Counter Steering

[XS11JAMMERIII]

Counter Steering, or CS. Bars right, go left.

Or as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation calls it, press right to go right – press left to go left.

I first learned of this in the mid-60’s. When I ended up at my first duty station, I found to ride on that station required attending a motorcycle rider’s meeting once a month. Said meeting was just a reminder of how many ways I could lose my on base riding privilege. The first way was not attending the meetings.

Then Master Sergeant Bails took over the meetings. He was an avid rider and emphasized rider safety. From him, I learned of CS. How many times has that saved my life?

Years later, the DOD brought in service wide training presented by MSF. The mandatory every 3 or 4 year professional rider safety instruction exposed many beginning and experienced riders to the many aspects of safety and CS.

Over the years, I have bench-raced with many riders. Many use or have heard of CS. I have met longtime riders who felt rider safety was for whimps and beneath them. Some had no idea what CS was about. Most use it without realizing it. For me it just comes naturally without thinking of it, like breathing.

So if Counter Steering is not in your vocabulary, look it up. Better yet, look into a MSF Experienced Rider Safety Course. Rub elbows and bench race with other riders, you will have a good time when everyone is on the same page. Not only will you be safer, you will enjoy riding so much more.

 

[Larry Fine]

I learned this on my own many years ago. If you watch a bike slalom through cones, you'll notice that the bike rotates around the center of gravity (near the headlight), not the tire contact patches. You're actually steering the tires out from, and then back under, the bike-and-rider's combined weight as you round a curve.

This steering method requires applying a torque (twisting) pressure to the handlebars, but not enough twist to be visually obvious. Counter-steering is done even when the rider is not conscious of the action. The steering geometry translate weight shift to steering, but with nowhere as much control as when done intentionally.

It also allows for controllable steering corrections while mid-curve. Motorcycle racing, where the rider hangs off inside the turn (which allows the bike itself to lean a bit less for a given curve radius and speed) would be impossible without counter-steering. it also works on bicycles, by the way.


Edited to add text in Italics

 

[XS11JAMMERIII]

In the book;
A Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Roadracer's Handbook - by Keith Code

There is a dramatic photo of Kenny Roberts entering a right-hander during a road race, the front wheel is kicked out way out to the left in his counter steer and he is at speed.
There is great information on how to read curves and the optimal line through.

Add to that in the book;

Everything I needed to Know I Learned on My Motorcycle - by Ronald Britt

Ronald writes as in life and riding a motorcycle look where you want to go, not where you are going. If trying to avoid an obstacle in the road, look where you want to go around not at what you are trying to avoid. Looking at the obstacle likely will be where you end-up.

Riding a great motorcycle road with lots of curves, looking through the curve where you want to go and applying counter steering makes for a more enjoyable ride.
Add A Twist of the Wrist II and you have a great reading list