Motorcyclists: Explain Counter-Steering to Me

[Red Barchetta]

I’ve recently developed an interest in learning how to ride a motorcycle, so as practice, my father took me out on his freeway-capable scooter (don’t laugh) to get used to the handling. As this is strictly practice, I’ve only been able to drive around in a parking lot at a top speed of 25 mph. With that said, I didn’t seem to have any trouble steering or cornering (granted, I’m not doing insanely tight turns, but I’d say they’re pretty concise).

Anyways, after a few practice runs I did some research on the internet regarding motorcycles, and it seems that “counter-steering” is an integral component to actually steering a motorcycle. “Push left to go left, push right to go right.” Consider my mind blown.

Upon reflection, I don’t recall consciously ever having to “counter-steer” in order to initiate or complete any of the turns I did while practicing. But according to everything I read, I must be counter-steering, lest I would essentially be going nowhere fast. So what’s going on? I have a few questions pertaining to this:

1) Does riding a scooter impact the need for counter-steering at all?
2) Am I perhaps already sub-consciously counter-steering?
3) Do I have to be going faster than 25 mph in order for counter-steering to be a requirement?
4) Does riding a bicycle require counter-steering as well? If so, it seems odd that such a basic technique would seem to have so much attention placed upon it, at least based on what I’ve seen.

Please enlighten this ignorant fool. FYI, I am taking a safety course later this month, but I figure the sooner I learn the basics, the better off I’ll be. Thanks!