RE: Tips for RS riding. - 2

There are bold riders - and there are old riders.
But there no old, bold riders.

The motto from where I used to work was and still is ‘Experiencia Docet’

Experience teaches.

My understanding of "counter steering" had to do with the geometry and physics of how a motorcycle operates. Anything above a slow walking speed, if you want to go left, you are pushing down on the left hand grip and pulling on the right. This makes the front tire turn to the right, which is "counter" to how one would normally steer...making the front wheel turn in the direction you wish to travel. It has to do with the curvature of the tire tread compared to a car/truck tire. I find I use the technique with regular riding, not just on twisty curves. Even lane changes involve the technique.

In 25 years of Police training and regular refreshers, I saw a move to conscious counter steering in the progressive driving schools. Latterly they were teaching - get your braking done upright and in a straight line, select the appropriate gear and initiate the turn quickly using countersteer. Countersteering is something that we all do unconsciously, why not make it a conscious act?

I do a fair bit of ‘observing’ with my local IAM group. Countersteering or positive steering, as the IAM like to call it, is integral to their coaching systems. It is a powerful technique once you understand what it does and how to use it. We all must do it subconsciously otherwise we couldn’t get round corners at any speed.

Not to mention the benefit of forceful countersteering inputs when it comes to avoiding obstacles. A good thing to practice and much better than the alternative!

Agree entirely with the previous 3 posts. 👍👍👍
Countersteering, and the need to consciously practise it is a major topic of the "Stay Upright" advanced riding courses in Australia.

Much much better for it to be a conscious thing. Who of us has not had to suddenly tighten our line in a corner at some point......

Thank goodness. It's not just me then.

Push right to go right, push left to go left. It was something I was taught when I first started riding (late 1970's) and has served me well ever since.

Sure, you can just lean the requisite amount to make the bike deviate from a straight line and hope you got it right to get round the corner, or, *you* can be in control of the path of your vehicle.

It's complicated physics, but a very simple effective technique.

Cheers

Paul B.

Is this something that would be taught at ordinary advanced rider courses or is it more for track riding?

Counter steering applies in all situations over a fast walking speed.
I do some coaching on track and find it’s even more effective at the higher speeds and tighter turns you find on tracks. Especially once you know that it works and can apply it consciously.

As I said previously - it works, of that I’ve no doubt.
What I also said is most riders interpretation of what it is and how to use it is flawed.
It’s a practical skill - so talking/writing about it will never really show its pros/cons.
The only way is to demonstrate and then discuss.

Zitat von Rutland Rider im Beitrag #14

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{snip}
Counter steering is done generally on a race track in order to get the machine to become unstable thereby helping it to tip into a corner. It works, of that I've no doubt.
{snip}
Fast is smooth smooth is fast, and if you think you need to start to counter steer just consider your speed.

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I think the reason that people unconsciously use counter steering, but don't realise that they are, is all down to geometry. Steering right to go left seems counter intuitive, but people will happily push down on the left bar to go left. When you do this, because of the angle of your arms, the force you apply is not vertically downwards but also at an angle. This angled push effectively has two components, one verticsl pushing downwards, and one horizontal pushing forwards, and it is the latter which provides the unconscious counter steering effect, though I agree with others that it is better to consciously apply this technique.

Disagree away ! Opinions are like ar#@holes. Everyone’s got one

Zitat von Paul B im Beitrag #27

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Zitat von Rutland Rider im Beitrag #14

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{snip}
Counter steering is done generally on a race track in order to get the machine to become unstable thereby helping it to tip into a corner. It works, of that I've no doubt.
{snip}
Fast is smooth smooth is fast, and if you think you need to start to counter steer just consider your speed.

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I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Cheers

Paul B.

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