Heres a small tip!!

[Scoot N' Powersports]

My uncle who owns a very large BMW motorcycle asked be about COUNTER-STEERING the other day and asked if it works on a scooter. I wasn't sure what he was talking about but he explained that if you are driving at a moderate speed and actually push your left hand forward forcing the wheel right you will actually lean and turn left.

This is the craziest thing but helps you handle your scooter much better. My uncle told me they did some research on it and said that 25% of motorcycle crashes could have been prevented if this turning technique had been used.

Try it, its fun and I really do feel more in control after getting comfortable driving this way.

[Dennis D]

You already drove two wheelers that way.... or you'd have crashed a long time ago! But it helps to know it, and get used to, at least part of the time, being aware of exactly how it works, that you're doing it, and how little you have to put into countersteering to make a quick and fairly major direction change. Not knowing or understanding it could lead to a person "intuitively" doing the wrong thing as a panic response. Practicing countersteering can help to drive the reality of what actually needs to happen into our subconscious so when when we get in an emergency situation, we don't yank the handlbars the wrong way as though we were using a steering wheel.

[gusset]

+1 Dennis.

I'm glad you posted, SPS.

The mentality that one can get a scooter and head out riding on it as if it were a bicycle, without training or researching some of the "hows", is a little scary to me. I use the term "scary" because I *did* do some research, and took the MSF class, and I was totally surprised at what I didn't know, and even moreso at what I _thought_ I knew but was completely wrong about. Counter steering was the biggest concept of this type for me; braking technique was either a tie for first or a very close second. It scares me to think of myself out on the roads without having learned these things.

[jspencer]

It varies a lot with the scooter. We bought a Bandit RC-150, which is a retro design, and a UC-150, which is a touring design, both 150cc.

The RC steers easily without thinking about counter-steering, almost like a bicycle. The UC requires that you know how to counter-steer, or it will refuse to turn, or even turn the opposite direction from the way you want to go. Shortly after we bought the scooters, I crashed the UC because I tried to drive it like the RC and didn't understand counter-steering.

Of course, I had stupidly decided not to take the MSF course (too much money, too late in the year, etc.). After the crash, I did take the course and immediately learned what I had done wrong.

The other thing I learned I had done wrong was hold the throttle with my wrist too high, so as soon as the scooter started going the wrong way, I tightened up, which opened the throttle more.

Jon

[Chuck]

If you have one of these chinese bikes, and the cheap rubber valve stem pops out, good luck counter steering with a flat front tire at 45mph! My .02 cents; change the valve stems to the metal like ones and avoid the rubber ones popping out at 45 mph. Then practice your counter-steering. Chuck

[aristide1]

If you ever watch dirt cycle racing on a circle track you see it all the time. It doesn't seem logic, but the question is does it come naturally. By that I mean the issue with FWD cars. If the front end starts to break loose you naturally apply the brakes which can result in oversteer. The proper technique is to apply a little throttle and power through, but that's not a natural reponse.

[sandlizarrd]

Mornin' All,

Could somebody elaborate a bit on the valve stem change. I'm not sure what Chuck Guest was talking about because my valve stems do have a metal shank but end up as what seems to be a rubber gasket. Probably the transitional part between the metal shank and the rim into the inner tire space.

Are my valve stems kosher then as mentioned below by Chuck Guest, or are the ones I have the "cheap rubber valve stem type?:

"If you have one of these chinese bikes, and the cheap rubber valve stem pops out, good luck counter steering with a flat front tire at 45mph! My .02 cents; change the valve stems to the metal like ones and avoid the rubber ones popping out at 45 mph. Then practice your counter-steering. Chuck"

Have a good day all,

sandlizarrd

[WarrenS]

The rubber ones are used on the front wheel. Only the threaded portion is metal. Some scooters use metal stems on the rear that are bent over at 90 degrees. I have seen rubber valve stems at the 99 cent store. I'll pass on those.