countersteer

Countersteer is a steering technique in which a driver or rider briefly steers in the opposite direction of the intended change in heading. The goal is to create a yaw moment or lean that allows the vehicle to begin turning more quickly or to regain stability during a loss of grip.

In motorcycles and bicycles, countersteering is a primary mechanism for initiating turns at speed. To turn left, a rider first applies a small steering input to the right (for example, pushing the right handlebar forward). This causes the front wheel to steer to the right and, through gyroscopic effects and the bike’s geometry, the vehicle leans to the left, initiating the left turn. Once the lean is established, the rider steers into the turn to complete it. The phenomenon is speed dependent and less noticeable at very low speeds where steering acts mainly through geometry and rider input.

In cars, countersteering appears mainly in dynamic handling contexts such as controlled slides, recoveries from oversteer, or deliberate drifts in motorsport. A driver may briefly steer opposite to the desired corner direction to rotate the vehicle and then steer into the turn to maintain or complete the corner. In normal driving, steering into the turn (without a preceding opposite input) is the standard corrective action.

Key factors behind countersteering include tire grip, weight transfer, steering geometry, and wheel inertia. It requires practice to judge the amount and timing of input, as misapplication can reduce stability or control.

See also: weight transfer, steering dynamics, motorcycle dynamics, bicycle dynamics, skid control.