[Motorcycle Journalist: Toshihiro Wakayama]

There is no sport other than motorcycle riding that lacks theory.

On-road riding is especially loaded with fixed ideas which cause riders to get confused. Most of them aren’t incorrect, in fact they are correct but get in the way when you want to ride properly.

Originally motorcycles are fun riding vehicles for everyone. They’re basically designed not to collapse. So if you want to improve you’re skills, you mustn’t fully rely on them.

Is Counter Steering a Method When Making Turn Starts?

Counter Steering is well known as a cornering technique.

Motorcycles usually turn in the direction the body is tilted so it will keep on running even with your hands free.
If you turn the inner side handle grip towards the opposite side at this point, the body will further tilt towards the curve enhancing it to turn.

Motorcycle Schools in Western countries teach their students this method as a turning technique.
Most of the students notice that they have been using the technique instinctively. This means that they are teaching their students an instinctive behavior to be used as a driving technique.

The Misplaced Confidence of Counter Steering

But this is only exemplifying ” a method to turn”. Counter steering can be exciting and the motorcycle will accept it to a certain extent but over reliance may lead to big trouble.

If you adapt to counter steering, you tend to do it even when you want to turn further. But by turning the handles in the opposite direction, you will actually be increasing the chances to fall.

When you’re in trouble your body will get stiff from trying to counter steer but at the same time struggle not to steer in the opposite direction. It would be best to trust your instincts.

Compensating to Ride with Instinct

Of course I don’t completely deny counter steering. It is difficult to ride without counter steering because it’s significant to find the leaning point.

However if your weight shifting skills improve, you won’t have to rely so much on counter steering. In that sense, counter steering is not essential but should be a sub or even a booster. I believe that riding techniques dominated by counter steering are not adequate.