Countersteering Explained
Why you push the bars the 'wrong' way to turn a motorcycle, and how understanding countersteering makes you a safer, smoother rider.
The counter-intuitive truth
Above walking pace, to turn right you momentarily push the right bar forward: "push right, go right." This is countersteering, and you already do it without thinking. Understanding it consciously gives you control when it counts.
Why it works
Pushing the bar tips the motorcycle into a lean, and it's the lean, not the handlebar angle, that turns the bike. The faster you go, the more pronounced the effect.
Use it deliberately
In an emergency swerve, a firm, deliberate push on the bar gets the bike leaning and changing direction far faster than trying to "steer" it like a car. Practise gentle inputs in a safe, open space until it becomes second nature.