Can only go round left hand bends!!

[julian64]

Well thats not really true, but its close. I have an affinity for left hand bends. They feel safer, and steadier. I lean off the bike more and seem to have more confidence in a left hand bend. Problem is that the more I ride the bike in the better weather the more pronounced this is becoming. I enjoy left hand bends.

Right hand bends seem to suffer in comparison. I assume this has something to do with being right handed, or being a fair weather biker, and just need to go out more on it. I though about booking up a track day on Brands which is pretty much right hand bends only to redress the balance.

I am just wierd, or does everyone have a bend preference?

[d8mok]

I much prefer left hand bends. This is also the same on a pushbike too when turning and also doing "tricks". No idea why i also put it down to being right handed and wanting to protect my right hand side i once got told.

[RemaL]

This has been talked about many times on various forums and seems most people prefer 1 to the other.

I like you find left hand corners better than right. I'm happier at speed going around a left then right.

No idea why

[oOTomOo]

If you tip it into a right hand bend, does the bike feel more like it wants to go straight on? I.e. won't tip in or turn as sharply?

Try weaving left / right across a lane on a straight bit of road, see if the bike is more willing to turn one way than the other.

Reason I mention it.. it could be your wheel alignment. If your chain has been adjusted and one tensioner is farther out than the other (even a little bit) it can cause what you describe. Might not be out by much, and you probably won't see it by eye, but the lane weave test will soon tell you.

Or you could just be lop sided

[GTIR]

Practice, protein, practice, protein, practice, protein.

[julian64]

Problem is on a right I'm starting to clamp on a bit. Left is an enjoyable mix of letting the bike have its head, staying loose and enjoying it comming out of the corner. I don't even mind it the odd drain cover gets in the way as even if the bike jumps around I feel comfortable.

Right is the opposite. I'm starting to hold on too tight, clamp on and overreact to undulations in the road. I'm even starting to run a bit wide.

I can see myself doing all of this but the more I concentrate on not doing it the worse it seems to get. Perhaps a track day will help. Anyone had this and managed to break it?

[sprinter1050]

Have you tried counter steering ??????

[Freakuk]

I'm the same, I think this has in some part to do with the camber of the roads ..well that's my theory anyway, still prefer lefts on a race track but rights are easier.

[RumpleFugly]

Have you tried Dirt Track racing?

[pozi]

Freakuk said:

I'm the same, I think this has in some part to do with the camber of the roads ..well that's my theory anyway, still prefer lefts on a race track but rights are easier.

+1, due to us driving on the left in the UK right hand bends will have a slight negative camber to allow for water runoff.

It is only a few degrees but enough to feel a bit different, conversely when turning left the camber works with you.

[Yazza54]

I always feel more awkward moving my weight to the right for right handers

[redtwin]

I prefer right hand bends, but I have always thought that was due to most of the bends I used to ride round when I first started to ride were right handers.

[Mike600F]

I prefer rights because roundabouts are rights: and thats where I learned to knee down: just went round and round untill the position felt normal. Lefts terify me: i've been knee down (just) on the left side at pembrey and it flelt like the bike was going to wash out, yet i was happily scraping the peg on the right. I think its all practice and confidence.

On the up side: you leftys have it easy: roundabout and tracks (nearly all of them) go right, so you can resolve your imbalance easily. Can't seem to fine any left-hand roundabouts near me

[julian64]

sprinter1050 said:

Have you tried counter steering ??????

I don't countersteer, for the same reason I don't get my knee down, I don't pray, and don't invest in the stock market.

All are mythical activities advertised with the promise of great gain, but which are actually a complete waste of time, and were invented to sell you something.

[Deranged Granny]

julian64 said:

I don't countersteer

OH BUT YOU DO

[bass gt3]

julian64 said:

sprinter1050 said:

Have you tried counter steering ??????

I don't countersteer, for the same reason I don't get my knee down, I don't pray, and don't invest in the stock market.

All are mythical activities advertised with the promise of great gain, but which are actually a complete waste of time, and were invented to sell you something.

And therein lies your problem. You deny the existence of Countersteering, yet you use it to go round left handed bends. You can refute it until the cows come home, but it's imutable physics, it's how bikes steer above 15kph. The problem you have with rights is purely down to you not being able to steer the bike. You even admit you're close to running wide on right hand corners. Why?/ Because you don't provide the sufficient steering inputs to steer the bike hence go around the corner on the line/trajectory you want.!! You need to countersteer more. Simple cause and effect, output from an input. You could go out tonight and try it for free, gratis,nada. And what is countersteering trying to sell you??? It's basic physics FFS!!! It's how a motorcycle/bicycle steers, nothing more. You need to provide an input to steer the bike, by your own admission you're not and the bike doesn't steer properly around RH bends hence you don't like RH bends. Why is that so difficult to get into your head??

[Gusto]

I don't think it is a countersteer problem despite the denial. I have the same in cars - but haven't noticed it on my bike so far. I tend to be able to go round the same corner much better where I turn left into it than coming the other way turning right (in my car)

[sprinter1050]

bass gt3 said:

And therein lies your problem. You deny the existence of Countersteering, yet you use it to go round left handed bends. You can refute it until the cows come home, but it's imutable physics, it's how bikes steer above 15kph. The problem you have with rights is purely down to you not being able to steer the bike. You even admit you're close to running wide on right hand corners. Why?/ Because you don't provide the sufficient steering inputs to steer the bike hence go around the corner on the line/trajectory you want.!! You need to countersteer more. Simple cause and effect, output from an input. You could go out tonight and try it for free, gratis,nada. And what is countersteering trying to sell you??? It's basic physics FFS!!! It's how a motorcycle/bicycle steers, nothing more. You need to provide an input to steer the bike, by your own admission you're not and the bike doesn't steer properly around RH bends hence you don't like RH bends. Why is that so difficult to get into your head??

Knew he'd fall for the bait Steve, but I think you're wasting your time...

[Fastchas]

bass gt3 said:

And therein lies your problem. You deny the existence of Countersteering, yet you use it to go round left handed bends. You can refute it until the cows come home, but it's imutable physics, it's how bikes steer above 15kph. The problem you have with rights is purely down to you not being able to steer the bike. You even admit you're close to running wide on right hand corners. Why?/ Because you don't provide the sufficient steering inputs to steer the bike hence go around the corner on the line/trajectory you want.!! You need to countersteer more. Simple cause and effect, output from an input. You could go out tonight and try it for free, gratis,nada. And what is countersteering trying to sell you??? It's basic physics FFS!!! It's how a motorcycle/bicycle steers, nothing more. You need to provide an input to steer the bike, by your own admission you're not and the bike doesn't steer properly around RH bends hence you don't like RH bends. Why is that so difficult to get into your head??

Agreed. Go out tonight, ride one handed around 20 mph.and just put gentle pressure on that grip, pushing it away from your body. Which way will the bike lean...?? Can't deny physics!

I also prefer left handers. I reckon it's because the throttle is on the right. Your body has more room on a left hander with the throttle open. On a right-hander you are twisting the throttle which in turn is tucking your elbow into your body (maybe) and if you're hanging off a little...? Your body is going to be a little cruched up.
Even photos of GP Racers look more comfortable on left-handers. Is this the case or is it merely our perception looking at it...?

[bass gt3]

sprinter1050 said:

Knew he'd fall for the bait Steve, but I think you're wasting your time...

I know, but really???

1. I deny the existence of countersteering and don't do it

2. I can't steer around right handed bends

Can anyone spot the problem??