To any new rider reading this thread:beginner wrote:What you are describing is shifting body weight to one side by pushing down on the steering bar. Another way is pushing on a peg. Then there's griping the tank and leaning from your midsecion. There's also moving your bottom to one side of the saddle. It's all the same thing, shifting upper body weight to one side so the bike will lean the opposite way.is because when you do it, you're moving your weight at least partially with your hands and arms. That causes you to press on the steering bar (steering bar is beginner's term for handlebar, kind of like the steering leashes used on a horse) on the opposite side. That is what is actually effecting the steering input.
The quoted posters thoughts on shifting body weight do not equate to the reality of riding a motorcycle. Perhaps he is just confused, but let me clarify.
If you lean (shift your body weight) to the left, your bike will lean left. As a natural part of this, you will also press on the left handlebar and help to initiate that lean.
If you are needing the lean angle to be less due to slow speed (figure 8 box for the MSF) or hight speed tight turns (advanced technique) then you will want to "Counter Balance" by moving your tush to the opposite side of the seat. This will change your center of balance and reduce the lean angle.
Again, shifting your body weight to one side does not make the bike lean the other way. Please think of leaning/countersteering as a fluid interlocked movement and think of counterbalancing as moving your ARSE.
