Can't turn right (Zoolander?)

[AR5ENAL]

This is sort of in line with another thread about confidence, but I decided to start a new one.

Does anyone here have a preferred direction for turning?  I've found recently that I can turn left without any problems, but turning right still scares me.

When I see a left turn approaching, I think..."Oh boy, left turn!".  Brake, lean, gas, no problem.  Hang off the seat, lean farther, still no problem...steady hand, lots of fun, blah blah blah.

When I see a right turn approaching, I think..."Oh sh*t, right turn!".  Brake, get scared.  Lean, wonder why I'm getting scared.  Gas, still wondering why I'm freezing up.  Uh oh, chopped throttle...GET BACK ON THE GAS.  See that I'm taking the turn wide.  Curse.  Force my right hand to give it more gas and push on the f*cking handlebars to lean more.  Exit the turn, wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

I don't know if this is normal, but I've been really having to *force* myself to not freeze up in any kind of aggressive right turn.  I know a lot of it is simply bad riding (seeing through the turn, steady throttle, etc.), but I feel there's something more.

I haven't done any suspension work on the bike yet, so I'm not very confident in how it's set up.  I know this is part of it, because I'm not going to feel good about anything, unless I feel good about the bike I'm sitting on.

Anyone else ever have this problem?  Something like it?  Any advice?

[cernunos]

When I first started riding it was LEFT turns that got me nervous...something about turning into and leaning into the traffic I guess. At any rate, just keep going and practicing and it will eventually go away or at least settle somewhat :lol: .

Cernunos

[Stephen072774]

Wreck in a left turn, leave the road, clean out the ditch.  Wreck in a right turn, slide in front of that on-coming Mack truck.  

^someone here said that before, I'd credit you if I knew who it was.

My chickenstrips prove this as well.

[ladybrid]

it can also partly be body mechanics, people are usually more awkward on bikes and motorcycles and stuff on their dominant side... if you are right handed, then you are likely to be *less* flexible on your right side (more muscle bulk), especially if you are tense, so it is going to be physically less comfortable to go that direction (look, lean, etc)
the teachers at my motorcycle course actually talked about this a bit, pointing out how left and right handers handled turns differently

[manofthefield]

I always compare motorcycling to downhill ski racing, or even free skiing.  You have to lean into the turns; the more comfortable you are going fast, the more you will lean into turns, the faster you go.  Also, it is all about setting up your turns: what line you want to take, what speed you need to be going to take that turn.  You need to be looking up a number of seconds ahead of where you are.  Finally onto the strong side question: Most skiers have a "strong" side, a favored way to turn.  Mine is left because I learned to hocky stop to the left and am just more comfortable with it.  I have no doubt that this is the same for motorcycles, I just haven't had similiar enough turn or really pushed it to figure out my favored turning side on a bike.  And I would agree that has something to do with muscle strength/flexibilities on either side of your body.

[jlfrench]

i have the same issue with right turns, I attribute it to the awkward position my throttle hand is in while pushing and controling the throttle at the same time...  hoping it'll go away one of these years.

[Zarathustra]

right turns don't bother me, per se, but i do feel more comfortable in a left hand turn.  i can't say exactly why it is either.  i've read about this before, and it seems to be a common occurance with riders.

[70 Cam Guy]

I crashed on a left turn so left turns in the twisties still get me nervous.  Around the city, I'll take either but I am better at turning to the right (also right handed)  :dunno:

[96gs]

I guess I never went thorugh this problem. I always just got on and rode. I didn't know that could happen. Just try practicing your bad side more so you get more conforatble and then hit the best streets with all you got. I hope this helps anybody who is having trouble like this.

[CasiUSA]

just do what zoolander does and make a 270 Degree left turn to make a right :lol:
Great movie refference.

I find that I am right handed and I prefer to turn left on the bike for some reason. Maybe it's because in the states, we usually turn wider making left turns because we have to cross oncoming.  :dunno:

[bluedevil]

So, what is the best strategy to take when you are about to take a turn and you are in 5th gear?

[The Buddha]

Lefts are easier than right for sure... why... 1 you are in the midle of the road for the most part except at the end... so the road is cleaner, you are also able to do it dirt style wiht your left foot out... if you had to hit the rear brakes... no big deal... also left turns are over a larger radius and hence you carry more speed, and hence you have better balance. However as you get better, you'll feel comfortable in the twisites and highways right curve or left curve, and feel nervous only on city streets.
Cool.
Srinath.

[tdan553527]

I use to hate the right handers also, but after riding, you get use to both. Now on my way home from work (53 Miles, 40 interstate), getting off the exit is the best, a 25MPH, 270 degreee right hander, banked perfectly to hit it around 75 to 80mph, what a blast!!