General Biking Discussion Approved.

This topic has been substantially covered by OF sir in the "Ride Safe With Me" sub-forum, apart from being discussed endlessly here on the forum itself.

Still, let's wait for the experts to pour their opinion on the topic.

Thanks.

Anyone willing to help?

It helps At high speeds, when there is not enough time to shift your weight and change direction quickly. So counter steering will help initiate the change in direction instantly which is further supplemented by shifting your weight.

Counter steering is the only way to turn after speeds of like 40KMPH.

You will be subconsciously using countersteer at those speeds. Try to consciously turn it the normal way, you will see the bike move in the opposite direction.

This is what confuses me the most. Some say we have to use only counter steering to escape out of sudden surprises in panic time. Some like you say, that we unknowingly use only counter steering while driving. I really don't undrstand. This was the reason why I started this thread.

Wrong.

Just try out what I said. It confused me a lot too, then I realised this is the only way to turn a bike. It is essential for any bike rider to understand how countersteering works, do it consciously every time rather than trying to ignore it.

Counter steering adds a lot of fun to biking. As rightly said above, 40KMPH + speeds require counter steering. However, note that harder the counter steer, more you will lean! So be cautious when with a pillion.

That being said, consciously doing counter steering help to take the corners much faster than otherwise.

Theres an excellent article on xbhp with images demonstrating.!

Thanks for the article.I have already been through this. Even then my dumb head fails to understand.
@Sunnyboi, Lets take it as you said. If everyone of us uses counter steering above 40kmph unknowingly, why is there a special name for it as counter steering? Why cant everyone call it just 'Steering' instead? Sorry I really don't understand.

its called 'counter steering' because its different from normal steering. and true that all do it unknowingly over 40 kmph.
its given a name and you need know the concept.

suppose that you are going at some speed of like 70 kmph and you see a stationary car in front of you a bit on the left. its common that people panic in such situations and those who don't know the concept would do the normal steering and turn right to get away from the car. but instead, the bike goes left and dashes into it.

but if you know the concept of counter steering, you will do the right thing and avoid disaster.

just remember that over 40 kmph, you counter steer.

Hey Sirius,
When you are going at speeds of above 50 and say you want to move right, you will 'push' your right bars. Now try to imagine, when you push the handlebars at that speed your bike leans to whichever side you are applying the force against. (In this case to the 'right').

At lower speeds however, when you push on your right, the bike DOESN'T lean. The handlebar turns *left* instead. So you end up turning left by giving a big push on your right hand side.

This is also one of the reasons that driving with one hand is dangerous at these speeds. Say you are a poser holding a phone on your left hand. Suddenly you have another vehicle coming head-on on your right. Since your right hand is holding the bars, you push your handlebars thinking you'd turn left. But in reality the force 'pushes' the bike to the right and makes it lean on the right instead. Pulling the right hand bar towards you can make you lean on the opposite side, but its hard to 'pull' at that speed. Its just so awkward (Try doing this on an empty road)

2 secs later you will be kissing the ground

This is why its called as counter-steering. To turn right at speeds of above 40-50, you 'push' your right hand bar. I am emphasizing this because you DO NOT turn your handlebar to the right, you just push it. A gentle push gives you the required lean to turn in the direction of the push.

You can control this lean and do wonders by shifting your weight accordingly. Couple this with the target fixation trick, twisties will be much more fun.

Check out the post about counter-steering in here as well. Hope this helps

EDIT: I am no expert but counter-steering is just one of those 'ah-thats-it?' concepts if you can wrap your head around it.

^ Really thanks for your patient writing in helping me explain this concept. Now I really understood what the fuss is about. Thank you for your clear explanation.

@ Sirius --

Download Keith Code - Twist of the Wrist II from t******. It will solve all your problems.

Countersteering is the technique used by single-track vehicle operators, cyclists and motorcyclists, to initiate a turn toward a given direction by first steering counter to the desired direction ("steer left to turn right"). To negotiate a turn successfully, the combined center of mass of the rider and the single-track vehicle must first be leaned in the direction of the turn, and steering briefly in the opposite direction causes that lean. Once sufficient lean is established to sustain the desired turn, the rider, or in many cases the bike itself, then steers into the turn to cause the bike to turn in the desired direction and stop the lean from increasing. This technique does not apply to multiple-tracked vehicles such as trikes and bicycles or motorcycles with sidecars attached.