Man, I am not a beginner, nor am I by any means an expert. This is the 2nd video of yours' that I've watched and I love it, very simple, very effective explanations and demonstrations. I've already shared with my girl who is wanting to learn to ride. Not only we who can ride but can ride better, but those that want to ride from the start are benefiting. Thank you Sir :)
Thanks for watching! When I started riding, the whole counter steering thing really played tricks with me. I couldn’t find an explanation anywhere that made sense to me. So, that’s why I made this video. Thank you for appreciating it, I made it for people like you and me.
@@GasWorksISO As someone else here said, I think this is the first video I've seen that has *explicitly* shown the transition from steering to counter-steering - how to discover the speed at which that happens... *and* the first to point out that there is an instability threshold - which seems to coincide with that. Thankyou! Cheers from Wellington, NZ :-)
I'm 54 and i just bought my first maxiscooter but I have zero driving experience and have never driven a motorcycle in my life. So I'm learning a lot on youtube and countersteering is one of the things I was unaware of. Yesterday however, I drove my e-bike and tested your theory and it works! When driving 15 mph and pushing the left handlebar forward, my bike will veer to the left. So I must have been using countersteer all the time without even realizing it. Now it looks a whole lot easier to do so while driving my maxiscooter. Thanks for the video, subscribed....
A good way to learn countersteering and learn to understand it: go bicycle riding at decent speed. I rode bicycles up until I was 25 at a moderate to high speeds (for a bicycle) and when i started riding a 125cc last summer, it just clicked in my head. I had been countersteering for years without realizing. In fact, a lot of bicycle skills you learn when riding at +25 km/h seem to be transferable to motorcycle riding (at least to me).
I just bought my first bike, just want to say thank you. All your videos I've seen so far have been really informative. This kinda stuff saves lives so thanks man.
I explain countersteering like this: The bars is used to determine/modify lean angle, and lean angle determines the radius of turning, the bike does the rest. Turn bars left, bike leans right... Saying it "turns" the bike is not quite right, and confuses people trying to grasp the concept. Great demonstration of this concept, good work
Appreciate this. I am a new rider and the target fixation is real! If I relax and look around a bit more like I'm on a pedal bike I feel like my field of view opens up and I'm not so focused on any one thing.
Instruction videos from beginners can be great, like this one. Sometimes advanced instructors can actually leave out details that us beginners can't find.
A very straight forward and clear explanation, it's something like riding a bicycle and asking someone how to steer it and people say 'I just steer left and right and the bicycle goes around the corner'
Of all videos I’ve been trying to learn what counter steering is this is the best by far. Thank you Now I understand the reason for counter steering. Awesome
What an eye opener. Thank you for sharing this knowledge. It was jaw dropping to go out and try this. I have no doubt me 'not' counter steering helped contribute to my wreck into a dog who was chasing me. I'm a believer in this and will practice counter steering from now on. Thank you.
If you’ve seen my ‘close call’ video, I have no doubt it was counter steering instinct that saved me from colliding with that car. Thanks for commenting. 👍🏻
Thank God I'm a biker before I learn to drive. This thing just natural to me and it boggles my mind why so many topics about it on the RUclips. Now I understand why.
I think it has a lot to do with maybe people never had bikes when they were kids.We did it riding a bicycle when we were young and didn't know it.It was just instinctively.Now on a motorcycle it's heavier and faster so it just naturally freaks us out when we start learning it again or for the first time.
Well like a lot of people I’m getting ready to buy my first bike and I have found your videos to be great! Thanks for what you do, hoping to pick up a grom today possibly.
This is an incredibly important video on bike mechanics - so to speak. This applies to efficient safe and practical riding. I can't wait to try on my Ninja
A very good video explaining what can be a very confusing subject, love the simple but effective demonstrations. Target Fixation - how hard is it to NOT hit the stone in the road once you've spotted it!! Keep up the really good work.
I really do appreciate your videos. I am a new rider (1 month and 200 miles in) and i am trying to soak up as much info as I can. I will be taking the MSF course in Oct. Thankyou for everything you do 👍
A good video showing what happens as you cross the threshold from steering to counter-steering. As someone has commented below I think it's probably best not to encourage swivelling the head and looking at various objects but to keep that head up and regularly scan ahead from background to foreground with very brief head movements where necessary such as the approach to junctions/tracks always anticipating danger and asking for example "what if that car pulls out"? Consider an escape route, reducing speed and covering the brakes. There are plenty of scary things on the side of a road and one should avoid the temptation to dwell on them for the target-fixated reasons you give. And on a quiet road, try the occasional severe counter-steer to move round an object such as 'pretend' pot-hole, it could save a crash in the future. How about on a traffic-free dry road, practising progressive, smooth and comprehensive braking to remind yourself the capabilities of the bike. Finally for moderate to tight corners (have you looked at clues such as telegraph poles/hedges lines to judge severity?), do keep your head turned and your eyes looking beyond the apex, get your braking and gear change (and optimum road position of course) done before the corner, keep to a neutral throttle during the bend and then ensure a progressive smooth acceleration when you can see the exit. And never go any faster than the distance you can safely stop in on your side of the road!
Another great video thank you can't wait to try this out on next training day and even going to training to watch others learning really helps keep your thoughts focused and staying consistent.
Keep up the great videos! Im probably gonna be learning how to drive a motorcycle next year and this will help me a lot for sure! I have been riding bicycles for about 10 years now and i think i somehow developed that "sense" for counter steering. Even it is a bicycle i think it will have a significant impact on my driving when i hopefully pass it! Thanks again for great videos i enjoy your content!
Excellent. Even riding a bicycle at speed you are counter steering, without even realizing it. Push right, go right and vice versa. This was a very good explanation of the difference between steering and counter steering. And good advice on how not to target fixate. Even driving a car you can become target fixated if you don't keep looking around. Keep looking at the same spot and the car will go there, same as a bike.
I do an exercise similar to yours where I look around, and look at objects I don't want to hit. This time of year there are lots of nice hard pine cones that fall into the road. Hitting one in a curve would be really bad on my little TW200, so I work on practicing "target avoidance".
"Cuz ya know she's talking"! Lol! Great videos, very understandable, not too much talking, just enough which is why I also watch Motojitsu all the time, clear and concise. Just subscribed BTW, and I just bought a bike got my permit, waiting to get my title back so I can put a plate on it (taking forever!), I'm afraid there is going to be snow on the ground before I get a chance. Only gonna do parking lot riding at first and then sign up for the Basic rider course. Have fun, thanks for the tips!
Gas Works. great video! Your story is interesting but not true for everyone. I had no road experience and have never driven cars. I started on a motorcycle and I have had 3 target fixation situations which caused me to go wide in a corner and caused me to emergency brake and restart the turn. This happened EVEN though I understood the physics of counter-steering and practiced it in closed circuits... but when you are out in the road at speed its easy to make mistakes as a beginner. The rule of thumb on a bike is "you go where you look", now I know counter-steering WORKS cause its the physics of the bike but we are all human and we naturally counter steer in the direction our head is facing. thats why head and body position is very important as well as understanding counter-steering. Like you said you can train yourself to NOT go where you look, I know I have but its not only a "driver" problem. Target fixation happens to all riders.
The point of the video is to unlearn the habit of ‘steering’ away from a threat and learning to ‘counter steer’ away instead. Driver instinct vs rider instinct. I even stated in the video, it may not apply to you. I’m fully aware this isn’t true for everyone. You stated yourself you have never driven cars, so in fact this video especially would no apply to you.
Great video very well explained on counter steering it seemed like they made it confusing at the test centre on this thank you for cutting it down and making no it easier to understand shared with my friends who also love your videos we all subscribed . Keep up the good work brother
I've been riding for about 59 years, but not continuously. I instinctively reacted to steer/ counter steer at some slow speed, before I realized what was happening. At least, I can't remember when I figured out the science of it, or the physics of it. I wonder if the transition mph varies depending on steering geometry on a particular bike vs. another bike? Your videos help. Thanks.
They’re all very close. Tire size, wheelbase, degree of fork rake, etc. all determine where that threshold is. A small bike like the Grom in the video isn’t very stable compared to a longer, heavier bike with taller, heavier wheels for example.
Thanks a lot for the simple explanation appreciated Silly question: how different to cycle on a bicycle and motorcycle in terms of counter steering ( I drove cars for the past 20 years ) and never try motor only scooters vespa beside cycle. As advise form you expertises I would like to start with this hobby but I confused, do I get racer motor with 400 cc small engine or cruiser with small engine since both looks fun to drive What you recommend to start with. Application for your answer in advance
Counter steering is the same as on a bicycle, just more mass on a motorcycle. Your first bike? Get something small, lightweight and cheap. Ride it for a while and make your mistakes on it. I’d suggest something with a small cc engine to start with.
I have a LS2 Metro, while I think it’s a good helmet, I personally don’t like the ratcheting chin strap system they use. I find it very uncomfortable as it digs into my neck. My suggestion for the best helmet for the price would be the Scorpion EXO R420. I own one and it’s very nice. After that would be the Bell Qualifier DLX.
@@GasWorksISO And one more question. I went earlier to a dealer and the helmet that he had there was the carbon version of it (ls2 ff323 arrow c - i think). but it didn't have the lock visor button and to open it, it was on the side not on the front of the visor.? could it be a fake or is it another version?
Probably not a fake. The Scorpion I mentioned has a center visor release if that’s what type you’re looking for. The most important thing to look for in a helmet is that it fits properly. Make sure it has at least a DOT rating.
Oh man, I'm so glad I was originally taught this way. I live in Miami, I have no choice but to look around ALWAYS because these Cubans will smoosh me into nothingness
This will be familiar to many peddle cyclists who ride at speed. Just the tiniest push can trigger a lean into a corner. A good way to build some countersteering muscle memory prior to you first motorcycle may be to get the pushbike out of the garage.
I kinda think of the bike as a fighter jet - to make a tight turn( not at a high speed of course)I bank the opposite way then roll and straighten out the way I want to go. Providing there is nothing slippery on the road.Do it with a flat hand to feel what it’s like.make sense? It’s the counter steering action that does this! Right or left.
i started riding in the early 80"s an never ran across counter steering till i started looking at youtube videos. never had a problem with target fixations. an i have had to avoid some serious problems. so as it gets warm enough gonna go out an see if thats how i drive a bike . never ever thought about it before.
so, this is still a little unclear to me. Is countersteering "leaning"? So, for instance, when I ride my bicycle, I can steer without touching the the handlebars, just by leaning my body to the left, my bike turns left. Is that countersteering? So, if I automaticly do this because I've been cyling every day, for 26 years now (I live in Amsterdam), will that mean I won't have to practice this on a motorcylce because I've already got this? The only difference would be the weight of the bike... Please explain.
Countersteering causes the motorcycle to lean in the direction of the turn. Basically, a quick turn of the handlebars to the left will cause the bike to lean right, and vice-versa.. Its probably instinct to you, so don’t overthink it like I did..lol Just give it a shot and you’ll get it real quick. Remember, push left-go left.,,,push right go-right. It’s that simple.
Quick question: How much do you lean on the direction you want to go as you are counter-steering? Do you basically extend your head or also place your body as well on the direction you want to go leaning?
No leaning required. You can, and as counter steering becomes more natural, leaning off a bit keeps the bike more upright thru a turn, leaving more of the tires contact patch at your disposal.
All but the smallest of motorcycles will outweigh their riders by about 100%. That means shifting your body weight has relatively little effect on the motorcycle itself, but the motorcycle can easily impart its lean onto you. As Gas Works mentions, you can use your weight to improve the angle of the bike, but most of the time you’ll just keep your body parallel with the vertical axis of the bike, but most of the time, you won’t need to. In fact, you want to learn to let yourself lean *with* the bike, because you’ll be fighting a natural instinct where you’ll want to keep your body upright, and doing that will force the bike to lean more, reducing the contract patch you have available. (If you watch DanDanTheFireman’s accident analysis videos, you’ll frequently see examples of people doing exactly that.)
I'm 8 years riding Mountainbike so I have the low-speed balance I do countersteering on it I turn my head where I wanna go because same as the motorcycle as biking if you target fixation on a tree you will hit the tree there's a point where i sit in a car or bike there is a click in my head that switch to car or bike
If your bike is counter steering at 7 or 8 miles an hour for you, would it be the same for someone else who is heavier or even lighter than you - riding the same bike?
Good question. I don’t know the exact answer, but I assume the wheel size, fork angle and overall geometry of the bike is what determines counter steer speed. I don’t think the weight of the rider wouldn’t have much measurable effect on it.
If you've ridden bycicles before, these concepts are already "learnt" in you brain. Granted that the effect is more pronounced on a bike, but the basics are still the same. I was surprised after I began riding a motorcycle to see how many people crush on their own in curves because they didn't "counter-steer" and/or had 'target-fixation" (I assume they never ridden a bycicle before). Whether on a bike or bicycle, the concept of "look where you want to go" should be a natural reflex.
I agree, if you've been riding bicycles you already know this stuff, but you probably just don't know the terminology which describes it. That's what confused me. I don't think of it as steering and counter steering. I think of it as turning the handle bar in order to change direction vs putting weight on a handle bar to change direction.
Bicycles and motor bikes tires have a curved profile. Trucks and cars tires have flat profile. This is because bicycles and motorbikes need to lean to turn. At speed, a bike will becomes more stable because of the gyroscopic force. This is the force holding the bike up. Exactly like when we spin a "top" on a table. Except that on a motorcycle, the gyroscopic force is horizontal instead of vertical as in the top example. The bigger the wheel as in 12, 17 or 21 inches, the faster it rotates, the bigger the gyroscopic force. Bike with bigger front wheels generally require more effort to lean in a curve. Mind you, this also depends on the caster (angle) / trail of the front wheel, wheel base and weight distribution. But then those bikes are more stable going straight. Counter steering (pushing one side of the handle bar slightly forward) is the most efficient way to make a bike lean. The way I see it, counter steering breaks the gyroscopic force maintaining the bike straight up. My way to remember. Look right, push right, lean right. Look left, push left, lean left. The statements above represent my personal understanding, my opinion. You, the rider, remain responsible for all aspect of your ride and this includes consulting with a trained motorcycle instructor.
While not looking at one spot is a good exercise, I would not get in the habit of looking so far left and right by turning your head. Turning the head so far eliminates your vision of danger areas, and even for 1 second could result in a problem. I have seen enough accidents here on RUclips from the riders camera, 3 seconds is all it takes from first indication there is a problem and impact. I also am not a professional rider or teacher but have 30 years Road experience 0 accidents. I would recommend anyone that is new to take an MSF course, wish they were so accessible when I was starting.
i think best thing to do is to look much more far ahead because the human eyes can see miles ahead and if you can see things further you can react sooner
Peripheral vision, peripheral vision, peripheral vision! I cannot stress that enough! FORCE yourself to look where you WANT to go, not where you don't want to go, and use your peripheral vision to monitor the threat or danger. Your body will instinctually try to point the motorcycle in the direction you're looking. If you're target-fixating, you're going to hit the pole, car, or go off the cliff. If you focus on where you want and need to go, that's where you will go. Obviously, you still need to make sure you're entering the turn at a safe speed and do all of your braking BEFORE you enter the turn, as well.
i've never liked the term counter steering, to me counter steering is like in a car when the backend steps out and you steer in the opposite direction to the way the car is turning. but on a bike that is not what you're are doing, you're not steering to the opposite of travel or anything like that, you just applying pressure(weight) to one side of the handlebars, which slightly tilts the bike(and thus the wheel) off it's centerline and thus it turns that way. pressure the right side, you turn right, it's not opposite/counter to anything.
You’re kind of right. In a car, that’s called drifting. Using the back tires to control the direction of the steer. On a motorcycle, you are in fact turning the handlebars in the opposite direction of the turn, that’s where the term counter-steering is correct. The part you’re right about is, the forks, and thus the front wheel is in fact steering in the direction of the turn. Due to gyroscopic motion of the wheels, the bike will want to stand up straight at speed, therefor in order to keep the bike turning in the direction of the corner, the rider has to push, or turn the bars in the opposite direction of said corner.
@@GasWorksISO not really you use counter-steering when drifting, but it's called counter steering, you counter steer to maintain a drift or stop it, otherwise, you would just spin. but on a bike like i said i don't like the term because you aren't turning in the opposite direction, you're not steering left to go right, you are stopping the front wheel from turning right more than you want. lets say you want to go right, you tilt the bike to the right, be it by pushing down on the right side of handlebars or shifting your weight, this will make bike start turning right. now if you weren't holding the handlebars and continued to lean over, at a point the front wheel will want to start turning right as well, and if you do nothing about that it will suddenly snap to the right and you will have a really bad day. which you dont want, so you push/apply pressure to the right, to prevent that. your not steering left, again you're preventing the front wheel turning right more than you want it too. your steering the bike by tilting it. if you did try turning the handlebars left to go right, you would either turn left or fall off. and also will add, the video was good, so not getting at that, it more the terminology i dislike (which again is what everyone uses) it's not accurate and makes it way more confusing to people than it needs to be.
Vorador47 Agreed on the terminology, it does add some confusion to new riders. I did struggle with it for a while myself. However, simply leaning or shifting weight on a bike does very little to alter its trajectory if only a bit of a course change due to the offset. Check out a video called ‘Twist of the Wrist 2’ here on RUclips. It shows a very good demonstration of that. I’m not arguing with you, and appreciate your input, but give that video a look, as it explains the concept a lot better than I can...lol Ride safe!
Counter steering is natural you automatically counter steer into a corner at low speeds it basically no existent at speed you can feel it and see it much more pronounced The biggest issue with beginners riders and isn't mentioned in videos is weighting your foot pegs that's what steers your bike not your handle bars. So using your feet to turn into a corner or to maneuvrer your bike... Try it go down the road with no weight on your handle bars none at all and move left to right just with your feet you will be amazed how easy and quick your bike responds to your commands by just using your foot pegs. Mastering this technique will improve your riding and possibly save your life
I have to disagree with you on this. Watch a film called ‘Twist Of The Wrist 2’. Your foot pegs do little to nothing to steer a motorcycle. There’s a reason why it isn’t mentioned in videos, because it isn’t true.
May be I am the odd one out. Seems to me by instinct, I would pull the left handle bar. That was my first reaction when he was talking about something coming from right to left. That makes the bike also go to the right. But it's instinctively my thinking reaction. I'm thinking, maybe this is because my brain thinks about doing something with my left hand, and pulling away from the left makes me go right. Going right is the objective, after all. I also think I could explain this better In person.
I don't see your counter steering example as working. You say turn to the right and the bike indeed does go right, then it turns drastically to the left a few seconds later.....Not seeing it, almost looks like your doing it on purpose. Not dissing you, but I can't wrap my head around the concept. I also don't see this in my riding . I lean left, the handle bars go left and I turn left. I do this regularly. What am I missing?
Pretty girls, fancy bikes, cops.. all kinds of things to look at you don't wanna see to cause target fixation. That's why I prefer to ride without seeing anything at all and just use echo location.
Remember, DEER ARE OUT TO KILL YOU! I've been riding a Triumph for over 50 years...once you have practiced for some time, The Physics of riding turn into muscle memory that does NOT mean that you stop practicing ! For example, I commuted daily in Washington, DC. A box filled with a GAZILLION roofing nails fell off the back of a truck and sort of exploded! It was though I expected that to happen, but nothing happened to me. Deer are of course, semi- unpredictable. I have had too many close calls, and one serious high side....Also, your bike will fall over, sh** happens , Anticipate!
🤔 counter steering sounds like a weird concept for someone like me who has only rode on a country where bikes don't go faster than 60 kph (if I'm lucky enough, going 30 kph is a godsend)... So, I tried it out this morning on the roads traffic and here's the results: if I try to 'slightly' turn the handlebars left just to go right, that 'slight' turn can send me 0.5 meters to the left, which is a large distance, 10/10 wouldn't try this again.... tried reading more into it and found out that counter steering only works when you have big, thicc, motorcycle tires, kinda like those motogp race tires that look fatter than the drivers, cuz if those bikes with those big tires try to just turn the handlebar to one side, the force of inertia would easily pull them towards the opposite direction, having thinner tires would've easily mitigated that force of inertia, but they need those big tires, so they need to counter steer everytime they try to turn from a non-leaning position... One technique I found that could mimick a "big bike"'s counter steering with a small bike is to: shift the weight first, then you turn the handlebar afterwards (same timing as a counter steer but you just lean it in advance), since you're already leaning, the force of inertia wouldn't be able to pull you away... is there anyone around who has a bike with big tires try this and see if it's more efficient than doing a counter steer?
Every two wheeled vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle, uses counter steering to steer while going fast enough to keep it upright. Doesn’t matter how big or small the tire is.
4:30 sorry but this is actually dangerous advice, you go where you look. If you look left while turning right you risk high siding your bike. You're supposed to look into the turn. At least that's what my instructor told me literally 40 times..... he was right lol.
Ummm. Not quite. You need to look where you want to go. The trick is to stop looking at the hazzard. You will hit what you are looking at. So when little Johny chases his ball into the street as soon as you identify where the hazzard is, look where you want to go, not at little Johhny and you will go there instinctively. Same premise when riding on the highway and you are cornering. You look to the apex of the turn and you go there, look at the ditch you go there.
I’m well aware of that. Perhaps re watch the video and you’ll understand my point. When you ‘fixate’ on a target you cannot simply look where you want to go, that’s why it’s called ‘fixation’,......
This is so wrong I am a loss for words. Been riding 51 years, funny thing is when I turn my bars to the right guess what, my bike goes to the right! I guess all of my bikes have been broken some how.
sir pulls alot People like you is the reason why teaching is needed. Steering leads to the lean, lean leads to the turn, turn leads to the circle and it make your head spin.
Man, I am not a beginner, nor am I by any means an expert. This is the 2nd video of yours' that I've watched and I love it, very simple, very effective explanations and demonstrations. I've already shared with my girl who is wanting to learn to ride. Not only we who can ride but can ride better, but those that want to ride from the start are benefiting. Thank you Sir :)
Thanks for watching! When I started riding, the whole counter steering thing really played tricks with me. I couldn’t find an explanation anywhere that made sense to me. So, that’s why I made this video. Thank you for appreciating it, I made it for people like you and me.
@@GasWorksISO Thanks for doing that man, really appreciated :)
@@GasWorksISO As someone else here said, I think this is the first video I've seen that has *explicitly* shown the transition from steering to counter-steering - how to discover the speed at which that happens... *and* the first to point out that there is an instability threshold - which seems to coincide with that.
Thankyou!
Cheers from Wellington, NZ :-)
One of the best explanations of counter steering threshold I have ever seen on RUclips. Excellent video! 5 stars
Lol
Made me remember the star rating on RUclips way back
I'm 54 and i just bought my first maxiscooter but I have zero driving experience and have never driven a motorcycle in my life. So I'm learning a lot on youtube and countersteering is one of the things I was unaware of. Yesterday however, I drove my e-bike and tested your theory and it works! When driving 15 mph and pushing the left handlebar forward, my bike will veer to the left. So I must have been using countersteer all the time without even realizing it. Now it looks a whole lot easier to do so while driving my maxiscooter. Thanks for the video, subscribed....
A good way to learn countersteering and learn to understand it: go bicycle riding at decent speed.
I rode bicycles up until I was 25 at a moderate to high speeds (for a bicycle) and when i started riding a 125cc last summer, it just clicked in my head.
I had been countersteering for years without realizing.
In fact, a lot of bicycle skills you learn when riding at +25 km/h seem to be transferable to motorcycle riding (at least to me).
Best explanation I've seen on RUclips for a novice, thanks a lot for taking the time to share your experiences.
Thank you for the video. I've watched countless videos but THIS VIDEO was the best and easiest to understand. Thank you kindly!
Best explanation of countersteering that I have come across. I also liked how you found the threshold.
Great video!! Just like you started riding later in my life, got my first motorcycle (Vulcan S) last year at 39 years old... really enjoy your videos
Lukas S. I got mine at 49 lol people in my life keep me from riding any earlier.
It’s funny because I learned to counter steer on a bicycle without even knowing what it was.
Right? I've ridden a bicycle since I was 5 years old (now 21) and for me counter steering is second nature.
Me too. I call it 'steering'.
It does seem like you can overthink these things.
same
I just bought my first bike, just want to say thank you. All your videos I've seen so far have been really informative. This kinda stuff saves lives so thanks man.
I explain countersteering like this: The bars is used to determine/modify lean angle, and lean angle determines the radius of turning, the bike does the rest. Turn bars left, bike leans right... Saying it "turns" the bike is not quite right, and confuses people trying to grasp the concept. Great demonstration of this concept, good work
Appreciate this. I am a new rider and the target fixation is real! If I relax and look around a bit more like I'm on a pedal bike I feel like my field of view opens up and I'm not so focused on any one thing.
Instruction videos from beginners can be great, like this one. Sometimes advanced instructors can actually leave out details that us beginners can't find.
That’s why I made it, my friend. Most everyone glosses over the basic of basics. Like starting to read a book in the middle. Thanks for watching.
A very straight forward and clear explanation, it's something like riding a bicycle and asking someone how to steer it and people say 'I just steer left and right and the bicycle goes around the corner'
Of all videos I’ve been trying to learn what counter steering is this is the best by far.
Thank you
Now I understand the reason for counter steering.
Awesome
What an eye opener. Thank you for sharing this knowledge. It was jaw dropping to go out and try this. I have no doubt me 'not' counter steering helped contribute to my wreck into a dog who was chasing me. I'm a believer in this and will practice counter steering from now on. Thank you.
If you’ve seen my ‘close call’ video, I have no doubt it was counter steering instinct that saved me from colliding with that car. Thanks for commenting. 👍🏻
Super practice session my friend. Very very important on and off road in avoiding target fixation. And a simple early morning ride with no traffic.
Thank God I'm a biker before I learn to drive. This thing just natural to me and it boggles my mind why so many topics about it on the RUclips. Now I understand why.
I think it has a lot to do with maybe people never had bikes when they were kids.We did it riding a bicycle when we were young and didn't know it.It was just instinctively.Now on a motorcycle it's heavier and faster so it just naturally freaks us out when we start learning it again or for the first time.
Excellent explanation. You've explaned it a lot better than many instructors I've met and listened to.
Well like a lot of people I’m getting ready to buy my first bike and I have found your videos to be great! Thanks for what you do, hoping to pick up a grom today possibly.
Nice and useful video on counter steering. Many thanks.
Perfect! Best explanation of countersteering on RUclips! You should be a motorcycle instructor. I need more of this kind of advice. Thanks 🏍💨💨💨
This is an incredibly important video on bike mechanics - so to speak. This applies to efficient safe and practical riding. I can't wait to try on my Ninja
Great explanation, this video has helped me so much. Thank you for all your videos
A very good video explaining what can be a very confusing subject, love the simple but effective demonstrations. Target Fixation - how hard is it to NOT hit the stone in the road once you've spotted it!! Keep up the really good work.
This is a great exercise, getting first bike next week, going to find that steering speed, thank you for the instructional video
I really do appreciate your videos. I am a new rider (1 month and 200 miles in) and i am trying to soak up as much info as I can. I will be taking the MSF course in Oct. Thankyou for everything you do 👍
Good luck, just finished mine in August.
I have unsubscribed from other motorcycle channels and subscribe to yours! I love you videos and have learned so much! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this- your videos are fantastic! ❤ So glad I found you! 😊
Outstanding video - exceptionally well explained. Thank you.
A good video showing what happens as you cross the threshold from steering to counter-steering.
As someone has commented below I think it's probably best not to encourage swivelling the head and looking at various objects but to keep that head up and regularly scan ahead from background to foreground with very brief head movements where necessary such as the approach to junctions/tracks always anticipating danger and asking for example "what if that car pulls out"? Consider an escape route, reducing speed and covering the brakes.
There are plenty of scary things on the side of a road and one should avoid the temptation to dwell on them for the target-fixated reasons you give. And on a quiet road, try the occasional severe counter-steer to move round an object such as 'pretend' pot-hole, it could save a crash in the future. How about on a traffic-free dry road, practising progressive, smooth and comprehensive braking to remind yourself the capabilities of the bike.
Finally for moderate to tight corners (have you looked at clues such as telegraph poles/hedges lines to judge severity?), do keep your head turned and your eyes looking beyond the apex, get your braking and gear change (and optimum road position of course) done before the corner, keep to a neutral throttle during the bend and then ensure a progressive smooth acceleration when you can see the exit.
And never go any faster than the distance you can safely stop in on your side of the road!
Best explanation and visual i have seen so far on counter steering 👍
Another great video thank you can't wait to try this out on next training day and even going to training to watch others learning really helps keep your thoughts focused and staying consistent.
Keep up the great videos! Im probably gonna be learning how to drive a motorcycle next year and this will help me a lot for sure! I have been riding bicycles for about 10 years now and i think i somehow developed that "sense" for counter steering. Even it is a bicycle i think it will have a significant impact on my driving when i hopefully pass it! Thanks again for great videos i enjoy your content!
Really glad I never learnt how to drive now, hoping that helps as I start my Bike journey!
Excellent. Even riding a bicycle at speed you are counter steering, without even realizing it. Push right, go right and vice versa. This was a very good explanation of the difference between steering and counter steering. And good advice on how not to target fixate. Even driving a car you can become target fixated if you don't keep looking around. Keep looking at the same spot and the car will go there, same as a bike.
I do an exercise similar to yours where I look around, and look at objects I don't want to hit. This time of year there are lots of nice hard pine cones that fall into the road. Hitting one in a curve would be really bad on my little TW200, so I work on practicing "target avoidance".
"Cuz ya know she's talking"! Lol! Great videos, very understandable, not too much talking, just enough which is why I also watch Motojitsu all the time, clear and concise. Just subscribed BTW, and I just bought a bike got my permit, waiting to get my title back so I can put a plate on it (taking forever!), I'm afraid there is going to be snow on the ground before I get a chance. Only gonna do parking lot riding at first and then sign up for the Basic rider course. Have fun, thanks for the tips!
Gas Works. great video! Your story is interesting but not true for everyone. I had no road experience and have never driven cars. I started on a motorcycle and I have had 3 target fixation situations which caused me to go wide in a corner and caused me to emergency brake and restart the turn. This happened EVEN though I understood the physics of counter-steering and practiced it in closed circuits... but when you are out in the road at speed its easy to make mistakes as a beginner.
The rule of thumb on a bike is "you go where you look", now I know counter-steering WORKS cause its the physics of the bike but we are all human and we naturally counter steer in the direction our head is facing. thats why head and body position is very important as well as understanding counter-steering. Like you said you can train yourself to NOT go where you look, I know I have but its not only a "driver" problem. Target fixation happens to all riders.
The point of the video is to unlearn the habit of ‘steering’ away from a threat and learning to ‘counter steer’ away instead. Driver instinct vs rider instinct. I even stated in the video, it may not apply to you. I’m fully aware this isn’t true for everyone. You stated yourself you have never driven cars, so in fact this video especially would no apply to you.
Great video very well explained on counter steering it seemed like they made it confusing at the test centre on this thank you for cutting it down and making no it easier to understand shared with my friends who also love your videos we all subscribed . Keep up the good work brother
Your Grom is absolutely adorable!
"Keep your head on a swivel." - me
It came from a lot of training I've had on different topics.
Thank you, very well explained 😃
Best explanation ever
I've been riding for about 59 years, but not continuously. I instinctively reacted to steer/ counter steer at some slow speed, before I realized what was happening. At least, I can't remember when I figured out the science of it, or the physics of it. I wonder if the transition mph varies depending on steering geometry on a particular bike vs. another bike? Your videos help. Thanks.
They’re all very close. Tire size, wheelbase, degree of fork rake, etc. all determine where that threshold is. A small bike like the Grom in the video isn’t very stable compared to a longer, heavier bike with taller, heavier wheels for example.
Thanks a lot for the simple explanation appreciated
Silly question: how different to cycle on a bicycle and motorcycle in terms of counter steering ( I drove cars for the past 20 years ) and never try motor only scooters vespa beside cycle.
As advise form you expertises I would like to start with this hobby but I confused, do I get racer motor with 400 cc small engine or cruiser with small engine since both looks fun to drive
What you recommend to start with.
Application for your answer in advance
Counter steering is the same as on a bicycle, just more mass on a motorcycle. Your first bike? Get something small, lightweight and cheap. Ride it for a while and make your mistakes on it. I’d suggest something with a small cc engine to start with.
Thank you. This video helped me. 👌🏽
How much lean angle is involved in steering and counter steering? Which direction are you leaning in both methods?
hi! I am looking for a good helmet. Do you think the ls2 ff323 arrow carbon is good? thanks
I have a LS2 Metro, while I think it’s a good helmet, I personally don’t like the ratcheting chin strap system they use. I find it very uncomfortable as it digs into my neck. My suggestion for the best helmet for the price would be the Scorpion EXO R420. I own one and it’s very nice. After that would be the Bell Qualifier DLX.
@@GasWorksISO And one more question. I went earlier to a dealer and the helmet that he had there was the carbon version of it (ls2 ff323 arrow c - i think). but it didn't have the lock visor button and to open it, it was on the side not on the front of the visor.? could it be a fake or is it another version?
Probably not a fake. The Scorpion I mentioned has a center visor release if that’s what type you’re looking for. The most important thing to look for in a helmet is that it fits properly. Make sure it has at least a DOT rating.
@@GasWorksISO Is the Scorpion double D ring? and thanks i will see. keep up the good work and tips!
Oh man, I'm so glad I was originally taught this way. I live in Miami, I have no choice but to look around ALWAYS because these Cubans will smoosh me into nothingness
This will be familiar to many peddle cyclists who ride at speed. Just the tiniest push can trigger a lean into a corner.
A good way to build some countersteering muscle memory prior to you first motorcycle may be to get the pushbike out of the garage.
I kinda think of the bike as a fighter jet - to make a tight turn( not at a high speed of course)I bank the opposite way then roll and straighten out the way I want to go. Providing there is nothing slippery on the road.Do it with a flat hand to feel what it’s like.make sense? It’s the counter steering action that does this! Right or left.
i started riding in the early 80"s an never ran across counter steering till i started looking at youtube videos. never had a problem with target fixations. an i have had to avoid some serious problems. so as it gets warm enough gonna go out an see if thats how i drive a bike . never ever thought about it before.
so, this is still a little unclear to me. Is countersteering "leaning"? So, for instance, when I ride my bicycle, I can steer without touching the the handlebars, just by leaning my body to the left, my bike turns left. Is that countersteering? So, if I automaticly do this because I've been cyling every day, for 26 years now (I live in Amsterdam), will that mean I won't have to practice this on a motorcylce because I've already got this? The only difference would be the weight of the bike... Please explain.
Countersteering causes the motorcycle to lean in the direction of the turn. Basically, a quick turn of the handlebars to the left will cause the bike to lean right, and vice-versa.. Its probably instinct to you, so don’t overthink it like I did..lol Just give it a shot and you’ll get it real quick. Remember, push left-go left.,,,push right go-right. It’s that simple.
What a nice place to ride through, where is that?
Quick question: How much do you lean on the direction you want to go as you are counter-steering? Do you basically extend your head or also place your body as well on the direction you want to go leaning?
Unless you’re on the track, forget about that leaning off the bike business. Just lean WITH the bike. Seriously.
@@GasWorksISO just did that today. Wasn't even thinking and while leaning with the bike the counter steering was happening accordingly.
Thanks!! That helps a ton
Am I right In thinking you have to lean in conjunction with counter steering? Always useful to be reminded of this stuff, thanks.
No leaning required. You can, and as counter steering becomes more natural, leaning off a bit keeps the bike more upright thru a turn, leaving more of the tires contact patch at your disposal.
@@GasWorksISO ok thanks for that.
All but the smallest of motorcycles will outweigh their riders by about 100%. That means shifting your body weight has relatively little effect on the motorcycle itself, but the motorcycle can easily impart its lean onto you. As Gas Works mentions, you can use your weight to improve the angle of the bike, but most of the time you’ll just keep your body parallel with the vertical axis of the bike, but most of the time, you won’t need to.
In fact, you want to learn to let yourself lean *with* the bike, because you’ll be fighting a natural instinct where you’ll want to keep your body upright, and doing that will force the bike to lean more, reducing the contract patch you have available. (If you watch DanDanTheFireman’s accident analysis videos, you’ll frequently see examples of people doing exactly that.)
That makes good sense, thanks
I'm 8 years riding Mountainbike so I have the low-speed balance I do countersteering on it I turn my head where I wanna go because same as the motorcycle as biking if you target fixation on a tree you will hit the tree there's a point where i sit in a car or bike there is a click in my head that switch to car or bike
If your bike is counter steering at 7 or 8 miles an hour for you, would it be the same for someone else who is heavier or even lighter than you - riding the same bike?
Good question. I don’t know the exact answer, but I assume the wheel size, fork angle and overall geometry of the bike is what determines counter steer speed. I don’t think the weight of the rider wouldn’t have much measurable effect on it.
Great video
If you've ridden bycicles before, these concepts are already "learnt" in you brain. Granted that the effect is more pronounced on a bike, but the basics are still the same. I was surprised after I began riding a motorcycle to see how many people crush on their own in curves because they didn't "counter-steer" and/or had 'target-fixation" (I assume they never ridden a bycicle before). Whether on a bike or bicycle, the concept of "look where you want to go" should be a natural reflex.
I agree, if you've been riding bicycles you already know this stuff, but you probably just don't know the terminology which describes it. That's what confused me. I don't think of it as steering and counter steering. I think of it as turning the handle bar in order to change direction vs putting weight on a handle bar to change direction.
Your intro is so fucking heavy I love it!!!! 🤘🏽🖤
Bicycles and motor bikes tires have a curved profile. Trucks and cars tires have flat profile. This is because bicycles and motorbikes need to lean to turn. At speed, a bike will becomes more stable because of the gyroscopic force. This is the force holding the bike up. Exactly like when we spin a "top" on a table. Except that on a motorcycle, the gyroscopic force is horizontal instead of vertical as in the top example. The bigger the wheel as in 12, 17 or 21 inches, the faster it rotates, the bigger the gyroscopic force. Bike with bigger front wheels generally require more effort to lean in a curve. Mind you, this also depends on the caster (angle) / trail of the front wheel, wheel base and weight distribution. But then those bikes are more stable going straight. Counter steering (pushing one side of the handle bar slightly forward) is the most efficient way to make a bike lean. The way I see it, counter steering breaks the gyroscopic force maintaining the bike straight up. My way to remember. Look right, push right, lean right. Look left, push left, lean left. The statements above represent my personal understanding, my opinion. You, the rider, remain responsible for all aspect of your ride and this includes consulting with a trained motorcycle instructor.
Thank You!
While not looking at one spot is a good exercise, I would not get in the habit of looking so far left and right by turning your head. Turning the head so far eliminates your vision of danger areas, and even for 1 second could result in a problem. I have seen enough accidents here on RUclips from the riders camera, 3 seconds is all it takes from first indication there is a problem and impact. I also am not a professional rider or teacher but have 30 years Road experience 0 accidents. I would recommend anyone that is new to take an MSF course, wish they were so accessible when I was starting.
That’s why I’d do this stuff in parking lots, where it’s safe.
Hey man you live by Yakima?
Yea
i think best thing to do is to look much more far ahead because the human eyes can see miles ahead and if you can see things further you can react sooner
Absolutely! Scan far, scan near! Always watching out for dangers.
Hahhaha...i've done literally the same thing like you when i was learning to ride...programming my brain.
Peripheral vision, peripheral vision, peripheral vision! I cannot stress that enough!
FORCE yourself to look where you WANT to go, not where you don't want to go, and use your peripheral vision to monitor the threat or danger.
Your body will instinctually try to point the motorcycle in the direction you're looking. If you're target-fixating, you're going to hit the pole, car, or go off the cliff.
If you focus on where you want and need to go, that's where you will go.
Obviously, you still need to make sure you're entering the turn at a safe speed and do all of your braking BEFORE you enter the turn, as well.
What Mirrors are those ?
Just some cheap bar end mirrors I bought on eBay
i've never liked the term counter steering, to me counter steering is like in a car when the backend steps out and you steer in the opposite direction to the way the car is turning.
but on a bike that is not what you're are doing, you're not steering to the opposite of travel or anything like that, you just applying pressure(weight) to one side of the handlebars, which slightly tilts the bike(and thus the wheel) off it's centerline and thus it turns that way. pressure the right side, you turn right, it's not opposite/counter to anything.
You’re kind of right. In a car, that’s called drifting. Using the back tires to control the direction of the steer. On a motorcycle, you are in fact turning the handlebars in the opposite direction of the turn, that’s where the term counter-steering is correct. The part you’re right about is, the forks, and thus the front wheel is in fact steering in the direction of the turn. Due to gyroscopic motion of the wheels, the bike will want to stand up straight at speed, therefor in order to keep the bike turning in the direction of the corner, the rider has to push, or turn the bars in the opposite direction of said corner.
Yeah, it’s confusing...lol It took me a while to really understand the whole thing...
@@GasWorksISO not really you use counter-steering when drifting, but it's called counter steering, you counter steer to maintain a drift or stop it, otherwise, you would just spin.
but on a bike like i said i don't like the term because you aren't turning in the opposite direction, you're not steering left to go right, you are stopping the front wheel from turning right more than you want. lets say you want to go right, you tilt the bike to the right, be it by pushing down on the right side of handlebars or shifting your weight, this will make bike start turning right. now if you weren't holding the handlebars and continued to lean over, at a point the front wheel will want to start turning right as well, and if you do nothing about that it will suddenly snap to the right and you will have a really bad day. which you dont want, so you push/apply pressure to the right, to prevent that. your not steering left, again you're preventing the front wheel turning right more than you want it too. your steering the bike by tilting it.
if you did try turning the handlebars left to go right, you would either turn left or fall off.
and also will add, the video was good, so not getting at that, it more the terminology i dislike (which again is what everyone uses) it's not accurate and makes it way more confusing to people than it needs to be.
Vorador47 Agreed on the terminology, it does add some confusion to new riders. I did struggle with it for a while myself. However, simply leaning or shifting weight on a bike does very little to alter its trajectory if only a bit of a course change due to the offset. Check out a video called ‘Twist of the Wrist 2’ here on RUclips. It shows a very good demonstration of that. I’m not arguing with you, and appreciate your input, but give that video a look, as it explains the concept a lot better than I can...lol Ride safe!
@@GasWorksISO yeah i agree, I just used shifting of weight as well, to lead into my hypothetical scenario of if you were steering with no hands.
Counter steering is natural you automatically counter steer into a corner at low speeds it basically no existent at speed you can feel it and see it much more pronounced
The biggest issue with beginners riders and isn't mentioned in videos is weighting your foot pegs that's what steers your bike not your handle bars.
So using your feet to turn into a corner or to maneuvrer your bike... Try it go down the road with no weight on your handle bars none at all and move left to right just with your feet you will be amazed how easy and quick your bike responds to your commands by just using your foot pegs.
Mastering this technique will improve your riding and possibly save your life
I have to disagree with you on this. Watch a film called ‘Twist Of The Wrist 2’. Your foot pegs do little to nothing to steer a motorcycle. There’s a reason why it isn’t mentioned in videos, because it isn’t true.
May be I am the odd one out. Seems to me by instinct, I would pull the left handle bar. That was my first reaction when he was talking about something coming from right to left. That makes the bike also go to the right. But it's instinctively my thinking reaction. I'm thinking, maybe this is because my brain thinks about doing something with my left hand, and pulling away from the left makes me go right. Going right is the objective, after all. I also think I could explain this better In person.
How old are you? And how many years have you been riding the motorcycle?
45. Riding since just before turning 43
Turning your head about while driving a car to look at things is called "Getting The Big Picture."
Get a bicycle to practice with, the steering and skills are the same. a lot less expensive and safer.
Very true
I don't see your counter steering example as working. You say turn to the right and the bike indeed does go right, then it turns drastically to the left a few seconds later.....Not seeing it, almost looks like your doing it on purpose. Not dissing you, but I can't wrap my head around the concept. I also don't see this in my riding . I lean left, the handle bars go left and I turn left. I do this regularly. What am I missing?
You’ve got this now I guess.... right?
Pretty girls, fancy bikes, cops.. all kinds of things to look at you don't wanna see to cause target fixation. That's why I prefer to ride without seeing anything at all and just use echo location.
Remember, DEER ARE OUT TO KILL YOU! I've been riding a Triumph for over 50 years...once you have practiced for some time, The Physics of riding turn into muscle memory that does NOT mean that you stop practicing ! For example, I commuted daily in Washington, DC. A box filled with a GAZILLION roofing nails fell off the back of a truck and sort of exploded! It was though I expected that to happen, but nothing happened to me. Deer are of course, semi- unpredictable. I have had too many close calls, and one serious high side....Also, your bike will fall over, sh** happens , Anticipate!
🤔 counter steering sounds like a weird concept for someone like me who has only rode on a country where bikes don't go faster than 60 kph (if I'm lucky enough, going 30 kph is a godsend)... So, I tried it out this morning on the roads traffic and here's the results: if I try to 'slightly' turn the handlebars left just to go right, that 'slight' turn can send me 0.5 meters to the left, which is a large distance, 10/10 wouldn't try this again....
tried reading more into it and found out that counter steering only works when you have big, thicc, motorcycle tires, kinda like those motogp race tires that look fatter than the drivers, cuz if those bikes with those big tires try to just turn the handlebar to one side, the force of inertia would easily pull them towards the opposite direction, having thinner tires would've easily mitigated that force of inertia, but they need those big tires, so they need to counter steer everytime they try to turn from a non-leaning position... One technique I found that could mimick a "big bike"'s counter steering with a small bike is to: shift the weight first, then you turn the handlebar afterwards (same timing as a counter steer but you just lean it in advance), since you're already leaning, the force of inertia wouldn't be able to pull you away... is there anyone around who has a bike with big tires try this and see if it's more efficient than doing a counter steer?
Every two wheeled vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle, uses counter steering to steer while going fast enough to keep it upright. Doesn’t matter how big or small the tire is.
Gas Works Garage Small correction.
Speed does not matter.
On low speed we use counter steering to keep bike upward.
4:30 sorry but this is actually dangerous advice, you go where you look. If you look left while turning right you risk high siding your bike. You're supposed to look into the turn. At least that's what my instructor told me literally 40 times..... he was right lol.
It’s an exercise to avoid target fixation. Otherwise, yes, you look into the turn. Perhaps you misunderstood the point of that part.
👍
Remember, TWO gyroscopes!
Look left turn left. But u got to push ur brain
Never put your wife in the front seat...Just to avoid "look at me when I'm talking to you!"...:-)
Ummm. Not quite. You need to look where you want to go. The trick is to stop looking at the hazzard. You will hit what you are looking at. So when little Johny chases his ball into the street as soon as you identify where the hazzard is, look where you want to go, not at little Johhny and you will go there instinctively. Same premise when riding on the highway and you are cornering. You look to the apex of the turn and you go there, look at the ditch you go there.
I’m well aware of that. Perhaps re watch the video and you’ll understand my point. When you ‘fixate’ on a target you cannot simply look where you want to go, that’s why it’s called ‘fixation’,......
This is so wrong I am a loss for words. Been riding 51 years, funny thing is when I turn my bars to the right guess what, my bike goes to the right! I guess all of my bikes have been broken some how.
Mmm? Your still turning left going left and turn right going right
There's no need to teach people how to counter steer, all u gotta do is lean Into the damn corner just like on a bicycle.sheesh!
You’d be surprised how many people have never ridden a bicycle before! 😊
sir pulls alot People like you is the reason why teaching is needed.
Steering leads to the lean, lean leads to the turn, turn leads to the circle and it make your head spin.
People like me? My cornering is fine brah. Uno why? Cause I leannnnnnn