Rght turns?

3525 Views 41 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Panzer, Nov 4, 2015

Panzer

Discussion Starter · Nov 1, 2015

I'm much more comfortable taking left turns than right turns... I noticed this when I was taking my first MSF class years ago. My instructor said it was normal because beginners are afraid of upsetting the throttle mid corner.
He said it would go away as I became more comfortable with the throttle. Well... years later and I've come to realize that it's still my biggest weak point...

Part of my issue is that I'm afraid of the limited vision the road when trees are blocking the view of oncoming traffic.
The other issue is that it still feels unnatural turning right.
I'm comfortable with the throttle though and feel quite smooth with my application and roll on/off.

Any tips on right turns and what to focus on?

It's embarrassing to have only one kneepuck looking worn and an inch of strip on the right side of the tire still...

1 - 20 of 42 Posts

rubbish

· #2 · Nov 1, 2015

It's normal but his reason was bs. I'm the opposite, but I can turn both ways fine, I just don't feel as comfortable left. Just lean more and eventually you'll get used to it more.

Panzer

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 1, 2015

rubbish said:
It's normal but his reason was bs. I'm the opposite, but I can turn both ways fine, I just don't feel as comfortable left. Just lean more and eventually you'll get used to it more.

I agree that I have to get used to it ... I guess I'm frustrated I'm practicing but it's not coming in quick and as natural the left ... I have to push myself as a reminder to lean more to the right during hard turns and hairpins. Or even to flick the bike...

Tchase

· #4 · Nov 1, 2015 (Edited)

I favor my left and I'm right handed. I wouldn't say it's and issue "turning" right, but I have a lot more confidence leaning left. Changing your position on the throttle helps a lot using the door knob grasp. But I still don't like being "over" the throttle I just feel bunched up.

Rusty Helmholtz

· #5 · Nov 1, 2015

Focus on proper form, point your head where you want to go, practice a single corner over and over to slowly grow through your limits.

Have a similar problem on the lefts, just cant get used to sticking my head out into opossing traffic on roads where so many cagers cross the lines.

ducktard

· #6 · Nov 1, 2015

If you're uncomfortable going left, spend more time at counterclockwise tracks. Or clockwise venues if you struggle with rights. My weakness is slower corners, not so much the direction. Like 11 at laguna secca. I feel like it would be faster and more safe if i got off and pushed the bike through there

Reactions: 1

cb4265

· #7 · Nov 1, 2015

This is an interesting subject, I too used feel this way because we drive on the left side of the road, so I thought it would be the opposite for those that drive on the right side of the road.
I always thought right handers were difficult because sub consciously if I over shoot a RH corner I'm off the road, but on a left hander I have the other lane available, providing there is no oncoming traffic. That was what I thought.

Back in the 80's I had this problem and I got my frame (Yamaha RZ350) checked and it was slightly out of shape (from the factory) and this explained the favoritism to Left hand turns, I thought.

Try a track day and see how you go?

Have we got any psychologists amongst us? It must be a head thing.

Craig

Azdave

· #8 · Nov 1, 2015

I think it is dominant side thing. Mt biking always started off with right foot. I suck on righties compared to left turns. I have a friend who is a shrink I should ask. But he does think I am crazy already on a race bike at age 60

EsromRacing

· #9 · Nov 1, 2015

Squeeze the tank more with your legs and relax/just rest your hands on the bars and LOOK farther ahead

Panzer

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 1, 2015

cb4265 said:
This is an interesting subject, I too used feel this way because we drive on the left side of the road, so I thought it would be the opposite for those that drive on the right side of the road.
I always thought right handers were difficult because sub consciously if I over shoot a RH corner I'm off the road, but on a left hander I have the other lane available, providing there is no oncoming traffic. That was what I thought.

Back in the 80's I had this problem and I got my frame (Yamaha RZ350) checked and it was slightly out of shape (from the factory) and this explained the favoritism to Left hand turns, I thought.

Try a track day and see how you go?

Have we got any psychologists amongst us? It must be a head thing.

Craig

I lead snowboarding with my right leg : ) (goofy style) and I'm right handed. : ) I have to wait until the spring for track days to start but I'll be riding until first snow here in New England.

Panzer

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 1, 2015

EsromRacing said:
Squeeze the tank more with your legs and relax/just rest your hands on the bars and LOOK farther ahead

I already do squeeze the tank and relax the hands and look, issue is, you'd be looking at trees. : ) Perhaps I should look at where I expect the road to be? I can rough judge the corners and their angle by looking at the direction of the trees it's not perfect though.

Others gave me tips about staying in the middle of the road and late apex turning + trail braking. I'll be trying that today.

rubbish

· #12 · Nov 1, 2015

ducktard said:
If you're uncomfortable going left, spend more time at counterclockwise tracks. Or clockwise venues if you struggle with rights. My weakness is slower corners, not so much the direction. Like 11 at laguna secca. I feel like it would be faster and more safe if i got off and pushed the bike through there

^this! I have the same issue. Pretty much any turn under 40-ish mph is an issue for me, doesn't matter the direction.

Panzer said:
I already do squeeze the tank and relax the hands and look, issue is, you'd be looking at trees. : ) Perhaps I should look at where I expect the road to be? I can rough judge the corners and their angle by looking at the direction of the trees it's not perfect though.

Others gave me tips about staying in the middle of the road and late apex turning + trail braking. I'll be trying that today.

If you have to trail brake while riding on the street, you're pushing it way too much, and it's just a crash waiting to happen.

Panzer

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 1, 2015

rubbish said:
^this! I have the same issue. Pretty much any turn under 40-ish mph is an issue for me, doesn't matter the direction.

If you have to trail brake while riding on the street, you're pushing it way too much, and it's just a crash waiting to happen.

I think the idea is to go through the trail brake motions, not to actually need trail braking. To gain the confidence to adjust direction mid-corner.

ducktard

· #14 · Nov 1, 2015

^^^2014 Pani.wtf rub??.
From my instructor days, i can say that many riders, from real fast club racers to fresh off the street riders, would saythey struggle with aleft or a right turn. It seemed pretty random. I did figure out that, for example, the willow springs racers liked right turns. If you don't know willow it has only one left of any real consequence. And was never run ccw. I also noticed that student riders who complained about not liking to turn left or whatever would use a completely different body position from one side to the other, and would also have a "different" (stupid) line entering one direction versus the other.
Old guys would claim that their bodies no longer bent in that direction

ducktard

· #15 · Nov 1, 2015

rubbish said:
^this! I have the same issue. Pretty much any turn under 40-ish mph is an issue for me, doesn't matter the direction.

Right!
If you slide the front going slow you are on the ground so quickly there is no time to gather it up.. At speed, a little front end push feels natural
Some times it feels like you've got an F16 and you gotta race it around the Walmart car park

rubbish

· #16 · Nov 1, 2015

As an MSF instructor, I often hear from students (and observe too) that almost everyone feels more comfortable going one way over the other. In well over 100 students that I've had this discussion with, I have not been able to figure out the reason why, or if there is a trend to it. I know it has nothing to do with being left-handed or right handed though.

My personal theory is more in line with ducktard's....more repetition on one side than the other. The reason I say that is because when I first started riding bikes, I felt more comfortable taking left turns, but once I started doing track days, I became more comfortable with right turns. I think that's because most of the tracks I've been to are right-turn dominant, so I simply got more practice on that side than the left.

Reactions: 1

rubbish

· #17 · Nov 1, 2015

ducktard said:
Right!
If you slide the front going slow you are on the ground so quickly there is no time to gather it up.. At speed, a little front end push feels natural

I'm sure most people would think "wtf is this guy talking about? that makes no sense!"...but I agree with you. I think it's because at slow speeds, you don't really slip the front. It just tucks on you and you go down. At higher speeds you're more likely to slide first, which gives you some feedback that you're on the edge, and you better stop pushing soon or bad things will happen!

Though I will say that you can save a tuck every now and then if you're lucky. The only time I've ever got my elbow down without crashing! Turn 6 at Road America (left hander), lost the front just momentarily, hit the ground with the elbow and the front tire caught itself and kept going. Butt pucker moment for sure!

ducktard

· #18 · Nov 1, 2015

Rubbish, regarding the wtf comment, i read Panzer's post where he quoted you ,(i wonder if he is german. Italy was an axis power too)and mistakenly thought it was your post and saw the panigale in the list at the bottom, and , thinking you got a new bike,i got all jealous

Reactions: 1

vfrman

· #19 · Nov 1, 2015

rubbish said:
It's normal but his reason was bs. I'm the opposite, but I can turn both ways fine, I just don't feel as comfortable left. Just lean more and eventually you'll get used to it more.

I wouldn't say it was total BS. In really tight turns, most people don't like to pin their throttle hand against the tank. Just my $0.02

vfrman

· #20 · Nov 1, 2015

rubbish said:
If you have to trail brake while riding on the street, you're pushing it way too much, and it's just a crash waiting to happen.

Sorry but I don't agree with this. It is much safer to already be on the brakes and need to scrub a little more speed than it is to be off the brakes, leaned over, and have to get on the brakes.

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