Counter-Steering when driving a motercycle

[Xyius]

So recently I have been looking up information on how to drive a motorcycle, and one interesting thing I picked up was above speeds of about 5-8 mph, you experience something called "counter-steering" where, you must "push right go right" or "push left go left" on the handle bars. Meaning, you push on the right side of the handle bars and your bike goes to the right. I did a little bit more research on this and found that it has to do with a motorcycle being essentially a gyroscope.

Could anyone explain this phenomenon? I would think that turning your handle bars to the right would make you go to the right, why is it opposite on a vehicle with two wheels?

If possible, use equations. I find that I can understand something a LOT better if I see the math behind it.

Thanks! :D!

 

[Drakkith]

Pushing your handlebars is different than turning them.

When you want to turn right, you must push on the right side (essentially turning the bars slightly to the left). This slight turn to the left causes you and the bike to lean to the right. Since you have to lean into a turn, this countersteering simply causes the lean to happen in the first place so that you can take your right turn.

See here for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering

 

[Cleonis]

Since you have to lean into a turn, this countersteering simply causes the lean to happen in the first place so that you can take your right turn.

See here for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering

The general lesson is that on a motorbike and on a bicycle not every handlebar input is directly a steering input. Countersteering is necessary preparation for steering.

As the descriptions say, the purpose of countersteering is to make the wheels turn away from underneath you. setting up the lean that you need.


Get on a bicycle and try it! Go somewhere where you have plenty of space (empty parking lot), get up to a brisk pace, and then try how long you can postpone the preparation of a turn.

I tried, and if I postpone too long then ingrained reflexes kick in, and I don't try (my reflexes know that I'll crash if I would).
If I postpone until the very last instant my reflexes go for a big countersteering move, setting up the sharp lean necessary for the sharp turn.
If I don't postpone the steering is smooth.

I expected all of those reflexes. Still, I am fascinated by the fact that my reflexes are executing all of those moves while I was not conscious of learnng those skills at the time I learned them.

As all descriptions mention: when people have difficulty accepting that countersteering is always done it's because the skill was not consciously learned.

See also Keith Code's http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/no-bs-machine.php"