h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good stuff!!

It's nice to know of someone, that not only has heard of counter steering, but can also explain it. You would not believe the amount of mates I have tried to educate in the art of counter steering, only to receive looks of disbelief. I think it's because we all learn it, without knowing how, or why, the day we have our stabilisers taken off our first pedal bike.

Another good cornering tip is the "vanishing point". When turning, say, a right hand bend, look to see where the two kerbs meet. If that point moves further to your right, the corner tightens up. If it starts moving left, the bend is opening out. This is supposing you can actually see both kerbs, of course. Knowing this may keep you alive, but more importantly, it will keep you in front when out scratching on strange roads with your mates!!

Stay upright

Dilligaf

I've been riding for about a year now, but i really dont understand what you are on about with counter-steering. Surely when i turn to the right, i turn the handlebars and therefore the front wheel to the right, i dont turn it left to turn right?
Please Explain.
Cheers
bob

Have you ever watched a speedway race? That is the easiest explaination of counter-steering you will ever see.

So is counter steering only used in a skid, I get it then.

I think I'd prefer to call it a slide.

Howdy

Apparently you'll find that it's only possible to turn the bars to the right to turn right at slow speeds...once you're moving at faster than walking speed(?), to turn the bike right you push on the right handlebar - as if you were trying to turn left. It's physically impossible for the bike to turn left at speed if you turn the handlebars left.
I don't understand it (never was good at physics).

You're probably doing it without being aware of it.

Look right, push right, look left, push left. Someone else said that.

I'd also like to invite you both to join the motorcycle club

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A724312

I'd love to join! Due to an eye problem my riding days are over, but what memories.
By the way have you ever tackled the TT course? We could have a little whizz round to see who has been the fastest. The Mad Monday champion

Welcome to the club - the name tends to change a bit...

The membership page has been updated - if you want one, just let me know what sort of virtual bike you'd like

The TT course? Are you talking about the track linked from the clubhouse?

Sounds great!!! I think I'll show my true colours, any chance of a virtual Yammy 250?

Just kidding (...or not - if you want one - I once rode a virago around, suprised the hell out of its owner who didn't realise just what you could do with one...)

What sort of 250?

There is an official Virago Owners Club I'll let you know. Yamaha 250 will do me nicely.

Er, sorry, I meant any particular kind of Yamaha 250?

Don't forget to visit the Biker's rest (Cor blimey guv is the conversation) for a coffee or something more interesting...

I think it was my fault. What about a TZ250 from around 1981. I think they were the first water-cooled, but I maybe wrong.

No worries the membership page has been updated

That'd be a fun thing to punt around!

http://www.tz350.com/tz250page.htm

That website is a real fansite, cheers!

That website is a real fansite, cheers!

As far as counter steering goes,I wouldn't worry about it too much,as most of the time you will do it without even realising.Basically I would use your eyes to steer where you want to go.Sounds a bit obvious really,but where you "look" you "go".Try it next time you're on a bend and want to see if you can change lines halfway through it.

For more references to cornering and the like,you're more than welcome to visit my motorbikes4beginners website at..
http://elkfazer.tripod.com

Thanks Elkfazer - I tend to agree. On the other hand it can be quite important to know what countersteering is - particularly when trying to dodge an obstacle, or change lines suddenly. To be able to react instinctively yet correctly can be vital. But as I said, it's impossible to go round a bend without doing it.

Good work on the website. One thing about your "taking a bend" advice, it may be good to note that when taking a corner too quickly:

- Using the front brake will cause the bike to sit up (and may lock the front wheel if applied in a panic). Touching the back brake (as you suggest) will bring the bike down into the corner - and your advice about looking where you want to go is very true!
- Picking the bike up and running straight on may be disastrous if the corner is tight and your going way too fast (I think you cover this anyway when you say you are assuming that they are still on the road). You could either run wide into oncoming traffic, or run off the road!!

I wouldn't recommend backing off the throttle or shutting the throttle if traction is scarce - this transfers weight to the front tyre and thus if a tyre is going to slide it'll be the front. Not a good feeling! Same thing with using the front brake, I guess.

I guess avoiding a crash mid-corner is a judgement call - if you're going slow enough then your advice certainly holds. The faster you're going then I think the more important advice is to use the back brake only (and gently), to stay on the throttle, and to look through the corner. Most bikes will cope with a lot more (angle of lean, slides etc) than their owners are willing to try. Well, the more sane amongst us, anyway.....


Bad
Oh and are you in the motorcycle club? Want to join?




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Hi Elkfazer,
I was very interested to read your piece about "looking where you are wanting to go" when cornering.
I am new to biking and even though we were told this when we took our CBT, it is another thing to actually put it into practice when taking a corner especially a tight one ( I find right handers more difficult than lefthanders).
Just today I nearly ran out of space to clear the bend, because I was looking at the bend and not where I wanted to actually go, I will try and remember this in future.
Nice posting,
Thanks.

Just found the biking threads - am seriously considering taking the plunge after an experiment in the summer, I live about 4 miles outside of the city centre in the Uk in which I work, and whether I drive, take the bus or cycle in to work it takes an hour...(worst case scenario the journey home took 2.5 hours one day!)

The best way I've heard to think about counter steering - you turn the bars to get the bike to lean, it's leaning the bike over that steers the bike around the corner

(Working 6 floors up, the bikers at work stood aghast watching the plumes of smoke from the Motorcycle Museum a month back - there, you can guess which city now )