Why can't I turn right?

**Jay GTI** · 21st November 2011, 09:56

Anyone else have this issue?

I know with right/left side dominance, certain things will always be easier on one side of the body than the other (i.e. kicking or throwing a ball), but I have an issue whereby as I develop my skills and get faster, it seems my ability to corner around left handers has ended up way above my ability to do the same around right handers.

Particularly noticed this yesterday at the Spectro ride up in Kaipara, a couple of faster sweeping corners to play on, left hander was cranked over, drifting nicely, feeling comfortable and in control. The right hand corner... awkward, couldn't get the bike over, not at all comfortable, slow and sloppy, felt like I was going to bin it constantly. Very frustrating!

Sadly I don't have access to a paddock to set up a clockwise loop and just practive my rights, so I can't easily solve my issue...

**slofox** · 21st November 2011, 10:04

Very common complaint, this. Has been discussed on KB before - if you can find the posts with the arcane search engine we employ here...

There's also a lot of discussion on other forums of the same topic.

I have become a lot more even with left/right cornering since I got on the gixxer. Not sure why this is, but it has happened. Maybe just better handling bike? Maybe just more riding? Quien sabe?

**p.dath** · 21st November 2011, 10:39

An AMCC ART day would probably help you a lot. I think the next one is on December 12th.
http://www.amcc.org.nz/advanced

Failing that, come along for some free training at NASS sometime if your keen, it is a lot of fun.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Nort..._Street_Skills

I used to have a problem doing full lock right hand turns ... took me ages to work out the throttle cable was sticking causing the RPM to increase as I pulled the bars tight right. Once I fixed that with some CRC things where much easier.

It sounds like you are doing some high speed cornering. If would help a lot of you could get a video of you cornering, both to the left and the right, and then compare.
See where you are positioning your body. Check weather your body is leaning into the turn (good), or the opposite way that the bike is leaning (effectively fighting the bike).
Check weather you are on the balls of your feet.

Perhaps you might find you aren't deliberately counter-steering both ways.

Are your tyres evenly worn? Perhaps the profile on one side is not evenly matched with the other side.

**White trash** · 21st November 2011, 10:46

Originally Posted by p.dath

An AMCC ART day would probably help you a lot. I think the next one is on December 12th.
http://www.amcc.org.nz/advanced

Failing that, come along for some free training at NASS sometime if your keen, it is a lot of fun.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Nort..._Street_Skills

Fuck yeah, I bet both those events would be mint on a KTM 350 SX-F. Will the knobblies pass scrutineering?

**White trash** · 21st November 2011, 10:48

Personally, I reckon it's a psycological thing, possibly due to right foot not covering the brake pedal when you're turning right?

**Latte** · 21st November 2011, 11:01

Originally Posted by White trash

Fuck yeah, I bet both those events would be mint on a KTM 350 SX-F. Will the knobblies pass scrutineering?

Couple of burnouts to grind them down and you're on your way.

And anyway, just because he rides a KTM, he posted in the Offroad section, and mentions test riding in a paddock, do you really think anyone could have the slightest clue he's not road riding ?

Compare (someone else watch you maybe) how you sit on the bike in both corners, foot placement, body and arm position.

Other option is to crash your brains out on a left hander, that'd even things right up

**barty5** · 21st November 2011, 11:06

same deal i hate lefts though

**Crasherfromwayback** · 21st November 2011, 11:11

Originally Posted by White trash

Personally, I reckon it's a psycological thing, possibly due to right foot not covering the brake pedal when you're turning right?

I had a serious problem turning right once. I was on an XR1200, and the steering was locked.

**White trash** · 21st November 2011, 11:27

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I had a serious problem turning right once. I was on an XR1200, and the steering was locked.

I believe The Peoples Hero, Bruns had a similar issue on his GSXR750 outside McDonalds in Wainui back in the day too.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 21st November 2011, 11:29

Originally Posted by White trash

I believe The Peoples Hero, Bruns had a similar issue on his GSXR750 outside McDonalds in Wainui back in the day too.

Luckily for me, I only had the poor pedestrian I nearly skittled with the bike as an audience...

**BM-GS** · 21st November 2011, 11:47

A standard problem for humans, being not-quite symmetrical.

Could be body position differences, or maybe wheel-alignment. Lots of bikes are set up not-quite-straight from the factory. If you have a long enough straight edge, you should be able to check this at home. Those marks on the swingarm aren't always spot-on...

Check that the wheels are true first, then check that the front and back are properly in line, with the steering set straight-ahead. Eyeballing won't catch it unless it's waaay out. And you need to check from the wheels, not the tyres.

**bluninja** · 21st November 2011, 11:55

err aren't roads cambered from the centre line? So on a left hander you (provided you are your side of centre) have camber working for you and on right handers it works against you.

**bogan** · 21st November 2011, 11:58

Originally Posted by White trash

Personally, I reckon it's a psycological thing, possibly due to right foot not covering the brake pedal when you're turning right?

+1, I get that too, I also can't turn left cos my foot is off the shifter

Originally Posted by bluninja

err aren't roads cambered from the centre line? So on a left hander you (provided you are your side of centre) have camber working for you and on right handers it works against you.

Roads? we don't need no stinking roads....

**Crasherfromwayback** · 21st November 2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by bluninja

err aren't roads cambered from the centre line? So on a left hander you (provided you are your side of centre) have camber working for you and on right handers it works against you.

Don't think the OP is having trouble with the camber of the roads...