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Motorcycle · Turning and Cornering

What is countersteering, and how does it work at normal riding speeds?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Pressing the handgrip on the side of the direction you want to turn (press right to lean and go right), which initiates the lean

  1. A Pressing the handgrip on the side of the direction you want to turn (press right to lean and go right), which initiates the lean
  2. B Turning the handlebars fully in the direction of the turn
  3. C Steering the opposite way you want to go and then correcting
  4. D Leaning your body without touching the bars

Why this is the answer

At normal speeds, motorcycles turn by countersteering: to turn right, you press forward on the right handgrip ('press right, go right'), which momentarily steers the front wheel slightly left and causes the bike to lean to the right and turn. To go left, press the left grip. This feels counterintuitive but is how all two-wheeled vehicles initiate a lean above very low speeds. Understanding countersteering is essential for quick, controlled turns and especially for swerving to avoid a hazard. The press is light and smooth; the lean does the actual turning.
Source: MSF Basic RiderCourse, Countersteering

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About this topic: Turning and Cornering

Turning and cornering questions cover slowing before the turn, looking through it, pressing the handgrip (countersteering) and rolling on the throttle through the curve — the technique behind most single-vehicle crashes. This is one of 8 Motorcycle questions on turning and cornering, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our Motorcycle exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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