Someone please explain counter-steering to me

[camthepyro]

Steering a motorcycle at low speeds is a straightforward process. The rider simply turns the handlebar in the direction he wishes to go. This only works at speeds below five miles an hour. If a motorcycle is traveling any faster, the rider must use a different kind of steering, known as counter-steering. This type of steering may seem counterintuitive. That's because motorcycle riders must push the handlebars to the left to make the vehicle turn right and vice versa.

Here's how it would work out on the street. Imagine that you're riding a motorcycle on the interstate. In front of you, blocking the right half of your lane, is a wreck or some other obstacle. If you're a novice rider, you might be tempted to push on the right side of the handlebar, thinking this will turn the bike to left. In reality, this will steer the bike to the right, directly into the obstacle. Instead, you should push on the left side of the handlebar, which directs the front wheel to the right but steers the vehicle to the left.

Ok, that quote was taken from the HowStuffWorks website. I really just don't get the concept of counter steering, or when it applies. It says you need to counter-steer when going faster the 5 mph, that just seems ridiculous, I was riding around the neighborhood at like 20-30 and I don't remember counter-steering (unless I did it intuitively, and didn't realize). So is this correct, or did they just get it wrong?

And either way, how do you counter-steer, and when should you do it?

[VermilionX]

don't worry about counter steering.

just look where you wanna go and you'll steer the right way w/o you realizing it... or at least that how it worked for me when i was learning the basics.

[ZooTech]

The 5mph comment was a bit presumptuous to say the least. When it becomes necessary varies from bike model to bike model depending on wheelbase and whatnot.

Once up to speed, countersteering is essentially a controlled tip-over. Turning the handlebars to the right is met with resistance from a front wheel that does not wish to change direction. Because of that resistance, the steering head pivots instead and, in this case, is deflected to the left causing the bike to lean (and subsequently steer) left.

[Shiv]

Yah counter-steering is definately hard to understand. I didn't understand/believe it til I watched Speed on Two Wheels (program on teh Science channel; a very kick "O Ring" one mind you.). They showed a good graphical representation of it with an explanation and it made sense from there.


I'll take a shot at it. Basically when you are going above X speed (which I don't know, 20 mph seems a popular figure) when you turn to go right, your body causes the bike to fall to the left so you now have more weight on your left side and thus the bike goes that way.

[camthepyro]

Ok, that seems intuitive enought. I was think that'd I'd be going to make a turn, and have to turn the handlebars the complete wrong direction, which is kinda scary to think. But, what you two said makes sense.

[Sev]

The easiest way to think of it is acceleration.

Below whatever the speed is you're basically a pedal bike, where you look it where you go.

Above that speed you have enough momentum/acceleration to keep you going in a straight line. So in order to turn you must tip the bike. Tipping the bike causes you to accelerate towards the ground on the side you tip it to. Basically if you push over a pedal bike it accerates towards the ground.

Now you're accelerating in two directions at once forward (from the engine) and to the side (at a right angle of the engine) from the tip. So you actually travel in the sum of the two accelerations, I used to be able to work my way though it, but basically the faster you accelerate to the side the sharper you turn. Or the more you lean the more you turn.

Now, for a demonstration of why you need to countersteer to lean in the right direction. Take a pedal bike and using both handlebars stand beside it. Turn the wheel away from you, the bike leans towards you and vice versa.

Many riders claim to have never realised they were countersteering this is possible because the resistance that the handlebars provide makes it feel like you're doing the opposite of what you're actually doing. Basically look where you want to go and feel your way through it, you'll be fine.


Personally I've gotten into the habit of just hanging off the side I want to turn to an keep the bike fairly verticle, lol. Just kidding.

[TheImp]

you can also read the section "throw it off balance" from here

If you have had some college level physics you can research it more and follow along with certain principles such as gyroscopic precession that play a role in it. But otherwise you'll have to accept some things as is. Turn right, push on the right handlegrip, turn left, push on the left handlegrip.

[camthepyro]

I think I get it, thanks guys.

[guitar guru]

It's easy to see how it works once you experience it. Take your left hand off the handlebars and just use your right. Then pull with your right arm so the wheel turns right. At high speed, doing this will inevitably lean the bike to the left, making the bike swerve left. Trying this on a straightaway helps you see how it works better than trying on a curve. And try to keep your body upright when you do.

I found doing this with one arm to be quite fascinating, and it really clarified countersteering.

[MidSSouth]

Also if you roll a styrofoam cup it quickly shows how it work. The cup turns toward the direction of the narrow end, a motorcycle tire is tapered like a coffee cup. At low speeds you are able to keep the bike upright and actually turn the wheel instead of leaning when you try so you steer normally though.