Originally Posted by
grolby
You're misunderstanding me. I am saying there is literally no way to control the lean on a bicycle other than countersteering. You seem to believe otherwise, but I assure you this is incorrect. You say "counter-steering... is initiating the lean left by turning the bars right." Yes, but the dynamics of what is going on in initiating a lean is not different from any other aspect of bike control. Saying counter-steering is initiating the lean but not maintaining stability in the lean is just nonsense. The dynamics of what is happening are exactly the same. Which is why I think the example of initiating the lean by simply shifting weight is non-responsive. Sure, you can initiate a lean that way. But I promise you, on the road, you aren't doing it. It's much slower and less precise than using the handlebars, and you're using steering to maintain balance while leaned over just as much as when riding upright.
When I was in high school, a popular local CD store had a writing on the door, instead of the ordinary "Push", or "Pull": "It is EASIER to push" - and vice versa on the other side.
Same goes for counter steering - it is easier and quicker to lean the bike with counter steering. However, especially while the bike isn't leaned (a lot), it can be done without counter steering too. It's just a lot slower, and you have little control over the process.
The higher the speed, the higher the mass of the bike, the tighter a turn (i.e. fast downhill, or a heavily loaded bike, or a tight hairpin turn - or all of the noted), the less effect body weight transfer alone has on lean angle and the more countersteering matters.