lean into the turn. Do it a couple of times so you know how to lean around the bend. Now do it again but as you lean put a little bit of gentle pressure on the bar (push it away from yourself) on the clutch side of your bike. Gentle mind as this is actually very effective.

What you will discover is that the bike actually goes around that curve much easier. It really is easy, but takes a bit of practice to perfect. Once you have the skill you will use it without even being aware you are.

Hi Mate and welcome,

Take moms advice on this as it makes sense.

I found this confsing as well but once you get the hang of it you will be sweet.

Take heed of all the other KB'rs out there as well as they really do know the score.

Good luck mate, take it easy

[-easy--rider-]

i agree that testing it out on the straight is the best. it took me a while to figure it out but you kinda automatcl do it a litle bit

[Conquiztador]

Here's my 2cents, FWIW: The term "countersteer" was probably thought up by some academic or ACC type person who was not a bikie. I say FORGET the whole idea of countersteering because it just confuses things. Anyone who rides a bicycle [fast] automatically countersteers - you don't have to think about it since it comes naturally even though when it is analyzed or explained academically, it does not seem to make sense.

On an ACC 'ride safe' DVD Aaron Slight was asked to explain countersteering and while I forget his exact words, he dismissed the term "countersteer" and said something like "You simply LEAN into the direction you want to go."

One of the biggest difficulties for beginning bikers is to LEAN far enough so that they do not run wide on a curve. It seems as though you will fall over but you won't (unless you have crap tyres and its wet or you hit sand, etc.). My advice is to choose a corner on a quiet road with no traffic and ample visibility, then practice leaning your shoulder into the curve; do this repeatedly until you can get around quickly while leaning as far as you can without freaking out. You may learn how to do this within a short time but many riders find it takes something like 6 months / 6,000 km to lean properly.

Here is a great video showing how far you can lean. I'd love to see someone ride like this for their Basic Skills exam!!

Well... IMHO countersteering and leaning are two different things. Leaning just happens when on two wheels. You do it to keep from falling over. Countersteering is something you do to place the bike in to the leaning position much faster then by leaning alone, therefore getting around a turn without having to "manhandle" the bike in to a lean.

[Radar]

Well... IMHO countersteering and leaning are two different things. Leaning just happens when on two wheels. You do it to keep from falling over. Countersteering is something you do to place the bike in to the leaning position much faster then by leaning alone, therefore getting around a turn without having to "manhandle" the bike in to a lean.

Yes this is correct, in that you have to actually 'steer' or turn the handlebars (as well as to lean). My point is that this comes naturally, as when riding a bicycle fast (when bicycling slow the handlebars are turned in the direction of travel instead of the opposite way or 'counter' to the direction of travel). For me and some others that I have talked with, it is easier to think in terms of leaning into the curve and this is especially true in early stages of learning how to ride. When a motorcycle is taken around a curve and when the physics of motion are analyzed, countersteering + leaning can make sense - or not, because the whole concept of countersteering is confusing to some people. IMO, the more a beginner LEANS and trusts his bike and tyres in that lean, the less chance of running wide.