Consequences of not understanding Counter-steering on a motorcycle
In short, turn the handlebars left to go right, and turn the handlebars right to go left. This principle holds true at speeds from about 15 or 20 mph and higher, and is true of all motorcycles.
Don’t believe it? Watch the video. And then go out to a safe area with no traffic, and try it yourself.
Practicing counter-steering so that it becomes second nature can SAVE YOUR LIFE! Understand and practice it!
This is describing counter steering or push steering. If you are pushing the left handle bar away from you, you are essentially turning or pointing the wheel right which will cause the bike to lean to the left and move to the left. This is counter to a steering wheel we are all used to.
Really, counter-steering is something most motorcycle riders do instinctively. It seems that this guy just panicked, understandably, and paid the price.
To those who said he slammed on his brake and didn’t steer to the right, look again at the slow motion. As he changes hand position to pull the brake, he steers to the right (sharply, and on a tall/upright bike…Ducati Hyper/Multistrada) then he slams on his brake; you can actually hear the sound of the brakes engaging or perhaps the tire sliding on the ground–this is uncertain.
Regardless, this would cause a “high side” crash sensation (bars to the right, momentum to the left/straight and weight of the bike dipped or compressed in the front) which is only correctable by releasing the brake, getting on the gas and allowing the bars to straighten. The rider instinctively releases the brakes which allows the bars to correct their position. You can then see him try to reposition his grip with his right hand, and from there it is hard to tell if he is simply riding out a speed wobble, or if he is trying to still force a turn by steering right. It looks like he raises and rotates his left elbow suggesting he was again trying to turn the bike to the right, but again, this is speculation at best.
If I had to make a guess, it looks like he road out a speed wobble which resulted from a sharp right with braking then he ends up in control of the upright bike in neutral riding position only a second before the bike impacts the truck.
