Several articles have been written about Counter steering and yet there is considerable confusion in the minds of riders as to what it is and how to apply a Counter steer. Perhaps a part of the problem may be caused by the name given to the technique. Let's take a look at those words.
'Counter' means: against or opposite. (Besides being used to name the piece of furniture that stands between you and the storekeeper at the chrome shop.) Therein may lie a part of the problems; many riders think they should apply forces opposite to the way they want to go and that is wrong.
'Steer' means: to direct your wheel (handlebar) in a certain direction. Erroneous thinking about Counter steering finds the motorcycle being directed into the wrong direction and causing the opposite result we are trying to accomplish.
Much of what has been written about Counter steering advise the rider to push left, lean left, go left or to push right, lean right, go right. To a point that is correct, but there is more to it. More than just a push is necessary. The push must be accompanied by steady, increasing pressure, downward against the handlebar grip, maintained, during and accompanied by a leaning of the motorcycle into the direction of the turn. Although that may sound complex, the technique is easy to perform when it is understood and done properly. One must allow the machine to dip, or tilt into its turning direction. Applying that steady, continuous outward pressure against the handgrip will increase the lean angle through the turn. If more lean or turning direction is needed, more pressure must be exerted, more pressure equals more lean.
One of the difficulties in executing Counter steering is in knowing what is meant by 'push' or 'pressure'. For a practical demonstration try doing this: Place your hands between your knees, backs together, palms out, fingers forward; place your knees against the palms and slightly flex your leg muscles to create resistance and then push outward with your hands to force the knees apart. Resist the push with your leg muscles so as to feel the effect. Do you feel the resistance? That is similar to what pushing on the handgrip should feel like except that it will be the motorcycle creating the resistance. The key is the steady, down and outward pressure accompanied by the lean.
In effect what we are doing is actually pushing the cycle over onto the rounded side edge of the tire. The contact patch is moving from directly under the tire and onto the rounded edge as it is designed to during a lean. As long as momentum is maintained the cycle will not fall over and provided we don't brake hard or stall. One might be amazed how far over a motorcycle can lean and not fall down.
The opposite side hand grip should not be pulled upward during the Counter steer. Rather, the opposite hand should just remain on the handgrip to stabilize the front wheel.
The rider should lean with the motorcycle at speed but should be aware of ground clearances to avoid bottoming out or scraping of motorcycle parts against the pavement. At slow speeds the rider should lean the motorcycle but remain sitting upright or counter balanced. Be sure to look well ahead into the turn.
To reverse the Counter steer and return upright, we ease off the pressure on the handgrip, accelerate as needed to help to straighten up the cycle and apply pressure to the opposite handgrip.
Counter steering is a most effective technique to turn a motorcycle when you understand how it is accomplished. To learn more about how to make your motorcycle more responsive to your wishes, make you a more confident rider, improve your riding skills and reduce the chance of becoming an embarrassed rider, consider taking the Experienced Rider Course (ERC) where you can learn more about motorcycling because...the more you know, the better it gets.
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