NOT KNOWING HOW TO COUNTER STEER YOUR MOTORCYCLE CAN KILL YOU! 

As a former competitive motorcycle road racer, I can tell you that counter steering gives you precise and immediate response from the bike at speed. ALWAYS look where you want to go. It will be a conscious exercise at first, but it will soon become second nature. It works at 20 MPH and 180 MPH.

I'm currently trying to sleep, but watching this just makes me wanna go out there and try it lol

The majority of people I see riding Harleys and other large bikes need to take this guy's riding class.

The only time I have trouble is when I think about it.

I've been on motorcycles for 35 years, though I'm well aware of push steering or counter steering, I have never heard ANYONE even come close to explaining counter steering in a way that the average riders can understand! The fact is without this tool being present in your road skills toolbox it is very easy to get dead! So please keep up the good work and the perfect explanations!!!! thank you for your time and experience...

I'm a new rider and I've watched a LOT of videos. Every one of them has taught me something, but your explanation "broke through" the mental block I had about countersteering. And it was all in your word choice! Referring to it as push steering - of course!!! I mean it's such a subtlety of language but THANK YOU! It aligns perfectly with the motion you're actually doing. That is what new riders need. And I agree with you that there's nothing wrong with understanding the physics of it, but when it comes to operating a 300+ lb bike, you want APPLIED instruction. And this did it for me. 👏 thank you thank you. And I loved the outtake!!!! 😅

Your sense of humor and ability to laugh at yourself prove you're a true educator and a brave soul. That said, thank you for that lesson in counter steering, and for probably saving my life. I'm 51, and I'm about to realize my lifelong dream of owning and learning to ride a motorcycle. Wish me luck! 🙂

The instructor who taught the Harley course for the cycle endorsement told us about this but never demonstrated or explained. You definitely make it make sense!

Finally, someone who knows how to explain counter steering. Thank you!!

Bought Jerry’s videos in the 2000s when getting back into riding. Those videos taught me & saved me many times. A friend was so impressed he took Jerry’s course & loved it. Amazed at how many times I see even experienced riders making mistakes because they ride like they’re driving a car. Hundreds of hours of guessing doesn’t compare to learning from the best & practicing proven techniques.

Been riding for most of my 60 years. You're never too old to learn or un learn . Thanks.

I went to a riding course with the guy like you who taught the local PD. I had over three decades and experience and still managed to learn a few things that made me a better rider.

I made a mistake and took a right curve too fast. I leaned the bike, but the yellow line kept getting closer. I pushed the right handle bar forward like i had been practising and the bike leaned that little extra i needed and I whipped around that corner safely in my own lane. Thank you Jerry Palladino

Good stuff and I think you're right, a lot of people don't know this. Especially in a panic situation, they have to understand not only the importance of counter-steering, but also the effects of object fixation. If you keep looking at what you're trying to avoid, you'll hit it.

This is excellent!!! I learned this in my Beginer and Advanced Rider Safety courses and always applied the principals. It kept me alive when I hit a deer at 75 mph in Wisconsin. I always thought I swerved which is what they tell you not to do but I realize now that I automatically applied counter pressure which I was trained to do. The deer crashed through the right faring and engine guards but I magically stayed totally upright and in control. It saved mine and my partners life that night!!! I was even able to ride the bike another 100 miles home!!!

Thanks Jerry, For some reason I always lean into the curve and actually never knew about the push steering. Now, it explains why I will have a hard time getting around some tight corners at a higher speed, but practicing this technique has been a game changer. This after riding for over 45 yrs.

Jerry, I have been watching and rewatching your videos for years. I believe I am a better rider because of it. Thanks to you and your team for great tutorials that are well worth it!! Happy riding.

I started counter steering on my new 1987 Honda Hurricane when I wanted to race through Mulholland Hwy. I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. 33 years later it still works like magic.

I rode a bike 30 forty years ago never heard of counter steering, I must have counter steered cause I rode push bikes and motor bikes. I was supposedly taught how to do it, when I did the basic skills course. I couldn’t see it working in the parking lot. So I went straight out the next day, bought a bike, and rode it 500 K up the Island hwy and over the mountains, cause Im really smart. Fortunately I watched Jerry, and The fireman and a couple other guys on RU-vid. I consciously, practiced pushing the handle bars on the highway, What the heck, it worked. On my way home, on the climb up, in the rain, on a curve, I met a on coming semi tanker, on the way down, in my lane, So a simple thanks, to RU-vid, Jerrys easy to understand instructions, and knowing how to counter steer. Knowing I had to turn and look where I wanted to go. Not at the semi. I probably wouldn’t have known instinctively.

Wow you explained it so simply, thank you! I don’t ride yet but I was having a hard time understanding it because I head someone say a while back that when counter steering it’s basically push left…lean left…go right, and vice versa. But this proved that wrong.

Cant tell you how thankful i am for your material, its kept me safe for my total of 50+ miles of learning. I would have never learned counter steering and probably would have already had a bad wreck if it wasnt for you, so thank you.

Experience beats NOTHING! Thank you so much for this push steering lesson. Been a year riding Harley Iron 883, always had issues with U-turns and leanings etc thought was getting better but this just changed my riding experience COMPLETELY today! Bless you! Ride Safe.

I'm going on 67 years old and I've rode my whole life off and on and I have never had knowledge of what you just showed me so simple. Amazing I appreciate that

I want to thank you for explaining Counter Steering in a way that makes sense! I never understood it before even though I have watched several videos on the topic but now I do!

Thanks Motorman. Simple concept. Push right, go right. Push left, go left. Special thanks to Donna for putting up with you!

I'm from UK ,all manner of experience on the road from articulated lorry (trucks) ,cars and of course motorcycles . I've learned so much watching your channel, always something new to learn.

I learned this in my first motorcycle safety class. Have been riding safe since!!!

I'm SOAKING up these points. I'm a new rider timidly wobbling my way around trying not to die so these videos are definitely helping.

I have been Riding street bikes since i was 13 and i am 54 now. i thought i knew everything about riding. then i took a motorcycle safety class a little over a year ago at the local college . what an eye opener about how ignorant i really was. i ride big bikes fully dressed electraglides and cvo roadglides. your videos have taught me more about handling these bikes like they are toys than i can say. between the class and your videos my riding is a thousand times better and safer. thank you .

I have found this easier to do than explain so beautifully explained. When you start counter steering you can be incredibly accurate with your direction by just the slightest push on the handlebar.

Hey Jerry. Thanks for the refresher on counter-steering. And also, according to the outake, now you're a Certified 'bagger'! :-)

After all the vids and talk I’ve seen on RU-vid and the web, you have finally made the counter steering conversation perfectly clear, thanks a million!!!

I had been counter steering long before I realized that's what I had been doing. This video is spot on.

I’m trying to get my motorcycle license and trying to understand how counter steering works has been an absolute pain in the ass, this video made it so much easier to understand. Thanks!

I like the way you teach simple to the point. No unnecessary fluff explanations. And I don’t even ride a motorcycle. Thanks for posting

Hey Jerry, just watched the counter steer video - good info! Been ridin over 40 years, am on my 5th Harley. At first I couldn't really relate to the concept of push forward on the side you want ot turn towards. Seems backward, and I couldn't see myself doin that to turn all these years. But you said we do that, but its very subtle and is blended in with shifting into the lean, so we really don't notice it. I decided to test that. I found a back road with no traffic, and used 60MPH as my speed. I paid close attention to hand pressure and tiny movements, and sure enough there was that same-side tiny push as I started to swerve. So I started to practice making stronger, more intentional pushes to initiate an avoidance swerve, instead of initiating it with the weight shift lean. Work like a champ!!! Did it both ways for a half hour to really compare, and the new way let me make controlled swerves in half the time as my old way. At 60MPH that faster swerve and distance saved could save my life someday! THANKS JERRY!

I’m a brand new rider, have had a bike for a month...and this just clicked. Thank you for this video

Excellent, excellent video. I say this about steering a motorcycle quite often and I swear people don't get it. People think they have to lean, no push to handle bar and the whole thing will Lean. I have also been riding for over 35 years and I swear, people don't listen, they always think they know more.

I’ve been watching RU-vid videos for the past couple of weeks in anticipation of taking the MSF course later this year….. I’ve heard a lot of RU-vidrs TALK about counter steering / push steering but this is the first video that I’ve seen that clearly DEMONSTRATES and explains it! AWESOME video. I really enjoy your content and I’ll definitely be using your channel as an online resource as I mentally prepare myself to take the MSF course!

Great video. I’ve only ever rode a dirt bike as a teenager and have been looking into getting a cruiser. Was very helpful and full of knowledge.

When I first viewed this video about counter steering, I thought it was odd. However, one day while cruising on back roads with lots of twists and turns, I began to play with pushing on the left to turn left and so forth... and I love this. It works extremely well and my ability to elegantly make turns that were a bit difficult for me earlier are now enjoyable... It's as if the bike is telling me... thank you, you finally learned how to ride! Thanks Jerry.

Hey Motorman, I liked the new intro’s, keep them coming if you ,would. How about talking about the power of target fixation? How to break the spell and save your life. When I worked for the sheriffs department, we had a Deputy buy a new bike and he had never ridden before. We would park our bikes on the sidewalk to be under the covered parking where SO One and SO Two would park their cars. It would be two cars then concrete curb and a flat area enough for two bikes then two car spots again and so on for a total of about six cars. So when we pulled out, you had to make an immediate 90 degree left turn to ride out or you would hit the wall of the building. Well we had just ended our shift and my friend asked how we got out without duck walking. I told him that we practiced our slow speed skills. I told him to stay in the friction zone and to turn his head to look where he wanted to go. I said do not look at the wall or you will hit it. Sure enough he looked at the wall and panicked and goosed the throttle and hit the wall and fell over. We had a good little laugh. We picked him up and he walked her out. From then on he would park at the end close to the exit with no wall. I have seen guys run off the road in twisties and go over the side and fall into the woods because we were in the mountains in Ga. we would help them out and when asked what happened they would say they didn’t know. I would tell them that they looked like they target fixated. Could you go over target fixation and such? I think that it would be a great subject. Thanks for all that you and your wife do. Take care! 😎

If you rode a bicycle as a child you've been doing this literally all your life.

This guy knows what he's talking about. So many people throw the correct technical words at you. I am learning how to ride a motorcycle, not how to be a physicists. Thank god, I finally understand what I am doing. I've been doing it right the whole time, but other videos with "counter steering" made me think I was doing it wrong.

I learned to counter steer as a kid on my push bike. It's amazing that people need these tutorials, but great that they're available. Really, all people need when operating any sort of vehicle or machine is to have full understanding of its operations and 'become one' with it. But Funnily enough many people I have met have the opposite problem and can't handle bar steer, mostly because they can't ride at low speeds. The most rewarding trick I learnt was to ride at 5kmph, makes every ride so much easier

Right on, Jerry. I have noticed that I can tell immediately when a motorcyclist who does not understand counter steering, particularly when they are changing lanes. They tend to lead with their shoulders, leaning them in the direction that they want to turn. Apparently they do not notice that they are actually pushing on the bar on that side, and the bike is responding. From what I can see, this causes a lag in the bike's response bike in turning, and makes for a sloppy lane change. In an emergency situation, I think it can slow the maneuver enough to turn a near-miss into an accident. I have been riding since 1958, beginning with a 3-horse Cushman scooter.

I was a newbie n started watching his videos. No bs legitimate techniques. Extremely helpful. Will save your life.

Back in the 70s I steered the bike by the seat of my pants, didn’t know it forced the bike to “counter steer” . Liked your tip of the week! Haha!

I've been riding for just over 50 years and you just went over the same thing I was taught by a Miami Beach Motorman that was a friend of my father's back when I started. Over the years I've talked about this to so many people that I've ridden with that didn't realize they were doing it subconsciously. They thought I was nuts and then we'd go out for a quick 1 or 2 mile ride and they'd come back with an astonished look on their faces. I told them that this is the reason you read about a new rider coming off the highway and hitting a guardrail. they try to physically turn away from the rail and unwittingly put themselves into it. ..... Great Video

Jerry, it took me a while to understand counter steering, as I was a motocross racer. Once I understood counter steering, what a difference. Thank you !

The end is priceless almost as good as the lesson. I’ve been riding so long I don’t even think about the functions, it’s great how you can put it into words to help your viewers.

The end is priceless!! Worth the price of admission, without a doubt

Awesome! I went to motorcycle safety class but I did not understand push steering until I saw your video. I am now comfortable taking that left curve by pushing left handle. Thanks much for the video!

Self taught in the early 50's, weighing about 110 lbs, I had been riding my 590 lb '48 Indian Chief and occasionally wound up in a ditch until I found out about counter-steering in a Playboy article. Proper training of riders had not been invented yet.

I wanna say that if this doesn't come to you naturally, then you have reason to be worried. God speed everyone

I'm just a passenger on my husband's Softail Deuce who has stumbled upon your channel 😁 I have no want to ever own my own...I just want to enjoy riding on the back but I got to tell you I'm hooked on your channel💞 even though I never plan to drive a bike myself. I've learned a few things as a passenger but I've learned a lot about what it is he does upfront and why. Helps me to be a better passenger! my mom used to tell me, "In life never think you know everything because you'll never know everything".🤣 Thx!

Best definition/explanation AND demonstration of counter steering I’ve ever seen. Bravo!

Thank you Jerry and Donna! You guys are doing great work. God bless.

Brilliant, loved the out take.

You saved me, I'm pretty sure. I watched this (and many more videos) a couple times before going to pick up my new bike. First exit off the highway and this video clicked in my head and I totally grasped the concept. Way less scary when you understand how to steering and why... Thank you!

5:01 Well done and this particular comment directly addresses my comment from your other video regarding avoiding left-turning vehicles. This video is great because you talk about both types of steering so people don't think it's simply one or the other. Well done! I'm a subscriber!

I’ve been riding over 50 years and I just call it leaning, if I want to go left I lean to the left and lean right to go right

I noticed some of you are making fun of this, but this will save lives. Thank you so much for posting this!

Jerry the bearded, mismatched glove, bag head instructor. Gotta love it. 🇺🇸

Practiced some counter-steering technique today, was great fun. The benefit is that it makes cornering much more relaxing, just pushing the bars forward, either on the right or on the left changes the direction of the motorcycle. Another thing I noticed, it works best at higher speeds. Thanks very much Instructor 😉

FINALLY!! someone explained it on how i understood the concept of counter steering and counter balancing from different youtubers, dude you a beast thanks. I am gonna get my motorcycle soon maybe next year and learning everything i can to stay safe and be a smart rider. To all those who are riding or driving keep safe y'all the road is a dangerous place everywhere is.

Thank you so much for making such informative and riding awareness content. Really appreciate your work. Happy and lucky to be watching this 😁

When someone tells me they have been riding a motorcycle for 20 years, my next question is, "How many miles have you ridden? " Haha. I met a few guys who have been riding for years but logged less than 1000 miles their entire life.

People need to understand that motorcycle tires are rounded. This is how countersteering works. It's physics. If you push to the left, with the tire being rounded, the bike starts to fall on the left part of the rounded tire, essentially pulling you in that direction, quite quickly the more you push and causes the bike to fall in that direction. The opposite is true with pushing to the right and falling to the right. Of course the bike doesn't fall completely over because of the speed you are going and the grip/traction that your tires have on the pavement. I just started riding last year and my cousin really explained this to me ahead of time, but until you are out on the bike and practicing it, it sounds like a strange concept. Trust me, practice practice practice it. It works and you'll quickly pick it up and eventually cause it to just be muscle memory. It could save your life. Great video.

Understanding counter steering is THE NUMBER ONE THING NEW RIDERS NEED TO LEARN!!!

I’m going to practice this more often now. My motorcycle instructor said the same thing, and everyone looked at him like he’d lost the plot.

Great video! Been 20ish years since riding (all superbikes,), got a HD RGU yesterday, and had this video in my head when bringing it home. When it's said out loud, it seems counter-productive to push right to turn right (leans right). Sure enough, pushing right leaned me right! Felt totally normal, and surprised how far this heavy beast can lean. Thank you!!!

It's interesting! I was counter steering from the time I was a kid riding a bicycle, but instinctively! After watching a couple of videos, I realised that I was always doing it. Hahaha!

Love it push steering has saved my life more than once!!

I'm 67, been riding since 2014, to date between 4 Harleys, 110,000 miles,just can't stop and thanks to Jerry's videos,it's been safe miles,practice every week.

I been riding since 1971, and i never have even thought about how it works, i just ride.

I have a perfect story to explain how this works in my hometown we have a big straightaway and then a long left hand curve, I had ridden dirt bikes growing up and some experience but not a lot on street bikes, I was going way too fast for this corner and my riding ability at that time, I let off the throttle as I was making this curve, my speed in the middle of the curve was around 50 miles per hour give or take, I found myself drifting to the right, there was gravel and a ditch there was no shoulder on this road, looking back the reason I kept drifting right was because I was trying to turn my handlebars to the left in my Panic as I was thinking I was going to end up driving off the road, which as explained in this video caused me to continue to drift right, I got lucky and slowed down enough from letting off the throttle as I started to make the curve, listening to you explained how turning works at different speeds, two and two together I realized that's what caused my issue at that time, great videos thank you keep up the good work

By far the best video a new rider could ever watch. This video will save your life!

LMAO with the bag/mask! I explained this technique to a good friend and rider, he thought I was nuts. He tested it and thanked me afterwards...

I’ve been riding dirt bikes since 12 years old. I’m mid 40s and just bought a dual sport and I’m learning how to ride street. Your explanation was absolutely simple and made sense when I tried it. I was doing this instinctively but I want to be prepared and have been intentionally practicing this to prepare for an evasive maneuver. I have tons to learn but this explanation was so great. Thanks and I’ll be picking up some of your materials. Oh and I can see how improper cornering can get you. I was on the twisty roads and got overconfident and got on the throttle too much too soon. The bike wasn’t turning as much as I needed it to. Stuff sneaks up quick!

I'm just getting into the whole motorbike business so I stumbled here trying to figure out just what this counter steering was that everyone keeps mentioning. Thanks for explaining. Sounds like what I've been subconsciously doing with my bicycle :)

I went through motor school in the 80's and while I still respect my training officers, I've learned things I was never taught since I started this trop down memory lane with Jerry...

Your a pro everyone riding needs to watch this video to stay alive.

This is the first guy I've seen on RU-vid who actually knows what is going on. I've watched videos of professional racers say things which were patently wrong. My experience is what this guy says. Low speeds, steer right, go right. Higher speeds... It's the other way around, push in the direction you wanna go. Thank you 🙏🏼 hopefully ppl will avoid getting advice from the other "experts" and find this channel.

Goes to show you , you cant learn on your own. I have never pushed. I always pulled and leaned to turn. So now I will have to practice this . Thanks for the tips.

I dont even realize I counter steer anymore, thanks for the refresher

This video was great because even though I use countersteering all the time, I didn't realize how straight your handlebars actually stay when you do it. Those things don't turn a quarter of an inch.

make no mistake this guy is the best there is watch all his videos

I used to have people tell me all the time, " I just lean the bike and it goes where I lean". I spoke with a professional racer in the 80's and he told me about counter steering, and I listened to his advice on how to be a better rider. I hate the term rider, because you're not just riding (some people are). You are controlling the machine and making it an extension of your will. Counter steering was something new to me, but I quickly found it gave the most control over the motorcycle. I've found that There's a lot or resistance to it from people or people have never heard of it.

I discovered counter steering 40 years ago. No one understood it or ever did it (knowingly). This is the first I’ve ever seen it explained. Thank you.

Did people forget once they became adults? Even on a bicycle when you were a kid you counter steered and bar steered. It was automatic.

Anyone who rides a motorcycle at highway speeds AND doesn't already understand this concept, is lucky to be alive...

Watching a ton of videos (this was number 27) on riding motorcycles as I'm buying a bike soon and you explained it the best and made it understandable to anyone.

I've dated some girls in the past that bag would have came in handy for.

I was sitting on the back of a Ducati R 1000 sport and my friend was making me this so clear by doing this on a roundabout I was flabbergasted one finger steering around we go

I been counter steering for a long time. I have been riding for 50 years. Thanks for teaching new riders.

Got my first mini bike at 8. It’s strange to hear something that I’ve always done naturally explained in words.

Jerry, you’re a WILDMAN!! Haha! Enjoyed the vid, AND the humour at the end!

I've not been on a motorcycle for many years but never really thought about steering in this way. Thanks! Oh, and a bigger thanks for putting masks in proper perspective at the end of this video. God bless you, brother.

This is awesomme stuff. Thank you very much.