Editing Countersteering (section)

==Motorcycles==
Deliberately countersteering is essential for [[motorcycle safety|safe motorcycle riding]], and as a result is generally a part of safe riding courses run by organisations like the [[Motorcycle Safety Foundation]], the [[Canada Safety Council]], or Australian Q-Ride providers. Deliberately countersteering a motorcycle is a much more efficient way to steer than to just lean.<ref name="LeifKlyve" />{{rp|15}} At higher speeds the self-balancing property of the bike gets stiffer, and a given input force applied to the handlebars produces smaller changes in lean angle.<ref name="LeifKlyve" />{{rp|16}}

===Training===
Much of the art of motorcycle cornering is learning how to effectively push the grips into corners and how to maintain proper lean angles through the turn. When the need for a quick swerve to one side suddenly arises in an emergency, it is essential to know, through prior practice, that countersteering is the most efficient way to change the motorcycle's course.<ref name="LeifKlyve" />{{rp|16}} Many accidents result when otherwise experienced riders who have never carefully developed this skill encounter an unexpected obstacle.

To encourage an understanding of the phenomena around countersteering, the phrase ''positive steering'' is sometimes used.<ref>{{cite book
| author = Jon Taylor & Stefan Bartlett
| year = 2009
| title = How to be a Better Rider
| publisher = Institute of Advanced Motorists
| isbn = 978-0-9562239-1-3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.biker247.com/News/10785.asp
| publisher = Biker 24/7 News
| title = Novice Motorcycle Riders to Learn Positive Steering
| date = 29 June 2009
| access-date = 31 December 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110910143040/http://www.biker247.com/News/10785.asp
| archive-date = 10 September 2011
}}</ref> Other phrases are "PRESS – To turn, the motorcycle must lean", "To lean the motorcycle, press on the handgrip in the direction of the turn" or "Press left – lean left – go left".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Motorcycle Operator Manual |publisher=Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF-USA) |url=http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Library_Motorcycle_Operator_Manual.pdf |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102204319/http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Library_Motorcycle_Operator_Manual.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2012 }}</ref>

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches countersteering to all students in all of its schools, as do all motorcycle racing schools. Countersteering is included in United States state motorcycle operator manuals and tests, such as Washington,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Licensing Motorcycle Operator Manual |publisher=Washington State Department of Licensing|url=http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/docs/motomanual.pdf}}</ref> New Jersey,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Motorcycle Manual |publisher=New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission|url=http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Licenses/mcm996.pdf}}</ref> California,<ref>{{Cite web|title=California Motorcycle Operators Handbook|publisher=California DMV|url=http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl655/dl665mcycle.pdf|access-date=28 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611184915/http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl655/dl665mcycle.pdf|archive-date=11 June 2014}}</ref> and Missouri.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Missouri Department of Revenue|title=DOR-2332 (3-2008) Motorcycle Operator|url=http://dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/motorman/motorman.pdf|access-date=28 August 2014|archive-date=6 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806190300/http://dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/motorman/motorman.pdf}}</ref>

===Safety===
According to the [[Hurt Report]], most motorcycle riders in the United States would over-brake and skid the rear wheel and under-brake the front when trying hard to avoid a collision. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent with many motorcycle operators.<ref name="Hurt">{{Cite tech report |author=Hugh H. Hurt |author2=Ouellet, J.V. |author3=Thom, D.R. |title=Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report |location=Washington DC |publisher=US Department of Transportation |date=January 1981|url=http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/NHTSA/013695.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823225106/http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/NHTSA/013695.pdf|archive-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> The often small amount of initial countersteering input required to get the bike to lean, which may be as little as 0.125 seconds, keeps many riders unaware of the concept.<ref>National Public Services Research Institute, "Photographic Analysis of Motorcycle Operator Control Responses", 1976 [http://pubsindex.trb.org/document/view/default.asp?lbid=52837]</ref>