Unbelievable thread on countersteering on Triumphrat.net

[cruisin]

Have any of you been over on Triumphrat.net lately and seen the thread about countersteering? It started on Dec. 21 and already has 17 pages.  The OP opens with this:

I've had people explain it to me. I've watched the youtube videos. I've tried to practice the techniques. But its just too confusing.
From now on I'm just steering.
None of this "push this way" and "lean that way". It doesn't work. Regular steering from now on!

Most of the responders (including a few MSF instructors) have tried to explain it to those who don't want to believe it works.  I think most of the people are fully aware of what it is and how to use it, but there are still a few and one in particular that just don't get it.  A couple of instructional videos have even been posted with clear demonstartions of countersteering at work and still one guy claims there is no way anyone has the strength to turn the handlebars while at speed and that the only way to turn a bike is by forcing it to lean with body movement.

Go take a look, it is simply unbelievable (and somewhat entertaining) that some refuse to learn.

[sleazy rider]

He's probably riding a shaft drive bike.  

[veefer800canuck]

 

It's the simplest thing evar. So easy to experiment with on a straight stretch of road with no traffic, going about 30 MPH.

Those people who don't believe in counter steering have been doing it all along, they just refuse to invest the brain cells into understanding why it works.

I remember the first time I had heard about counter steering. I tried it intentionally immediately afterwards, and yeah, you can't argue with the laws of physics.

[cruisin]

 

It's the simplest thing evar. So easy to experiment with on a straight stretch of road with no traffic, going about 30 MPH.

Those people who don't believe in counter steering have been doing it all along, they just refuse to invest the brain cells into understanding why it works.

I remember the first time I had heard about counter steering. I tried it intentionally immediately afterwards, and yeah, you can't argue with the laws of physics.

I, too, recall my first experience with it in 1968 on my Honda 90.  An older friend of mine with a few years of experience made it his mission to teach a few of us younger riders proper techniques.  Once we all tried it, there was no other sensible way to control a bike. Now, I go read things like the thread over on the Triumph site and simply cannot fathom someone is so ignorant and close-minded so as to not even want to attempt it even once.

[Mac]

I recall in my first few months of riding, not understanding countersteer. I had the hardest time cornering by body lean alone, it made for some very scary moments. I discovered countersteering by accident, experimented and was performing better in the week after, then in the previous months combined.

Hell, lean the wrong way and you can still countersteer the bike the way you want to go.

[cruisin]

I see the thread has been moved -- thanks; I wasn't quite sure where it should go.

I also see that the most vocal anti countersteering person on the other forum is now back-pedaling in a huge way.  

we need an icon for back-pedaling

[Orson]

A good counter steering thread is too good to hide down in the Triumph Section  

[Kneescrubber]

You're doing it whether you understand it or not.  

[TBone]

The OP of triumphrat thread started it as a joke, at this point it's up to 18 pages due to one very stubborn contrarian.  

Ironically enough with a screen name of "cantbestopped".  

[PatM]

WTF is that counter steering thing you guys talk about?  
Next you'll be telling us we can use the front brakes?  

[MidLifeMike]

You're doing it whether you understand it or not.  

^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS

But I'm sure in a week we can get this thread up to 18 pages and show those fellas at Triumphrat.

I mean WTF people. Go to a boating forum and they don't keep arguing about why you push the outboard tiller to the right, to go left.

[cruisin]

 

[Mac]

 Go to a boating forum and they don't keep arguing about why you push the outboard tiller to the right, to go left.

Thats because sailors don't argue with results.

[staedtler]

this should clarify any questions.... it explains the relation
between the front suspension and steering  






this next one, explains what happens to your head after you hit that rv on the incoming lane
cause you fail to steer properly  

[Hardware]

I didn't even bother to read the link as I don't just don't suffer fools gladly.

When I used to teach I started the counter steering talk with something along the lines of:

We're going to discuss counter steering.  Before we get into it, I want to point out that between all the instructors we have here, there's close to a hundred years of combined experience in riding bikes and teaching others how to ride.  You've paid us good money to teach you how to ride so we're not going to tell you to do something that won't work, or worse, that would harm you.  Counter steering exploits a thing called gyroscopic precession.  Without getting too much into the physics of it all, gyroscopic precession is a factor in any spinning wheel or disk, whether it's a motorcycle wheel, helicopter rotor, airplane propellor or some aircraft instruments.  Believe me, us motorcycle instructors did not get together last night over a few beers and come up with gyroscopic precession as a way to confuse everyone.

[cognosticator]

You're doing it whether you understand it or not.  

Eggs actly  when you go around a curve, you are countersteering wheter you know it or not

[rgbeard]

I hang out a bit in the Goldwing forums, and you should see how it spooks the sheep over there when someone mentions it.

Scary part is, these guys ride some of the largest/heaviest bikes around (other than an FJR, of course) and many have no idea of the physics of a turn.

Yet another point against the sanity of a large group ride.

[Tripps]

Have any of you been over on Triumphrat.net lately and seen the thread about countersteering? It started on Dec. 21 and already has 17 pages.  The OP opens with this:

I've had people explain it to me. I've watched the youtube videos. I've tried to practice the techniques. But its just too confusing.
From now on I'm just steering.
None of this "push this way" and "lean that way". It doesn't work. Regular steering from now on!

Most of the responders (including a few MSF instructors) have tried to explain it to those who don't want to believe it works.  I think most of the people are fully aware of what it is and how to use it, but there are still a few and one in particular that just don't get it.  A couple of instructional videos have even been posted with clear demonstartions of countersteering at work and still one guy claims there is no way anyone has the strength to turn the handlebars while at speed and that the only way to turn a bike is by forcing it to lean with body movement.

Go take a look, it is simply unbelievable (and somewhat entertaining) that some refuse to learn.

dude, it was humor, I saw that immediately, and the original poster said so.

[cruisin]

dude, it was humor, I saw that immediately, and the original poster said so.

OH, I don't doubt that at all, the part that is unbelievable is the ensuing conversation and the one guy who is dead serious about claiming,  "no one has the strength to rotate a spinning tire sir. not by rotating or turning the steering apparatus sir.."

[sprint_st]

I need to qualify what I'm about to say.  Totally understand and am a true believer in counter steering.
There are some situations where it doesn't work      WTF you say???  One is a very slow, very tight, climbing hairpin - talkin' 180 degrees with maybe ten feet of elevation change.  If you lean and counter steer, be prepared for the bike to fall over.  If you just steer it like a car and keep the power on, no problem.  Another is a very tight slow speed U turn.  Yes you can shift weight, counter steer and make most u turns.  You can also steer it around like a tri-cycle if want a very tight turn at very slow speeds.  I just discovered this a few weeks ago while practicing u turns.  These ARE anomalies and you really don't want to bring them up when trying to explain the counter steering.