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Steering problem.
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:49 am
by JakeRS
Hey guys i am new,i dont have my bike yet but im riding my uncle's peugeot speedfight 1,so anyway when i steer left it is all ok,but when i steer right i need 1.7 times more radius to get in a street or what ever(sorry for bad eng),so what am i doing wrong?
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:14 pm
by storysunfolding
It could be a few things and it would be hard to evaluate without being there, seeing video or something else. I do have a few suggestions though.
First it could be a mechanical issue such as a problem with the forks, wheel or suspension. Second, it could be your comfort level. Most people are not as comfortable turning right, especially initially. Practice in a parking lot and work on more and more handlebar movement. Finally, another issue I see often at slower turning speeds is someone leaning into the turn. At speeds below 10 mph, leaning into the turn gives gravity more leverage on the bike. In that case turning the handlebars more can cause the motorcycle to fall over.
Ideally, I'd take a beginning or basic rider course to learn to ride. Riding without instruction can teach you many bad habits and prevent you from from learning crucial concepts like countersteering. Did you know that at speed a motorcyclist turns the handlebars to the left to go to the right? Not knowing that concept can lead to bad consequences.
Hope that helped
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:16 am
by JakeRS
1.the bike is alright i mean the fork,... and all that is alright
2.yep i guess i am not comfortable enough,but i am still trying
3.well i only drive in the city so i dont need countersteering cuz i always turn around 15-25 mph.
thanks for the help
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:49 am
by storysunfolding
On most bled if you go faster than 10 mph then you're countersteering
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:07 am
by JakeRS
nope,i used countersteering few times,but i drove i think 30 km/h,btw this is a scooter so i don't now does that make a difference,here is a photo of the scooter that i found on net,that is the same type
http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2004%5C08%5 ... 91-320.jpg
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:02 am
by sv-wolf
Hi JakeRS
If you are turning at 15 to 25 mph then you are countersteering.
Countersteering happens naturally and unconsicously. Most people who ride bicycles, for example, spend their whole life countersteering them without any awareness that that is what they are doing. You may not notice, but whenever you lean into a corner, a right-hander, say, the lean causes you to put pressure on the right-hand bar, and in effect that countersteers the scooter.
If you are more anxious turning right, you may well be trying more consciously to steer the scooter in that direction and staying more upright. If you are doing that at 15 to 25 miles per hour then it's no surprise that you are having problems. Any attempt to steer a motorcycle or scooter at that speed will work against the countersteer which you really need to make the turn. Check to see if you are holding your arms and shoulders rigidly when you go into a right-hand turn. Your elbows should be quite loose.
Can't tell from your descripton whether this really is the problem, but it is worth checking out. Find an open space like a car park and observe what you are doing in the turn. At 15-25 mph you only need a tiny lean to get things going. If you are anxious about the bike going down when you are leaned over in the turn, you only need to open the throttle a fraction to keep you up.
Re: Steering problem.
Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:59 pm
by JakeRS
Yep,that seems to be the problem,i am getting better,thanks guys for the help.