RIDING TECHNIQUES: Steering No.2
In part one, I made the statement that counter-steering is the only real method to steer the motorcycle. If that's true, then how exactly do you do it?Brouggy's Steering Bible: Part Two - Body position
Quite simply, all you do is push the inside handlebar in the opposite direction of the turn. If you're turning right, then push the inside (right) handlebar to the left and vice versa for left hand turns. This is really all the bike wants from you to complete the steering action successfully.
However, when a rider changes from unconsciously using his body weight to get around a corner to steering the bike correctly, it usually takes more than one try to get it right. At first it feels unnatural and downright dangerous. One of the reasons for this is your body position on the bike and how it affects the steering action.
To help me explain this, go and sit on your motorcycle right now in your normal riding position and grab the handlebars. If your seating position is like most riders, you will notice that as you do this the angle of your arm to the ground would probably be around 20 or 30 degrees to the road surface if you measured it.
When you consider the angle at which the steering head runs (which determines the way the handlebars can pivot) you will notice that it doesn't really put you in a position to exercise a great deal of force when turning the bars. Now, try to turn the handlebars back and forth and see how much force it takes. You will most likely notice that as you try to push the handlebar to steer it, you will end up pushing the bar down rather than slightly forward which is what is actually required to steer the motorcycle.
To better use the steering of the bike you need to place the direction of the force as close as possible to 90 degrees to the angle of the steering head.
Now, drop your elbows down by hunching your back slightly, seeing how close you can get your forearms to parallel with the ground, and then try to move the handlebars. What happened? You should have noticed that the handlebars moved easier with less force.
If you're not pushing the handlebar in the correct direction, you're actually trying to push the whole bike down instead of turn the bars, and it will not respond with the speed and accuracy that you can gain with the correct method of counter-steering.
Good luck with your riding.
Steve Brouggy is the owner of the
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Knoxfield, VIC 3180
Australia
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