Countersteer class!

Bailout · Post by **Bailout** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:29 pm

Ok so i'm out enjoying the sun by lake Ray Roberts and run up behind a rice burner (hehehe) that is slowing me down on the corners, yeah I know go figure, so he stops at the next gas station and I pull in behind to chat the guy up and find out what is going wrong.

Yup first day on the new bike. He has Liscens and all but never went to a class.

Damn I forgot how hard it is to esplain countersteer to a newbie!

So for you that have taken the class do they go over that in the beginneer class??

DLSGAP · Post by **DLSGAP** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:46 pm

they did in the class i took but that was in Tennessee....but the roads in that area would require it to be used ALOT more than here....i still use it here... i jsut don't wear out my front tire here like i did back there...

tracykyleharris · Post by **tracykyleharris** » Tue May 15, 2007 4:14 pm

They cover it in the MSF safety course. Send him to them.

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Tue May 15, 2007 8:06 pm

yes they do!!!

Edmond_Dantes · Post by **Edmond_Dantes** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:17 pm

They still did when I took it 4 years ago at Honda in Irving.

Bird · Post by **Bird** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:42 pm

The MSF class covers it in detail for quick changes of lanes. They even have a drill that is part of the final called 'obstruction avoidance'. Not quite the same as using CS to set yourself up for a corner, but it's a good place to start. Using CS to weave in and out of cones at speed is a good drill to feel what the bike is doing under you. The bike can actually move a foot or two under you without your body really changing it's relative position to the direction of travel. Comes in real handy in avoiding potholes!

Bailout · Post by **Bailout** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:43 am

Yeah I thought I remembered people saying they went over it. I told the kid he really should look into it. Hopefully he will show up here soon also. He needs some good advice.

I fear he may fall to the dark side of squidly ways!!

DLSGAP · Post by **DLSGAP** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:24 am

yeah... i get asked all the time how i throw my 500lb brick around so quickly...

my first thought is.. hell she handles like a dream... then i realize they have no concept of counter steering. so i explain what i can trying to use words that are monosyllabic enough for them to understand and i tell them to try a simple slalom in a parking lot to get a feel for what it does... most are amazed at how well their bikes handle compared to what they had been experiencing....

U-Turn · Post by **U-Turn** » Wed May 16, 2007 9:31 am

http://www.msgroup.org/TIP048.html

Post by **DarcShadow** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:05 pm

I don't understand how you could ride a bike and not counter steer. Even if you don't know exactly what it is that you're doing, you can't help but do it. The bike just won't turn at speed if you try to turn like you do at slow speeds.

Bailout · Post by **Bailout** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:10 pm

it was literally like following a baby giraffe!! he was fighting the bike in corners instead of letting it do its thing which is why i brought it up with the guy.

like they say.....if at first you don't succeed.....you better have good insurance!

Post by **dufremle** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:36 pm

I was actually doing that when I first started riding the Superhawk. I used to do it on the cruiser but never made the connection on the sportbike. Going into corners was scary.

digi · Post by **digi** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:34 pm

I just lean and point with my face, everything just works.

Too weird when you actually think about it.

Post by **DarcShadow** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:57 pm

yeah, that's my thing, I never thought about it, even after learning about it I just now had a name for what I already was doing naturally. I did think it a bit odd though when I was reading the book from the DMV before taking the test and it said to make a left turn you push left and to make a right turn you push right. I thought that was odd but never really realized that's what I was doing naturally anyway.

U-Turn · Post by **U-Turn** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:43 pm

Just before I started riding with ya'll I would just lean into a turn and the bike only went so far on it's own. I couldn't make it lean more. I mentioned it to a friend and he said to push it more. I'm thinking faster? So I started to push and presto! the bike leans more. Still trying to get used to it because I push a little and it moves down a little, push a little more and it drops a lot ! Didn't know it's called countersteering until this thread.
Then last weekend I just started pushing it more and keep repeting Trust The Tires. I've shortened that to T's. Riding is a lot more fun now then it was just a month ago.

Firewa11 · Post by **Firewa11** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:34 pm

It certainly helps to get off the bike a bit when leaning, it not only lowers your center of gravity, but helps make the leaning / pushing easier.

Bird · Post by **Bird** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:43 pm

Karl817 wrote:Then last weekend I just started pushing it more and keep repeting Trust The Tires. I've shortened that to T's. Riding is a lot more fun now then it was just a month ago.

There's a really good article on 'Crash or GO for it' that I'll try to find and post up. It was written by a local racer from Eurosport Cycles and it's much better than repeating "T's". The jist of it is that you make only TWO decisions when you enter into a corner a little 'hot' ... either crash, or go for it. You'll be surprised what the bike can do if you ask just a LITTLE more of the tires, suspension and your ability.

I'll find it and post a link up. It was on the old boards and should be considered required reading.

FOUND IT! I'm going to start a new thread in General so everyone can see it. It's a long read, but worth the time.

Fort Worth Motorcycle Riders

Countersteer class!

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