How come so many folks make such a big deal about countersteering?

[SVMango]

Originally Posted by dietDrThunder

It is absolutely 100% necessary to consciously practice countersteering 100% of the time if you want to be as safe as you can be. Someday a fat bald guy in a white Buick is going to turn left in front of you in such close proximity that there is no time to brake to a stop, and you will have to take emergency evasive maneuvers. If you are not a concious countersteerer, there is a high probability that your reaction will not be fast enough or committed enough to evade the threat.

This happened to me in Berkeley CA years ago on an XL600R with a passenger on the back. We were in town (Shattuck in Oakland actually for you locals there) and in heavy traffic I was assaulted by the aforementioned FBGiaWB at a side street. I turned the bike right hard enough to dig the peg in, then had to immediately do the same to the left to avoid an aerial assault of the coffeeshop on the corner, thereby riding around the front of the car as he screeched to a stop. It was close enough that the car's bumper hit the rear tire on the way by and pushed the tire a foot to the right on the way by.

If I wasn't a conscious countersteerer I have 0 doubt that I would have had a very bad accident that day.

Practice it and live.

(I know I'm new here, so please forgive my trespass if I'm being too adamant...just like to be as good a safety advocate as I can be).

Pipe down newb.

Sup Dave? welcome to the fold. If you know what's good for you, stay out of Jomamma.

I still have the van. Loaded the DR yesterday and hit some single track.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=523695&page=2

You still racin? I still have my SV but it sits forlornly under the garage stairs with

an undiagnosed electrical problem (cause I haven't tried to diagnose it )

[dietDrThunder]

Hidee ho!

See, I told you it was a good van :) re: racing...nah, I'm mostly retired. I spent the summer instructing for STT, but I'm even winding that down. I'm looking to buy another KTM over the winter and get back in the woods.

Nice to hear from you!

[SVMango]

Originally Posted by dietDrThunder

Hidee ho!

See, I told you it was a good van :) re: racing...nah, I'm mostly retired. I spent the summer instructing for STT, but I'm even winding that down. I'm looking to buy another KTM over the winter and get back in the woods.

Nice to hear from you!

Well just tell me when you want to head towards Asheville with the KTM.

I gots mile after mile of dual sporting or off road parks like you saw in my link.

You got a free lace to stay and all.

[David R]

I read the whole thread. It took a couple of days because I couldn't take it all in one bite.

Been riding for thirty some years. The last 20 on BMW.

I went out and TRIED the countersteer thing. It works. I always knew about push left turn left, but I NEVER knew how much faster I could make my bike turn.

After reading the first 5 or so pages I thought it was saying I could "drive (push force) my bike deeper into a corner" Been riding 250 miles each saturday and each sunday, so I had lots of time to try it.

I now have more control of my bike than before. Still working on it. I don't push with one hand or pull with the other, but I do use the method to my advantage. I just use both hands on the bars and make the bike go where I want it to.

At first and still, I sort of am wandering in the line of the corner, but I just need more refinement.

I HAVE gone wide in corners not realizing I can tighten it up and still survive. I thought that was as far as the bike would lean or turn.

SO NOW I HAVE MORE CONTROL. I don't care how it works, I am a better rider from reading all 20 pages.

Thank you all very much!
David

Next is trail braking.......

[SVMango]

Originally Posted by David R

I read the whole thread. It took a couple of days because I couldn't take it all in one bite.

Been riding for thirty some years. The last 20 on BMW.

I went out and TRIED the countersteer thing. It works. I always knew about push left turn left, but I NEVER knew how much faster I could make my bike turn.

After reading the first 5 or so pages I thought it was saying I could "drive (push force) my bike deeper into a corner" Been riding 250 miles each saturday and each sunday, so I had lots of time to try it.

I now have more control of my bike than before. Still working on it. I don't push with one hand or pull with the other, but I do use the method to my advantage. I just use both hands on the bars and make the bike go where I want it to.

At first and still, I sort of am wandering in the line of the corner, but I just need more refinement.

I HAVE gone wide in corners not realizing I can tighten it up and still survive. I thought that was as far as the bike would lean or turn.

SO NOW I HAVE MORE CONTROL. I don't care how it works, I am a better rider from reading all 20 pages.

Thank you all very much!
David

Next is trail braking.......

On the wandering in corners. Trust me on this, you're not looking far enough ahead.

Like a lot of folks you're probably only looking ~30 feet in front of the bike.

Keep your eye on the furthest piece of pavement you can see. On straightish stuff, by the time you're within 30 feet of it, at 40+ miles an hour you'll hit it anyway so no use looking at it. Look at the horizon of the road and scan the edges.

In corners it's called the convergence point. This will get rid of the wandering and make you smoother, faster and safer. I'm not even gonna try to explain it so:

http://www.robsnet.com/safety_tips.htm

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ri...nishing-point/

On trail braking. Sign up for a novice group at a track day and practice it there, not on the street. Counter steering and looking far enough

ahead to let you go quicker than you ever imagined. My goal on a street ride is to NOT use the brakes on curvy roads. That's goes for

stuff like Deals Gap too (even though I don't go there anymore). I could maintain a steady ~40 mph through there, never accelerate

on the straights, and outrun 90% of folks.

[kyns]

Originally Posted by David R

I read the whole thread. It took a couple of days because I couldn't take it all in one bite.

Been riding for thirty some years. The last 20 on BMW.

I went out and TRIED the countersteer thing. It works. I always knew about push left turn left, but I NEVER knew how much faster I could make my bike turn.

After reading the first 5 or so pages I thought it was saying I could "drive (push force) my bike deeper into a corner" Been riding 250 miles each saturday and each sunday, so I had lots of time to try it.

I now have more control of my bike than before. Still working on it. I don't push with one hand or pull with the other, but I do use the method to my advantage. I just use both hands on the bars and make the bike go where I want it to.

At first and still, I sort of am wandering in the line of the corner, but I just need more refinement.

I HAVE gone wide in corners not realizing I can tighten it up and still survive. I thought that was as far as the bike would lean or turn.

SO NOW I HAVE MORE CONTROL. I don't care how it works, I am a better rider from reading all 20 pages.

Thank you all very much!
David

Next is trail braking.......

You're welcome!

[univibe88]

A 30 year vet learned something from this thread...makes it worthwhile