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Noob - countersteer

1K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Shadow Shack 
#1 ·
Hello all,

I'm a motorcycle noob; picked up an xt250 in the summer and have been training ever since. I love the dual sport, but have had an eye on a Rebel for a while. This past wkd, I added a 2017 500 ABS to my garage. It's in beautiful condition (all stock) with only 240 miles.

First impression was how it felt like it steered itself (despite my input). Turns came pretty easily but counter-intuitively to how I rode on my XT250. On the latter, I could easily push left, turn left on bends. On the Rebel, it doesn't like me doing that and feels like it is turning the wheel into the turn (more like push right, turn left) on its own. I almost feel like I'm fighting against it to do countersteering.

I get that these are very different bikes (both awesome in their own rights). But this just seems weird. Am I missing something? Or am I just blessed with an autonomous vehicle (I shall name him Herbie)? ;-)

thanks for any insight (and patience with my noobiness),
Kurt
 
#2 ·
All steering (countersteering) is done the same way for every two wheeled vehicle. You are welcome here, but this forum deals with the first two generations of Rebels (1985-87 and 1996-2016). the forum for your 2017 is here: https://www.hondarebel3forum.com/forum/sitemap/f-105.html
 
#3 ·
What Flitecontrol said, +1.
I have had 34 bikes since 2008. It got to where I do not consciously think about pushing the bars left to go left, etc.
I just seem to lean to one side or the other and am unaware of "steering" except at corners, and then especially when I am stopped at a corner and then start back up and turn..

You are more than welcome here. However, you will get more Rebel 500 exactitudes on the 500 site as pointed out.
 
#4 ·
Of noteworthy mention: the 300 & 500 models come from the factory with a raked tree (IIRC +2º trees on a 30º frame to yield 32º total) so it's going to behave differently from a conventional front end...the front wheel is rotating left to right on a different axis than the steering stem between the trees. This might be the weird feeling you are experiencing.

While the diagram is far more extreme than what you're dealing with, it gives you a good idea how that works out as you compare the stem to fork tube angles:

 
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