Slow week so just for topic of discussion

[Thunderbolt]

Take a look at this you tube video on counter steering.  See if you already do this sub consciously or is this a new topic for some of us flat landers.   I have used it on a few occasions purposely in the mountains when the curves were tight and it really works.  Another thing that a friend that was riding behind me in the mountains told me at a rest stop is that I was not using the transmission correctly.  I was running in a gear too high and using the brakes too much.  Stick it in a lower gear and let your engine slow you down when you reduce power with the throttle.  I hope it helps one person that goes to the twisty roads up in the mountains and just like me is not familiar with these techniques.  Comments?

How To Ride A Motorcycle - Countersteering And Turning	powered by Aeva

[James III]

Great topic! 
While we countersteer as flatlanders as needed, I believe that as we enter areas like the BRP we notice the enhansed process of countersteer more profoundly than say folks like Smokin' Joe that has ridden the "twistys" all his life, so the process is subblind. He can enjoy the Dragon, while for some of us it is hard work to ride US 129.
 Many of us are constantly analizing each turn and bend we make for the first few miles of a ride then as we settle into the "groove", everything begins to flow. I sometimes feel that my "timing" is off, meaning I'm not initiating countersteer soon or hard enough. Everytime I come back out of the Appalachian area, the bike feels better, my skills are way up, and the enjoyment factor bar is raised; the countersteer "timing" is tuned in.
Just my humble $.02  ???

Jim

[Thunderbolt]

Another more experienced rider answered my question on what is the most important thing to remember when riding in the mountains with this comment.  Always look where you want to go.  If you keep looking ahead at the next curve the bike will follow your nose.  If you mistakenly look off at say a spot where you think wow that would be a bad place to run off the road, you just might. 

[.]

Another more experienced rider answered my question on what is the most important thing to remember when riding in the mountains with this comment.  Always look where you want to go.  If you keep looking ahead at the next curve the bike will follow your nose.  If you mistakenly look off at say a spot where you think wow that would be a bad place to run off the road, you just might.  

I gave both of my sons the opportunity to enhance some of what they learned during the MSF Basic Rider Course by taking them to a local parking lot for a lot of practice. At some point both of them managed to dump the bike by hitting a curb while they were attempting to turn and were looking at the curb.

Both of them got the same reminder from me as they checked my (formerly pristine) Kawasaki Vulcan 500 over for damage: "At all times remember-if you don't look where you're going then you will go where you're looking."

I'm not sure if I made that up or stole it but it has helped to serve as a reminder to them when riding how important it is to keep their head in the game. All the skills in the world won't save them if they aren't paying attention.

Good video! I rode motorcycles for many years when I was younger but, believe it or not, I always believed that it was leaning that caused the bike to go in the desired direction. I had never heard of countersteering until I took the MSF course myself three years ago. Once I grasped the concept (and it's a wonder I didn't run off the road pondering it as I grasp very slowly sometimes) I realized that, although countersteering was something I had done without realizing it, it became much more effective and the bike more agile when I learned enough to actively use countersteering and stop trying to lean the bike.

And it brings up a good question. How in the world did I manage to ride for so many years when I was younger without learning any more about riding than I did way back then? 

[saddlesore]

Good topic.  I've been diong it for years (unconsiously and consiously)  I now understand it better.
The point of looking where you want to go is a good reminder.  I occasionally catch myself going wide on a turn and my reaction is to look further ahead to correct my path.

[RiverRider]

ALL NEED TO READ AND HEED. IF YOUVE EVER DONE ANY CANYON RACING OUT IN CALIFORNIA
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I LEARNED THE HARD WAY ON A TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE MANY YEARS AGO.
A VERY USEFUL POST.

[FloridaValkRyder]

That was a great post Terry. I, like many of you, have been riding most of my teen and adult life. A good friend of mine teaches the MSF classes for a private riding school here in Orlando. He and I were riding together several years ago and he noticed I had a few "bad" habits. I told him "But I ride a Goldwing!!!". Long story short he invited me to sit through one of the courses he teaches, start to finish. We didn't tell any one I had experience, I couldn't even ride my bike to class, and for a good reason as it turned out. On the riding course, practicing what I had learned, I felt a little like a rookie. Countersteering, looking where you want to go, slip zone on the clutch, looking up to stop...and a few others, have all made me a better rider. The last day of class, I rode my bike to school and he asked me to say a few words at "Graduation". What I mainly talked about was complacency, developing bad habits and a few scary but true motorcycle crash stories from my years with the Fire Department. Most of the students were old enough to be my grand kids. Probably wouldn't hurt any one to take a course to refresh some skills and learn some new ones, no matter how "Experienced" you are. Now if we could just get those 200 MPH motorcycles away from the 16 year old immature brats.....

[flsix]

That's a great reminder video, and timely too. I'm heading to Va.,NY,and WV in the morning for two weeks of mountain riding again.
Like you said Jim, we flatlanders need a little time for that learning curve to take root again when we have the opportunity to ride the twisties.