# Bicycles with gyroscopic effect "cancelled out"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-with-gyroscopic-effect-cancelled-out/942505>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 19, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-with-gyroscopic-effect-cancelled-out/942505 "2021-05-19T20:41:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 85

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-with-gyroscopic-effect-cancelled-out/942505/85 "2021-05-25T23:16:40Z")

</div>

> [@EdelweissPirate](#):
>
> Nope—countersteering applies to motorcycles and bicycles alike.

Oh hey, an area where I have some level of expertise! See my comments in [this old thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-easier-to-balance-on-a-moving-bike-than-a-non-moving-one-revisited/779958). Or [go right to the data](http://scottcutler.net/projects/countersteering/index.html#update_2).

In short, there is definitely a short countersteer before each turn. I have not analyzed every bit of the dynamics, but I posit that countersteering is always required, and is simply ingrained in learning to ride a bike. It’s just not very apparent most of the time due to the low mass of the bike compared to the rider. The weight shift _induces_ the countersteer, rather than the opposite (as with a heavy motorcycle).

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycles-with-gyroscopic-effect-cancelled-out/942505)._