Counter-steering -- how it works: Part 4 -- lessons learned

August 23, 5:14 PMDC Motorcycle Travel ExaminerMark Poesch

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We’ve been through lots of math and physics.  But, what does all this mean practically? 

It means that if you want to control the radius of the turn on your motorcycle at speed (above 10-15 mph), there are only two variables you can really control: speed and lean angle.

• Counter-steering revisited: Redux -- how it works
• Counter-steering -- how it works: Part 2 -- force causing acceleration
• Counter-steering -- how it works: Part 3 -- balancing torques
• Counter-steering -- how it works: Part 4 -- lessons learned
• Counter-steering -- how it works: Part 5 -- lean-angle force dynamics

Assuming your speed in the turn is constant (set before entering the turn), the only real control remaining comes from lean angle.  And, lean angle (both more lean and less lean) is established by counter-steering.  To turn more tightly: Increase your lean by counter-steering into the turn (push the inside grip).  To turn more widely : Reduce your lean by relaxing your inside grip (to allow trail to gradually pick the bike up) or counter-steering out of the turn (push the outside grip).

Steering, or as it's sometimes called pro-steering, to a desired radius only works at speeds below 10-15 mph.*  Steering to the radius is the form of control most of us learned as children on tricycles and carried over to bikes.  We steer the direction we want to go, and steer to carve a radius.  Attempt to steer toward a radius on a motorcycle at 40 mph, and you’ll get a harsh lesson in physics.

Counter-steering is about controlling the lean of the bike.  At speeds about 10-15 mph, lean generates the forces and torques that turn and balance the bike.

Next: Counter-steering – how it works: Part 5 – Lean-angle force dynamics

* On the track, riders use counter-steering to control lean angle, and very gradual pro-steering to control the radius of the turn.  On the street, turns are rarely long enough to detect this delicate pro-steering force; and it is inadvisable for riders to experiment with this form of control in street conditions.