Going Round the Bend (A Lesson Learned in Counter-Steering)

[Steve GD]

When I was taking my bike test course, I came up against a problem I had not encountered before, which caused me to panic. Understanding what caused my problem and how to fix it is the single most important lesson I learned , and it was not a part of the training. Of course this would not be the same for everyone, but with hindsight I can see it was for me. The reason for this post is to share that explanation with those who have not heard it, because just knowing what was happening turned a light on in my head which allowed me to continue learning with confidence.
OK, so, what caused the panic? Well, I was in the rear on a road ride with the instructor and one other student, on a single carriageway rural road, and we approached a right turn at about 45 mph. The student went around, as did the instructor, and as I began the turn, I found myself drifting towards the left kerb. I tried to correct this, but my steering input made matters worse. So I stopped trying to do anything, and the very nice bike got us round in one piece with nothing more than sweaty armpits on my part. I understood clearly that for the last half of the corner I had been a passenger, and from that point on, my confidence in being able to get a bike to do what I wanted was shot. Until I learned what was going on.

Which is this. When a single track vehicle (solo motorbike, scooter, pushbike etc) is doing more than about 10mph and the rider wants to turn right, he or she has to push on the right bar. (Under about 10mph it is the other way around, but for all normal riding, this applies. )

At this point, some of you will be saying that this is so basic as to be banal, and to you I can only apologise for the waste of time. Most of the rest will be saying that I have written the above statement wrongly...surely the old bu99er meant to say, "push on the right bar to go left". Since I learned it, I have explained it to many people who have years of cycling and biking experience, and who have quite happily got by without ever knowing this. (My theory is that your body learns to ride a bike without letting on all the secrets, but that need not concern us here).

Why does it happen? In short, it is the gyroscope effect. Any spinning thing shows this effect, but here we are concerned with the front wheel spinning about its horizontal axis. If you push on the right end of the axle, the gyro effect pushes the top edge of the wheel to the right. Which is what we do when pushing on the right bar. (you can prove this for yourself with a pushbike wheel, removed from the bike btw).

So how does this help with my panic situation? Well.... what was happening (I now know) was I was in a tightening turn (aka decreasing radius turn), so I had set up correctly for the wider radius part, but when I started driftind to the outer edge, I was consciously trying to push on the left bar to tighten the turn. Which, as we now know, was the worst thing to do. To tighten my turn I shoud push on the inside (lower) bar. Simple, but I cannot overstate the loss of confidence this inspired until I learned the explanation above, and was able to verify it for myself.

If anyone else is in the situation I was, I hope this explanation will give you the information you need to learn to enjoy your bike with a bit more confidence.

I should say that the usually accepted term for this is "counter-steering" , a term invented by the first motorcycling racer/thinker /teacher/ to explain this technique, Keith Code. The same man who founded the California Superbike School. A more detailed explanation can be read in his book (where I first read it) called "A twist of the Wrist" ISBN 0-9650450-1-3

[Pax]

This was discussed a while ago also, but we all encounter things at different times. You can achieve the same effect two ways. You can push on the right bar to go right or pull on the left bar for the same effect, vica versa for right hand turns. I prefer to pull on the bars rather than push. As I lean into the corner I pull on the opposite bar and round I go ( most of the time ).

Edited to change stoopid mistake, kindly pointed out by Mark ST.

[MarkST]

Originally Posted by Pax

This was discussed a while ago also, but we all encounter things at different times. You can achieve the same effect two ways. You can push on the right bar to go right or pull on the left bar for the same effect, vica versa for right hand turns. I prefer to pull on the bars rather than push. As I lean into the corner I pull on the opposite bar and round I go ( most of the time )

I could'nt have put it better myself.

[stevel]

Counter steering is probably one of the most fundamental and most basic control actions we use, but until quite recently it was never mentioned or discussed. It's worth a bit of experimentation playing with this - in safe surroundings of course - just to experience cause and effect, very educatiional! So many people think that it's leaning the bike that steers it.....but try this - enter a bend with hands of the top yoke, eg not the bars, then lean the bike using body weight.......not a lot happens! It's only when you do the c/steer that it goes round properly. Like any skill, art, craft etc, it's only by exploring and experimenting a bit that you truly understand what's going on

[Fireman]

Shoot me down if you will, but the best way to tighten a turn mid corner is to accentuate the turn of the head in towards the apex of the bend, simultaneously dropping your inside elbow and shoulder which also all helps to weight the inside footrest more.

By doing this you subconsciously/automatically push the inside bar away thus increasing the counter steering effect.

In a high speed understeer situation it has an immediate effect and is intuitive rather than thinking about pushing/pulling bars, which could be all too late.

If it doesn't work you will lowside but in 9 times out of 10 the bike will go round because it is much better at cornering than you are. It has saved my bacon on more than one 'too hot' corner entry.

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Fireman

Shoot me down if you will, but the best way to tighten a turn mid corner is to accentuate the turn of the head in towards the apex of the bend, simultaneously dropping your inside elbow and shoulder which also all helps to weight the inside footrest more.

By doing this you subconsciously/automatically push the inside bar away thus increasing the counter steering effect.

In a high speed understeer situation it has an immediate effect and is intuitive rather than thinking about pushing/pulling bars, which could be all too late.

If it doesn't work you will lowside but in 9 times out of 10 the bike will go round because it is much better at cornering than you are. It has saved my bacon on more than one 'too hot' corner entry.

Wouldn't dream of shooting you down, mate. In fact, I'll take your word for it, as I have never tried the technique you describe.

My intention in posting the thread was to explain the theory of steering a bike in a way which would allow someone to avoid having to do the same panicking which I did!

[Jolley]

I noticed a post on this a while back where someone was pointing out it was the most natural thing to do and that it didn't need explaining in DAS (I believe it was a thread on Pistonheads about if it should be included in the course). Anyway, I have to disagree with that because despite entering the odd downhill mountainbike race I didn't use it (even subconsciously), and my theory is as follows: With everything else you ever do as a child you pull on the side you want to turn... tricycles, small (slow) pushbikes, gokarts (with string attached to the axles), quads, and even when steering a Kart or car (generally the steering wheel slopes, and so you do pull down - towards you- on the side you want to turn.

A mate (Mille owner) mentioned it to me after my first two days on a bike and I didn't believe him... until I tried it and it worked an absolute treat.... It should be in the DAS or CBT because it is bloody useful!

[Dave101]

thanks for the thread, i read it with interest, obviously counter steering is something most people learn quite quickly, but it is something i struggle with at speed, if the corner suddenly sharpens up more than i anticipate. I tend to find myself going wide (usually towards the white centre lines) and it panics me, tho at least i dont reach for the front brake and clutch (to coast) round anymore! its all practise!

[Pax]

Originally Posted by MarkST

I think you mean push on the right bar or pull on the left bar to go right.

you are of course right ( or is it left? ) it is always handy when trying to be clever, to get the explanation right.

Thank you, I knew what I meant.

[David.Hicks]

It isn't quite as simple in practice as it sometimes appears in theory ....

... the faster you are going the harder you have to push to get the same reaction

... and Ducatis in-particular need a lot of force to get them to turn (though once in the turn they are about the best handling bikes you can get)

[Steve GD]

If anyone read the first post in this thread and it was something they did not know before, I'd appreciate any comments as to the clarity of the explanation. By PM, if you dont want to go public.

[MarkST]

Originally Posted by Pax

I knew what I meant.

I know you did

[MarkST]

Originally Posted by Steve GD

I'd appreciate any comments as to the clarity of the explanation.

It was perfectly clear Steve.

[oh_seven]

Originally Posted by Dave101

if the corner suddenly sharpens up more than i anticipate. I tend to find myself going wide (usually towards the white centre lines) and it panics me

It is possibly better to forget thinking about how to counter steer and use your body positioning to get the bike to tighten up. By shifting your head / leg / backside you'll find countersteering becomes part of the whole process automatically.

Simply pushing your head and shoulder deeper into the corner moves the centre of weight and ensures that a little more / less 'force' is applied to the bars in the appropriate way.

Countersteering is fact. Thinking about it can be counter productive.

[NedLudd]

Originally Posted by oh_seven

Countersteering is fact. Thinking about it can be counter productive.

Not for me. While it's true that anyone going around a corner is already doing it, being conscious of the process and how it works can be immensely helpful. You can make much more positive inputs into the steering, which will make getting around that sudden fridge in the middle of the road that much easier. I can remember practising countersteering on an empty road as a post-learner and being amazed at how much easier I instantly found changes of direction. I constantly practice it even in a straight line in town by countersteering around manhole covers.

And I can think of a couple of serious scares where it saved my bacon. Panicking on tightening bends, I'd have leant the bike more, and tried to keep the throttle steady, and tried not to target-fixate, but it was positive conscious countersteering that allowed me to tighten the radius and get out of trouble.

(Re what you say about the benefits and consequences of adjusting body position, absolutely agree.)