When I was growing up my father drilled into my head “dress for the slide, not for the ride”. Now that I am looking to get my own bike I am currently buy my gear first before I get a bike. Just bought a jacket and gloves then get a helmet (full-face) in a few weeks. I do not have pants or boots yet but I plan to get them soon. I thank my father for teaching me that and I make sure I follow that
I never had biker pants or leather trousers but always wore a pair of jogging pants and two pairs of Jean's. One pair cut short at the calf to fit easier. Kept me a bit warmer and I've never had gravel rash!
Future riders don’t forget to be a nice motorcycle rider, we don’t need to give a bad vibe about us. Motorcycling is our hobby, our way to travel/connect to the the world out there and there’s no need to do with a bad attitude towards pedestrians and drivers. By being nice and kind we’ll make people see us with better eyes and also promote healthier road environment for everybody, riders, drivers and pedestrians.
Probably THE most important thing about riding there is, I've been riding since my dirt bike days, (1978) to present, don't make people hate you just because you are on a motorcycle!
A big mistake I have seen is less experienced riders being pressured to ride above their capabilities by a more experienced rider when out on a ride. On one ride the less experienced rider was goaded into going faster into corners on a road where the shoulder was just a drop off down a cliff, and she came within inches of losing control and flying off the edge. This same vet rider was killed in an accident just a few weeks later by riding too fast in traffic and getting ran over by a city bus. Another example is when a friend of ours started riding with a group of more experienced riders, and exact same scenario, let's ride faster thru curves. Unfortunately he lost control on a curve and the crash cost him his life. Don't ride beyond your capabilities, no matter who you are riding with.
Chris Bailey I agree. Happened to me. Someone road fast everywhere and expected me to ride fast and we both had 600 cc sports bikes. I rode slow. Also, tell everyone to F off when they want to ride on the back of ur bike.
Yep I’ve had it done to me and seen it done to others, lucky for me I’m not a huge people person and if you wanna think I’m a douche and make fun of me for not driving dangerously then go ahead lol. That has killed a lot of people though there are plenty videos of it on TH-cam as well. People trying to keep up with max wrist and others
I want everyone to enjoy being on a bike and know what it takes to stay alive. I've been on cruiser and touring motorcycles since 1979 and no accidents. I think 3 crucial points needing mention are: 1) New riders fail to take safety courses/ advanced safety courses where you learn what to do stopping on oil, gravel, etc and how to do a full emergency stop. Life saving knowledge I can attest to. 2) Lane position: - most new riders: >> fail to monitor traffic ahead to know what's going on....'getting the big picture up ahead'.... and fail to leave them self an escape 'out' by adjust lane position accordingly with traffic changes and weather conditions >>some ride in the center of the lane- this is where oil, fuel, etc drips from vehicles making slippery sections >> some travel at the side of the lane next to the shoulder of the road where most debris gathers. Nowhere to escape there....except towards the ditch in an emergency. 3)⚠ Improve your odds....wear some reflective gear at night or during rain/fog. Travel at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and check ahead twice before passing as things can change in a second. Thank you for reading .... happy miles to you and be safe out there.
awesome tips! I agree wholeheartedly about re-acclimating to your bike after some time off, and even after years of riding, every bike is different. Must acclimate to the new bike like you are a beginner again. Also, I once failed my MC written because the answer was to ride in the center of the lane. That's just not true. I ride just off center depending...and I will go even further to one side or another to let cars waiting to pull out into traffic see me behind a car or truck. Never ever tail-gate, and It is also SO important to constantly be checking mirrors lt+rt and scanning ahead. **Always** have an out planned!
That’s some sound advice bud thanks! I’m not a rider yet but I plan on being one hopefully by January. My friend who’s been riding sport bikes for years now and is sometimes reckless is making me take training courses and advising me in which gear is best for me. For someone who rides hard I’m surprised on how cautious he is but than again it makes me appreciate the safety aspect a lot more. Unlike him tho I’m more of a cruiser so that’s what I’ll be getting
@@ahaymaker535 It fully depends on the circumstances. If you're riding in town you definitely want to be on the left side of the lane that way people turning on to the road from your right have a better chance of seeing you. I ride on a busy 2 lane 65mph highway quite often, and if they cars coming towards me are stacked up 2 or 3 and I think that there's a potential for one of them to try to pass the others. then I will swerve to the right side of the lane sometimes swerving back-and-forth because the more movement the more likely it is that the oncoming human eye will pick It up. As far as studies go, most fatal accidents that are technically the car's fault and not the motorcycle. The only excuse the driver of the car ever has is. "I didn't even see him coming".
I ve been riding for almost 25 years. You start to forget certain things. Thank you for making this video and helping us be safe out there. Much appreciated. Cheers!
It is actually EXACTLY like a bicycle. You definitely counter-steer on a bicycle. This is one of the major skills your brain acquires when first learning to ride a bicycle.
Maybe I’m over thinking it but I’m having trouble understanding counter steering, but I do know how to ride a bicycle so it must come natural if I never knew I was doing it. Hopefully that reflex will apply when I first ride my motorcycle
Depends on the speed of the bicycle. At very low speeds you'll need counterweighting. At higher speed (say over 10mph), that's when you'll use countersteering.
Roy Reyes Push left (left handle bar), go left. Push right (right handle bar), go right. That’s it in a nutshell. You don’t actually “turn” the bars unless doing low speed maneuvers. Don’t over think it.
Adam Hay sorry buddy. You are either mistaken or don’t understand what I’m saying (maybe i wasn’t clear enough). Either way no need to be hostile. Anyway, at speeds above lets say 10mph, if you want the bike to lean left/ go left you must PUSH the left bar with your left hand (you can also PULL your right bar with your right hand instead or both). If you want the bike to lean right/go right you PUSH the right bar with your right hand (you can also PULL your left bar with you left hand or both). This is called counter steering. Hope that helped.
seesaw thus guy couldn't explain it properly I guess. Counter steering is more useful in high speed cornering. When you are riding your bike fast in a curve you may end up coming to the centre of the road which is dangerous. It's the opposite of turning to the side you want. The way it works is crazy. Try it.
Great description mate,i dont understand why people dont know this if you ride even a little bit its something you should work out pretty quickly. cheers
That was a really well made video! When I was brand new I took the beginners class at my local Harley shop, and one of the first things we did was practice that friction zone by sitting on the bike and finding the friction zone and then keeping it there while we walked the bike across the parking lot like that. That really helped me a lot.
I lived on a bicycle from age eight to 16.Then I switched to motorcycles. I'm 63. I only ever dumped a bike twice, both during the first few weeks I rode. The first time I was run off the road by a car. The second time I was showing off. Operating my bikes has always been intuitive. Every spring I deliberately find gravel to practice sliding around and getting the feel back. Thinking about "counter steering" almost made me lose control of the bike. It's like the Chinese story (Chuang Tzu?) where a millipede was asked how he controlled all those legs, then the 'pede thought about it for the first time and crashed in a ditch. DON'T turn what should be an intuitive right-cerebral-hemisphere procedure into a linear step-by-step left-hemisphere flow chart that cannot quickly adjust to unpredictable variables. Just practice A LOT. The feel won't lead you wrong. Trying to think your way through a real world turn is just adding another distraction. (I can't wait for critics to tell me how stupid I am.)
Howard Tate This! I feel that everybody that tries to explain counter steering or suggests focusing on it has never ridden a bicycle. It's like walking, it just comes automatically. Trying to overcomplicate such an elementary thing inevitably leads to more confusion. Ride your bike. It's not that hard. Focus on the optimal track and reading the road instead.
I agree with both of you. These motovloggers seem to be their first time on two wheels was their motorcycle, not their bike at 6 when dad took off the training wheels. Maybe their hovermom didn't allow bicycles. I must admit in the 90s and 00s I didn't see many kids on bicycles except my daughter. You counter steer on bikes too, especially above 20mph. Counter steering is done naturally and subconsciously by every rider. The heavier the bike and faster you go, the more automatic it is. The ONLY reason the MSF trainers mention it is in a panic. If going around a curve and a driver crosses into your path at 50mph, a person might THINK to pull hard right to go right. They are fighting physics and the nature of the bike. Adrenaline will allow you to inadvertently muscle that bike right into the offending car instead of away from it. Just ride naturally and trust your feel of the bike. It is like dancing. If you count outloud and over think every move you will step on the lady's foot.
I'm 31 and have been on a bmx since 16. Ended up in the ER with face rash, heavy concussion and torn spleen last June from a 30mph highside crash due to me being drunk and locking up the back trying to skid. Granted most of my riding has been standing, I feel the same principles apply. The more videos I watch about techniques the more I question my abilities and *think* I'm going to fail. I just went with my uncle (32 year rider) today to one of our local HD dealerships. Mentioning I'm looking at my first bike, salesman asked if I have my endorsement. I say no but I have ridden a few times (no more than 30 on semi residential streets.) He highly suggested taking the course they offer as it'd help immensely and would help me in my choice of bike since I'd be able to test ride versus only sitting on one. I've been eyeing the Iron since it debuted and finally feel I'm mature enough to see myself on a bike. Having learned very fast what not to do I still find myself slightly spooked by speed but I feel it's more on the bmx and not a motorcycle. Anyways, being my first ride that's not my non-running '80 GS550, am I ok in having a healthy amount of fear still? I feel the more I see videos and internally see myself riding I concentrate on what not to do which in turn makes me feel like I'm going to fail at riding. I know I'll be okay, I'm just scared I'll F up a nice newer bike...but the whole point is to not crash. I don't know where I'm going with this, just new rider jitters I guess! Ahh I want this, I got this!
Counter steering is in the back or your mind unless you are a beginner. My first 4 days of riding I had my first accident. I was going on my first sharp turn and I froze up going 40. Because during a panic I didn’t know what to do so I tried a regular turn, clipped the curb and hit a street sign and spent the night in the E.R. Hasn’t happened again but just my thoughts on the topic
1. Push the side you want to go in at high speeds (countersteering) 2. Wear full gear 3. Know your fuel range 4. Don't carry a pillion passenger until you're more experienced 5. Work on not stalling
Regarding 1: it's not high speeds. Countersteering works at any speed over about 15mph on every bike I've ever ridden, which are cruisers and power cruisers... Power cruisers are a fairly rare thing these days. They're basically tall cruisers with inline 4 or inline 6 sport bike engines. The only 6 cylinder one I'm aware of is the old KZ-1300. Every time I see one of them I start drooling, but what I have are a few KZ1000s and a KZ1100 now. I have a comment from 3 years ago on this video mentioning a KZ-750 but I no longer have that bike.
Actually, I thought the same thing till I got on a bike myself. See motorcycles are actually built on multiple principles of physics. One of the big ones is that the front of the bike will always try to slow down while the rear will always want to speed up, which creates a gyroscopic effect in other words. The momentum keeps the bike up for you. It's actually safer to not touch the bars at all under momentum rather then hold on for dear life (especially because holding on for dear life is actually a major cause for speed wobble because going back to that physics principle, because the front always wants to slow down the front wheel is actually always swaying. ALWAYS. You cannot stop this, most of the time you won't even know it's happening)
Also, the front wheel sway is usually not even visible either to the naked eye or even in slow mo. It's very a very minimal movement. But it is there, and holding on too tightly to your bars will for one, wear out your energy incredibly quickly, and for two you'll help cause speed wobble, as previously mentioned
Great video, Dan. I would just add that, whenever we are stopped into a signal, we should leave the bike in 1st gear, not in neutral. By doing this, combined with paying attention to our surroundings (specially our rearview mirrors), and having a "escape route" in case needed, if there's any danger, you are ready to take off.
I really appreciate this video, I watched a bunch of counter steering videos and never really got what they were saying until you actually did it on camera the way you did, now I’m off to practice more
Eduardo Santos Yup! Couldn't agree more. The friend who taught me way back when, he asked me one question: you're on a bike and want to turn left. Which hand moves forward? I didn't get it. Sounded so dull and obvious. But oh no. Not obvious! Counter-intuitive: the left hand. Not understanding count steering is exactly what led to my first crash.
I like the video. Its helpful regardless if you're experienced or just learning. What I don't get is the people who feel the need to act like douchebags and leave negative comments. If you don't get it, don't like it, don't waste anymore of your time... Don't comment. It's like the old saying your mother should've taught you. If you don't have anything nice to say, then hold your tongue. At least this guy cares enough about others to spend his spare time trying to help. Just saying. Being nice doesn't come natural for everyone clearly.
I might not like this video in particular but I appreciate his effort and like his videos in general. However, i did not get his explanation at all, it did not make it easier for me to learn counter-steering. I don't know about being nice, but being a snowflake and butthurt sure comes easy these days. Liking someone on youtube doesn't mean you have to agree or like EVERY SINGLE MATERIAL HE PRODUCES. You can provide feedback and your opinion, it could actually prove helpful in the future. Maybe your mother should've taught you that people are entitled to their own opinion and you don't have to silence them if they disagree. Sincerely, a douchebag
This idiot trying to talk safety 😤😡 while using only one mirror and it is upside down...So ...50 %Chance of coming back alive..as long as everything dangerous happen in front of him...IDIOT!
I recently went back on two wheels since my last ride 20 years ago. One thing I learned is that you get rusty and you must accept that time affects the way you ride. I'm older and my reflexes are not the same as in my prime, so I tend to ride more carefully and being also aware that an accidental injury will take more time to heal than before. So my advice for older guys that decide to ride a bike is to take it easy, and go bit by bit getting familiar again with your riding. Also watch this channel, is excellent and a great source of knowledge...thanks Dan for all your work!
Ditto. Been off for a while myself. It was shocking how rusty I became. It's coming back quickly though. But still, the extra sense of paranoia I have now makes me def more cautious. Track day coming up. That's usually one way that I get familiar with my bike a little quicker/easier.
Cool moto-video series! I've been riding since 1970. A LOOoooonnng time ago a friend showed me a way to make countersteering REAL for me. On a remote highway (no traffic, lots of room) - Let go the throttle with your right hand, use your left on the throttle. You must CONSCIOUSLY countersteer to keep the bike straight ahead. It's a little harder to do than you'd think. In our normal riding, countersteering is unconscious and like you said, we're not even aware that we do it. "Friction Zone" - my nephew got his new bike. He lives in Phoenix and their neighborhood has a cul-de-sac where the road is crowned in the middle, pitched down toward the curb. I had seen a "trick" to practice finding the friction zone that worked pretty cool. I had him back the rear wheel against the curb and let the clutch out, the bike starts to roll, pull in the clutch and the bike rolls back against the curb. You don't even have to lift your feet off the ground. Let the clutch out, bike rolls, pull it in, roll back. He'd do it a half dozen times before we rode off. Seemed to help him to know where the clutch engagement started.
Great Egret I get excited when I watch the weather and there's no rain in the forecast, lol. I just got chaps, a taller windshield and leather jacket for the winter. I intend on riding even when it's cold. Even if I ride by myself.
I only ride scooters/mopeds but still watch DDFM for rider safety tips. I can't manually shift but lane position, wearing gear, looking for hazards etc. are universal.
During my 54 years of riding. I have done each on 10.000 times or more. Just kidding. But your right on every point. The biggest Mistake is being/getting to cocky with your self. That in it's self will Kill you. Great video. semper fi
roadkill serna ~ the only difference is, if on a pedal bike and your back end kicks out, you’re damn near screwed. If I’m a motorbike, give a little gas and you can save it.
Joseph Izzo The thing is with a bicycle is that its pretty hard to kick out the back end unless you’re riding on dirt, grass or if you’re braking hard in a corner
Interesting how, when learning to ride a motorcycle, you actually have to think about doing such things? Until the muscle memory is reacquired from bike riding.
Regarding steering: my instructor (yes, in the Netherlands and all over Europe you actually have to take lessons and you get instructions) always called it "push the bike into the corner, then let it do the steering". It's a combination of counter steering and just pushing the bike down while remaining upright yourself.
GREAT video. You mentioned that you shift to neutral at a red light. I took to basic riders course at the local college and they recommended staying in first so you can take off in the event that the person approaching from the rear doesn't stop because they aren't paying attention. What are your thoughts?
2:00 it is exactly like a bicycle. When you get up to speed (which isn't very fast) counter steering comes into affect same as motorcycles. If you don't believe me get a bicycle and see for yourself. I tried it today and realized how effortlessly and often I counter steer without knowing.
I'm 49 and I've been riding on the street legally since I was 15-1/2, the biggest mistake I see is one I lost count of you doing. Taking the bike out of gear at a stop. First you always make sure you have an out, then make sure it's in 1st and ready to go. This is in case some car comes up behind you and doesn't see you sitting there you can get out of harms way much faster than if you have to put your hands on the bars, put it in gear and go. This has saved me more times than you took yours out of gear in the video. ;-)
I was taught that when at a stop, you should remain in 1st gear so that you can make a quick getaway in case someone behind you is a potential problem. Being in neutral at a stop can be problematic if you need to get out of danger.
I bought my gear before I got my bike. You inspired me to get white gear and a fly jacket that you wore. I can tell that people see me, partially because of the gear and partially because of my position. I try to be where cars will see me, either in their mirror or when they are turning. You’re tips have helped a lot. This is exactly the kinds of info I need and want. Thank you.
Keeping your bike in first gear, ready, at a stop light is a good practice for new/inexperienced riders. Doesn’t remove the possibility of stalling , happens to guys with hundreds of thousands of miles under their belts, but it leaves you better prepared to react if someone does something stupid around you. Plus you keep that clutch hand on the handlebars where it belongs working that muscle memory.
Been riding for about a year I still don't put it in neutral unless I know I'm going to be stopped a while Gotta stay ready for these shitty Cali drivers
RobRealistic that is the exact opposite reason and action you should be doing. Wherever you got that idea from is incorrect. You want to be as ready to avoid a situation. If we examine the scenario of getting rear ended, the bike will be moving forward no matter what. Mass and speed of the car dictate that movement. You in first gear means nothing compared to that cars impact. However, if you’re paying attention, with the bike ready to move with proper space between you and the car ahead or if you are in front, you have a greater chance of avoiding being rear ended all together.
"For those of you that see my phone right here, I have my notes. I'm looking at the road, I'm being safe. Don't do what I'm doing. I've been doing it for a long time, I know what I'm doing." That is so confusing. 😂 I know what you meant, But it was like you told me NOT to be safe! 😂😂😂😂
I'm a cyclist and I been doing something similar to counter steering. If I'm on my bicycle and want to turn left I will kind of push against the handle bars and lean slightly forward and to the left. Turning like that enables me to turn slightly faster without slowing down as much which saves me energy, (I don't have any kind of motor-kit on my bike so I'm relying on my own power) and helps me try to keep a steady momentum which not only reduces my chances of getting hit but also keeps me more or less out of everyone else's way
Hey Man! Just wanted to share that I finally got my first bike (2006 Suzuki S40 - 650cc) and I went for my first little ride with my buddies on the road. I have found my zen! I am so happy! But I wanted to say thank you to you and your wife. You two helped motivate me so much. Also I did the rider training course and if I didn't I would be so lost and making a ton of mistakes (on the road). DO THE TRAINING!
Staying in 1st gear is better &safer. In case some ****** that didn't see you, or even if he lost his brakes. You would have better chance to drive off to save yourself /your bike
YES! I love the way you pulled up behind the car at the light. A deadly mistake is to park dead center behind a vehicle at a light. Should an auto not stop, there is no quick exit. Thank you for your video.
My 14R actually has a fuel range level that changes dynamically with fuel usage. Lay on the throttle, less range. More miserly, and it increases. I can get around 200 mpg with normal usage. Also have my necessary gear. I only ride 1 up, and I countersteer. Been practicing low speed counterbalancing in my local church parking lot.
I rarely put the machine in neutral at red lights or other traffic stops ...if you ever have to get out of a situation you are ready to roll. This is the only episode I watched of yours... have you done a video on riding positions meaning placement of you and the bike in traffic. I like you get right into the drivers side view of a stopped vehicle..also I'm not sure if you practice lane dominance, I do , but it can sometimes spark aggressive drivers. Love it ..I think there is something wrong with me lol
"Lane dominance" I like that. Rounding up cattle on a cattle drive, except your bike is the steer, and the cars around you are cattle! I feel like I have to teach people patience by maintaining a safe stagger between vehicles around me.
Thanks for making this video, I'm a beginner rider and this actually really helped. I don't know the process for getting your bike licence in America but in the UK its a single day of training with very little road time and then you are just sent off onto the road to do your thing, it's quite daunting tbh and its so hard to take in all the information you need in a single day. I've been watching tons of videos for beginners recently and yours really stood out to me, so thanks again. New sub well earned. :D
Great list! For those of us in colder climates knowing fuel range changes when the temps change dramatically is helpful. If you're trying to extend your riding season into late fall and into winter, it will go down. Mine dropped by nearly 20 miles per tank full recently.
0:40 that’s tip number 1...don’t be that guy that says “I’ve been doing this for a while”.....once u get comfortable, you underestimate the power of your iron horse and how vulnerable you really are. Idc if it’s “notes” or a text even at a red light, keep eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings. It may save your life. (Not meaning you put this guy down! He’s an awesome instructor for beginners, definitely keep watching him)
literally everytime he says he has his eyes on the road yet people still tell him to keep his eyes on the road, goddamn I'd be so annoyed with you people if I were him
my number 1 tip would be ride according to the elements, your tyres need to warm up, cold tyres and cold roads, especially damp when there is like moisture on the road is the worst. slow down a lot earlier for corners in the rain and decrease your lean angle. this goes hand in hand with checking tyre pressure regularly and if you can when its raining avoid any white lines while you are leaned in a turn, running out of fuel and stalling are the least of your problems when you are learning. coming off hurts more than your pride.
digger4rar great tip! And if you choose to ride when it gets really cold (like ~32°F and lower), your tires will likey not warm up at all. So ride like you would before your tires warm up in warmer temps during your entire ride during really cold temps.
There are a lot of factors that go into warming up your tires, but it's not necessary to overthink it. You'll get to know this point the more you ride your bike. You'll just feel your tires grip better once they warm up. The key is to ride cautiously before they warm up and have better grip. When it's really cold out, usually below freezing, my tires on my 30-minute commute don't warm up enough to grip well. So My cold weather commute is ridden with much more caution.
Something to realise for everyone who’s been riding a bike for less than a year or haven’t had their first accident yet. Your life isn’t worth it just to flex on your friends. People hear how easy it is to die on a bike or break important bones but never actually acknowledge it, stay safe.
To be honest and with all respect 2-5 tips are mistakes itself. It's realy important to tell people about gear, fuel tank capacity, different behaviour of the motorcycle with a passenger on its back and a need for not stalling? If yes, such person shouldn't ride motocycle whatsoever. Thus, instead of those 2-5 "tips" I would recommend: 2) Motorcycle will ride where you gaze your sight, so do not watch directly at the front of your front wheel; 3) Do not ride middle of your lane but choose left or right side instead - all dirt, dust, and other stuff remain in the middle of the lane while left and right sides are cleaner due to normal car traffic; 4) Remember to pre-adjust the speed before you enter the turn and also remember about the OIO rule, i.e. you are starting the turn from the OUTSIDE of the lane, than you are tightening the turn so you are now INSIDE the lane, and finaly, while leaving the turn you once more go to the OUTSIDE of the lane. While turning remember also one counter-intuitive thing: If you already know you will not handle the turn, do not brake in it (it can: 1) get up your bike from lean; 2) slip the rear wheel; 3) slip the front wheel; each option can result with you on the tree), but instead counter-steer a little bit more while adding a little more gas and lean a little bit more. Also, do not change gears while in the middle of the turn - it can slip rear wheel a little; 5) Use brakes carefully, and remember, that when you will block the front wheel you will probably finish on the ground. That's why, on gravel and other situations with "unclean" surface try to use mainly rear brake remembering, that the rear brake is way easier to block.
Although I'm based in the UK 🇬🇧 I love the channel as motorcycling is Motorcycling wherever you are in the world. Really appreciate the safety tips and what you are achieving with the channel. As a new rider this channel is essential education for me, thanks!
I think its the name "counter" "steer" that confuses everyone. counter means against something or opposite. but if you are pushing down on the right side to go right you are not "countering" anything. If you were to push down on the left side to go right that would be "counter". The stupid name makes no sense and confuses everybody.
Its is confusing, but that’s because few of these experts explain it correctly. Its not a push down either, its a push forward. Its counter steering because when I push the right grip of the bar forward, just for a split second, the bars turn slightly left, which causes the front wheel to then respond by dipping right and turning right. People struggle with this concept and there are a only a few on TH-cam which do a good job explaining and showing it.
It's because you don't need to explain how to kick a football, you just bloody kick it till it goes further. That's the problem, after you've played footy for few years you can get into the science of it. But if you're trying to line up the ball to your boot and looking at where you are kicking etc etc as a beginner, you will probably fall on your ass XD
@@timothyletwin5911 - It is called counter-steering in America whether it's mountain biking or motorbikes. It doesn't even need a name though lol, it's irrelevant as it's natural.
@@dickjohnson5025 I think you are correct about the confusion in the name because it implies doing the opposite of something you are already doing, rather than more of it. As you lean a bike into a corner you apply force to the inside bar, by shifting your weight, which is "counter steering". Unless you go straight on at every corner, or slow down to 10mph so you can "steer" around the corner, you are already "counter steering", so by giving it a name that sounds like the opposite of what people are already doing makes it sound wrong to them. It's useful to understand what you are already doing so you can apply a little more force to tighten a line for instance, but on my motorcycles when I consciously try to apply a little more to see what happens in normal cornering it takes me off line which indicates for my speed/corner and line I'm already using adequate counter steer.
2:00 you say it’s not like a bicycle, but it is exactly how it works on bicycles too when riding with any sort of speed. This is why it comes so intuitively for a lot of people without them even realizing what they are doing, because a lot of us learned this as children on bicycles.
This ↑↑↑ Always leave an out, and be ready to use it: stay in gear, hands on clutch and throttle,even at the five-minute red light. I've had cars, for no apparent reason, random go into reverse and come straight at me. I was already pointed toward the gap between lanes, was in first, and had hands on clutch and throttle. I jumped out of their way, no harm.
Only had my bike L's for 3mths, have been told by almost everyone to keep the bike in 1st at stop signs/lights, easier to get moving esp in case of emergency such as car behind not stopping. Rest of the video very helpful, as usual.
@captain ron Using throttle and getting by them quickly on the right shoulder? ...I guess that's to allow you to be in their blind spot... so that when they unexpectedly pull over to the side of the road...or swerve to avoid side swipe from an inattentive driver in the next lane, you'll be going fast enough not to be able to react in time and be taken out. Doing that near bridge abutments will certainly alays be a problem when the shoulder disappears....and I have witnessed that fatality first hand. Wet roads or canyon cliffs especially near curves....you're on it to pass on the right?....get the picture?... Never be in that much of a hurry to pass on the right shoulder... ever....period.
When I started there was no beginners school other than other riders who would give you tips. In the mid 60s when I was stationed in Tokyo, Japan I bought a Honda CL 77 305cc scrambler from a Japanese dealer outside of Yokota AB. Those were the days of kick start. I few broken English explanations from the dealer and I was on my way through heavy traffic on the left side (they drive on the wrong side over there) back to Fuchu AS. I was scared stiff. I had a leather jacket, wore gloves and had a helmet -- and made it. I learned a lot over the next few months and survived. Good thing about riding a bike in Japan is that you have the first meter of the road reserved which puts you at the head of line most of the time when you come to a light. A three hour trip by car to the beach by Yokohama would only take about 45 minutes. Big difference. Paid $400 for the Honda. There were off road opportunities in Japan which is super training in learning how to manage a bike. It was a great tour of duty. Later on in the States I had a 69 650 Bonne. Wish I still had it.
#6. Always keep control of motorcycle when at a red light or stop sign. Foot applied to rear brake,clutch in and in gear and keep eye in mirror to make sure you’re not about to be rear ended. Be cognizant of wet foot, dry foot...
makes no difference if you push the inside bar or pull the outside bar , and if you ever rode a bicycle you already do this without thinking , so if you can go around any corner on a motorcycle it stands to reason your already doing it and if your inexperienced theres better and much more useful things to think about . ive said it for years , its bullshit confusing learners with the physics of counter steering , when you wobbled away for the first time on your first two wheeler that was you mastering counter steering . on a track really pushing on you can use active counter steering to get the bike turned / dropped more quickly , but normal driving ... my advise would be look ahead . the mechanical controls come better with experience , and i believe the single biggest skill road riders learners could learn is observation , learners are taking in a lot of information , this shit just muddys the waters
Agreed, it's like riding a bike and becomes automatic so try NOT to think about it! Nothing like confusing the beginners. Appreciate someone trying to explain it but I've never thought about it even though I do it. Switch on, neutral, clutch in, first gear, indicate, lifesaver check, move out when safe to do so, clutch in, 2nd gear, clutch in, 3rd gear, approach left hand bend, move to right of lane or left, brake or shift down or both for bend, power into bend or brake into bend, look for apex or ride wide or hug the left hand kerb, power on through the bend or slow down through the bend, steady power on out of bend or kick down and move it. Right in the middle of all this COUNTER STEER, push left or push down to go left OR is it right!?
I took it and the instructor kept telling me to lean to go around the cones but instead I counter steered like a dirt bike rider would. He never road dirt, he didn't understand.
counter steering comes naturally for most people , basically when you go left you want to push a bit with your left hand (point wheel in the opposite direction, this will tilt your bike to the left ) and when you go right you push with your right hand (dito but in the different direction) , but this onley counts when you go at a certain speed (notice you don't need to do this when you just cruise on a bicycle same when going too slow on a motorcycle => centrifugal force => you can try this by taking the front wheel of a bicycle and spin it very hard then push on either side and see what happens) good luck! (ps : you can go as low as you want , however make sure your feet don't hit the road and also mind the condition of the road -- rocks , water , dirt) /// --- good guide by the way --- ///
Recently bought my first motorbike (not a Harley, although I wish I could afford one!) and have been teaching myself how to ride just on my driveway and on the street (it's a very quiet dead-end street so no danger) before I go for my test, and this video helped a lot! I've watched a few videos on counter-steering and could never quite figure out how it worked but it makes sense now so gives me something to practice. Thank you! :)
You absolutely have to counter steer a bicycle when turning with some speed, you don't need to be going 30mph to feel it maybe 10-15 and even before that you can use the same technique to change your body position and lean quicker thus making a sharper turn. All of these becomes muscular memory, but is good to be aware of it so in a moment of panic you don't steer in the wrong way directly into the obstacle.
1 big thing motorcyclists do wrong is flip their mirrors upside down. And FYI it's steering until 18mph then it turns into counter steering 18mph and above. It's physics of the centrifugal and centripetal force of all the rotating parts of the bike.
ultimate super savage yeah all the guys who put 5 miles a year on their bikes thinking they know best. I know your sarcastic but my folks from MMI and 2 degrees in Diesel technology and automotive engineering say I'm not being sarcastic
Dan, you should do a video that educates current riders on how to help newer riders gain confidence. And also the aspect of lowering your driving standards to accommodate their skill level, don't go for a ride with a noob and take fast corners, they're trusting your judgment and they might not have the skills to make the turns you can but they'll keep at your pace until they crash.
ummm...counter steering doesn't work when going slow i.e. it works after about 20kph. So don't try and counter steer around a slow turn or you will go the wrong way - steering is directional up to about 20 kph. Definitely good to know (and this applies to bicycles too which can reach speeds of 100 kph or more...).
Really good points, great video. However, I would like to point out countersteering only applies after a certain speed. 12 miles and over you you want to countersteer, anything below you want to point the front wheels where your want to go. This comment is only meant for begginers.
I just got my 1st real bike shortly followed by a new girl who loves bikes. How do you know when you are ready to take a passenger? I know I am not ready now but my confidence is building with every ride out. Tough question I know. Love the videos man, keep up the good work.
DanDanTheFireman she was a biker so she would know what to do as a passenger. I am a new biker but don't want to look like a pussy with her on and at the same time I don't want to kill a hottie and smash my new bike up. Maybe buy an inexpensive bike and pick up hitchhikers 😀
Obviously it’s a personal voice. But I feel that having a passenger is always a bad idea. No matter your experience. Or that of your passenger. Don’t do it’s. Why? Lawyers! Nuff said!
Been riding for 30+ years. Happened on this video then these comments. If your going to ride someone make sure that your bike is rated for the weight for the 2 of you! If you and your girl are over 300+ lbs and you get on a 250 whatever don't get on the the freeway here ( LA, Ca USA area ) unless it's rush hour. Now the modern rice burner 600 will carry that weight well unless you guys are approaching 400+ lbs. Most HD will carry a heaver persons at highway speeds. @moonlitphantasm, makes good points ,however, the M/C 's performance is going to be highly degrade in EVERY ASPECT OF THE BIKE!
In the beginning I was stalling almost at every light lol but I’m doing better now and now working on shifting properly and learning how to down shift without being to fast
Basic rider course suggested you shouldn't be in neutral at a stop especially when there're vehicles behind you. If something happens, you can't take off quickly.
Dude... if you can't follow the 'rules'... while shooting content, should you be moto vlogging at all? I noticed quite a few mistakes you made in this vid... and one that could have put you six feet under... Just say'n...
BRAHS! IT IS LIVE! Be one of the first to get the DDFM Training Manual Module 1 eBook! 50+ pages of information that will get you started in riding!!! www.MotorcycleBeginnersGuide.com
SHIT ON THAT! WHY ? I MEAN WHY ? I MEAN WHY DO YOU NEED TO CHARGE EVEN A PENNY? IF IT"S IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH SAFETY, THEN BY ALL MEANS SHARE IT.
Just my thoughts. Two mirrors are better than one. If you’re gonna wear gear, wear full gear. Jeans don’t protect you from anything but road debris. Leather will slide on pavement. Textile will catch on the pavement. Watch a moto gp race, they won’t wear textile. Backpacks are dangerous when you go down. They will bounce you around and flip you. My Harley has a gas gauge. Keep your bike in gear at a stop and an eye out behind you. Riding is inherently dangerous. Choose your level of risk your willing to take while riding. Full gear will stop road rash but won’t stop your bones from breaking. Ride normal and defensively and you should be good. Enjoy.
nice video, i thought i was the only one been stalling at traffic light, today I bought my first bike with clutch and need to take it back home by myself. i rarely ride bike with clutch because I only have bike that is without clutch. idk about other country but in Malaysia riders will usually went at the side of the road at the traffic light, so even if ur bike got stalled u wont be disturbing the cars etc. gotta learn how not to get stalled at the traffic light ASAP
The word is kind of self-explanatory. If you want to go left, steer right, you want to go right? Steer left. With pushing right to go right he means that you actually push your right-steeringbar forwards. Not downwards to the ground, but push it in front of you so your wheel will turn left and your bike will actually go right. This only works at higher speeds, if you're going very slow, you actually have to turn it in the direction that you want to go.
funny thing is he didn't counter steer he leaned right on the bar and it went right. You really don't need to counter steer until you start riding true sport bikes . I think he is estamatating his skills or lack there of. and if you have to mention you have a 100lb girl friend....shes 130lb just my estamatating
More weight to the front of your ride improves you handling Counter steering ...personally, I use it only in traffic In open road situations I lean to assist direction and reduce wear on the front rubber, which counter steering exacerbates and physically reduces front wheel traction In alpine (those curvy) roads I shift my arsch of into the turn but neglect to expose my knee to the pavement🤣 This works on my Beemer and DYNA Fatbob Think this... The heaviest part of what you're riding are your wheels spinning. The more fast you travel is the more mass translated to the wheels in motion Oh, if you ride a Beemer with a boxer twin... it wants to dive in an accelerating right turn and stand in a left turn because of the gyroscopic effect of the crank
Yes. It is a "motor bicycle". Push-bikes also counter-steer. When we lean a motor bike we push the inner bar and that counter steers it. You can spot the folks who don't counter- steer enough because they will practically climb off the bike to take the most trivial bends. Without that pressure on the inner bar the bike will tip over but carry on in almost a straight line. They do this racing too but at ridiculously high speeds (and no traffic).
It totally is the same as both bicycles and motorcycles follow the laws of physics. It's just less noticable on a bicycle because you generally go slower. Learning how to ride a motorcycle actually helped my bicycle riding. Especially riding downhill at 40 MPH. I focused more on counter steering the bicycle and was able to hold my line at faster downhill speeds. Really improved my love for all things two-wheeled.
Yep but on both, at low speeds, you can steer without counter steering. The bike only seems to fight normal steering above 15-20mph, at least thats my experience.
When I was growing up my father drilled into my head “dress for the slide, not for the ride”. Now that I am looking to get my own bike I am currently buy my gear first before I get a bike. Just bought a jacket and gloves then get a helmet (full-face) in a few weeks. I do not have pants or boots yet but I plan to get them soon. I thank my father for teaching me that and I make sure I follow that
I never had biker pants or leather trousers but always wore a pair of jogging pants and two pairs of Jean's. One pair cut short at the calf to fit easier. Kept me a bit warmer and I've never had gravel rash!
Fabian Mckenna they now have jeans that are made for riding that are Kevlar enforced if you didn’t know instead of wearing all those layers
Cheers Brandon but in Scotland, the more layers the better!
Be careful out there.
how has your bike journey been going? if you got a bike what make model color? just starting myself so just curious :) cheers!
That is exactly me at this moment man! I’m hoping to get my first bike and start riding in the next few months, I’m so excited to start riding 🥳
Future riders don’t forget to be a nice motorcycle rider, we don’t need to give a bad vibe about us. Motorcycling is our hobby, our way to travel/connect to the the world out there and there’s no need to do with a bad attitude towards pedestrians and drivers. By being nice and kind we’ll make people see us with better eyes and also promote healthier road environment for everybody, riders, drivers and pedestrians.
Probably THE most important thing about riding there is, I've been riding since my dirt bike days, (1978) to present, don't make people hate you just because you are on a motorcycle!
@Gregg Sinini Cool.
@Gregg Sinini try that with someone like me, ill pull up beside u and turn that mustang to swiss cheese 😄✌🏾
@Gregg Sinini I don't know if your joking but if your not.... Man you got some problems
Yeah I’ll forsure do that for you :)
A big mistake I have seen is less experienced riders being pressured to ride above their capabilities by a more experienced rider when out on a ride. On one ride the less experienced rider was goaded into going faster into corners on a road where the shoulder was just a drop off down a cliff, and she came within inches of losing control and flying off the edge. This same vet rider was killed in an accident just a few weeks later by riding too fast in traffic and getting ran over by a city bus. Another example is when a friend of ours started riding with a group of more experienced riders, and exact same scenario, let's ride faster thru curves. Unfortunately he lost control on a curve and the crash cost him his life. Don't ride beyond your capabilities, no matter who you are riding with.
Chris Bailey I agree. Happened to me. Someone road fast everywhere and expected me to ride fast and we both had 600 cc sports bikes. I rode slow. Also, tell everyone to F off when they want to ride on the back of ur bike.
Yeah, i think the newbie should be leading. And the veterans should adapt to the rythm of the slow one
@@loic5142 I'm not ready for traffic yet, but my riding friends have said when I am, they'll follow me at my speed. Awesome dudes.
Yep I’ve had it done to me and seen it done to others, lucky for me I’m not a huge people person and if you wanna think I’m a douche and make fun of me for not driving dangerously then go ahead lol. That has killed a lot of people though there are plenty videos of it on TH-cam as well. People trying to keep up with max wrist and others
@@Franklinsadventures that is really good that they will do that, always ride with people like that who care about your safety as well as theirs.
I want everyone to enjoy being on a bike and know what it takes to stay alive. I've been on cruiser and touring motorcycles since 1979 and no accidents. I think 3 crucial points needing mention are:
1) New riders fail to take safety courses/ advanced safety courses where you learn what to do stopping on oil, gravel, etc and how to do a full emergency stop. Life saving knowledge I can attest to.
2) Lane position:
- most new riders:
>> fail to monitor traffic ahead to know what's going on....'getting the big picture up ahead'.... and fail to leave them self an escape 'out' by adjust lane position accordingly with traffic changes and weather conditions
>>some ride in the center of the lane- this is where oil, fuel, etc drips from vehicles making slippery sections
>> some travel at the side of the lane next to the shoulder of the road where most debris gathers. Nowhere to escape there....except towards the ditch in an emergency.
3)⚠ Improve your odds....wear some reflective gear at night or during rain/fog.
Travel at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and check ahead twice before passing as things can change in a second.
Thank you for reading ....
happy miles to you and be safe out there.
awesome tips! I agree wholeheartedly about re-acclimating to your bike after some time off, and even after years of riding, every bike is different. Must acclimate to the new bike like you are a beginner again. Also, I once failed my MC written because the answer was to ride in the center of the lane. That's just not true. I ride just off center depending...and I will go even further to one side or another to let cars waiting to pull out into traffic see me behind a car or truck. Never ever tail-gate, and It is also SO important to constantly be checking mirrors lt+rt and scanning ahead. **Always** have an out planned!
That’s some sound advice bud thanks! I’m not a rider yet but I plan on being one hopefully by January. My friend who’s been riding sport bikes for years now and is sometimes reckless is making me take training courses and advising me in which gear is best for me. For someone who rides hard I’m surprised on how cautious he is but than again it makes me appreciate the safety aspect a lot more. Unlike him tho I’m more of a cruiser so that’s what I’ll be getting
TheKenab didn’t think of some of the things here! Thanks for sharing!!
Ride in left side of lane? Are you sure that seems not right (literally lol) and would like to see studies on that
@@ahaymaker535 It fully depends on the circumstances. If you're riding in town you definitely want to be on the left side of the lane that way people turning on to the road from your right have a better chance of seeing you. I ride on a busy 2 lane 65mph highway quite often, and if they cars coming towards me are stacked up 2 or 3 and I think that there's a potential for one of them to try to pass the others. then I will swerve to the right side of the lane sometimes swerving back-and-forth because the more movement the more likely it is that the oncoming human eye will pick It up. As far as studies go, most fatal accidents that are technically the car's fault and not the motorcycle. The only excuse the driver of the car ever has is. "I didn't even see him coming".
I ve been riding for almost 25 years. You start to forget certain things. Thank you for making this video and helping us be safe out there. Much appreciated. Cheers!
It is actually EXACTLY like a bicycle. You definitely counter-steer on a bicycle. This is one of the major skills your brain acquires when first learning to ride a bicycle.
Maybe I’m over thinking it but I’m having trouble understanding counter steering, but I do know how to ride a bicycle so it must come natural if I never knew I was doing it. Hopefully that reflex will apply when I first ride my motorcycle
Depends on the speed of the bicycle. At very low speeds you'll need counterweighting. At higher speed (say over 10mph), that's when you'll use countersteering.
Roy Reyes Push left (left handle bar), go left. Push right (right handle bar), go right. That’s it in a nutshell. You don’t actually “turn” the bars unless doing low speed maneuvers. Don’t over think it.
Adam Hay sorry buddy. You are either mistaken or don’t understand what I’m saying (maybe i wasn’t clear enough). Either way no need to be hostile.
Anyway, at speeds above lets say 10mph, if you want the bike to lean left/ go left you must PUSH the left bar with your left hand (you can also PULL your right bar with your right hand instead or both).
If you want the bike to lean right/go right you PUSH the right bar with your right hand (you can also PULL your left bar with you left hand or both).
This is called counter steering.
Hope that helped.
Adam Hay best thing to do may be to just get out and try for yourself and you’ll see that it is true.
I always assume drivers, particularly in big SUV’s, will try to kill me.
"Push steering" - PUSH the handle the direction you want to go. Easier to remember than "counter steering". Great point though!
seesaw thus guy couldn't explain it properly I guess. Counter steering is more useful in high speed cornering. When you are riding your bike fast in a curve you may end up coming to the centre of the road which is dangerous. It's the opposite of turning to the side you want. The way it works is crazy. Try it.
Push the opposite side of the bar of the direction you want to go. That's where the counter comes from
Great description mate,i dont understand why people dont know this if you ride even a little bit its something you should work out pretty quickly. cheers
Lean and push. Simple.
@@shitheadoconnor3531 No leaning required.
That was a really well made video! When I was brand new I took the beginners class at my local Harley shop, and one of the first things we did was practice that friction zone by sitting on the bike and finding the friction zone and then keeping it there while we walked the bike across the parking lot like that. That really helped me a lot.
I lived on a bicycle from age eight to 16.Then I switched to motorcycles. I'm 63. I only ever dumped a bike twice, both during the first few weeks I rode. The first time I was run off the road by a car. The second time I was showing off. Operating my bikes has always been intuitive. Every spring I deliberately find gravel to practice sliding around and getting the feel back. Thinking about "counter steering" almost made me lose control of the bike. It's like the Chinese story (Chuang Tzu?) where a millipede was asked how he controlled all those legs, then the 'pede thought about it for the first time and crashed in a ditch. DON'T turn what should be an intuitive right-cerebral-hemisphere procedure into a linear step-by-step left-hemisphere flow chart that cannot quickly adjust to unpredictable variables. Just practice A LOT. The feel won't lead you wrong. Trying to think your way through a real world turn is just adding another distraction. (I can't wait for critics to tell me how stupid I am.)
Howard Tate This! I feel that everybody that tries to explain counter steering or suggests focusing on it has never ridden a bicycle. It's like walking, it just comes automatically. Trying to overcomplicate such an elementary thing inevitably leads to more confusion. Ride your bike. It's not that hard. Focus on the optimal track and reading the road instead.
I agree with both of you. These motovloggers seem to be their first time on two wheels was their motorcycle, not their bike at 6 when dad took off the training wheels. Maybe their hovermom didn't allow bicycles. I must admit in the 90s and 00s I didn't see many kids on bicycles except my daughter. You counter steer on bikes too, especially above 20mph.
Counter steering is done naturally and subconsciously by every rider. The heavier the bike and faster you go, the more automatic it is. The ONLY reason the MSF trainers mention it is in a panic. If going around a curve and a driver crosses into your path at 50mph, a person might THINK to pull hard right to go right. They are fighting physics and the nature of the bike. Adrenaline will allow you to inadvertently muscle that bike right into the offending car instead of away from it.
Just ride naturally and trust your feel of the bike. It is like dancing. If you count outloud and over think every move you will step on the lady's foot.
I think you make a great point, actually.
I'm 31 and have been on a bmx since 16. Ended up in the ER with face rash, heavy concussion and torn spleen last June from a 30mph highside crash due to me being drunk and locking up the back trying to skid. Granted most of my riding has been standing, I feel the same principles apply. The more videos I watch about techniques the more I question my abilities and *think* I'm going to fail. I just went with my uncle (32 year rider) today to one of our local HD dealerships. Mentioning I'm looking at my first bike, salesman asked if I have my endorsement. I say no but I have ridden a few times (no more than 30 on semi residential streets.) He highly suggested taking the course they offer as it'd help immensely and would help me in my choice of bike since I'd be able to test ride versus only sitting on one. I've been eyeing the Iron since it debuted and finally feel I'm mature enough to see myself on a bike. Having learned very fast what not to do I still find myself slightly spooked by speed but I feel it's more on the bmx and not a motorcycle. Anyways, being my first ride that's not my non-running '80 GS550, am I ok in having a healthy amount of fear still? I feel the more I see videos and internally see myself riding I concentrate on what not to do which in turn makes me feel like I'm going to fail at riding. I know I'll be okay, I'm just scared I'll F up a nice newer bike...but the whole point is to not crash. I don't know where I'm going with this, just new rider jitters I guess! Ahh I want this, I got this!
Counter steering is in the back or your mind unless you are a beginner. My first 4 days of riding I had my first accident. I was going on my first sharp turn and I froze up going 40. Because during a panic I didn’t know what to do so I tried a regular turn, clipped the curb and hit a street sign and spent the night in the E.R. Hasn’t happened again but just my thoughts on the topic
Friction zone is what everyone calls it but I like to call it the “point of engagement”
eliminate friction zone put some KY on it!
@@caroltenge5147 you know it 🐴
It's called "bite" point, where the clutch engages. 🤗
The zoom point
but its not a point
its a gradient of friction from 0% to 100% - there is no single point where it just grabs
thats why its called the friction ZONE
1. Push the side you want to go in at high speeds (countersteering)
2. Wear full gear
3. Know your fuel range
4. Don't carry a pillion passenger until you're more experienced
5. Work on not stalling
And the best tip....... Don't take both hands off the handlebars when moving...... I forget how many time this was shown in this video.
6. Don't make MotoVlogs. (At least if you're a newb...)
Regarding 1: it's not high speeds. Countersteering works at any speed over about 15mph on every bike I've ever ridden, which are cruisers and power cruisers... Power cruisers are a fairly rare thing these days. They're basically tall cruisers with inline 4 or inline 6 sport bike engines. The only 6 cylinder one I'm aware of is the old KZ-1300. Every time I see one of them I start drooling, but what I have are a few KZ1000s and a KZ1100 now. I have a comment from 3 years ago on this video mentioning a KZ-750 but I no longer have that bike.
Every time you let go of those handlebars my heart actually leaps 😂 but your confidence is reassuring!
I love me some DDFM, but that's not a great example for beginner riders.
Actually, I thought the same thing till I got on a bike myself. See motorcycles are actually built on multiple principles of physics. One of the big ones is that the front of the bike will always try to slow down while the rear will always want to speed up, which creates a gyroscopic effect in other words. The momentum keeps the bike up for you. It's actually safer to not touch the bars at all under momentum rather then hold on for dear life (especially because holding on for dear life is actually a major cause for speed wobble because going back to that physics principle, because the front always wants to slow down the front wheel is actually always swaying. ALWAYS. You cannot stop this, most of the time you won't even know it's happening)
Also, the front wheel sway is usually not even visible either to the naked eye or even in slow mo. It's very a very minimal movement. But it is there, and holding on too tightly to your bars will for one, wear out your energy incredibly quickly, and for two you'll help cause speed wobble, as previously mentioned
Mick Labrie thanks for the info and intelligence my brother 🤘🏾🍺
Great video, Dan. I would just add that, whenever we are stopped into a signal, we should leave the bike in 1st gear, not in neutral. By doing this, combined with paying attention to our surroundings (specially our rearview mirrors), and having a "escape route" in case needed, if there's any danger, you are ready to take off.
I really appreciate this video, I watched a bunch of counter steering videos and never really got what they were saying until you actually did it on camera the way you did, now I’m off to practice more
Eduardo Santos Yup! Couldn't agree more. The friend who taught me way back when, he asked me one question: you're on a bike and want to turn left. Which hand moves forward? I didn't get it. Sounded so dull and obvious. But oh no. Not obvious! Counter-intuitive: the left hand. Not understanding count steering is exactly what led to my first crash.
you really understood it from his explanation? i got nothing..
Douchebag, LMFAO
I like the video. Its helpful regardless if you're experienced or just learning. What I don't get is the people who feel the need to act like douchebags and leave negative comments. If you don't get it, don't like it, don't waste anymore of your time... Don't comment. It's like the old saying your mother should've taught you. If you don't have anything nice to say, then hold your tongue. At least this guy cares enough about others to spend his spare time trying to help. Just saying. Being nice doesn't come natural for everyone clearly.
I might not like this video in particular but I appreciate his effort and like his videos in general.
However, i did not get his explanation at all, it did not make it easier for me to learn counter-steering.
I don't know about being nice, but being a snowflake and butthurt sure comes easy these days.
Liking someone on youtube doesn't mean you have to agree or like EVERY SINGLE MATERIAL HE PRODUCES.
You can provide feedback and your opinion, it could actually prove helpful in the future.
Maybe your mother should've taught you that people are entitled to their own opinion and you don't have to silence them if they disagree.
Sincerely,
a douchebag
Mistake #6: Having only a left side rearview mirror
Yea. And wearing jeans and not proper clothing.
TheTH-camguy he wear Kevlar jeans he has talked about them in a video before
The mirror actually let's him see the whole side behind him reason why it's on the bottom not top
and it's under slung to boot
This idiot trying to talk safety 😤😡 while using only one mirror and it is upside down...So ...50 %Chance of coming back alive..as long as everything dangerous happen in front of him...IDIOT!
I recently went back on two wheels since my last ride 20 years ago. One thing I learned is that you get rusty and you must accept that time affects the way you ride. I'm older and my reflexes are not the same as in my prime, so I tend to ride more carefully and being also aware that an accidental injury will take more time to heal than before. So my advice for older guys that decide to ride a bike is to take it easy, and go bit by bit getting familiar again with your riding. Also watch this channel, is excellent and a great source of knowledge...thanks Dan for all your work!
Ditto. Been off for a while myself. It was shocking how rusty I became. It's coming back quickly though. But still, the extra sense of paranoia I have now makes me def more cautious. Track day coming up. That's usually one way that I get familiar with my bike a little quicker/easier.
Cool moto-video series! I've been riding since 1970. A LOOoooonnng time ago a friend showed me a way to make countersteering REAL for me. On a remote highway (no traffic, lots of room) - Let go the throttle with your right hand, use your left on the throttle. You must CONSCIOUSLY countersteer to keep the bike straight ahead. It's a little harder to do than you'd think.
In our normal riding, countersteering is unconscious and like you said, we're not even aware that we do it.
"Friction Zone" - my nephew got his new bike. He lives in Phoenix and their neighborhood has a cul-de-sac where the road is crowned in the middle, pitched down toward the curb. I had seen a "trick" to practice finding the friction zone that worked pretty cool. I had him back the rear wheel against the curb and let the clutch out, the bike starts to roll, pull in the clutch and the bike rolls back against the curb. You don't even have to lift your feet off the ground. Let the clutch out, bike rolls, pull it in, roll back. He'd do it a half dozen times before we rode off. Seemed to help him to know where the clutch engagement started.
i will testify that taking the MSf course helps ALOT!!! I just took the course and passed it this past weekend.
Heath Mitchell Congrats! You're set for a world of riding fun! The MSF course was the biggest help for me too when I took it eight months ago.
I took the course in June and am more confident riding. Bought my first bike in August and it has 1300 miles on it.
It gets addicting! I put on just over 7000 miles since I got my bike in April. So much fun.
Great Egret I get excited when I watch the weather and there's no rain in the forecast, lol. I just got chaps, a taller windshield and leather jacket for the winter. I intend on riding even when it's cold. Even if I ride by myself.
I did the course even though I've been riding dirt bike since I was 5 but I learned a lot and I'm a far better rider because of it
I only ride scooters/mopeds but still watch DDFM for rider safety tips. I can't manually shift but lane position, wearing gear, looking for hazards etc. are universal.
During my 54 years of riding. I have done each on 10.000 times or more. Just kidding. But your right on every point. The biggest Mistake is being/getting to cocky with your self. That in it's self will Kill you. Great video. semper fi
Actually, it’s EXACTLY like a bicycle when cycling over 10. The mechanics are the same. Just more power on a motorcycle.
roadkill serna ~ the only difference is, if on a pedal bike and your back end kicks out, you’re damn near screwed. If I’m a motorbike, give a little gas and you can save it.
Joseph Izzo The thing is with a bicycle is that its pretty hard to kick out the back end unless you’re riding on dirt, grass or if you’re braking hard in a corner
Callan Brain ~ right? Mine would slid out going into turns at high speed.
Glad i had a strong sphincter because I damn near shat myself every time!
But on a sport bite you put down on the handle bar to turn at high speedswich is RETARDED
Dumb
Good video. As for the counter steering, the same thing happens on a bicycle.
Interesting how, when learning to ride a motorcycle, you actually have to think about doing such things? Until the muscle memory is reacquired from bike riding.
Regarding steering: my instructor (yes, in the Netherlands and all over Europe you actually have to take lessons and you get instructions) always called it "push the bike into the corner, then let it do the steering". It's a combination of counter steering and just pushing the bike down while remaining upright yourself.
GREAT video. You mentioned that you shift to neutral at a red light. I took to basic riders course at the local college and they recommended staying in first so you can take off in the event that the person approaching from the rear doesn't stop because they aren't paying attention. What are your thoughts?
I’ve seen people say to stay in 1st until the car behind you stops. Then shift into neutral once they aren’t moving anymore.
2:00 it is exactly like a bicycle. When you get up to speed (which isn't very fast) counter steering comes into affect same as motorcycles. If you don't believe me get a bicycle and see for yourself. I tried it today and realized how effortlessly and often I counter steer without knowing.
I'm 49 and I've been riding on the street legally since I was 15-1/2, the biggest mistake I see is one I lost count of you doing. Taking the bike out of gear at a stop. First you always make sure you have an out, then make sure it's in 1st and ready to go. This is in case some car comes up behind you and doesn't see you sitting there you can get out of harms way much faster than if you have to put your hands on the bars, put it in gear and go. This has saved me more times than you took yours out of gear in the video. ;-)
I see so many ppl do that as well...wrong, wrong, wrong. Always have a escape plan.
thats why you go to the front of the line. i dont care if its illegal, its safer than getting rear ended
Agreed, but there are times when you've sitting there all by your lonesome with plenty of open street behind you.
@@P46345
you do it in a car, it would make sense to do it in a bike
I was taught that when at a stop, you should remain in 1st gear so that you can make a quick getaway in case someone behind you is a potential problem. Being in neutral at a stop can be problematic if you need to get out of danger.
i Bought my gear before my first motorcycle lol
Same
That is actually smart financially
I've started buying my gear. Helmet gloves and boots already. No bike yet but jacket is next purchase then pants
Fuck it swag
I bought my gear before I got my bike. You inspired me to get white gear and a fly jacket that you wore. I can tell that people see me, partially because of the gear and partially because of my position. I try to be where cars will see me, either in their mirror or when they are turning.
You’re tips have helped a lot. This is exactly the kinds of info I need and want. Thank you.
Keeping your bike in first gear, ready, at a stop light is a good practice for new/inexperienced riders. Doesn’t remove the possibility of stalling , happens to guys with hundreds of thousands of miles under their belts, but it leaves you better prepared to react if someone does something stupid around you. Plus you keep that clutch hand on the handlebars where it belongs working that muscle memory.
Been riding for about a year
I still don't put it in neutral unless I know I'm going to be stopped a while
Gotta stay ready for these shitty Cali drivers
I don't put it in gear at a light because if I get rearened the bikes potential of losing control is higher.
RobRealistic what do you mean by that
When I got rear ended with the bike in gear the bike just stalled
jake Paxton like I said "potential" the possibility of something happening. POSSIBILITY!
RobRealistic that is the exact opposite reason and action you should be doing. Wherever you got that idea from is incorrect. You want to be as ready to avoid a situation. If we examine the scenario of getting rear ended, the bike will be moving forward no matter what. Mass and speed of the car dictate that movement. You in first gear means nothing compared to that cars impact. However, if you’re paying attention, with the bike ready to move with proper space between you and the car ahead or if you are in front, you have a greater chance of avoiding being rear ended all together.
FINALLY someone demonstrates counter steer on a bike! I grew up riding quads and 3 wheelers, never really got into 2 wheels.
"For those of you that see my phone right here, I have my notes. I'm looking at the road, I'm being safe. Don't do what I'm doing. I've been doing it for a long time, I know what I'm doing." That is so confusing. 😂 I know what you meant, But it was like you told me NOT to be safe! 😂😂😂😂
I'm a cyclist and I been doing something similar to counter steering. If I'm on my bicycle and want to turn left I will kind of push against the handle bars and lean slightly forward and to the left. Turning like that enables me to turn slightly faster without slowing down as much which saves me energy, (I don't have any kind of motor-kit on my bike so I'm relying on my own power) and helps me try to keep a steady momentum which not only reduces my chances of getting hit but also keeps me more or less out of everyone else's way
Also - Tire Pressure! Check your tire pressure!
Hey Man! Just wanted to share that I finally got my first bike (2006 Suzuki S40 - 650cc) and I went for my first little ride with my buddies on the road. I have found my zen! I am so happy! But I wanted to say thank you to you and your wife. You two helped motivate me so much. Also I did the rider training course and if I didn't I would be so lost and making a ton of mistakes (on the road). DO THE TRAINING!
I got click
Baited lol
amen
"Me and my gf have had discussions about being a passenger on a bike"
I think he means he blew her eardrum out talking about it so much XD
Staying in 1st gear is better &safer.
In case some ****** that didn't see you, or even if he lost his brakes. You would have better chance to drive off to save yourself /your bike
Oren B not if you're riding a 125cc bike :p
yeah I always stay in first
Agreed!
that's not smart at all
YES! I love the way you pulled up behind the car at the light. A deadly mistake is to park dead center behind a vehicle at a light. Should an auto not stop, there is no quick exit. Thank you for your video.
The “sweet spot” is called the “friction zone” I’m working towards my motorcycle license, thanks for the tips! Awesome video!
My 14R actually has a fuel range level that changes dynamically with fuel usage. Lay on the throttle, less range. More miserly, and it increases. I can get around 200 mpg with normal usage. Also have my necessary gear. I only ride 1 up, and I countersteer. Been practicing low speed counterbalancing in my local church parking lot.
I rarely put the machine in neutral at red lights or other traffic stops ...if you ever have to get out of a situation you are ready to roll. This is the only episode I watched of yours... have you done a video on riding positions meaning placement of you and the bike in traffic. I like you get right into the drivers side view of a stopped vehicle..also I'm not sure if you practice lane dominance, I do , but it can sometimes spark aggressive drivers. Love it ..I think there is something wrong with me lol
Alberta Boy I would like to see that video with the points that you made and then some.
"Lane dominance" I like that. Rounding up cattle on a cattle drive, except your bike is the steer, and the cars around you are cattle! I feel like I have to teach people patience by maintaining a safe stagger between vehicles around me.
I think it applies more to people who are mechanically new to motorcycles.
Thanks for making this video, I'm a beginner rider and this actually really helped. I don't know the process for getting your bike licence in America but in the UK its a single day of training with very little road time and then you are just sent off onto the road to do your thing, it's quite daunting tbh and its so hard to take in all the information you need in a single day. I've been watching tons of videos for beginners recently and yours really stood out to me, so thanks again. New sub well earned. :D
Great list! For those of us in colder climates knowing fuel range changes when the temps change dramatically is helpful. If you're trying to extend your riding season into late fall and into winter, it will go down. Mine dropped by nearly 20 miles per tank full recently.
0:40 that’s tip number 1...don’t be that guy that says “I’ve been doing this for a while”.....once u get comfortable, you underestimate the power of your iron horse and how vulnerable you really are. Idc if it’s “notes” or a text even at a red light, keep eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings. It may save your life. (Not meaning you put this guy down! He’s an awesome instructor for beginners, definitely keep watching him)
literally everytime he says he has his eyes on the road yet people still tell him to keep his eyes on the road, goddamn I'd be so annoyed with you people if I were him
my number 1 tip would be ride according to the elements, your tyres need to warm up, cold tyres and cold roads, especially damp when there is like moisture on the road is the worst. slow down a lot earlier for corners in the rain and decrease your lean angle. this goes hand in hand with checking tyre pressure regularly and if you can when its raining avoid any white lines while you are leaned in a turn, running out of fuel and stalling are the least of your problems when you are learning. coming off hurts more than your pride.
digger4rar great tip! And if you choose to ride when it gets really cold (like ~32°F and lower), your tires will likey not warm up at all. So ride like you would before your tires warm up in warmer temps during your entire ride during really cold temps.
How would you ride to warm up your tires? Or how do you ride at temps lower than 32 degrees? I'm a new rider.
There are a lot of factors that go into warming up your tires, but it's not necessary to overthink it. You'll get to know this point the more you ride your bike. You'll just feel your tires grip better once they warm up. The key is to ride cautiously before they warm up and have better grip. When it's really cold out, usually below freezing, my tires on my 30-minute commute don't warm up enough to grip well. So My cold weather commute is ridden with much more caution.
Great Egret thank you
Something to realise for everyone who’s been riding a bike for less than a year or haven’t had their first accident yet. Your life isn’t worth it just to flex on your friends. People hear how easy it is to die on a bike or break important bones but never actually acknowledge it, stay safe.
To be honest and with all respect 2-5 tips are mistakes itself. It's realy important to tell people about gear, fuel tank capacity, different behaviour of the motorcycle with a passenger on its back and a need for not stalling? If yes, such person shouldn't ride motocycle whatsoever. Thus, instead of those 2-5 "tips" I would recommend: 2) Motorcycle will ride where you gaze your sight, so do not watch directly at the front of your front wheel; 3) Do not ride middle of your lane but choose left or right side instead - all dirt, dust, and other stuff remain in the middle of the lane while left and right sides are cleaner due to normal car traffic; 4) Remember to pre-adjust the speed before you enter the turn and also remember about the OIO rule, i.e. you are starting the turn from the OUTSIDE of the lane, than you are tightening the turn so you are now INSIDE the lane, and finaly, while leaving the turn you once more go to the OUTSIDE of the lane. While turning remember also one counter-intuitive thing: If you already know you will not handle the turn, do not brake in it (it can: 1) get up your bike from lean; 2) slip the rear wheel; 3) slip the front wheel; each option can result with you on the tree), but instead counter-steer a little bit more while adding a little more gas and lean a little bit more. Also, do not change gears while in the middle of the turn - it can slip rear wheel a little; 5) Use brakes carefully, and remember, that when you will block the front wheel you will probably finish on the ground. That's why, on gravel and other situations with "unclean" surface try to use mainly rear brake remembering, that the rear brake is way easier to block.
Although I'm based in the UK 🇬🇧 I love the channel as motorcycling is Motorcycling wherever you are in the world. Really appreciate the safety tips and what you are achieving with the channel. As a new rider this channel is essential education for me, thanks!
I think its the name "counter" "steer" that confuses everyone. counter means against something or opposite. but if you are pushing down on the right side to go right you are not "countering" anything. If you were to push down on the left side to go right that would be "counter". The stupid name makes no sense and confuses everybody.
Its is confusing, but that’s because few of these experts explain it correctly. Its not a push down either, its a push forward. Its counter steering because when I push the right grip of the bar forward, just for a split second, the bars turn slightly left, which causes the front wheel to then respond by dipping right and turning right. People struggle with this concept and there are a only a few on TH-cam which do a good job explaining and showing it.
It's because you don't need to explain how to kick a football, you just bloody kick it till it goes further. That's the problem, after you've played footy for few years you can get into the science of it.
But if you're trying to line up the ball to your boot and looking at where you are kicking etc etc as a beginner, you will probably fall on your ass XD
It's called "push steering".
@@timothyletwin5911 - It is called counter-steering in America whether it's mountain biking or motorbikes.
It doesn't even need a name though lol, it's irrelevant as it's natural.
@@dickjohnson5025 I think you are correct about the confusion in the name because it implies doing the opposite of something you are already doing, rather than more of it. As you lean a bike into a corner you apply force to the inside bar, by shifting your weight, which is "counter steering". Unless you go straight on at every corner, or slow down to 10mph so you can "steer" around the corner, you are already "counter steering", so by giving it a name that sounds like the opposite of what people are already doing makes it sound wrong to them. It's useful to understand what you are already doing so you can apply a little more force to tighten a line for instance, but on my motorcycles when I consciously try to apply a little more to see what happens in normal cornering it takes me off line which indicates for my speed/corner and line I'm already using adequate counter steer.
I’m 16 just passed my practical test been watching u for a while very helpful
"you're probably doing it, without realising it"
That's the whole point with countersteering
It's not the whole point with countersteering
2:00 you say it’s not like a bicycle, but it is exactly how it works on bicycles too when riding with any sort of speed. This is why it comes so intuitively for a lot of people without them even realizing what they are doing, because a lot of us learned this as children on bicycles.
Jus don’t put it in neutral n stay ready to go 😂😂🤙
This ↑↑↑ Always leave an out, and be ready to use it: stay in gear, hands on clutch and throttle,even at the five-minute red light.
I've had cars, for no apparent reason, random go into reverse and come straight at me. I was already pointed toward the gap between lanes, was in first, and had hands on clutch and throttle. I jumped out of their way, no harm.
Only had my bike L's for 3mths, have been told by almost everyone to keep the bike in 1st at stop signs/lights, easier to get moving esp in case of emergency such as car behind not stopping.
Rest of the video very helpful, as usual.
Passing cars on the right is not a good thing to do either, but if you must do it, use the throttle and get passed them quickly
That would be my left rather then right. You guys drive on the wrong side of the road.
lewis thorpe no u
@captain ron
Using throttle and getting by them quickly on the right shoulder? ...I guess that's to allow you to be in their blind spot... so that when they unexpectedly pull over to the side of the road...or swerve to avoid side swipe from an inattentive driver in the next lane, you'll be going fast enough not to be able to react in time and be taken out. Doing that near bridge abutments will certainly alays be a problem when the shoulder disappears....and I have witnessed that fatality first hand. Wet roads or canyon cliffs especially near curves....you're on it to pass on the right?....get the picture?... Never be in that much of a hurry to pass on the right shoulder... ever....period.
Finding the biting point on the bike n car is the very first thing I was taught. Can't wait to get on the road. Your videos are helping alot
Stalling: Tip; give a little acceleration then release the clutch lever gently. Your bike won't stall easily.
When I started there was no beginners school other than other riders who would give you tips. In the mid 60s when I was stationed in Tokyo, Japan I bought a Honda CL 77 305cc scrambler from a Japanese dealer outside of Yokota AB. Those were the days of kick start. I few broken English explanations from the dealer and I was on my way through heavy traffic on the left side (they drive on the wrong side over there) back to Fuchu AS. I was scared stiff. I had a leather jacket, wore gloves and had a helmet -- and made it. I learned a lot over the next few months and survived. Good thing about riding a bike in Japan is that you have the first meter of the road reserved which puts you at the head of line most of the time when you come to a light. A three hour trip by car to the beach by Yokohama would only take about 45 minutes. Big difference. Paid $400 for the Honda. There were off road opportunities in Japan which is super training in learning how to manage a bike. It was a great tour of duty. Later on in the States I had a 69 650 Bonne. Wish I still had it.
Countersteering applies on bicycles as well! Please do not misinform.
#6. Always keep control of motorcycle when at a red light or stop sign. Foot applied to rear brake,clutch in and in gear and keep eye in mirror to make sure you’re not about to be rear ended. Be cognizant of wet foot, dry foot...
makes no difference if you push the inside bar or pull the outside bar , and if you ever rode a bicycle you already do this without thinking , so if you can go around any corner on a motorcycle it stands to reason your already doing it and if your inexperienced theres better and much more useful things to think about . ive said it for years , its bullshit confusing learners with the physics of counter steering , when you wobbled away for the first time on your first two wheeler that was you mastering counter steering . on a track really pushing on you can use active counter steering to get the bike turned / dropped more quickly , but normal driving ... my advise would be look ahead . the mechanical controls come better with experience , and i believe the single biggest skill road riders learners could learn is observation , learners are taking in a lot of information , this shit just muddys the waters
It's vice versa. You push the outside or pull the inside of the bar. Carry on
Agreed, it's like riding a bike and becomes automatic so try NOT to think about it!
Nothing like confusing the beginners. Appreciate someone trying to explain it but I've never thought about it even though I do it.
Switch on, neutral, clutch in, first gear, indicate, lifesaver check, move out when safe to do so, clutch in, 2nd gear, clutch in, 3rd gear, approach left hand bend, move to right of lane or left, brake or shift down or both for bend, power into bend or brake into bend, look for apex or ride wide or hug the left hand kerb, power on through the bend or slow down through the bend, steady power on out of bend or kick down and move it. Right in the middle of all this COUNTER STEER, push left or push down to go left OR is it right!?
'97 H-D FXSTC -- have a trip meter on it, 200miles between fill-ups. Trip meters have been stock for more than 20 years on H-Ds.
MSF course? Take it.
I took it and the instructor kept telling me to lean to go around the cones but instead I counter steered like a dirt bike rider would. He never road dirt, he didn't understand.
@@saxon1177 so u have no experience in turning and pedal your bike duck walking good job don't make videos on how to ride when you have no idea
counter steering comes naturally for most people , basically when you go left you want to push a bit with your left hand (point wheel in the opposite direction, this will tilt your bike to the left ) and when you go right you push with your right hand (dito but in the different direction) , but this onley counts when you go at a certain speed (notice you don't need to do this when you just cruise on a bicycle same when going too slow on a motorcycle => centrifugal force => you can try this by taking the front wheel of a bicycle and spin it very hard then push on either side and see what happens) good luck! (ps : you can go as low as you want , however make sure your feet don't hit the road and also mind the condition of the road -- rocks , water , dirt) /// --- good guide by the way --- ///
"my girlfriend's a deadload" 😂😂
After 16 years, mine is, too.
Recently bought my first motorbike (not a Harley, although I wish I could afford one!) and have been teaching myself how to ride just on my driveway and on the street (it's a very quiet dead-end street so no danger) before I go for my test, and this video helped a lot! I've watched a few videos on counter-steering and could never quite figure out how it worked but it makes sense now so gives me something to practice. Thank you! :)
Hey Dan, "Cover the Clutch." lol, are you Italian (speaks with hands, hahaha)
You absolutely have to counter steer a bicycle when turning with some speed, you don't need to be going 30mph to feel it maybe 10-15 and even before that you can use the same technique to change your body position and lean quicker thus making a sharper turn.
All of these becomes muscular memory, but is good to be aware of it so in a moment of panic you don't steer in the wrong way directly into the obstacle.
1 big thing motorcyclists do wrong is flip their mirrors upside down.
And FYI it's steering until 18mph then it turns into counter steering 18mph and above. It's physics of the centrifugal and centripetal force of all the rotating parts of the bike.
It's actually better on sportsters to flip them.
ultimate super savage yeah all the guys who put 5 miles a year on their bikes thinking they know best. I know your sarcastic but my folks from MMI and 2 degrees in Diesel technology and automotive engineering say I'm not being sarcastic
Thomas Comptois you actually need no mirrors at all
The government only wants you to think that you do
TheAnipeace lol it's a conspiracy run by the illuminati. What if really steering is counter steering and counter steering is just steering?
Dan, you should do a video that educates current riders on how to help newer riders gain confidence. And also the aspect of lowering your driving standards to accommodate their skill level, don't go for a ride with a noob and take fast corners, they're trusting your judgment and they might not have the skills to make the turns you can but they'll keep at your pace until they crash.
ummm...counter steering doesn't work when going slow i.e. it works after about 20kph. So don't try and counter steer around a slow turn or you will go the wrong way - steering is directional up to about 20 kph. Definitely good to know (and this applies to bicycles too which can reach speeds of 100 kph or more...).
howartthou especially on my Vstar 1300. 800 lbs does not counter steer at low speed.
Really good points, great video. However, I would like to point out countersteering only applies after a certain speed. 12 miles and over you you want to countersteer, anything below you want to point the front wheels where your want to go. This comment is only meant for begginers.
Thank you for the tips .. now i need to buy a bike to apply those.
Thanks I just started riding again after years off and this refreshed my memory. Much appreciated.
I just got my 1st real bike shortly followed by a new girl who loves bikes. How do you know when you are ready to take a passenger? I know I am not ready now but my confidence is building with every ride out. Tough question I know. Love the videos man, keep up the good work.
DanDanTheFireman she was a biker so she would know what to do as a passenger. I am a new biker but don't want to look like a pussy with her on and at the same time I don't want to kill a hottie and smash my new bike up. Maybe buy an inexpensive bike and pick up hitchhikers 😀
Ride a season alone and make sure you are comfortable on your own then accept the responsibility of a passenger
Obviously it’s a personal voice. But I feel that having a passenger is always a bad idea. No matter your experience. Or that of your passenger. Don’t do it’s. Why? Lawyers! Nuff said!
Been riding for 30+ years. Happened on this video then these comments. If your going to ride someone make sure that your bike is rated for the weight for the 2 of you! If you and your girl are over 300+ lbs and you get on a 250 whatever don't get on the the freeway here ( LA, Ca USA area ) unless it's rush hour. Now the modern rice burner 600 will carry that weight well unless you guys are approaching 400+ lbs. Most HD will carry a heaver persons at highway speeds. @moonlitphantasm, makes good points ,however, the M/C 's performance is going to be highly degrade in EVERY ASPECT OF THE BIKE!
Canada recommends 2500 kilometers of riding experience before carrying a passenger.
In the beginning I was stalling almost at every light lol but I’m doing better now and now working on shifting properly and learning how to down shift without being to fast
I'm more agile on my Harley than I am on my feet.
Same
Relatable
Basic rider course suggested you shouldn't be in neutral at a stop especially when there're vehicles behind you. If something happens, you can't take off quickly.
10:10 looks like something's falling down from the sky
This is the best explanation and demonstration of counter steering that I've ever seen. Excellent work sir!
I'm sorry, but I couldn't watch after he said "Don't do what I do"...
Kinda missing the point, isn't it, about "mistakes"?
David Johnson... Now that 'is' an Oxymoron... 👍😉
Dude... if you can't follow the 'rules'... while shooting content, should you be moto vlogging at all? I noticed quite a few mistakes you made in this vid... and one that could have put you six feet under... Just say'n...
Ducati Dude so true...
Hey, you guys don't have any kids then?
Do as I say not as I do!
THANKS MAN! I LITERALLY DON'T KNOW COUNTER STEERING, AND I LEARNED IT HERE THANKS BECAUSE OF YOU
BRAHS! IT IS LIVE! Be one of the first to get the DDFM Training Manual Module 1 eBook! 50+ pages of information that will get you started in riding!!! www.MotorcycleBeginnersGuide.com
DanDanTheFireman u
hehe, I got my bro's old honda VT1100C2 so my budget will go to lessons and PPE :)
SHIT ON THAT! WHY ? I MEAN WHY ? I MEAN WHY DO YOU NEED TO CHARGE EVEN A PENNY? IF IT"S IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH SAFETY, THEN BY ALL MEANS SHARE IT.
My H-D Street Glide has a range for fuel..it’s a 2018
Just my thoughts. Two mirrors are better than one. If you’re gonna wear gear, wear full gear. Jeans don’t protect you from anything but road debris. Leather will slide on pavement. Textile will catch on the pavement. Watch a moto gp race, they won’t wear textile. Backpacks are dangerous when you go down. They will bounce you around and flip you. My Harley has a gas gauge. Keep your bike in gear at a stop and an eye out behind you. Riding is inherently dangerous. Choose your level of risk your willing to take while riding. Full gear will stop road rash but won’t stop your bones from breaking. Ride normal and defensively and you should be good. Enjoy.
Quite a solid list :)
Your helmet is awesome. What the brand?
I think it's a bell Bullitt
@@mohammedbenabdillah3486 Thank you so much I really appreciate your help.
"...I`m not looking at it...I`m looking at the road...while I`m wildly gesticulating and not holding the steer..."
Hehe!
6:29 That moment when you refer to your girlfriend as a 100lb dead load... 🤣
when yo have to say your girl friends weight, something they hate to hear is when you realise she is bigger than his estamatation
nice video, i thought i was the only one been stalling at traffic light, today I bought my first bike with clutch and need to take it back home by myself. i rarely ride bike with clutch because I only have bike that is without clutch. idk about other country but in Malaysia riders will usually went at the side of the road at the traffic light, so even if ur bike got stalled u wont be disturbing the cars etc. gotta learn how not to get stalled at the traffic light ASAP
You keep repeating the word countersteer as if we'd suddenly understand what you're talking about
SourCrust As per usual, the “expert” doesn’t really explain counter steering correctly.
The word is kind of self-explanatory. If you want to go left, steer right, you want to go right? Steer left.
With pushing right to go right he means that you actually push your right-steeringbar forwards. Not downwards to the ground, but push it in front of you so your wheel will turn left and your bike will actually go right.
This only works at higher speeds, if you're going very slow, you actually have to turn it in the direction that you want to go.
funny thing is he didn't counter steer he leaned right on the bar and it went right. You really don't need to counter steer until you start riding true sport bikes . I think he is estamatating his skills or lack there of. and if you have to mention you have a 100lb girl friend....shes 130lb just my estamatating
Points 1, 2, & 4 are ones I learned the hard way. They’re essential!
The 6th common mistake is learning by someone other than TRAINED PROFESSIONAL!😋
Daft Punk giving me motorcycle tips. Love it
Hold on. Did my guy say “estimization”? 😂 😂
Still an informative video though...
Haha I just brought this up
HA! As i read this comment, he says "estimization."
KingN8Boogie got
Thought I was the only one that caught that.
grammar am hard.
Don't practice in a neighborhood, but use parking lots, especially church or school lots during non open hours.
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I’m thinking about buying a 94 ninja 500cc I’m 16 so I need all the tips I can get
DanDanTheFireman what bike were u riding in the video
Where’d you get that helmet man it’s amazing?
@@binkk2931 Its the Shoei Hornet X2
@@angelrider1602 It is a 2012 Harley Nightster
More weight to the front of your ride improves you handling
Counter steering ...personally, I use it only in traffic
In open road situations I lean to assist direction and reduce wear on the front rubber, which counter steering exacerbates and physically reduces front wheel traction
In alpine (those curvy) roads I shift my arsch of into the turn but neglect to expose my knee to the pavement🤣
This works on my Beemer and DYNA Fatbob
Think this... The heaviest part of what you're riding are your wheels spinning. The more fast you travel is the more mass translated to the wheels in motion
Oh, if you ride a Beemer with a boxer twin... it wants to dive in an accelerating right turn and stand in a left turn because of the gyroscopic effect of the crank
It's exactly like a bicycle.
Yes. It is a "motor bicycle". Push-bikes also counter-steer. When we lean a motor bike we push the inner bar and that counter steers it. You can spot the folks who don't counter- steer enough because they will practically climb off the bike to take the most trivial bends. Without that pressure on the inner bar the bike will tip over but carry on in almost a straight line. They do this racing too but at ridiculously high speeds (and no traffic).
It totally is the same as both bicycles and motorcycles follow the laws of physics. It's just less noticable on a bicycle because you generally go slower. Learning how to ride a motorcycle actually helped my bicycle riding. Especially riding downhill at 40 MPH. I focused more on counter steering the bicycle and was able to hold my line at faster downhill speeds. Really improved my love for all things two-wheeled.
Yes. The same way. It helped me also to get pass the practical driving test on motorcycle. And I'm riding a lot on bicycle. :)
Yep but on both, at low speeds, you can steer without counter steering. The bike only seems to fight normal steering above 15-20mph, at least thats my experience.
Halfdead Rider depends on the bike. Bigger bikes fight harder then smaller