Counter-steering : a little physics

[BigTed]

Another good explanation....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgUOOwnZcDU

[Abe]

Good find there Rob. 

[Neale]

Good info for the masses. This subject was covered in depth in the subject of Roadcraft when I did the NSW Police Bike Course many years ago. It is amazing how easy it is to avoid impediments in the road with just a little practice. Also bear in mind that if you do have to react and apply a sudden adjustment to you course, that another opposite adjustment may me required to put you back on your original track. It is also a good correction method if you encounter "tank slap" which is not so prevalent today with the current steering dampening.

Thanks Big Ted.

[Marcus]

I crashed during my P test doing this, landed on my pretty face with the bike on top of me hahaha...Had to retake the test.

Gotten better since then though

[ST2UP]

Good find 

[Biggles]

Excellent explanation!  As we all know, it also applies to non-emergency turns.  The requirement is to ride often and long enough to acquire the habit to make this reaction reflexive.

[Bikebear]

Interestingly I have always intuitively counter steered on a bike (pushbikes as well at speed), even well before I first heard the term 'counter steering'.  It has always seemed natural to let the bike tell me what it wanted to do and follow it's instructions as it were. Going around corners it always felt like the bike wanted to turn better with a bit of pressure on the inside bar so that's what I did, I didn't know it was counter steering I just knew it felt better. 
It seems of late the term 'counter steering' seems to have acquired some magical, mystical meaning and everyone is suddenly concerned about it and making sure they're aware that they do it, but it's my belief the majority of riders who ride regularly will have been doing it subconciously for years and have only thought about it since it has become a popular topic.
I really don't get too concerned about the physics of it all, as long as it works and the bike turns when I want it to and I enjoy the ride.

[Marcus]

Well it is on the Probationary Licence test... and it's the hardest thing in that test so maybe that part of the reason. New riders will probably talk about it more

[Bikebear]

Hmmmm.. never actually had a test for the bike licence, got an open bike licence the day I got my car licence.. sorta like a package deal..   

[Neale]

If you take the time when cornering to look where your efforts go when steering through the corner, you actually counter steer every time. I think the focus with this article was how to use it quickly to avoid hiccups in the road without damage to the bike or yourself. 

[saaz]

It is surprising how many older riders still insist that they don't counter steer, even those that have come through police training.  When I did a few stay upright courses one of the main items was using counter steering more aggressively to avoid situations.  If you really try it is amazing how you can steer the bike, as long as there is enough traction.