I'm the opposite CC. I can fly into a left turn with ease and almost drag knee, but the right turns are at maybe 50-70% of what I can do with lefts. Just practice and remember to look through the turn. That helped me a ton and when I became more aware of controlling the bike using countersteering.
having trouble leaning left
- Thread starter CrazyCawi
- Start date
I do look through the turns, and same here I can almost drag knee on a right hander....I hit a 45 yesterday going 80 and didnt bat an eye....I followed my designated line and followed through the turn perfect....but if I switch and go back on the same turn but take it left handed Im doing 50mph lol
D
Deleted member 9794
My problem with left turns on two way traffic streets. I look through the turn....at oncoming traffic! In right turns its no problem, I can always go a bit tighter if I feel the oncoming vehicle is a threat, but in a left hand turn, I go wide and to go wide I either straighten up a bit or slow down a bit and both actions mess up my line.
All I can suggest is to practice. So far, I've gotten allot better but the anxiety is still there.
All I can suggest is to practice. So far, I've gotten allot better but the anxiety is still there.
You know CC, a lot of people would say it's good that you don't go both ways.It's common for a rider to prefer or turn better going one way and not the other.Practice makes perfect. (I suck at righties myself).
I've said it before Chucker....sometimes you just kill me!!!!:rof::rof::bow::bow:
Actually it's a more basic cause than that. It's down to your own balance. Almost everyone has a bias to one side over the other when it comes to balance. Those who don't...we call them professional athletes
I can lean far better and easier to the left than I can the right on my bike. I wasn't surprised to learn that either, because I can lean into left turns while skating (crossover) and skiing as well. For some reason, my subconscious brain just won't allow me to commit to right hand turns as aggressively. Having coached hockey and worked with pro skating instructors, they'll tell you everyone has a good side and weak side, except pro figure skaters and NHL players for the most part.
Same with the bike...you are just wired that way. Can you work on it? Sure you can. But don't expect to completely eliminate it, because it's hardwired into you.
Soapartist
New Member
For me it's right turns... more specifically steep uphill right hand curves, so where can you practice that? I do fine on right curves/turns, but add some elevation to that turn and dang!
TOTALLY AGREE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Actually it's a more basic cause than that. It's down to your own balance. Almost everyone has a bias to one side over the other when it comes to balance. Those who don't...we call them professional athletes
I can lean far better and easier to the left than I can the right on my bike. I wasn't surprised to learn that either, because I can lean into left turns while skating (crossover) and skiing as well. For some reason, my subconscious brain just won't allow me to commit to right hand turns as aggressively. Having coached hockey and worked with pro skating instructors, they'll tell you everyone has a good side and weak side, except pro figure skaters and NHL players for the most part.
Same with the bike...you are just wired that way. Can you work on it? Sure you can. But don't expect to completely eliminate it, because it's hardwired into you.
As someone who has been playing hockey and skiing for 40 years, MadMike has it right!
Just enjoy your biases and have fun. I've played hockey with many folks who "almost" made it to the NHL and a few indeed made it, but for short stints. Even some of the pros have weak sides, which is why some excel. In a straight line, Sydney Crosby is not much faster than his competition, but once a sharp turn is necessary, he kills 'em.
LB
Josh try this. Get your tail bag. Fill it up with a few things or drop your tank bag in it, just some extra weight, then go try out the leftys. As we all have an issue with one side or another I found that my tail bag with about 15lbs of stuff in it really helped me out when ridding two full 8 hour days in the mountains a couple months ago. It was odd to me and when I removed the bags I was back to having my usual "I'm a righty" kinda ways. Just something I noticed at that time. I wasn't conscious about it until I removed the bag for a short ride.
Roundabouts
If you have any roundabouts in your area, that's a great place to practice left turns. I've gotten so comfortable turning left because of those that I'm consistantly dragging my peg.
If you have any roundabouts in your area, that's a great place to practice left turns. I've gotten so comfortable turning left because of those that I'm consistantly dragging my peg.
we hit about 6 the other day... my lead rider went around 3 time on each one, we blocked the round about with all our bikes.... most the drivers just laughed in there cars... I was thinking... "look kids, Big Ben, Tower of London"!
anyone who wants to hit them in N VA.. here's where they are:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=38.966083,-77.615318&spn=0.016217,0.042272&t=h&z=15
the others were up on rt 17 near 340.
anyone who wants to hit them in N VA.. here's where they are:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=38.966083,-77.615318&spn=0.016217,0.042272&t=h&z=15
the others were up on rt 17 near 340.
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The Spin Doctor
New Member
To the OP. Do you know about countersteering??
I just saw this post.
Josh, its not your fault in the slightest. I've heard of this before and theres no reason to be ashamed.
One of your nads is bigger than the other.
The right one in this case.
Be well my brotha.
Try "Ride Like a Pro"
I've consistently had trouble with lefts, especially stop from a start, but also curves and rolling turns. I watched the video Ride Like a Pro then went to the local theater parking lot with orange cones and ran slow speed drills. Weekly. At slow speeds, it's all about head and eyes, turn the handlebars. At faster speeds, gauge your entry speed and don't let anyone else tell you how fast or slow you should enter. Nothing has helped me like watching some other guys on really big bikes make this stuff look like a walk in the park.
Good luck!
I've consistently had trouble with lefts, especially stop from a start, but also curves and rolling turns. I watched the video Ride Like a Pro then went to the local theater parking lot with orange cones and ran slow speed drills. Weekly. At slow speeds, it's all about head and eyes, turn the handlebars. At faster speeds, gauge your entry speed and don't let anyone else tell you how fast or slow you should enter. Nothing has helped me like watching some other guys on really big bikes make this stuff look like a walk in the park.
Good luck!
when you go back home they are all right turns now
Sounds like you're trying to do it all with your arms.
You need a strong core and legs so you aren't dependent upon your arms and shoulders to bear the weight of your body. Lots of crunches and some road work and you'll find slipping off the seat to one side or the other is simple. You should be able to steer (counter steer) a bike with a finger on each grip. Other than under really hard braking (pushups), you don't need a tremendous amount of upper body strength.
Bob
redprodigy35
New Member
^^
Squeeze your thighs around the tank and tilt.
I dunno-- I get into this "tight" setup whenever I want to hit a corner more aggressively.
I do it for right turns without thinking, but have to set up for the left... Especially decreasing radius turns.
Tank grips can help with this, and I am thinking about getting some.
I'd say roll the throttle a little harder to get more of that grip/traction feeling... For me it inspires more confidence in the middle of the turn.
Squeeze your thighs around the tank and tilt.
I dunno-- I get into this "tight" setup whenever I want to hit a corner more aggressively.
I do it for right turns without thinking, but have to set up for the left... Especially decreasing radius turns.
Tank grips can help with this, and I am thinking about getting some.
I'd say roll the throttle a little harder to get more of that grip/traction feeling... For me it inspires more confidence in the middle of the turn.
dcBear78
New Member
This is my theory too... .Actually based off the same principle. When I first started playing hockey (yeah, there is hockey down under) crossing over to the left was more difficult than the right. But practise has evened that up pretty much over time.Actually it's a more basic cause than that. It's down to your own balance. Almost everyone has a bias to one side over the other when it comes to balance. Those who don't...we call them professional athletes
I can lean far better and easier to the left than I can the right on my bike. I wasn't surprised to learn that either, because I can lean into left turns while skating (crossover) and skiing as well. For some reason, my subconscious brain just won't allow me to commit to right hand turns as aggressively. Having coached hockey and worked with pro skating instructors, they'll tell you everyone has a good side and weak side, except pro figure skaters and NHL players for the most part.
Same with the bike...you are just wired that way. Can you work on it? Sure you can. But don't expect to completely eliminate it, because it's hardwired into you.
Same when I first jumped on my bike I noticed I was hesitant around the left handers. Once I come to realise this, and associate it in the way I have, I realise it is a mind thing and I quickly overcome it.