countersteering

steve robinson · Apr 25, 2004

heard a lot about this countersteering recently
somebody explain what you mean to an old thick bastard

Steve

Steve Parry · Apr 25, 2004

steve said:

heard a lot about this countersteering recently
somebody explain what you mean to an old thick bastard

Steve
Click to expand...

http://www.obairlann.net/~reaper/bmw-bike/beginner/countersteering.html

--
Steve Parry
K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

Slider · Apr 25, 2004

steve said:

heard a lot about this countersteering recently
somebody explain what you mean to an old thick bastard
Click to expand...

It's how you turn a bike when moving. You'll be doing it whether you
realise it or not.

Doesnotcompute · Apr 26, 2004

steve said:

Is that a trick question?
Click to expand...

Depends on whether it's a shaft drive bike dunnit..

Molly · Apr 26, 2004

Andrewr said:

heard a lot about this countersteering recently
somebody explain what you mean to an old thick bastard
Click to expand...

Don't worry any thick old bastard with a PhD in physics will have no
problems understanding countersteering.

Firstly you have to consider that the Earth is spinning in an
Easterly direction, unless you're in the Southern hemisphere when
it is spinning westerly[1].

Or possibly the other way round, I forget.

So, when you are attempting to turn West you have to steer further,
to counteract the Earth's natural spin and, conversely, when you
turn East you steer less, because the Earth's rotation is "helping"
you turn.

However, if you are already travelling East and wish to turn North
then you must account for the lateral force on your tyres, which is
called the rotating inertia. This also applies when turning South
from a Westerly direction, but then the lateral force is called the
gyroscopic effect.
Click to expand...

The sun orbits the earth.

In either case (turning North from East or South from West) the
lateral force is assigned the letter i, which has the value of the
square root of -1. Which is why, if you make too many of these
turns your tyres will "square" off.
Brilliant.

Turning is always harder when travelling East, as you will actually
be travelling 90 or so miles per second faster than is indicated on
your speedo. However, it does explain why round-the-world bikers
always go East to West, because it allows you to go round the world
and be back home in time for Breakfast.
Click to expand...

I never knew that.

Anyway beck to counter-steering; when turning you must account for
the rate of spin of the Earth, which is less the further North you
are (don't forget, at the poles the Earth is not spinning at all!).
This is why Scotland has twistier roads than England ... because it
has to!
Click to expand...

What about Wales?

steve robinson · Apr 26, 2004

Rope said:

Steve robinson spoke:

Ride along a nice quiet road, push the bars *gently* with
your *left* hand, the bike will fall to the left and start
to turn left, push with the *right* hand, and the bike will
turn right - it is counter-intuitive, IYSWIM.

<wafts away smell of rotting tree-fruit>

Unless, of course you have a shaftie, in which case it
doesn't work
Click to expand...

ah reverse steering I remember now

steve auvache · Apr 26, 2004

jsp wrote

But what I want to know is what *does* happen to shafties? Do you turn
the bars and it keeps going in a straight line?
Click to expand...

They turn ok but they don't countersteer.

ts · Apr 26, 2004

steve auvache said:

jsp wrote

They turn ok but they don't countersteer.
Click to expand...

Be careful not to try and make shafties counterstee to hard, they tend
to respond with nasty wheelies

Molly · Apr 27, 2004

jsp said:

But what I want to know is what *does* happen to shafties? Do you
turn the bars and it keeps going in a straight line?
Click to expand...

Only on the back wheel.

Ace · Apr 27, 2004

Jsp spoke:

The torque reaction makes them turn.
Click to expand...

But only in conjunction with the coreolis effect. On the equator it
wouldn't work.

Molly · Apr 27, 2004

Rope said:

Ace spoke:

Yebbut, on the equator you experience the maximum degree of
centipital force from the earth's rotation, so when the torque
reaction makes the rear squat, the front goes so light that you do
tiny (almost imperceptible) wheelies, and the bike, siting on only
the back wheel, becomes unstable, and the rider's input makes it
fall in the correct direction, so when the front wheel touches
down, the bike is lined up to make the turn.
Click to expand...

With or without an identity card?

Owen · Apr 28, 2004

But what I want to know is what *does* happen to shafties? Do you turn
the bars and it keeps going in a straight line?
Click to expand...

Absolutely... which is why BMW riders have to get off their bikes
every time that they hit a bend, move the bike so that it is pointing
in the right direction and then continue on their way... HTH.....
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

Doesnotcompute · Apr 28, 2004

Molly wrote:

But what if the person signing it is left handed?
Click to expand...

Then that photo will only work on ID cards that are used in the southern
hemisphere.

Molly · Apr 28, 2004

Rope said:

Molly spoke:

With, of course, but only if the photograph has been signed on the
back by a reputable personage, e.g. doctor, GP, teacher etc. who has
known you personally for at least 2 years.
Click to expand...

But what if the person signing it is left handed?

Ace · Apr 28, 2004

Molly wrote:

Then that photo will only work on ID cards that are used in the southern
hemisphere.
Click to expand...

Unless they also sign it upside down, of course.

Doesnotcompute · Apr 28, 2004

Ace wrote:

Unless they also sign it upside down, of course.
Click to expand...

No, that would only be suitable for bikes with reverse gear, in the
southern hemisphere.

Doesnotcompute · Apr 28, 2004

Rope wrote:

And it would *really* **** up the countersteering dynamics.
Click to expand...

Unless you stopped the gyroscope and span it the other way.

platypus · Apr 28, 2004

Rope said:

Doesnotcompute spoke:

Now you are just being silly!
Click to expand...

Quite. Name a bike with reverse gear that doesn't also have a shaft.

Verdigris · Apr 29, 2004

Absolutely... which is why BMW riders have to get off their bikes every
time that they hit a bend, move the bike so that it is pointing in the
right direction and then continue on their way... HTH.....
Click to expand...

Now you *know* that's not right, Owen. It's just they're so slow it seems
like they do.

Owen · Apr 29, 2004

And how do they manage that then? They can't turn the bike by turning
the bars: we've already established that doesn't work.

They can't lift the front wheel and walk it round: we know shafties
can't wheelie.

So, how does it happen?
Click to expand...

Doh! We carry a swivle-stand in the top-box..."Mr. Thicky-thicky-I
-obviously-know-nothing-about-BMW's-man"... Some people, really...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

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