[Got Fast?]

Hi all, I have a small problem that I could use your help with.

Ok so I am a pretty new rider I have close to 3k miles under my belt of mixed track canyon and commutting, the latter taking the cake. Obviously as a new rider there is a certain amount of fear that must be overcome in riding agressively. Slowly I am working this fear out and am getting more comfortable with low leans. My biggest obstacle was learning to not slow down so much in a turn entry. I would be going a decent speed but would always hesitate to enter a turn without slowing down first although the turn was possibble at my current speed. I have all but worked this out, EXCEPT on left turns. I swear it has to do with the fact that I am right handed. For the love of me I cannot stop those fingers from tapping he brake lever even if minimally when entering a left hand turn. There is just an added amount of hesitation with left turns and both have been practiced evently. Have any of you experienced this phenomenon, and if so how did you overcome it?

[Luvfender]

I found the same thing when I first started getting my lean on. 1. Newbies entering corners too fast is probably the #1 reason there are so many bikes at the junkyard. 2. With practice and keeping correct body position like working to stay centered and kiss the mirror type of action you'll find that you can get to where you are getting better entry speed. Please practice at the track because that's the safest place to find out you had too much corner speed

[teamhypoxia]

I still feel more comfortable with rights than lefts (at knee down speeds on the track). It's gotten much better with practice. I hear it's very common.

[Hammer]

It is a common thing, with a new rider...one turn will be favored. I would suggest a rider school, it will help you get over your hurdle and help you become a better rider overall. California Superbike school, Keith code, or the similar would be close to you.

[Maholli]

Originally Posted by Hammer

It is a common thing, with a new rider...one turn will be favored. I would suggest a rider school, it will help you get over your hurdle and help you become a better rider overall.

[slickwill]

I'm also right handed but it is the other way for me. Left hand turns feel completely natural. Right feels odd. For me it is a throttle issue. I have an easier time with it when I'm turning left than when I'm turning right.

When I was first learning to ski right hand turns felt less natural than left turns. That was a lot of years ago and I can ski any mountain, anywhere, in any conditions and turn right or left but you know what...left still feels better to this day and a panic turn would more likely be to my left than my right. I don't think my left turns are any better than my right. Especially in the moguls, I'm sure there is no actual difference in the ability on either side, but something wired in my brain makes the right turns feel less natural.

[gmcenroe]

I favor left had turns over right probably because the consequences on the street are worse with a bad right turn, i.e. oncoming traffic. I was born left handed, but forced to be a righty by my mom, so I'm really messed up, just kidding :-).

I have the most trouble with fast descents, those scare me the most, so much weight on the front wheel. Advice on how to overcome this would be helpful to me. Don't mean to hijack this post, but appreciate help.

[UncleJesse954]

for most people that have this problem it's the left turn. some of my friends have chicken strips on the left not the right or at least bigger on the left than the right and this was how my first rear tire looked(not calling you a chicken if you have them. they are what they are). i wonder if it has something to do with the extra rotating inertia of the chain/sprockets on this side that make it slightly awkward

[Got Fast?]

Hmm, I think a bike is pretty balance from side to side. A much more rational explanation is that the canyons I ride if I were to spill on a right turn I'd end up in dirt, but if I were to spill in a left theres a nice cliff drop. Bu it think it has to do with ones dominant side as well.

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse954

for most people that have this problem it's the left turn. some of my friends have chicken strips on the left not the right or at least bigger on the left than the right and this was how my first rear tire looked(not calling you a chicken if you have them. they are what they are). i wonder if it has something to do with the extra rotating inertia of the chain/sprockets on this side that make it slightly awkward

Well my strips are exactly equal so I know I'm actually turning pretty equally when it comes time, but in my head the right turns definately seem more awkward and less natural. For me I think it either because of the throttle being on the right or the fact that most right turns on the street are much sharper than turns on the left so it is harder to "flow" through them. But it sounds like I'm opposite of most people even though I am also right handed. However, I would think that the same reasons could cause other people to not like the left hand turns. Think about how differently you are holding on to the throttle when you are making a right hand turn compared to a left and see if maybe that has something to do with it.

[UncleJesse954]

actually the only time turning my bike is awkward nowadays is in a parking lot when i turn right to full lock and the throttle grip is almost touching the tank.

[nedro]

Originally Posted by Got Fast?

Hmm, I think a bike is pretty balance from side to side. A much more rational explanation is that the canyons I ride if I were to spill on a right turn I'd end up in dirt, but if I were to spill in a left theres a nice cliff drop. Bu it think it has to do with ones dominant side as well.

Where in California are you?
Why are your fingers pulling on the brake lever? (I don't cover the brakes with two fingers at all, unless I'm out for a very mellow kind of ride)
If you are close to the Bay Area, I can "show" you roads to practice on. I guaranty that you will be worn out after just one pass. It might help you overcome the left turn thingie.

[slickwill]

I can give you roads to practice on.

Could you UPS one or two of those to me? I could really use a good road out here.

[nedro]

Originally Posted by slickwill

Could you UPS one or two of those to me? I could really use a good road out here.

There! fixed it for ya!

[dicknose]

Another vote for the left turn means you are on the outside of the corner and running wide means off the road.
Except here we are on the other side of the road so its the opposite.

Maybe go practice in a right hand drive country!

[UncleJesse954]

yeah that makes sense. natural fear of being on the outside and having less road to runoff. even though you could slide under a car the other way, thats not what were thinking instinctively. were thinking less pavement this side more pavement that side

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse954

yeah that makes sense. natural fear of being on the outside and having less road to runoff. even though you could slide under a car the other way, thats not what were thinking instinctively. were thinking less pavement this side more pavement that side

Yeah, maybe that's why I'm backwards, because I have much less fear of running out of road than I do of ending up underneath an SUV. I've never even given a second thought to left turns.

[jhonda41]

Don't worry about what you're gonna hit based on the type of turn you're in. Crashing sucks either way, although falling off a cliff is even more incentive not to crash. Focus on being smooth (even if you feel slow) throughout the turn and eventually the speed (for lack of a better term) will come.

On the street I used to have trouble with right handers only because I couldnt see through completely through the turns.

Nowadays I leave room for error but if I get one or two "drifters" coming over the double yellow, I'll get a little nervous on left hand corners.

-jh

[gmcenroe]

I have another theory that says if you are left eye dominant you will like left turns better than right turns, the opposite if you are right eye dominant.

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by gmcenroe

I have another theory that says if you are left eye dominant you will like left turns better than right turns, the opposite if you are right eye dominant.

That one doesn't work for me either. Definitely right eye dominant but prefer left hand turns. The dominant eye won't make much difference at the type of distances that are involved.

[jg27]

Interesting question,but with just 3k miles under your belt I would definetly worry more about riding safely then how fast thru a left hand corner.
Best take a track school as others have mentioned.

[Got Fast?]

I have taken the novice class at willow once. Its really a matter of more practice. As for you Nedro i am within 60 miles of bay area but i usually am up at Glendora Mountain road and Azusa. If you have roads that good i am definitely up to the challenge, ive had these knee pucks for a whole two weeks and not a scratch on them, shame i tell you.

[Got Fast?]

And just as an FYI my chicken strips are pretty equal left beeing a fe mm bigger so im getting pretty even leans its just the fact that in a left im tense and singing oh s&*t in my head

[timmit954]

I'm not trying to be an egg but don't try to ride fast by accelerating violently and banging through gears, you'll end up slower and unsettled in the corners. Instead leave your bike a gear or so higher, roll the throttle on and off while concentrating on your lines. If you concentrate on how fast you're going into the corner you'll find it hard to get flowing lines. I find this helps me get into rythm when im having an off day. No offence intended if you already knew this

[nedro]

Originally Posted by Got Fast?

I have taken the novice class at willow once. Its really a matter of more practice. As for you Nedro i am within 60 miles of bay area but i usually am up at Glendora Mountain road and Azusa. If you have roads that good i am definitely up to the challenge, ive had these knee pucks for a whole two weeks and not a scratch on them, shame i tell you.

I had 130 over Mt. Hamilton in mind. I don't know where Glendora Mountain Road is. Are you in the El Dorrado area?