What Is Countersteering on a Motorcycle? Master the Life-Saving Skill

Life isn’t as simple and fun as it looks while riding a motorcycle. There are many things or concepts that can completely change your mind and can surprise you about motorcycling. You may be riding a motorcycle for years, but you may likely not know about the most common concept about how you steer your motorcycle. If you don’t know, it is called ‘Countersteering’.

Countersteering is an astounding fact or concept for those who don’t know. However, this is what you usually practice almost every day if you ride motorcycles. For those who don’t know what is countersteering on a motorcycle, this article will explain in detail about this motorcycle steering concept.

Countersteering is what you apply when you take a turn or turn a corner on a motorbike. If we go straight to the definition, you may not be able to understand the concept. Instead, you will think of it as a myth or an unverified statement. Therefore, we have to go into the background to understand the countersteering concept.

Like cars have steering wheels, motorcycles come with handlebars. However, the role of the steering wheel in a car is solely to change the direction of the car or take a turn. However, when it comes to motorcycles, you don’t really turn the bars to take a turn. It is much different and complex to take a turn on a motorcycle than turning a car.

It may only sound complex, but it comes out naturally while turning the corner on a motorcycle. Riders basically use two turning concepts to turn a corner or change the direction of the motorcycle. These include:

• Counter-Steering

• Leaning

These are two of the basics of turning a corner on a motorcycle.

According to the definition, the concept of countersteering states

This may sound a bit odd and unreal, but it is true. This is what you do as a rider to take a turn on the motorcycle.

However, this is not the way to turn a corner on a motorcycle. For harsh or deep turns with a greater radius, riders are expected to lean the motorcycle as well, along with the countersteering.

Leaning is another very important concept to turn a corner on a motorcycle. Riders are required to lean their motorcycle in the direction of the turn while turning a corner. The tighter a corner is, the more the rider will have to lean the motorcycle.

Both countersteering and leaning the motorcycle work together to take a turn on a motorcycle. Instead, it is right to say that countersteering is what initiates the lean on a motorbike.

One thing that must also be understood is the speed of the motorcycle while taking a turn on a motorbike. The speed of the motorcycle plays an important role. Both countersteering and leaning the motorcycle are more appropriate turning concepts if the rider wants to corner at a high speed. If you are entering the curve at high speeds, you will have to countersteer hard and lean the motorcycle to a greater extent.

On the other hand, we suggest that beginners or new riders slow down before approaching a curve, especially if it is too tight. Remember! Countersteering and leaning the motorcycle a great deal are both top skills that require time, experience, and practice. For a beginner, the safest approach to turn a corner on a motorbike is to slow down and avoid skidding or dropping the bike in an attempt to lean and countersteer the motorcycle.

Another thing that riders must understand, especially those who are getting to know the countersteering concept for the very first time, is how much force to apply to the handlebars. Remember! You are not supposed to turn or rotate the handlebars while countersteering. All you need to do is apply gentle pressure while countersteering.

If you are supposed to go right on a motorcycle, gently push the right side of the bar without turning the bar to the left. Also, hold the left side of the bar towards you as you go right.

Similarly, if you want to go left on a motorbike, gently push the right side of the bar without turning the bar to the right. Also, the right-hand side of the bar is towards you as you go left.

Countersteering is usually not used while turning the motorcycle at very low speeds, such as when you move the motorcycle in the parking lot. Riders have to directly turn their bike’s handlebars if they want to go right or left. It is because handlebars remain the primary turning concept/equipment to take a turn on a motorcycle.

Countersteering is a basic concept/principle to turn a corner on a motorcycle if you are either moving at moderate or high speeds. Countersteering helps to initiate the lean on a motorcycle. You must learn this concept and practice countersteering in an empty parking lot. If you choose to turn the bike’s handlebars in the direction of the turn, instead of using the countersteering concept, you are likely to crash your motorcycle.

If you want to go right on a motorcycle, gently push the right-hand side of the handlebar without turning the bar. In the meantime, gently hold or pull the left-hand side of the bar to turn the motorcycle right.

Similarly, if you want to go left on a motorcycle, gently push the left-hand side of the handlebar without turning the bar. In the meantime, gently hold or pull the left-hand side of the bar to turn the motorcycle left.

Remember! Countersteering is usually put into practice on a motorcycle at moderate or higher speeds. At very slow or parking speeds, instead of countersteering, riders only need to turn the handlebars in the direction of the turn to go right or left.