Intentional countersteering
Intentional countersteering helps you quickly initiate lean and precisely change your line.
How to initiate a lean
To start a right turn, gently push the right grip away from you; to start a left turn, push the left grip. The handlebars briefly turn in the opposite direction, and the motorcycle begins to lean in the direction you intend to turn.
Why the motorcycle leans
When you briefly turn the front wheel to the left, its contact patch with the road shifts left relative to the motorcycle's center of mass. The support point moves out from under the motorcycle's center of mass, and the motorcycle begins to lean to the right. For a left turn, everything happens in reverse. Once the desired lean is established, the handlebar settles into the position needed to follow the arc.
You can push, pull, or do both
To start a right turn, you can push the right grip away from you, pull the left grip toward you, or do both at the same time. For a left turn, do the opposite. Pushing and pulling simultaneously lets you establish the lean faster, which is especially useful for a sudden swerve.
What you should feel
A brief push on the handlebar noticeably changes the lean. Moving your body alone is not enough when you need to change your line quickly.
Once the lean is set
Do not keep pushing the handlebar with the same force. Ease off, leaving only the force needed to hold the chosen arc.
At low speed
During low-speed maneuvers, the handlebars turn noticeably toward the turn itself. You continually maintain balance through throttle, clutch, brake, and steering inputs.
Sources · 1
- Motorcycle Operator Manual
Basic Vehicle Control, pp. 10–13
Used for: Initiating lean by pressing the grip on the side of the turn.
Open source
A normal turn
A deliberate push on the handlebar helps initiate the lean at the right point and hold the line more precisely.
If you need to tighten the turn
If the corner is tighter than expected or your line is wider than needed, push a little harder on the grip on the turn side, away from you. The motorcycle will lean farther, and the turn radius will decrease. A sudden body movement changes the line more slowly.
A series of turns
In a sequence of left and right turns, pressure on the grips helps transition the motorcycle from one lean to the other. This lets you choose the transition point more precisely.
Emergency avoidance maneuver
When avoiding an obstacle, intentional countersteering lets you quickly move the motorcycle into the clear part of the road.
Sources · 1
- Motorcycle Operator Manual
Crash Avoidance, pp. 26–28
Used for: Handlebar input to change the line quickly.
Open source
Choose reference points
In a closed-off practice area, choose reference points for the beginning and end of the move. Repeating the maneuver between them, compare how the force on the handlebar affects lean and line.
Start with a small input
Start with a brief, light push on the grip and note how the motorcycle leans. Then gradually increase the force and compare the rate at which the lean changes.
Watch the line and your hands
Repeat the maneuver along the same line. Change the lean smoothly and keep your arms relaxed. Increase speed after several confident repetitions.
Two movements in succession
After practicing single inputs, combine two movements: first move the motorcycle to one side, then bring it back to the chosen line. Use cones as reference points.
Sources · 1
- Motorcycle Operator Manual
Basic Vehicle Control, pp. 10–13
Used for: Relationship among gaze, handlebar input, and initiation of lean.
Open source