Couple of questions about riding

[earwig]

Sev... when going around turns even fast you do not countersteer... you lean; althought I do hear what you are saying about avoiding an object. You need to countersteer at going slow speeds to balance the bike because if you lean over going too slow the bike will just tip over.

[SuperRookie]

Sev... when going around turns even fast you do not countersteer... you lean; althought I do hear what you are saying about avoiding an object. You need to countersteer at going slow speeds to balance the bike because if you lean over going too slow the bike will just tip over.

You guys are killing me Earwig, you're confusing 'counterleaning' with 'countersteering'. Let's try not to mislead the unknowing. Countersteering is the ONLY way to initiate a motorcycle into a lean to turn at speeds above 8-10mph. (there is much debate over the actual speed at which this is necessary, however, that is not at issue here.) If you think you can lean your body over and initiate a motorcycle to turn you're simply fooling yourselves. Consider that you can take your hands off the bars at speed and go straight. The bike needs no input from the rider for that. If you want to turn at speed you MUST countersteer. There is NO OTHER WAY! Push on the right grip to go right...Push on the left grip to go left.

The higher the velocity you're traveling, the harder it is to initiate a lean...that is...you must push more FIRMLY on whichever grip. Once you initiate the lean you maintain PRESSURE on the grip to HOLD YOUR LINE...if you are going a little wide...MORE pressure is required for MORE LEAN and a tighter line...if you're running a little tight, ease off pressure on the grip and the bike will start to stand up a bit.

Not knowing how to corner is one of the LEADING CAUSES of motorcycle crashes. Let's not confuse those that don't know. If you yourself don't know...there's no shame in saying I DON'T KNOW. But giving info that is totally wrong is, well, WRONG.

[WheelieGrip]

In MotoGP they counter steer. Those guys go kind of fast don't they? So high speeds is when you countersteer I beleive. It's actually a mix of hanging off the bike and counter steering when you reach the speed of MotoGP racing (200mph), kind of fast. In order for them to keep there bikes so low to scrape there knees they literally are hanging off there bikes...using all there weight to keep it down.

[SuperRookie]

In MotoGP they counter steer. Those guys go kind of fast don't they? So high speeds is when you countersteer I beleive. It's actually a mix of hanging off the bike and counter steering when you reach the speed of MotoGP racing (200mph), kind of fast. In order for them to keep there bikes so low to scrape there knees they literally are hanging off there bikes...using all there weight to keep it down.

NO, NO, NO and NO....Everytime you take a corner at a speed over 10-15mph you're countersteering. You might not realize it, and THAT in itself is a problem. There's no other way to turn the bike when you're moving at speeds faster than you can run. At highway speeds, to turn, you must countersteer. Failing to understand this concept will have your "O Ring" in a sling.

Racers 'hang off' their bikes partly to use their knees as a guage as to how much 'lean angle' they have left. It also has more to do with centrifugal force than 'using their weight'.

[swifty's revenge]

Some *people call countsteering INSTINCT when in fact it's intuitive.. Of course anyone can steer a bike, but to do it well in an emergency or to the limits of the bike (high or low) attention is required. Ppl overlook because basic motor skills and cooridination can create the ILLUSION control in high speed operation.

The sort of countersteering that will be addressed in the MSF, and the sort which can save you "O Ring" in traffic is low/moderate speed countersteering...

Just listen to the instructors, and consiously focus on pushing the low bar away from your intended track. at first you'll do it easily on the slaloms, but IF you keep some throttle/feathering you will see that it works at as low a speed as you dare. like on figure eight.

[NEWBIE51]

Well now I am completely CONFUSED!


Ok tell me if this is right....

I am coming up to a road that I want to turn right on ... This road is perpendicular to the road I am on (the roads make a 90* angle or close too...)

I am coming up to this road at 10- 15 mph (after already slowing down from my previous speed)

So i quickly yet smoothly push the right grip out, and then once I get my lean I start to pull that right grip back in as i push the left grip....I hold this lean untill I get through the turn enough to where I can straghten back up, when i want to strighten it back up I pull the right grip a little more and push the left grip a little more untill I am upright.

Is that the correct procedure for taking a turn at 10-15 mph?

Please only people that know what they are talking about because I cant afford to be confused anymore....

On a side note...I am taking Motorcycle Ohio Beginners course...will they cover all of this stuff on bike? thanks

[ZooTech]

Here we go again.........

Thousands of pages worth of countersteering debate, yet not one person has difficulty with the concept in practice. Perhaps you're over-thinking it. I've observed the neck of my bike during a turn and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it only rotated off center by a degree or two. Anyone riding out there who's this focused on countersteering cannot be adequately focused on cagers, deer, or any other road obstacle. Just go ride and try not to think too much!

[swifty's revenge]

It also has more to do with centrifugal force than 'using their weight'.

actually, the rider;s weight adds to centrifugal force. the equal and opposite reaction of tires on the road are described centripetal force.

[NEWBIE51]

Yeah, just as long as they go over it in the beginners motorcycle ohio class I will be good too go...

I guess its pretty much instinctive if ya know how to ride a bike...right?

[swifty's revenge]

I guess its pretty much instinctive

...AHEM...