Left vs righthand corners?

[icekiwi]

Why is it I'm way faster on lh corners than rh?
Im right handed an someone told me once that makes the lefthand side of my brain smarter.
WTF
or is it because i keep my car keys in my lh pocket and hence more weight off the bike.
Seems like its on the road as well as trackdays...maybe some HTFU pills would help..
Any ideas?

[pete376403]

Due to the camber of the road, when you turn left you are using the camber to your advantage like the banking on a race circuit - when you're turning right you don't have this advantage to the same degree.

[Gremlin]

along with the mental thing of oncoming cars wanting to take your head off, the exit of rh corners are usually crowned, making the corner harder (less grip).

Left handers, the crown does work for you, like a banked oval...

[Mystic13]

You practise tighter left handers day in and day out being the inside corner. I suspect if you lived in the USA you'd be wanting to know why you like swinging the other way.

[Jizah]

I'm right handed and I'm the same as you. Doesn't matter if it's on the road, or doing circles in a flat car park, turning left feels a lot more comfortable.

[bikerboy011]

I'am the same.

[boman]

MEE TOO!!

:argh::beer:

[sinfull]

Funny that !

[mujambee]

Due to the camber of the road, when you turn left you are using the camber to your advantage like the banking on a race circuit - when you're turning right you don't have this advantage to the same degree.


along with the mental thing of oncoming cars wanting to take your head off, the exit of rh corners are usually crowned, making the corner harder (less grip).

Left handers, the crown does work for you, like a banked oval...


You practise tighter left handers day in and day out being the inside corner. I suspect if you lived in the USA you'd be wanting to know why you like swinging the other way.

Most people here are faster on LH corners too.

My wife is lefthanded and is faster on RH's. Her theory is that while cornering the side of your body that has control is the outer side, mostly the outer hand. So right handed people is faster on LH corners and so.

Trivia: Most corners on the MotoGP championship are RH, and Rossi is LH.

[emaN]

yup, as mujambee has writ, i reckon it's to do with being r/h vs l/h too.
it could also be easier to control the throttle when it's 'away' from the body (ie, l/handers) rather than when it's in near your chest.

[MaxCannon]

I'm slow on all corners

and in a straight line too

[davebullet]

You practise tighter left handers day in and day out being the inside corner. I suspect if you lived in the USA you'd be wanting to know why you like swinging the other way.

I thought swinging was a universal thing? Didn't realise Americans swing any differently....

[MsKABC]

I'm more comfortable on LH corners as well. Not too sure why, but there's been some good theories here so far :scratch: Ironically though, if you run wide (or worse) on a left-hander, you're in the path of oncoming vehicles. On a right-hander, you'd be in a ditch or a bank or...well, not run over at least!

[Maki]

It's true, my left side chicken strip is smaller than my right one....

[Ixion]

You practise tighter left handers day in and day out being the inside corner. I suspect if you lived in the USA you'd be wanting to know why you like swinging the other way.

Nope. They also find left handers smoother. I spent some time investigating this a few years ago. Lengthy discussion is here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=12950&highlight=counter+steering)

[scumdog]

Nope. They also find left handers smoother. I spent some time investigating this a few years ago. Lengthy discussion is here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=12950&highlight=counter+steering)

Wot 'e sed.

It's a mystery but it's true..:blink:

[peasea]

Why is it I'm way faster on lh corners than rh?
Im right handed an someone told me once that makes the lefthand side of my brain smarter.
WTF
or is it because i keep my car keys in my lh pocket and hence more weight off the bike.
Seems like its on the road as well as trackdays...maybe some HTFU pills would help..
Any ideas?

It's because you have a green bike. Red bikes go faster round rh corners.
Duh.

[peasea]

You practise tighter left handers day in and day out being the inside corner. I suspect if you lived in the USA you'd be wanting to know why you like swinging the other way.

Like going gay?

[mujambee]

Nope. They also find left handers smoother. I spent some time investigating this a few years ago. Lengthy discussion is here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=12950&highlight=counter+steering)

I did a bit of research here too, and found out that most people is faster on "opposite" turns (LH for RH's and RH for LH's). But it was not only motorbikes. Talked also to people who practised cycing and skying and it was the same answer for all.

So that's why I believe my wife is right: When cornering (boht bicicles and motorbikes), the "outer" hand has the better angle, so it's the one in control. For a left handed person, a right turn is the "natural" one, because it is controlling the vehicle with his/her left hand. Skying is the same, when turning right it is your left leg that gets most of the pressure and controls the turn.

Now I'm curious how it works for cars, snowboarders, quads, bobsleights ...

[sinfull]

I just had a look and yep hangs to the left !

[zzzbang]

have a look at your body posture when you lean in for a right hander, i found that i was sitting a bit differently. after i fixed that(well i think i did anyway), it became quite a bit easier to do right hand corners.

[RocKai]

I'm a RH and leaning into LH corner feel much better. Had my first spill on a RH bend, damn it, it just feels weird as how your brain is wired to think. I think it's probably how your Right Hand and Right Half of your body works.

Seems like LHer are a rare breed in soccer and bikers too, LoL.

[LBD]

It probably has been considered before many times but what about the effect of gyroscopic action of the rotating masses? Wide engines..(6 cyl honda) narrow engines (v twins) light or or heavy cranks and rotating masses, crank accross (hornet) or fore and aft style(bmw).

Or the weight of wheels and tyres turning, engines accelerating or de accelerating? Chain on left or shaft on right?

I ride a duc monster and scrape both sides so I think I am fairly even both ways without taking camber into account....Just thinking....

[CookMySock]

Measure your chicken strips and compare side-to-side. I bet you corner exactly the same either way.

Steve

[sinfull]

measure your chicken strips and compare side-to-side. I bet you corner exactly the same either way.

Steve
- .000......0
Edit :Actually, i just had a look at the front and its about 2 mm left to go on the RH side and 4mm on the left ! Must check wheel alignment !

[Maha]

Why is it I'm way faster on lh corners than rh?
Im right handed an someone told me once that makes the lefthand side of my brain smarter.
WTF
or is it because i keep my car keys in my lh pocket and hence more weight off the bike.
Seems like its on the road as well as trackdays...maybe some HTFU pills would help..
Any ideas?

I asked this very question a couple of years ago and it was explained to very well by Te Stranger....what exactly, I forgot, but, it does have something to do with being right handed.

[CookMySock]

- .000......0
Edit :Actually, i just had a look at the front and its about 2 mm left to go on the RH side and 4mm on the left ! Must check wheel alignment !;) I have 4mm each side, but I feel much better in left handers. The only time I have left the road on a bike was when I got a fright (large stick on the road) on a right-hander and the brain locked up on me. (I prefer cornering to the left. Right-handed.)

I view it as a challenge - a part of my training that should be resolved. The maths and science of it is that there is no difference left or right, so get yer head past it son. ;)

Steve

[icekiwi]

Measure your chicken strips and compare side-to-side. I bet you corner exactly the same either way.

Steve

Can't I don't have any...know where I can buy some,reckon they'd look cool.
Lots of ideas popping up...
An Puke's mostly rh corners so it looks like i'll be slow as there this sat..

[Bend-it]

It's because you have a green bike. Red bikes go faster round rh corners.
Duh.

So that's why I'm better around RH corners... and I'm right handed as well!!

For me, I reckon it's practice... there's a beautiful, wide sweeping right-hander on the wgtn northward m'way offramp to Newlands, my personal 1 corner racetrack... :)

[RnB Fan]

And I thought it was just me! Spent a weekend away riding recently and after the first day I was convinced there was something wrong with me and/or my bike cos I couldn't do right handers. Got up the next morning, took some HTFU pills, and just relaxed more into the right handers and had a great day. It definitely feels better cornering left tho!

BTW I am a right hander as well.

[icekiwi]

It's because you have a green bike. Red bikes go faster round rh corners.
Duh.

So i'll leave the lh side green and paint the rh side red,that outta do the trick.:woohoo:

[Kinje]

Man its too late on Thursday afternoon before Easter. I saw the thread title and read 'Easter round LH corners' and was utterly confused :doh:


Time for a beer

[icekiwi]

Man its too late on Thursday afternoon before Easter. I saw the thread title and read 'Easter round LH corners' and was utterly confused :doh:


Time for a beer

You want to try doing a trip somewhere and only take lh corners/turns...then you'll know its time for a beer...an oh I got one in my grubby mitts already:whistle:

[slofox]

Did the advanced rider course here, run by Ward Fischer...he identified the same LH RH thing in my riding...(surprise surprise). He got me to change my line of sight through the RH corners, to delay the entry and to use a lot more positive countersteer to peel into them. This had the effect of building my own confidence in RH cornering and has made them flow more betterer. BUT I have to think about what I am doing lest I drift back into the old bad habits....

[Conquiztador]

After 10 years of turning left round and round (Solo Speedway) I think all RH corners should be banished.

[Laxi]

along with the mental thing of oncoming cars wanting to take your head off

i must subconsiously be sick of life! im right handed yet my left heroes a virgin but my right pegs ground half way down:doh:


It's true, my left side chicken strip is smaller than my right one....

chicken strip? what is this chicken strip you talk of???

[Conquiztador]

chicken strip? what is this chicken strip you talk of???

- If you are chicken you are a pussy.
- Look at your tyres and the un-used part of them indicates how big pussy (chicken) you are.

[LBD]

Well, isn't any one going to shoot down my...."effect of gyroscopic action of the rotating masses?" theory?

[mujambee]

Well, isn't any one going to shoot down my...."effect of gyroscopic action of the rotating masses?" theory?

Will do. Tomorrow. Now Im going to bed. Good Night.

[H00dz]

I'm LHanded and would prefer not to do any cornering, but the people who make the roads seem adamant to keep putting the dammed things eveywhere...... its a real nusance really

[discotex]

Well, isn't any one going to shoot down my...."effect of gyroscopic action of the rotating masses?" theory?

What's the theory?

Did you mean that the placement of rotating mass to either side of the centre line will make the bike corner better to one side than the other?

Or did you mean when the rotating mass is perpendicular to the centre line such as a Guzzi?

Assuming it's the former then I'd say you're unlikely to be correct given engine design moves the clutch/gearbox/crank/etc around in the engine yet people still say LH corners are easier.

[Skyryder]

Due to the camber of the road, when you turn left you are using the camber to your advantage like the banking on a race circuit - when you're turning right you don't have this advantage to the same degree.

Not true. American bikers corner better to the left than the right where the camber is different than our own.

This subject comes up on biker sites from time to time. Woman too seem to corner better on left handers than right so the side of the brain does not appear to play a part in this. There is a school of thought that suggests due to the left hand grip being more stable than the throttle grip, left handed corners feel 'safer than the right handed ones due to the extra stability of the left hand bar. It's as good a theory as some I have read. Who knows.

I got one of my own but I'll save that for another post some time next week.

Just got some other stuff to sort as of now.


Skyryder

[McJim]

I've always found my right hand cornering to be awkward hence I used to go considerably slower round Right handers than left.

Now I compensate by hanging my arse of the right hand side of the bike, sticking my face in the right hand mirror and giving the throttle death. I go faster round right handers than left handers now :2thumbsup:

[crash harry]

I'd always figured it had to do with throttle-hand flexibilty. When you're cornering to the right, you're countersteering and throttleing with the same hand, when you're cornering to the left it's one hand for each. Having said that, I think I prefer right-handers for that reason. One hand does all the work and the other one can just relax and get out of the way.

BTW I'm right handed, and all my one-vehicle crashes have been in right-hand corners, but I still prefer them. Visibility is better through right handers on the road too.

[puddy]

Ya just have to go to a lot more Puke trackdays than Taupo ones!

[scumdog]

I'd always figured it had to do with throttle-hand flexibilty. When you're cornering to the right, you're countersteering and throttleing with the same hand, when you're cornering to the left it's one hand for each. Having said that, I think I prefer right-handers for that reason. One hand does all the work and the other one can just relax and get out of the way.

BTW I'm right handed, and all my one-vehicle crashes have been in right-hand corners, but I still prefer them. Visibility is better through right handers on the road too.

Re the counter-steer thing:
I tend to 'pull-back' on the left grip on a right-hand bend instead of pushing forwards with the right grip.(As it is too 'mobile' being the throttle, I found that pushing on it also caused me to increase speed as it twisted)

[YellowDog]

Why is it I'm way faster on lh corners than rh?
Im right handed an someone told me once that makes the lefthand side of my brain smarter.
WTF
or is it because i keep my car keys in my lh pocket and hence more weight off the bike.
Seems like its on the road as well as trackdays...maybe some HTFU pills would help..
Any ideas?
It's just like the first time you do skiing. If you are right handed, you can turn left, but not right. It is because you use your naturally familiar right side muscles to turn left. You turn the opposite way to the natural effort.

[duckonin]

Re the counter-steer thing:
I tend to 'pull-back' on the left grip on a right-hand bend instead of pushing forwards with the right grip.(As it is too 'mobile' being the throttle, I found that pushing on it also caused me to increase speed as it twisted)

Yes will agree with you on your comment....

[Sidewinder]

Why is it I'm way faster on lh corners than rh?
Im right handed an someone told me once that makes the lefthand side of my brain smarter.
WTF
or is it because i keep my car keys in my lh pocket and hence more weight off the bike.
Seems like its on the road as well as trackdays...maybe some HTFU pills would help..
Any ideas?

you are a noob! nah i have the same issue, got to do with the trotlle hand or some shit

[scrivy]

Well, I'm right handed, and my.... hangs left.......
But I do like to go faster around left handers than rights!

I figure its because the rear brake lever is on the right hand side of the bike, and when cranked around a right, my foot is too far from the lever incase I need to stand on the brakes (in an upright position) in a hurry due to unforseen obstacles.
Well, that's my theory.....

On my sidecar, I'm just as quick on either sides, as my inboard foot does the braking.

[pete376403]

coriolis effect p'raps?

[Elysium]

crank accross (hornet)
What is this "crank accross" you speak of?

[Blatman]

I'm left handed but prefer left hand corners, so I don't think it is to do with whether you are left or right handed

[mujambee]

Well, isn't any one going to shoot down my...."effect of gyroscopic action of the rotating masses?" theory?

I was going to go on an overly complex explanation of moving masses and that all, when I realised there is a far more simple explanation: If you look at all masses capable of producing gyroscopic effects on a bike (basically the wheels and the crankshaft), youll see that those are symetrical re the center plane of the bike.

Take a bike cornering left. Look at how the wheels move. Now look at same bike on a mirror, and compare it with it cornering right. You see exactly the same thing, so the effect is symetrical and has no influence.

To better illustrate it, now imagine a boxer BMW and look at it crankshaft. As I don't know how it goes, let's say it rotates so upper side goes right. If the bike leans to the left, it leans against the rotation of the crankshaft. Its image in the mirror will also lean agaist it. But when the bike leans right, it goes with the crankshaft, so mirror image and real bike are not exactly the same. In this case, the gyroscopic effect of the crankshaft may have some influence.

P.D.: Yes, I know its a bit late; it's been a damn couple of busy days.

[icekiwi]

Ya just have to go to a lot more Puke trackdays than Taupo ones!

lol did notice on a ride on sunday after our tikitour round Puke that i was taking the rh'ers a little faster,even my partner on the back commented.
Going to go on Mon 20th with Redline....will I see you there?

[2wheeldrifter]

It's in the mind I think, don't dwell on it... when riding just focus, do some track days or your fav bit of road over and over again. Don't look at speed, that's not what you want.. it's body position,.. speed will come on it's own. Would say most (I did) will have to make a conscious effort when doing a right hander, but in time it will feel just as good.. well 90% as good as a left hander! You may have to do it in stages and nail every stage before moving to the next etc..before your hangin off the seat!

Oh plus left handers you have no fear of a car crossing into your lane once your commited to your line aye!..:Oops:

[Skyryder]

Some time back I was fishing at the outlet of Lake Wanaka and got talking to an American who was fishing in the same location. It turned out that this guy was an optician and while most of out talk was about what fish see, nylon refraction in moonlight and other fishing related subjects one comment of his did stand out and might offer an explanation of why most bikers prefer the lefthand corner be they in the northern or southern hemisphere, female or male or left or right handed.

The optician just happened to mention that for most of us our eyesight is naturaly focused to the left. I have spent some time in trying to find something on the net on this but have been unable to confirm this one way or the other. Whether this would have an effect on the preferance of a lefthand turn I can offer no opinion but this may give cause to why the lefthand is so much preferred by most riders no matter if this is north or southern hemisphere, male or female, road camber or for that matter left or right handed.

As to why this lefthand focus preference is natural the other comment he made in relation to this is that the sun moves from right to left. This was more of a personal opinion but this may explain some issues on why most of us prefer the left hand bend to the right.................who knows.


Skyyrder

[mashman]

I'm right handed, left footed, hanging left and I don't look right, but am more comfortable going into right handers than left... it did used to be the other way around!!!

Could be an eyesight thing. I was told by an optician that, in general, most people have one eye for short vision and one eye for long... It was news to me, but makes sense if depth perception is more acurate when looking to the left...

[mujambee]

The optician just happened to mention that for most of us our eyesight is naturaly focused to the left. I have spent some time in trying to find something on the net on this but have been unable to confirm this one way or the other. Whether this would have an effect on the preferance of a lefthand turn I can offer no opinion but this may give cause to why the lefthand is so much preferred by most riders no matter if this is north or southern hemisphere, male or female, road camber or for that matter left or right handed.

As to why this lefthand focus preference is natural the other comment he made in relation to this is that the sun moves from right to left. This was more of a personal opinion but this may explain some issues on why most of us prefer the left hand bend to the right.................who knows.


Skyyrder

Ask an archer, he will explain. One of the first things they do when you enter an archery is testing your "guide eye". That is the eye that finds the point you are looking at and targets on things, the other one just follows. A quick test is to wink an eye. Which one did you close? The guide one is the one you left open.

Most people's guide eye follows handness. That is, for a RH person the guide eye is the right one. But on some rare cases it doesn't follow. I'm one of those rare cases, RH but left guide eye (I have to use a left-handed arc).

I prefer lh turns, so my guess is that the eye has nothing to do.

Good theory, though.

[RocKai]

I've always found my right hand cornering to be awkward hence I used to go considerably slower round Right handers than left.

Now I compensate by hanging my arse of the right hand side of the bike, sticking my face in the right hand mirror and giving the throttle death. I go faster round right handers than left handers now

Why you need to think about explanation when you can just do it like McJim? I like it. :D

[McJim]

Ask an archer, he will explain. One of the first things they do when you enter an archery is testing your "guide eye". That is the eye that finds the point you are looking at and targets on things, the other one just follows. A quick test is to wink an eye. Which one did you close? The guide one is the one you left open.

Most people's guide eye follows handness. That is, for a RH person the guide eye is the right one. But on some rare cases it doesn't follow. I'm one of those rare cases, RH but left guide eye (I have to use a left-handed arc).

I prefer lh turns, so my guess is that the eye has nothing to do.

Good theory, though.

Interesting theory.

I am right handed. In football I strongly favour my left foot (can't kick for shit with my right but can send the ball 3/4 of the way down the field with my left) and I am more or less completely blind in my right eye and have been since birth.

I find left handers easier than right handers so I must be another exception then.

[Tunahunter]

I don't know why but I feel a bit less comfortable on right hand bends than I do on the lefties. This is magnified somewhat when my girlfriend is on the back - she's a good pillion but I guess if I'm hestitant she just follows my lead.

I first noticed this when biking on Crete - I hadn't ridden a bike for about 39 years and I thought its frame was twisted - but I was the one out of wack I think.

Is this a common issue?

[Maha]

I had the same problem once, I asked the question and it was explained to me at the time but I cant have been taking to much notice because I can remember, I was a party though...:innocent:
Thinking about it, down hill was worse.
Appexing the corners help dramatically.
Entering a corner to early will make your exit line wider.

[george formby]

Might be camber related. I always feel I'm leaning further over on a right hander & my chooken strips seem to agree. Strangely I also feel I have better visibility coming into a right hander.

[george formby]

I had the same problem once, I asked the question and it was explained to me at the time but I cant have been taking to much notice because I can remember, I was a party though...:innocent:
Thinking about it, down hill was worse.
Appexing the corners help dramatically.
Entering a corner to early will make your exit line wider.

Riding hard downhill is a real head game, I try to ignore the contour & pay particular attention to any gravel which may spoil my line. The safety margins just don't feel as great when your nose down.

[sil3nt]

Right handers suck because your turning in towards oncoming traffic. I bet those who drive on the right hand side of the road hate left handers!

[sgtp]

my "newb to riding" readings said this on this subject:


You may find the right-hand turn more difficult. This is natural. When you lean to the right, you have to support more of your upper body weight on your right hand - your throttle hand.

It didnt say anything more, other than that......glad I could be of some help:innocent: ...but seriously, I guess its just something you have to get over and then you'll be fine?

[george formby]

my "newb to riding" readings said this on this subject:



It didnt say anything more, other than that......glad I could be of some help:innocent: ...but seriously, I guess its just something you have to get over and then you'll be fine?

TBH I don't really think about it. Left or right I'm thinking about maximising my visibility through the bend.

I do believe I get on the power earlier in a right hander, the vanishing point is a whole lane further away..

[SVboy]

A possible technique on right handers is make sure you are mid-left in your lane, look well ahead to a spot[as chosen by you] "deep" in the corner where you will 'quickly' begin your turn[rather than enter the corner too early, which will see you apex the corner close to oncoming traffic]. As you enter the corner, focus ahead on the line where you want the bike to be[but DONT look down close to the front wheel]. In this way,most of your lean is done at the entry to the corner, you wont be leaning across the white line, and you have the maximum vision of the road conditions ahead. I have not mentioned braking or throttle inputs-braking into and accelerations out of-but I am sure you knew that. Find a set of corners you know and practice.......

[Sparrowhawk]

:yes:All of the above is very true, but I found my bike felt very different in a right hand corner. Checked the alignment between front & rear, and found it was way out. Fixed that, and it felt a million times better.

Worth a look! :yes:

[Usarka]

Right handers suck because your turning in towards oncoming traffic. I bet those who drive on the right hand side of the road hate left handers!

He first noticed the problem in Crete, I'm pretty sure they drive on the right hand side of the road so it should be left handers that he hates.

Might even be something to do with countersteering with throttle hand or eyesight or somethink.

[Voltaire]

Crete....maybe it was the ghosts of fallschirmjager trying to stop the Kiwis leaving the island....:innocent:

[wanpo]

I've heard it's common to be less confident on the direction you had your first off.

I think that's why I'm a little more confident turning right, although any apprehension is mostly gone now.

[monkeymcbean]

It could be like other sports for example when I youst to ski. You have a better natural turning side than the other. It is something with more experience and kilometers travelled gets better for you if you work at it, i.e. better entry line into corners etc.
Like the others have mentioned, awkward feeling is exerberated when riding a bike downhill.

[Blackshear]

Right lobe dominance vs left lobe dominance.

Could be a correlation.

[matdaymon]

Right lobe dominance vs left lobe dominance.

Could be a correlation.

That's what I thought it was. I've always been far more comfortable turning left than right. Can turn in a smaller turning circle going left than right and remember someone saying it was something to do with the dominant side of ya brain interfering somehow

[rdkls]

Funny, my lefts don't "feel" as comfy and I prefer rights.
I read (somewhere sorry can't remember, may be Lee Parks or Keith Code, probably the former) that differing comfort levels in turning left/right is primarily due to position on / contact with the bike.
Since then I'm trying to mirror my position when turning right, to that for left;
things like where my knees are, feet on the pegs, hands/wrists, head position etc
It's kind of helping ......

[Maki]

For me they actually are the same but a right hander feels slightly less comfortable because I am leaning into oncoming traffic. If you want to know if they really are different or if it is just your feeling check the width of your chicken strips. If they are wider one one side than the other the reason is that you feel more confident taking corners towards the side with narrower strips.

Now, track riders with no strips are going to have a go at me :facepalm:, but never mind . ;)

[Latte]

For me they actually are the same but a right hander feels slightly less comfortable because I am leaning into oncoming traffic. If you want to know if they really are different or if it is just your feeling check the width of your chicken strips. If they are wider one one side than the other the reason is that you feel more confident taking corners towards the side with narrower strips.

Now, track riders with no strips are going to have a go at me :facepalm:, but never mind . ;)

What about road riders with no chicken strips ? :p

[Maha]

Funny, my lefts don't "feel" as comfy and I prefer rights.
I read (somewhere sorry can't remember, may be Lee Parks or Keith Code, probably the former) that differing comfort levels in turning left/right is primarily due to position on / contact with the bike.
Since then I'm trying to mirror my position when turning right, to that for left;
things like where my knees are, feet on the pegs, hands/wrists, head position etc
It's kind of helping ......

Are you right or left handed?

[CookMySock]

To corner hard on right-handers, you have to swap your wheels to the left half-lane, or put your head over the centre-line and face getting it knocked off by the big-arse truck coming the other way. In left-handers, you just leave your wheels where they are and concentrate on your line. So the workload is a bit higher trying to manage tight right-handers making sure you don't cross or touch the white line. There is also the situation that you cannot see the road you are about to use, so that could mess with your mind as well.

Perhaps the wheels should be in the left half lane for any hard cornering left or right?

[AllanB]

Definitely check the alignment first.

I too have a preference for left handers.

[Gremlin]

Check alignment.
Remember, if you're not confident, the bike won't feel confident, and vice versa, so its a self-fulfilling prophecy
Road camber does play an issue, and the bike will feel a little more on edge when going against the camber, and the steeper the camber is
When going around left handers, you only have the road side, which is relatively harmless, and easy to gauge
When going around right handers you have cars inside, with varying lines, sizes (little cars vs big trucks), or no traffic and then suddenly traffic

Ride more... it'll get easier :yes:

[Maki]

What about road riders with no chicken strips ? :p

They need to stop leaning left when the bike turns right and vice versa. :woohoo:

[FJRider]

I'm pretty sure it's just some prefer let over right corners ... or vice versa ...

DON'T sweat it ....

[rocketman1]

I used to prefer lefts to rights but now it doesn't worry me at all.
Camber assists in lefts which will always reduce the chicken strips a bit more on the left, which proves you are leaning further, and feel happier doing so.
Try going around left hand corners, way on the right side of the road, you would not be leaning over nearly as much. (be crazy too I agree)

I sometimes think that left handers are more dangerous, as if come off you could slide into on coming traffic which is NOT good.
Right handers will put you in the ditch or paddock, if your lucky, rarely under a bus, like left handers, worth thinking about for a few seconds, all you lefties...

[schrodingers cat]

When I returned to riding I bought a second hand sports bike off a guy who rode pretty upright all the time.
Initially I thought that the uncomfortable feeling I was getting in right handers was totally me. Something I was or wasn't doing.

I fitted fresh tyres and the problem went away.

Something about how the last bloke rode caused scalloping in behind the sipe on the RHS (only) of the front tyre.

It was spooky as hell

[Blackshear]

For what it's worth, i'm right handed and fucking love left handers.
This is not a traffic thing, my head is overly cautious about right handers, despite an obvious balance between the two. Maybe my head tries to defend the dominant right side of my body, who knows.

Doesn't stop me going hard though...

[rdkls]

Are you right or left handed?

Write left-handed but most other things right.
It's weird, very comfortable just relaxing right and with the weight just goes, feels good, but not as much with left. Pretty sure it's posture, and mental. Traffic etc irrelevant (same on track)

[Smifffy]

When I returned to riding I bought a second hand sports bike off a guy who rode pretty upright all the time.
Initially I thought that the uncomfortable feeling I was getting in right handers was totally me. Something I was or wasn't doing.

I fitted fresh tyres and the problem went away.

Something about how the last bloke rode caused scalloping in behind the sipe on the RHS (only) of the front tyre.

It was spooky as hell

Yeah, my bike also felt much more comfortable after installing new (and better) tyres, even though technically there was still plenty of wear left in the ones on the bike when I got it.

[ellipsis]

...it's all in the head...

[Elysium]

When I returned to riding I bought a second hand sports bike off a guy who rode pretty upright all the time.
Initially I thought that the uncomfortable feeling I was getting in right handers was totally me. Something I was or wasn't doing.

I fitted fresh tyres and the problem went away.

Something about how the last bloke rode caused scalloping in behind the sipe on the RHS (only) of the front tyre.

It was spooky as hell
Scalloping is where you get a flat area in the centre of the tyre? Think my rear has this issue when I got my bike. Front tyre is also Shinko which seems to feel like it it's sliding slightly when I do tight cornering at speed.

[LBD]

The gyroscopic effect of the rotating masses....wheels in particular....means the bike prefers a left turn.

Get a bicycle front wheel and hold the axle in your left hand. With your right hand, spin the wheel in what would be the forward direction and the wheel will want to turn to the left

[slofox]

I bet those who drive on the right hand side of the road hate left handers!

I have read on Amerikan forums that this is the case...


I've heard it's common to be less confident on the direction you had your first off.


In that case, I should be less confident in a straight line...


Are you right or left handed?

Yeah - I wonder about lateral dominance as well...


I seem to have overcome this difference - to some extent anyway. More confident than I was in the right handers.

My just swapped out front tyre was much more worn on the right side than the left...makes no sense to me. But then nothing makes sense to me anyway...:wacko:

[slofox]

Scalloping is where you get a flat area in the centre of the tyre? Think my rear has this issue when I got my bike. Front tyre is also Shinko which seems to feel like it it's sliding slightly when I do tight cornering at speed.

Flat area on the shoulder - not in the centre.

[boman]

My just swapped out front tyre was much more worn on the right side than the left...makes no sense to me. But then nothing makes sense to me anyway...:wacko:

The Road camber causes this. I was told.

I found that by relaxing my left arm, sorta pretend you have a throttle in it, look through the corner, pick your mark and my right hand cornering improved a shite load almost straight away.

[javawocky]

Yeah, next time you are on the road take note of which way its slopping.

I remember way back in the day when I started MX that I had this favorite left or right corner thing. For the life of my now I can't remember which side it was because after a few race meetings you become equally comfortable with either side.

To overcome this problem try the following. Go to your local Park and Ride or what ever parking lot doesn't have many cars around. Put some cones or something on the ground and make a figure 8 and start practicing corners. Work on all aspects of the corner, throttle application, body position etc then start gradually leaning over more and putting the gas on a little harder and sooner.

Thought it was time to stop when I saw 80kph on the speed :bye:

[SILVER SUZI]

Go do a few track days. If you are pushing it, you will be concerntrating on so much other stuff that you will forget you "handedness". Depending on where you go you may also get some great advise from instructors.:woohoo:

[george formby]

Lots of pertinent opinions here.

I know I bang on about it but visibility is the key for me. I approach a right hander hard to the left of my lane, not in the kerb though, to maximise my visibility through the corner. Once I can see through the corner or the vanishing point starts to move away, I can aim for an apex to take me through the corner safely & usually quickly or stay wide to avoid the camper van / logging truck / myopic pensioner using my bit of road.

Perhaps the biggest thing with left / right corner preferences is planning before the corner rather than in it.

[CookMySock]

I found that by relaxing my left arm, sorta pretend you have a throttle in it, look through the corner, pick your mark and my right hand cornering improved a shite load almost straight away.Yeah this really important. It's critical to not lean on the bars, but just steer by linearly applying a little forward bar-force (not displacement) to gently adjust your line. If you haven't forced yourself to do this from day one it can be nearly impossible for it to be automatic later on, and that can take years and years to fix, if it's fixable at all.

[schrodingers cat]

Scalloping is where you get a flat area in the centre of the tyre? Think my rear has this issue when I got my bike. Front tyre is also Shinko which seems to feel like it it's sliding slightly when I do tight cornering at speed.

No. Scalloping is a slight hollow in the rubber. If was off center on the right hand side and behind the water channel (sipe) moulded into the tyre.

The front tyre was still fairly triangular.


The rear had a pronounced flat section in the center. This certainly made the bike feel unstable in transitions as the contact patch width became very thin as the bike tipped in. Once heeled over the grip increased again.
This sensation however was the same turning left or right.
I reshaped the rear with a surform file as a short term 'band aid'. It helped a bit but nothing like the feeling of a new tyre with good profile

[scracha]

Funny, I'm far more confident throwing it over into a right hander. I'm more worried about losing it on a left and going splat into oncoming traffic.

[Woodman]

i have the same issue, but turning left is always harder for me. Talking mainly in an offroad/gravel situation but onroad it is there too. Dunno why and it bugs the hell outta me but its always been like that.
Maybe we could stereotype people depending on which way they prefer to turn.

[Metastable]

I agree with the comment that said it is all in the head. Assuming there isn't something wrong with the bike. A good way to see if it is the bike ......is to go on an even stretch of road (no slope) and let go of the bars. Does it pull to either side? If no, then you should be OK as long as the tires aren't messed up.

So, cure = track school. Trackdays are great, but if you are doing something wrong and don't know about it, then you might keep on doing the same thing. People often have a different body position depending which way they are turning. At a school, you can get help from riders who know what they are talking about and they can get you out of bad habits. After that, go do some trackdays to polish things off a bit more. Then street riding should feel very natural and you won't even think about things like that anymore.

FYI as far as the bike being the problem it could be:
- front to rear wheel alignment as mentioned before
- your front fork pinch bolts could possibly be holding the lower pars of your forks in a slightly twisted manner. Loosen the pinch bolts and bounce the front by grabbing on the front brakes and (engine not on) rocking the bike.... then tighten them back up.
- forks could be twisted... something twisted with frame/triple tree or swingarm, I don't know if you guys have a http://gmd-computrack.com/ location in NZ or something similar... they can check for straightness.

[Usarka]

Funny, I'm far more confident throwing it over into a right hander. I'm more worried about losing it on a left and going splat into oncoming traffic.

+1 would rather hit a hedge than a hyundai.

[Tunahunter]

A possible technique on right handers is make sure you are mid-left in your lane, look well ahead to a spot[as chosen by you] "deep" in the corner where you will 'quickly' begin your turn[rather than enter the corner too early, which will see you apex the corner close to oncoming traffic]. As you enter the corner, focus ahead on the line where you want the bike to be[but DONT look down close to the front wheel]. In this way,most of your lean is done at the entry to the corner, you wont be leaning across the white line, and you have the maximum vision of the road conditions ahead. I have not mentioned braking or throttle inputs-braking into and accelerations out of-but I am sure you knew that. Find a set of corners you know and practice.......

Thanks, that is very helpful - I sense that I start leaning too early and should should be making the turn "quickly" but later - cheers

[Tunahunter]

Are you right or left handed?

Right handed

[Tunahunter]

Thank you one and all - I really appreciate the helpful comments

[Maha]

Right handed

Some may beleive that that has something to do with it...initially, or even ulimately, but dont get dragged into thinking that the little 'quirk' wont dissapear.

[tbs]

I had actually been struggling with this a bit on my mountain bike before I got my motorbike. I've been riding aggressively off road for years and over the last couple of years I had noticed a definite bias for turning left. In the case of the mtb I put it down to always having my left foot forward. Come to that, back in the day when I was a kid on a skateboard I could always do frontside tricks easier than a lot of people because I found turning left easier.
When I got on a motorbike I had a hell of a time learning to feel comfortable leaning the bike to the right. I would instinctively try to keep the bike more upright in right handers, twisting outward at the hips and counterweighting. Add to this all the previously mentioned issues with camber, sight lines and having your head knocked off by oncoming traffic and it just gets worse.
What helped me was going to a Prorider training day at Pukekohe. After many laps going clockwise around the track I have more wear on the right side of my tires, and I've got used to the sensation of leaning to the right.

Now I just have to get used to hanging out on the outside going into a right hand bend instead of riding the centre line or turning in too soon.... bit of a work in progress.

[ellipsis]

...its just a figment of an overactive brain...saying, 'it hurts and scares me'...fuck off !..get over it , like I had to...

[Genie]

I too had this wee issue, I felt I was stiff in the lefties, yet when I had someone behind me he said I was actually stiffer in the righties. Whereupon he advised me to drop my shoulder a bit...wow, what a difference. Now i'm enjoying lefties and righties, it's good to move my body in new ways and discover just what makes a good corner for me, speaking of which I hear the Whangamoas calling....:scooter:

[Grubber]

Haven't read everything here but have to say some of the advice and ideas are a bit hard case.
When coming to your corner, sight your turning point in relation to the apex you wish to take. When you reach your turning point you counter steer into corner, not to severely, dropping bike over for the turn, at the same time looking through the corner to where you wish to both apex it and go through it. Soon as the bike is turned and leaning, start to throttle on while keeping your lower part of your body joined to your bike and your top half completely relaxed. You shouldn't have any pressure on the handle bars at any point through the turn. While going through the turn your body should be with your butt only half a cheek over to the side your turning into. Keep throttling on as you drive through the corner so as to keep putting weight onto your rear tyre thus adding more traction to your turn. And Bob's your Uncle. Simple really.:bye:

[Corse1]

I had this same discussion with an OZ mate. He asked me why he didn't like right handers as opposed to lefts. He couldn't figure it out.
One is theoretical more lean angle required to cope with camber unlike left handers that can be like riding around the corners at Daytona.
Also its easier to run wide on entry to a left hand corner then cut in at the apex. To do this on a right hander (as mentioned here as well) you chuck your helmet into oncoming traffic :shit:

Another one is the target fixation. While there is not always oncoming traffic to run into on left handers if running wide, the edge of the road is always there on left handers.

I find that when the pace gets up a bit I concentrate on entering as wide as possible before tip and being smooth as silk, making sure i have the exit point fixed in my vision once I have started tip in. Slow in fast out and smooth and you just get more and more confident.

[scumdog]

Right handers suck because your turning in towards oncoming traffic. I bet those who drive on the right hand side of the road hate left handers!

There was a thread about this topic on KB a few years back, I recall somebody quoting from a US site that they too don't like the right-handers either, go figure!

I don't like 'em as much as left-handers but part of it MAY be because my zorst (on the right-side of the bike) touches down at a much lesser angle than anything on the left side of the bike.
And I'm left-handed if that makes any difference.

[The Stranger]

You shouldn't have any pressure on the handle bars at any point through the turn.

Hmm, I must be doing it all wrong then.

Haven't read the thread, but a few possible reasons for the jitters in right turns are.

Camber - the road is cambered to shed water and as you make a right turn you may be closer to the ground.

You are leaning toward opposing traffic.

Where are you looking? on a left hander you tend to naturally look toward the correct vanishing point. On a right hander you tend to look across the centre line - and we all know you go where you look. Then you wind up fighting that. Try not letting your focus cross the centre line on right handers.

The other one that always leaves me wondering is the number of people who start a RH bend from the RH wheel track. Move to the LHS of the lane and stay wide until you can see your exit.

[Grubber]

Hmm, I must be doing it all wrong then.

Haven't read the thread, but a few possible reasons for the jitters in right turns are.

Camber - the road is cambered to shed water and as you make a right turn you may be closer to the ground.

You are leaning toward opposing traffic.

Where are you looking? on a left hander you tend to naturally look toward the correct vanishing point. On a right hander you tend to look across the centre line - and we all know you go where you look. Then you wind up fighting that. Try not letting your focus cross the centre line on right handers.

The other one that always leaves me wondering is the number of people who start a RH bend from the RH wheel track. Move to the LHS of the lane and stay wide until you can see your exit.

I'm not too sure if you are questioning the "no pressure on handle bars" or not, but the reason you don't have pressure is that it upsets your suspension and track through the corner by not allowing the bike to go it's natural coarse. The more pressure the wider the bike will swing out on a corner.
On coming traffic won't worry you if you stay on your side and the camber should be accounted for when you line your corner up in theory.

[Metastable]

I know I have said my peace about a track school to help with cornering. Having said that I just wanted to add one thing.

- If as a rider one wants to know more about cornering, but going to the track is not an option, consider reading Twist of the Wrist II or seeing the information DVD/Movie that has come out recently. It is very good.

Here is an interview with Code talking about the new DVD... this is part 1 of the interview, there are 4 more.... linked below. I've seen the full DVD, awesome!
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9uzVYL7RPs

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HJeckQRX_E

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_rG2H6DOmk&feature=related

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51j2frYdKkI&feature=related

Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq_yw97sG58&feature=related

[aimee]

I've noticed that I'm better at left curves than right curves.

Which is very Zoolander, and so amuses me somewhat (except on right curves, of course). And then my partner mentioned that he, too, was better at left than right curves.

And hence this question. Are you an ambiturner, or better at one than t'other? And, for the sake of science, or something, are you left/right handed, or ambidextrous? I'm curious to see whether there's a correlation :)

[Laava]

Is that where your chicken strips are the same size on both sides?

[steve_t]

Being more confident turning one way is totally normal :niceone: Practice the weaker side as much as possible

[bogan]

I think we need a picture of your curves, just to be sure :shifty:

I'm pretty even on the road, but on dirt I prefer lefties, though this has more to do with the brake side than my dexterity I think.

[scumdog]

More comfortable with left-handed cornering, dunno why...:confused:

[onearmedbandit]

I'm ambidextrous, but now only have one arm to use, and I don't have a preference for either left or right turns, I love them both equally.

[rossirep]

im left handed, kick with my left, my right is pretty much useless. but i have more luck getting my right knee down than my left, but going left is more comfy for me on my bike so im quessing my answer aint helped you any

[Coolz]

It's all got something to do with road camber...so I've been told.

[ellipsis]

...if rights ever become too much for the psyche to handle, all is not lost...there's always speedway solos or flat track racing to be done...

[Oakie]

Damn you! Now I'm going to evaluate all my cornering tomorrow to see if one is stronger. I'm not aware of one side being stronger than the other though.
Cornering one way better than t'other can also be attributable to something being a little askew in the bike.

[FJRider]

More comfortable with left-handed cornering, dunno why...:confused:

Political leanings maybe ... ????? :msn-wink:

[Road kill]

I'm right handed but do a number of things left handed due to being left eye dominant.

I also feel more comfortable in left handers, so years ago myself and a mate did some rule of thumb testing and found we were both getting over just as hard into right handers but still felt less comfortable doing so.

It affects other things as well,I do a lot of sea Kayaking and prefer to roll to the right rather than the left when I'm rolling on purpose.

I also tend to set myself up so that if I take a dive by mistake I'm more likely to go over on the right side instead of the left, even though in practice it really makes no difference,,,,your still gonn'a get wet.

I think it's all to do with balance and dominant eye/hand co'ordination.

[Bikemad]

it's the the road camber i have been told..........lefties work better coz the corner is banked sorta giving extra grip

[ellipsis]

I'm right handed but do a number of things left handed due to being left eye dominant.

I also feel more comfortable in left handers, so years ago myself and a mate did some rule of thumb testing and found we were both getting over just as hard into right handers but still felt less comfortable doing so.

It affects other things as well,I do a lot of sea Kayaking and prefer to roll to the right rather than the left when I'm rolling on purpose.

I also tend to set myself up so that if I take a dive by mistake I'm more likely to go over on the right side instead of the left, even though in practice it really makes no difference,,,,your still gonn'a get wet.

I think it's all to do with balance and dominant eye/hand co'ordination.

...i reckon you have got it in one, unless the physics brigade turn up...i found as a youth that my right hand bias was a problem...later on as a racer type, i found that rights are as important as lefts, and positions lost to being biased were just not on...now i can fall off either right or left hand corners with exactly the same amount of swearing...

[Madness]

I prefer it to the right. Why wouldn't you? Instead of gutters, kerbs, gravel and trees quite often there's this whole other lane on the right...


:innocent:

[Woodman]

I'm a righty, especially offroad, gravel roads etc. Just seems more natural.

Tried doing a donut to the left a wee while ago and it was nigh on impossible, couldn't do it. Right, no probs.

[Conquiztador]

Right handed and prefer left corners. But I suspect that comes from years of solo speedway riding...

[Captain_Salty]

prefer lefts, partly cause I dont have to worry about keeping my head away from oncoming traffic
and maybe the left side of the road is more obvious to focus on than a painted center line surrounded by tarmac

[SVboy]

Def more consistent to the left-right handers need a lot more thinking to get right..

[BMWST?]

dont think i prefer one to another.Right handed

[Subike]

I think its a survival thing, subconscious.

Me faster on left hand because there is more road to my right if I get it wrong, 2 - 3 meters to the edge


Me slower on the right hand, less road to the left if I get it wrong, 0 - 1 meters to the edge

Can also differ depending upon how much of the road I can see in either direction, uphill, or down hill.

[haydes55]

I prefer left corners. I rode bikes for 6 years before I started to turn right as well.

[duckonin]

It's all got something to do with road camber...so I've been told.

Comes from not riding your bike enough, so I've been told.:lol:

[george formby]

Left & right on the road is irrelevant. Same as downhill corners. The bike, the tires & the road don't give a toss. If you can't factor in the difference in camber & gradient on a public road & it is an issue in your riding then you really need to get your shit together & get some education.

[Metal Doctor]

makes no difference to me, left or right.

but if your having troubles, roundabouts are right handed, find a big one and just keep going round and round. good for making your knee sliders the same! just watch out for diesel spills!

[BMWST?]

I think its a survival thing, subconscious.

Me faster on left hand because there is more road to my right if I get it wrong, 2 - 3 meters to the edge


Me slower on the right hand, less road to the left if I get it wrong, 0 - 1 meters to the edge

Can also differ depending upon how much of the road I can see in either direction, uphill, or down hill.


i reckon it is this...

[FJRider]

I mentioned this issue to a Doctor once ... he said it is often an inner ear blocked/damaged which causes a confidence/balance issue.

If it is a definite issue ... get your ears checked out.

[mossy1200]

Could be your brain knows your rt handed and is more carefull not to damage that side so you can still function.

[007XX]

I prefer left hand corners as they don't make me feel like I am voluntarily going towards oncoming traffic.

And I absolutely hate corners I can't see the other side of . But that's another story.

[arcane12]

Left handed and prefer left corners. Not that right handed corners give me troubles, but the lefties 'feel' safer.

Roundabouts don't do the same thing for me though. Could be the lack of gradient in the road, no traffic to worry about, or something else.

On a similar topic, I prefer tighter (dirty comment?) corners to long sweeping ones, I guess they are easier to judge a correct line etc. And I am referring to long speed limited corners, eg. 85's. adding a hill to a long slow 85 makes it the most interesting. Still it's fun to work on my technique.

[G4L4XY]

I go in circles anticlockwise or "turn left" until I'm going in the right direction, what are these right hand corners you speak of