Why am I so unco on R handers and how do I fix this?

[Number One]

Dear mods...I did do a search but couldn't find anything about not being able to go around R hand corners as well as L hand corners.

This didn't surprise me as I'm guessing it's just silly old unco me...but if not just me and there are threads about how to cure this please point me in their direction.

I'm guessing in my case it's something to do with the whole brain thing of turning towards the centreline and the fact that the throttle is on the right but after having bucket raced and done other bits and bobs I am frustrated that I can go round Lefties happily and feel really good and confident and on the track was scraping that knee so again confident YET Righties are never that comfy for me and on the track I don't think I've even ever been close to leaning it over enough to get that R knee down.

Shall I just sell the bike now and give up or is this something others have had trouble with and fixed for themselves?

[Dutchee]

Dear unco, you are not alone.
another unco
p.s. off to track down a link to a loooooooong thread about R handers

[slofox]

There was a thread on this very topic just a week or so back...lemme see if I can find it for ya...

[Number One]

Dear unco, you are not alone.
another unco
p.s. off to track down a link to a loooooooong thread about R handers

Oh that's encouraging to hear it isn't just me then!!!!


There was a thread on this very topic just a week or so back...lemme see if I can find it for ya...

Sorry guys and thanks in advance. I tried a whole bunch of search options too.

Righto - move along everyone :)

[Dutchee]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/136322-Right-hand-bend-syndrome?highlight=hand+corners
see if it's the same one Slofox was thinking of (only 4 pages, I thought it went on longer)

Oh, and how do you fix it? Go riding with Trudes & Str8 at Kaitoke (kick Craig off his bike)

BTW, it's always good to figure out you're not the only one having the problem.

[slofox]

Oh that's encouraging to hear it isn't just me then!!!!



Sorry guys and thanks in advance. I tried a whole bunch of search options too.

Righto - move along everyone :)

Still can't find the thread...:blink:

[JakeTehMuss]

There was a thread on this very topic just a week or so back...lemme see if I can find it for ya...

<A HREF="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/136322-Right-hand-bend-syndrome?highlight=feel+turning"]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/136322-Right-hand-bend-syndrome?highlight=feel+turning">Here you go</A>

It took me a while to get use to the search function on here. You will get there :yes:

[White trash]

Right hand turns draw you closer to the centerline whereas lefts take you away from it at the apex. That's one explanation. Maybe.

Do you cover your rear brake pedal at all times when riding? If so it'll feeel wrong to move your leg into a good cornering position while leaving the brake uncovered.

[Number One]

<A HREF="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/136322-Right-hand-bend-syndrome?highlight=feel+turning"]http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/136322-Right-hand-bend-syndrome?highlight=feel+turning">Here you go</A>

It took me a while to get use to the search function on here. You will get there :yes:

Thankyou Mr Muss :) there's tonights reading sorted

[slofox]

Yep - that's the one. I found it too eventually...

[Number One]

Right hand turns draw you closer to the centerline whereas lefts take you away from it at the apex. That's one explanation. Maybe.

Do you cover your rear brake pedal at all times when riding? If so it'll feeel wrong to move your leg into a good cornering position while leaving the brake uncovered.

Yeah I do think some of it the mindF%$k of the centreline...though strangely given that I travel much deeper into L handers before turning than R handers. Despite my brain telling me all the time to go deeper I end up getting too close for comfort on the centreline.

BTW - I don't cover my rear brake and only use it quite sparingly...just for upright MUST STOP moments actually...

[riffer]

It happens to everyone Number One. There can be any number of reasons for the problem with left/right.

I've found that a stiff neck can cause difficulty for me in getting good sight lines causing issues.

Also how comfortable you are in placing the weight on the inside peg can make a big difference. Do you have any hip/knee injuries causing you to favour one side over another? This could cause you to put more weight on the inside peg for left handers, but less for right handers, which makes the centre of gravity that much higher.

I've found that when my difficulties with the right handers come back again I go back to my practice techniques - check head movement is correct, find the sightline for the corner, more body slightly over to right, push right bar forward while weighting inside peg, straighten head - all stuff you know but sometimes going back to basics helps a lot.

[Number One]

I've found that a stiff neck can cause difficulty for me in getting good sight lines causing issues. .

You may have hit a nail on the head there ya know....I am a bit caught up in my neck and shoulder on my r side at the moment. It does feel like I'm just not looking through far enough through and end up focussing in all the wrong places...bank on side of road and centreline which I am trying to avoid...dumbarse! I think I best get back to my osteopath quick smart as a good start for solving this - it doesn't feel nice at all!



Also how comfortable you are in placing the weight on the inside peg can make a big difference. Do you have any hip/knee injuries causing you to favour one side over another? This could cause you to put more weight on the inside peg for left handers, but less for right handers, which makes the centre of gravity that much higher..

LOL ok it's not the bike or anything else...it's me, I'm for the glue factory I think!
Right ankle is buggered and doesn't have full range of movement..hips are dodgy arthritic messes. I do however weight my 'outside' peg not the inside...


check head movement is correct, find the sightline for the corner, move body slightly over to right, push right bar forward while weighting inside peg, straighten head - all stuff you know but sometimes going back to basics helps a lot.

You are so right all stuff I know but thanks for the reminders for sure. I do think I am not pushing on the right bar as much as I do on the left.....lots to think about in preparation for practise time!!!

Here's hoping for some sunshine on the weekend and an opening in my osteos appointment schedule soon so I can get to practising these things consciously.

[Trudes]

I prefer lefties too doll, same reason as you too I think, not keen on leaning into or near to on coming traffic (understandable when you see so many fuckheads who have no idea how to drive around corners and have to cut them). I found what helped me a bit was to start as far left as possible before turning in, turn in later so it feels like you spend less time at the apex rather than riding 'around' it (don't know if that makes any sense), relax... especially your grip and make sure there is a good bend in inside elbow and probably the biggest thing I found helped is where I am aiming or looking. Instead of the middle road white or yellow line (or at the other side of the road) I try and aim for just my side of it to leave some room before coming close to the line, again being far left before turning in gives more room to do that.
Don't know if any of that will help you, as you and I both know I'm no expert.

[AllanB]

Ditto. Every bike I have had has had a larger chicken strip on the right than the left. And if you consider most roads slope to the left then I should have a better chance of eating up more on the right of the tyre. Alas it is not so.

Just a wee bit unco on the rights and I can live with that.

I just put it down to dressing to the left and having to swing all that weight over to the right messes up the corner ......

[riffer]

I do however weight my 'outside' peg not the inside...

Weighting the inside peg when you accelerate out of the corner will help the bike turn tighter by giving you more grip.

Combining weighting the outside peg with 2nd gear full throttle on a big bike will make it slide out hard...

followed by a nasty highside if you get it wrong.

[Kendog]

For me I think its because one of the most important controls for cornering, the throttle, is being used to counter steer and it is under the body so feels less controllable.

[Kendog]

Weighting the inside peg when you accelerate out of the corner will help the bike turn tighter by giving you more grip.

Combining weighting the outside peg with 2nd gear full throttle on a big bike will make it slide out hard...

followed by a nasty highside if you get it wrong.
In twist the wrist 2 it says to weight the outside peg, there is a section about it called 'Pivot steering'
When I remember to do it cornering is a lot easier.

[BMWST?]

i reckon its also to do with the fact that when you go round a left hander you have a whole lane or two run off room (even tho there could be an oncoming car coming) but on a right hander you have less than one lane run off room

[White trash]

Weighting the inside peg when you accelerate out of the corner will help the bike turn tighter by giving you more grip.

Combining weighting the outside peg with 2nd gear full throttle on a big bike will make it slide out hard...

followed by a nasty highside if you get it wrong.

Sure you haven't got that backwards big fella?

[John_H]

I always thought this common anomaly was to do with the camber in the road.

[Number One]

Sure you haven't got that backwards big fella?

Oh thank god for that...I've been questionning EVERYTHING I thought I understood and had read was just thinking it was time to don an L plate and resit my basic handling skills :)

[varminter]

I would be interested to know if left handed riders feel the same way.

[neels]

I'm find this interesting, I've recently had a critique of my cornering technique which I think is completely valid so have been thinking about stuff. My current thought is I'm turning in early and too close to the centreline on right handers for the reason stated above, that psychologically there is less road to play with on the left taking a wider line, so the temptation is to stay closer to the centre to allow more margin for error. The road camber possibly has a little bit to do with it as well.

Having said all that, on my last rear tyre I shredded the crap out of the right side compared to the left, so I conclude I have no idea what I'm doing and probably shouldn't be riding motorbikes.

[riffer]

Weighting the inside peg when you accelerate out of the corner will help the bike turn tighter by giving you more grip.

Combining weighting the outside peg with 2nd gear full throttle on a big bike will make it slide out hard...

followed by a nasty highside if you get it wrong.


In twist the wrist 2 it says to weight the outside peg, there is a section about it called 'Pivot steering'
When I remember to do it cornering is a lot easier.

Yeah, oops. Absolutely right. Weight the peg on the outside to get the grip, the inside one to get the slide.

Buggerit. My bad. I stuff up that one all the time, just like the left and right - D'oh...

[FJRider]

ALL people are different ... I (as many others do) prefer RIGHT handers ...

Forest Gump had HIS theory ...

[AllanB]

I prefer RIGHT handers ...


Ya kinky bugger!!!!!

[ClutchITUP]

I am unco on rights too, The hairpin at puke sorted alot of it out for me. But on the road I still find myself in situations having to force myself to "just fucken turn the thing! its in your head you big fucken wimp!" well thats what I tell myself still not exactly relaxing but it works for me sort of:facepalm:

as for that bastard right after the hairpin at Ruapuna that corner is a complete mindwarp for me. I hate the dipper too
Hmmn starting to think I need to sort this problem :facepalm:

[KoroJ]

Reading all these very technical answers, one would think that No1 is into thrashing about on a track.

[FJRider]

Reading all these very technical answers, one would think that No1 is into thrashing about on a track.

With MORE left ... than right ... turns ... ??? :facepalm:

[boman]

Weigh, the outside peg, relax the grip on the left hand, just enough you are not gripping the bars in a death grip. This helped me, with Right hand corners.

Lee Parks' book, Total Control, I found easier to get into than Twist of the Wrist.

[ital916]

I think we should get rid of all the weight the pegs, light grip here, hard grip there, pump more blood into your left cheek talk.

Just turn the motorcycle like you normally do, as you have been riding for a while and are still alive. Trust your tires and well just turn. Simple really.

And I searched this whole thread, just to see a response from katman but nothing.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Had the same problem - my solution was to completely take my left hand off the grip altogether, in a right hand corner (as a training exercise).

The reason I did this was that I realised that, when going into a right hander, I was pulling on the left bar end rather than pushing on the right. Hence why my right handers weren't feeling "good".

[Metastable]

It is all between the ears. Trackdays do wonders and even better is a track school, so they can iron out your bad habits.

Here is how I break down peg weighting:
You can push down on the inside peg in the beginning of the turn to help the bike turn in. You can also do it on corner exit to help square off the corner by inducing a slide (I'm too chicken to try that). On exit however you'd typically push down on the outside peg to help stand the bike up and allow you to open the throttle.

Honestly, this is pretty advanced stuff. Unless you are very experienced I'd suggest practicing lots of other things first. So, you can't go too far wrong with equal weight on each peg.

As far as chicken strips and camber, you'd typically wear out the edge more when you get negative camber (road sloping downwards away from the centre line) .... you'd need a lot more lean angle to wear out the same amount of the side profile of the tire if you were cornering with a positive camber.... think of the track at Daytona as an extreme example.

On a side note, interesting someone mentioned Total Control. I rode a few times with one of the photo subjects for that book. He was the smoothest rider I personally knew.... RIP Fast Eddie.

[Number One]

Reading all these very technical answers, one would think that No1 is into thrashing about on a track.

Actually, I haven't found the answers overly technical. In fact it's all stuff I learned and had 'down' many moons ago after various rider training days and lots of time scooting around bucket tracks...As I do occasionally thrash about on the track...well beside it be fair :shutup: but once in a while I go and even remain upright all the way round! It's been too long actually - my road riding always improved out of sight when I'd spent a day at buckets hooning around.

The doctor has ordered - more conscious practise of THE BASICS and definitely a neck and back adjustment. Given what others have said I think I'll always find R handers uncomfortable but if I can atleast focus on what I'm doing/and not doing things should improve a little and that will be a good start :)

[FJRider]

If you think there is a problem with you doing right-handers ... you will tense up a bit ... and just make "the feeling" worse. Try just to relax ...


OR ... do a few laps the OTHER way ... :innocent:

[Number One]

do a few laps the OTHER way ...

At bucket racing days I went to they always reversed the race direction after lunch so that's not an issue. Weirdly the roads I have been riding most lately have more R handers than L - probably why it's annoyed me so much.

As for the other stuff - yup practise practise practise and relaaax

[sugilite]

This might help.....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/117616-Ride-Smoother-and-Safer-%28and-get-paid-to-do-it!%29?p=1129625275#post1129625275

[Tunahunter]

There was a thread on this very topic just a week or so back...lemme see if I can find it for ya...

Search a thread called on "Right hand bend syndrome"

[ukusa]

I noticed it more when riding off road. I'm right handed, but am always more comfortable putting the left leg down in the corners. Putting the right leg down gives me a similar sensation as trying to do something left handed - all unco! It seems as if the left leg is stronger for some reason, even though I know it's not.
When I do a donut on the shingle/dirt/grass etc, I will always put the left down. It feels so much more natural.
On the road I do notice it a little as well. For me it doesn't seem to be related to the lines/camber or anyhing like that. Just seems to be a weaker side. Dunno, maybe just a mental thing.

[Oblivion]

I hate the fact that wherever I go, the majority of my turns are left handed. On the way to school in the mornings, I make 5 left turns, and 2 right ones.

It's unfair :crybaby:

[ukusa]

I hate the fact that wherever I go, the majority of my turns are left handed. On the way to school in the mornings, I make 5 left turns, and 2 right ones.

It's unfair :crybaby:

try walking backwards :yes:

[The Stranger]

Ditto. Every bike I have had has had a larger chicken strip on the right than the left.

That's doubly weird given that right hand corners are longer than left hand corners. i.e. for the same corner taken in both directions you spend more time leaning to the right than the left as we ride on the LHS of the road.

[The Stranger]

Dear mods...I did do a search but couldn't find anything about not being able to go around R hand corners as well as L hand corners.

This didn't surprise me as I'm guessing it's just silly old unco me...but if not just me and there are threads about how to cure this please point me in their direction.

I'm guessing in my case it's something to do with the whole brain thing of turning towards the centreline and the fact that the throttle is on the right but after having bucket raced and done other bits and bobs I am frustrated that I can go round Lefties happily and feel really good and confident and on the track was scraping that knee so again confident YET Righties are never that comfy for me and on the track I don't think I've even ever been close to leaning it over enough to get that R knee down.

Shall I just sell the bike now and give up or is this something others have had trouble with and fixed for themselves?

Given you live in a house it shouldn't be too hard to get to a right hand race track for a while. Perhaps this would help?

[Number One]

Given you live in a house it shouldn't be too hard to get to a right hand race track for a while. Perhaps this would help?

Now that would go down a treat with the landlords..and unfortunately the house is not situated in such a way as to enable any kind of racetrack.