Countersteering 101 v1.1

This is a slight update to the original Countersteering 101 video. The original description was:
This is a video which is actually intended to stand on its own, unlike the other two I've posted. Covers the very basics of countersteering. This is suitable for anyone who doesn't understand what countersteering is, or how it works. Does not include technical explanations, physics, or math.
For those who are interested, the video was made by shooting on and capturing from a JVC GR-DF430 video camera into iMovie and Final Cut Express HD 3.5. Audio was recorded in Soundtrack 1.5, and video was fit to the voiceover track in FCE. The video is compressed with H.264 compression, and the final Quicktime is just over 24 MB.

[@sysghost]

I'm biking a lot, and found this video interesting in a different way: It made me realise that I do counter-steer without thinking about it. Weirdest still, is that it has come to me without any prior knowledge about this technique.

[@domsanchez148]

Excellent video. I just realized I had been countersteering this whole time and I never realized I was doing it.

[@markdouglas7792]

Actually, it IS instinctive at slower speeds (15-30 mph) and lighter weight bikes. It becomes much less instinctive at higher speeds and on heavier bikes. Understanding countersteering is crucial on heavier cruisers and faster sportbikes. Great video, Ian.

[@jonotwist]

okay, This is the best explanation for counter steering ive seen yet that involves visual aid. Everyone I talked to mentioned that if "you're not counter steering that im going to flip" i respond with . "ok, flipping is bad. what is counter steering?" all of the vids ive seen discuss counter steering as if its something you do the entire length of the turn. yah. people are bad teachers. lo and behold ive been doing that naturally all along. thanks for the vid.

[@kichansilva]

your explanation is the best I've seen

[@2010MadMark]

Had to rate this as descriptions on forums were so bloody confusing. Turns out I've been doing this for years (bicycle & motorbike).

[@tallius84]

This is probably the BEST explanation of counter steering I have ever heard. The MSF instructors that teach at Walnut, CA at Mt. San Antonio College don't even bother explaining it. They just skip it entirely because they deemed it too confusing to teach to students. What a load of jack offs!

[@GooseThunderfoot]

I just realized that I've been countersteering since I was 5. Great video, excellent examples and demonstrations!

[@theoallen1]

I've been watching videos for days trying to work out how the hell to countersteer, and finally i found your video, cheers man, helps a lot! :)

[@BuddyCorp]

Perfect explanation of what every motorcyclist does. Great job. I knew it happened, and I knew why, but I doubt whether I could have made as good an explanation as you. Keep up the art!

[@KMMCSafety]

This is awesome! The (simple) explanations and video clips should really help (most) new riders begin to understand the concept(s). Great info! Gives them the tools necessary to go practice and learn how (best) to apply the technique(s) within the limits of their bike and their skill. This is great! KM

[@MadChalet]

Great! Countersteering is crucial to safe riding and collision avoidance. Thanks for producing this clear explanation.

[@CruisingHarleyFatBoy]

Ian this again is a 1st rate video. Well done in your explenation of this move. You certainly have the skills of explenation and motorcyling. Thank you. Kind regards, Harley Davidson Fat Boy

[@supersayin11178]

Thanks i previously watched a video on countersteering and was scratching my head. I am going to start riding bikes soon. This video cleared it right up for me. Thanks for the informative video!

[@iannosaurus]

This was very informative and explained the reasoning behind countersteering. Before this vid I completely misunderstood what it was, but it all makes soooo much sense now. Thank You!

[@DiegounpocoLoco]

Excelent explanation and production! Congratulations!

[@stevietron]

This is the first example i've managed to find of this being properly/clearly explained. Countersteering seems to be more about the actual art of leaning the bike as opposed to turning it, as EVERY other place i've looked seems to fail to mention. P.s Before anyone says anything, i am aware that leaning is a vital part of turning, but you know what i mean. :) Thanks Ian.

[@annettekosterman3191]

THANK YOU! going for my license tomorrow and this video really does explain it well

[@cookie852]

I never fully understood counter-steering until I rode my motorbike at 100km/h down a freeway and tried it. I use to think that it was simply leaning over like i did on a bicycle but it turns out you don't even need to initiate a lean, the bike leans you.

[@MotoErik56347]

Awesome explanation! Easy to understand & factually correct, thank you for making this. (The physics were a little fuzzy, but your disclaimer covered that) :D

[@DFWKen]

@IanJSeattle I don't disagree with those dynamics. But that isn't counter-steering. Countersteering relies on the gyroscopic effect of the spinning heavy front wheel and the gyroscopic precession effect. Spin a bicycle wheel held by the axle and your hands/outstrectched arms. If it is spinning fast enough in the right direction, pushing forward on the right side of the axle will cause the top of the wheel to lean to the right. Spinning slowly doesn't produce the lean.

[@BucketLife]

very nicely done... 5 stars ~Tom

[@kaledovic]

Thank you. I like the simplicity here.

[@Seer1185]

Very useful video, especially given that I'm about to scratch a random itch and get a bike. Thanks for this.

[@dr-maybe]

Excellent demonstration! Thank you!

[@Mitchumthegreat]

great video this one although there are many on yourtube made me better understand counter-steer, I havnt seen a video yet, besides urs, that tells you that counter steering is the brief moment that allows the bike to initiate its lean, then the rider must turn into the turn. thanks!

[@Sparrowmind]

waow this was the only video that finally made me understand how its done, thank you!! Now I have to practice:)

[@JustifyJustin]

That is a very important point you've made NinkaMK - very few tutorials include that piece of information... or presume novices will know this automatically.

[@claerevilla]

i think i finally got it.... thanks, made it so much more obvious than the other clips i watched on it so far

[@clintfisher]

A day before I bought my first street bike (a Volusia 800 - 550lbs), I had my class portion of the MSF course. I had to ride the bike 300 miles to get home before next day's riding course. Learning about countersteering in the classroom saved my life. Making a left turn about a block from home, I bungled my front brake & throttle control, goosing the motor. Not good: big rock wall right where the bike now wanted to go! Hard push on my left bar - missed the wall with a about a foot to spare.

[@cromrke]

@karthiksk I agree, because the bike and rider have more mass than the wheels and the bike is actually traveling at a slightly higher speed than most of the wheel mass. So the bike has much more kinetic energy than the wheel. Therefore we need to use the bikes energy to lean it by deflecting the path for a moment. The gyroscopic effect holds us in balance only when we are in almost perfect balance since a tiny input on the steering produces much more force by path deflection

[@SoccerCoachJ]

Very good, best I have seen!

[@crazyblaze713]

thanks, now i can explain countersteering to others without getting even myself confussed

[@haangout]

just do it on a bicycle - u will see instantly - you do it without thinking - if u keep thinking about it u will mess up -

[@DaylightRobberyCA]

I know you made a good faith effort to offer a highly simplified physical explanation of the countersteering but GOOD GOD that made my brain hemmorrage from the inaccuracy. Otherwise a beautiful video.

[@jaronhall]

That cleared up so much confusion. Thanks!

[@n4mwd]

Good video. However knowing about it and doing it are two different things. I rode bicycles as a kid and now I'm trying to learn to steer a motorcycle at age 48. This counter steering stuff is driving me crazy.

[@edlewis100]

Loved this video!

[@vacationboyvideos]

WHEN I COUNTERSTEER...do i hold the whell with little force...so that the handle bars are stright and i can then turn in the dirrectoin i wan to go? or the opasite directoin is enough to have me in a LEAN to go in that dirrection? OR do i still have to NOT only let the bike make the handle bars stright but also move the bars in the directon i wanted to go in the first place?

[@PatrolmanDark]

For some stupid reason, I'm greatly entertained about the argument over the pronunciation of the name of a fictional force - Which you kindly label "so-called" to assuage those of us who understand physics. :) Additionally, about the two pronunciations, it seems to be an English/English vs American/English thing to me. Great video, mate.

[@jirving75]

Very well produced video, nice editing etc. Information was useful too. Thanks. Any more similar videos?

[@DaylightRobberyCA]

Point taken. Thanks for the video sir!

[@kokiklv]

Nice video, it helped to improve my handling too. The funny thing about me is that I have never noticed that I use countersteering... Just to test it I went out for a ride and now I noticed that I realy use it. Without this, you cant even ride a bicycle ;) P.S. Sorry for my grammar if it`s wrong.

[@CaneFu]

@Rige02 Don't worry about the wheel since you can't see it anyway. Concentrate on pushing on the inside handlebar grip - the faster you go through the turn, the harder you will be pushing forward on the inside hand-grip. Push left while turning left.

[@transdetendal]

keep this up and others will get it , very nice explenation and shots

[@teatimecrumpet]

So would i counter steer through the whole turn? i.e. if I'm making a right turn would I have my wheel turned to the left the whole turn and then straighten out once I need to go straight again (like for an off ramp)?

[@holycrapitsjake_]

centrifugal, or centripetal force?

[@promontorium]

I thought this was intuitive, why would a person need to practice it? I've never driven a motorcycle but it's no different on a bike. Are people normally turning without countersteering?

[@Neuroslicer]

So help me a bit more... in turning right, first you press right to initiate the lean, but then you still have to pull right to steer into the turn... have I got it? Thanks for the vid!

[@sinbaadi]

Good explanation, it's so simple. I really don't know why or how it has achieved this reputation as some kind of dark art, or unnecessary extravagance.

[@fylde456]

very well explained, cheers.

[@bluedog5424]

this video made everyhing make sense! thanks!

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

They claim in this video that countersteering can be used at low speeds but is neither necessary nor a good idea. However, they never once show that a turn can be initiated without countersteering. The fact is, turns at all speeds are initiated with countersteering - even if subconscious or imperceptible. A properly instrumented bike would show this to be the case.

[@6stringbadger]

Now I understand. Thanks for the explanation.

[@josdaboss]

Very informative - thanks!

[@britarthc]

so you steer away from the corner just to get the bike to lean correct? then you can steer into the corner? from what i read on the internet they say that you always turn away from the corner and u still keep going the oposite direction. an example if i were to turn the bars hard to the right, i would go faster around going left. true? or is it just to get it to lean? thankyou good video!

[@nite_sec]

Every video says, push right, turn right. Confusing as f***!!! I have concluded, if you want to turn left, a bit before the turn, you turn a little to the right first, then actually turn to the left so that the center of balance is leaning inward (toward the left) as you take the turn to compensate. The upper part of the bike and yourself will naturally want to go to the right due to centrifugal force, and this is how you keep your balance. Higher speed = more leaning in. Wrong?

[@Rige02]

Okay so heres where I'm confused and if you are to thumbs this up so we can get a response (as long as i'm not the only one who doesn't understand). When you countersteer is the slight change in your wheel used to change where your balance is then you face the wheel into the turn, or do you face your wheel away from the turn throughout the turn?

[@capitainemuffin]

yeah thx a lot, my license exam comming soon, so thx a lot for the vid, really helpfull !!!

[@shaku92002]

Great video very simple

[@12345RunescapeNerd]

i get it now too, great video!!

[@4fastweb]

thanks for the video ian. one question though: you're not actively leaning though right? the bike will lean itself?

[@TruTin09]

Hi Ian, I don't seem to ever notice myself steering into the turn. If I'm going right at a higher speed (~>20mph), I'm either pressing the right grip or holding/releasing pressure on the grip. I only press the left grip when I'm leaning right to upright the bike from the right lean. Is it that by maintaining/releasing pressure on the grip, you are technically steering into the turn? BTW, thanks & great job on this vid. It helped me quite a bit when I 1st started several mths ago.

[@jmckaskle]

The physics aren't so important to understand as the proper execution, which inlcudes looking ahead into the, not at the ground in front of you, slowing into the turn, then countersteer (press or push the handlebar), then roll on the throttle to accelerate through the turn. Countersteering is only one small part of a larger picture. Countersteering you learn on a bicycle when you are a kid.

[@Defectordrunkzone]

thanks a lot man,nice video.

[@DeadFishFactory]

When I was learning how to ride a motorcycle, I do that without thinking about it.

[@stevus85]

Do it! I just got one a couple days ago, so much fun.

[@nlitement]

I don't know how it doesn't make sense. Basically if you want to turn left, you turn the wheel to the right so that your bike starts "dropping" to the left (imagine someone standing on a rug, then you pull the rug real quick), then you quickly turn the wheel left to control the turn.

[@Ransomlikespie]

I understand now! Thanks.

[@dantama35]

I haven't read all your comments, so perhaps you've addressed this, but at 2:15 it sounds like you are describing two different steering inputs. One input that is counter to the direction you want to go, and then a second input to steer in the direction of the turn. All it takes from the rider to get the motorcycle to go in the direction of the turn is ONE input, not two. Do we agree on that?

[@Rige02]

@IanJSeattle thank you!

[@deepsudeep]

So you said that at high speeds countersteering is done throughout the turn and not just initiate it? I makes sense that the steering input is very low coz I have checked many onboard videos and it barely seems like the handle bars are turned! Gr8 video .. tx

[@LiveToRidee]

I think it could have been explained better if you mentioned G-force or as if you fill a bucket of water and you swing it around really fast it stays in the bucket. I remember when i was a kid I thought that was the coolest thing! It's clear a motorcycle works the same way i never knew that! Physics is some cool stuff!

[@mh4617]

Why dont it work below 30 mph?

[@bendystix]

@karthiksk It's a necessity if you want to actually turn at 60mph on a motorcycle without running off a road.

[@shogrran]

i think its even easier to notice on a bicycle. Try standing in front of a bicycle holding the handle bars.. turn the handle bars and notice that the body of the bicycle leans the other way.

[@thydusk666]

5***** for the security recommendations at the end... Although I've seen Keith Code II I was surprised not to see any warn of putting that in practice on public roads!!!!

[@buntonghininga]

Informative.:)

[@TRUFFLEHOUNDEXPRESS]

At about 5 mins long, this is a good videoas far as it goes but rookie riders need to understand a whole lot more. Eg the importance of throttle control when turning in order to transer weight to the rear wheel contact patch etc etc . Buy "Twist of the Wrist II" on DVD. At 109 minutes you will learn what you need to know.

[@KMMCSafety]

@infotechsailor MSF is "A" provider of curriculum... not "THE" -as they want to be. There are other options. It is much less expensive to use an established curriculum rather than reinventing the wheel -as Oregon has.

[@madhatter227]

yes, fair point. i had hoped that was the reason.

[@disciple604]

I do it without thinking on my bicycle, but when it comes to a sportbike, it seems like it'd be different. (New to the whole motorcycle deal)

[@krishoshi]

I have been doing countersteering with my bicycle for a good time, but how is that possible to turn right when you turn left? thanks to this video now I understand why this all happens. Thanks for sharing this amazing video :)

[@reyshare]

very nice :-)

[@mgcp22]

i did it!! and i got a broken bone!! ^^ that was effing COOL

[@ChaosmanOne]

Are there people who can't "naturally" countersteer on a motorcycle? I can't imagine what it would be like to have to LEARN to countersteer :O

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

I don't see where I contradict myself at any point. I believe that all riders use countersteering at all speeds to initiate turns. The only evidence I've seen to suggest it could be otherwise involved a circus performer and a long balance bar. But a regular guy on a regular bike - nope.

[@motormanmagoo]

Hi Ian, I think the term "countersteering" is misleading because it creates the impression that there must be two kinds of steering. To keep things straight in my own mind I view the steering bar as a control for managing lean angle. Maintain a lean angle to one side of zero degrees for long enough and the bike makes a curved path, a turn. To maintain a straight path steering is used to vary lean angle on either side of zero degrees.

[@amigopuerco]

@GooseThunderfoot me too. i do this but never thought about it

[@venomrx666]

approved...!!!..ride safe

[@JakeB090489]

so, i cant say iv ever been on a motorcycle at high speed, but i never really noticed this on a regular bike either...even when hauling ass as fast as i could

[@paullschexnayder]

@IanJSeattle Try the book "Motorcycle Design and Technology" by Gaetano Cocco. It covers the physics of high and low speed cornering on two-wheeled machines. The book is very comprehensive, but It took me a long time to read and understand it for a number of reasons: I get the impression that English is not the authors primary language; and editing is poor in spots (mislabels pictures, incorrect formulas, etc). I hope one day they will come out with a better second edition.

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

I had said you never showed that a turn can be initiated without countersteering only because it seemed the video claimed it could be done, but didn't show that it could be done. It has been my contention all along that turns are never initiated without countersteering. I also agree that countersteering can be passive (e.g. hands off the bars) and subconscious (e.g. every 10 year old that rides a bike).

[@dragos070395]

I really made to lean without counter steering, but it was a big circle road. (With a bicycle):))

[@DaylightRobberyCA]

Unless you construct nwton's laws in a non-inertial system, there is no centrifugal force. Also, the free body diagram with "lean" as force is wrong. There is no lean force. The force that accelerates a cycle radially inward, causing the turn, is the reaction force at the points of wheel contact. Your bike exerts a frictional force on the ground, but the ground doesnt move. By Newton's third law, there is an equal/opposite frictional force on the bike radially inward and the bike turns.

[@CruisingHarleyFatBoy]

@ImEuanAndIGotsSkeelz Good comment. Just how I would sum up the whole mystery of Counter Steering. He certainly has the skills to make the explenation seem so simple. I also thought it must be some magical trick of manover. Regards, Harley.Davidson.FatBoy

[@rcpmac]

You want to see countersteer and some action look at youtube video titled VINTAGE FLAT TRACK MOTOTCYCLE RACING CRASHES

[@mintydent]

@geritolwhamfan Depends on what state your in. I took the MSF course in WA State and they took care of my endorsement as well. We took a riding test and a written test. All I had to do was take the endorsement to the licensing department and pay a fee and they gave me my license with 2-wheel cycle endorsement on the back :)

[@madhatter227]

So pretty good video, but one major point: There is no such thing as "centrifugal force". Physics 101.

[@allmhuran]

@DFWKen It's actually been done on a bike with counter-rotating weights. Precession is not what leans a bike.