Are you a bike rider who wants to know how you can counter steer on a motorcycle for better control? If that is the case, continue reading this piece as that is precisely what we will be talking about. Counter steering a front wheel is essentially when you steer your bike opposite to the turn you initially wanted to make.
For instance, if you are planning to turn left, you will steer in the right direction. Doing so offers you increased control over your vehicle, making it easy to navigate turns. In this piece, we will talk about the fundamentals of counter steering along with some tips to utilize this technique the right way.
How to Counter Steer on a Motorcycle for Better Control
If you have participated in a motorcycle safety course before, you will be well aware that counter steering is a critical part of it. This technique is used on bikes to make sure they can turn in your desired direction.
To ensure you can make these turns, you must apply enough pressure on the opposite side of your bikes handlebar. Therefore, if you are planning to turn left, make sure you are pushing on your motorcycles right handlebar. Doing so will make sure that your vehicle is steered in the precise direction you prefer.
Usually, when you ride a motorcycle and have to make a turn, you do that with the help of motorcycle lean. You have to maintain that perfect lean angle to keep the motorcycle turning without falling over to one side.
The Various Benefits of Push Steering Your Bike
Believe it or not, there are plenty of benefits of push steering your bike. Let us talk about them down below:
benefit 1
The first benefit of push steering your bike is that it is significantly quicker compared to traditional steering methods. This is because the rider does not have to worry about fighting against their momentum.
Benefit 2
Another benefit that push steer techniques offer is that riders get more control when turning once they shift their weight to one side.
Benefit 3
The third benefit of counter steering or push steering your bike is that you can make adjustments in the middle of your turn if required.
All of these benefits prove that counter steering is a vital technique for bike riders who want to ride effectively and safely.
Counter Steering Your Bike for Improved Front Wheel Control
When you’re riding motorcycles, you want total control of your vehicle. This is exactly where counter steering or push steering comes into play. This technique essentially allows riders to turn their motorcycles properly without losing control.
Once you push the handlebars of your bike in the opposite direction of your turn, your front wheel will turn sharply and the rear wheel will remain stable.
Following this technique will ensure your turns are tighter and you can properly move in the direction of the turn.
How Can Motorcycle Riders Improve Counter Steering Skills
If you own a single track vehicle, you must learn to master your body position and use the left handlebar the right way. Once you do so, you will be able to ride your bike in a straight line and push forward or push left without any issues. This is essentially what push steering is all about.
Things may seem a bit counterintuitive at first. However, once you get the grip of things, it will become incredibly easy.
Here are a Few Tips to Improve Counter Steering
- It would be best to practice this technique in a safe and secure environment like a deserted road or a parking lot
- Once you are ready to make the turn, make sure to push the handgrip in the direction of the turn
- Make sure your body is completely relaxed when you are leaning into the turn
- Once you leave the turn, release pressure on your bikes handgrip
If you follow these tips regularly, you will be able to become an expert motorcycle rider in no time.
The Risks of Not Counter Steering the Right Way
Push steering requires you to use the right push technique to make sure you can move in any direction you want. However, if you are not able to execute the right push steering technique, you can find yourself in a great deal of trouble.
Some of the risks involved with not steering your bike the right way include crashing or overshooting your bike. So, whenever you take your bike for a ride the next time, make sure you learn to counter steer in the correct direction of the turn to steer clear of accidents.
Common Questions About Counter Steering
What Does Counter Steering Mean?
If you are a bike rider and want to move in any direction you want, you must learn to drive your vehicle in a straight line. Counter steering essentially means steering your bike in the opposite direction to move in the direction you want. Sure this could seem a little counterintuitive,; however, that is how every vehicle works.
Is Counter Steering Important?
Counter steering is vital because it is the right way to turn a motorcycle at high speeds. Leaning in the direction you are going towards can cause you to lose control of your bike and possibly result in an accident.
How Can I Practice Counter Steering
An excellent way to learn how to counter steer your bike is to find an empty area and ride your bike in circles. Once you make a turn, pay attention to steering in the right way. Remember, counter steering requires you to shift weight and steer in the opposite direction to ensure the techniques work properly.
More often than not, practicing counter steering in an empty parking lot would be a helpful to improve your technique.
Does Counter Steering Always Work?
If you are riding your bike at high speeds and want to take tighter turns, using counter steering would be ideal However, there are also a few exceptions. For example, if you are riding your bike on a slippery road, it would be best to steer clear from using counter steering. This is because using this technique on a slippery road surface can make you lose control of your bike.
Is counter steering just turning the motorcycle in the opposite direction?
No, you turn the motorcycle in the opposite direction only for an instant, the motorcycle then makes the turn under the laws of physics.