No, it is not possible to lean a motorcycle without turning the handlebars. The act of leaning a motorcycle involves steering inputs through the handlebars. When you want to lean a motorcycle into a turn, you need to initiate the turn by counter-steering.
Counter-steering is the technique where you briefly turn the handlebars in the opposite direction of the intended turn to initiate the lean. For example, if you want to make a right turn, you would push or briefly turn the handlebars to the left. This action causes the motorcycle to lean to the right, allowing you to negotiate the turn.
Once the motorcycle is leaned into the turn, you can maintain the desired lean angle by making slight adjustments to the handlebars as necessary. These adjustments help you maintain balance and control throughout the turn.
It's important to note that counter-steering is a technique used by experienced riders to initiate turns at higher speeds. At lower speeds or during slow maneuvers, such as parking or making tight turns, you can steer the motorcycle by turning the handlebars in the direction you want to go, without the need for counter-steering.
Overall, leaning a motorcycle into a turn and steering go hand in hand, and the handlebars play a crucial role in controlling the lean angle and direction of the motorcycle.