Cornering, left or right?

[happychick]

I was out on a ride run to Gullane last night. Very nice corners on the way. Anyway, I noticed I was considerably quicker going round left hand bends that right one? After speaking to some of my girl friend bikers, they are the same as me. Speaking with the blokes, they prefer right hand corners. Why is this is wonder?

Does any of you have a preference or are you just plan great at both?

[Rawwr]

Natural inclination in the UK is to prefer left-hand bends as you have a natural run-off into the other lane should you go wide (providing there's nothing coming the other way, of course).

[Yoda954]

I'm happier on left handers...always have been. Maybe I'm gay

[Busamav]

left handers have the camber in your favour .

[Rach81]

Left handers for me too, although I tense my left arm more - today I was told its because my right hand is busy with the throttle I dont think about it, kind of

[Centurion07]

Rawwr said:

Natural inclination in the UK is to prefer left-hand bends as you have a natural run-off into the other lane should you go wide (providing there's nothing coming the other way, of course).

That's why I like right-handers. That way you're only going into a hedge, not under someone else's wheels!

Not long after I got my bike, I ran a couple of feet wide on the exit of blind left-hander, & had it been 5 seconds later I would have replaced the Michelin Man figure on the front of the 18-wheeler coming the other way.

Maybe it's just me but there are few worse feelings than knowing you've cocked up the corner & you're going wider than you'd prefer, but you don't know HOW wide till it's done!

Plus, living in Basingstoke, I get to practice right-handers all the time as there's a roundabout every half mile in any direction!

[happychick]

I have to say, I'm exactly the same at junctions. It feels likes its easier to tip the bike to the left that the right. I know its all in my head. It may have something to do with the fact I fell off my bike turning right at a junction. Silly school girl error

[robstvr]

Most men dress to the left. Could this be related, somehow.

Thanks to my new stomp grips, i still may be able to father children...

[Howitzer]

I feel far more comfortable and also faster when I turn left compared to right.

The lack of chicken strips on my right tyre though seem to say otherwise.

Dave!

[Jimmy5]

I must be the odd one out



Does no one else have roundabouts were they live???

Edited to say I've just read Centurion's post properly and don't feel so left out now

Edited by Jimmy5 on Thursday 22 May 19:02

[makatya]

Well at least wih R/H bends if you come off you go sliding into the left hedge or...... On L/H bends you slide into the on-comming traffic!

[RabD]

Gullane as in East Lothian Gullane? That's near me.

[Hooli]

im happier turning right over here. the idea of running wide on a lefthander into traffic worries too much to push there & learn to turn left. its also a sight thing, the vanishing point is further away turning right so i can go quicker knowing i can stop in what i can see.
abroad i seem about equal in each direction. i speed up on left handers as i can see more & arent worried about riding under a bus.

[RemaL]

another lefty here. got much less tread left on my left side of the tyre than right?

chicken strips I mean

[makatya]

RemaL said:

another lefty here. got much less tread left on my left side of the tyre than right?

chicken strips I mean

Don't get it mate...Why?

[Yoda954]

Went for a wizz this evening & yes, definitely left-handers are better...I'm much happier leaning over further than on right-handers without my personal 'lean-angle limiter' kicking in. I did crack this on a couple of track days at Brands Indy, but I still had to push myself to lean further to the right...and there aren't really any 'easy' left-handers on the Indy circuit to compare my progress with.
The nearest 'proper' roundabout is over 10 miles away, so I'll have to go on an expedition some time

[Rick448]

I'm happier on right bends, but am getting there on lefts, if it comes to crashing, i'll take a hedge ditch or anything static anyday as opposed to an oncoming car, truck or mobile crane! Better still be at the right speed for the corner..

[John Laverick]

I'm a right-hander personally, firstly because I get more practice on roundabouts and secondly if I get it wrong i'll be in a ditch not under a car!!

[rumpelstiltskin]

Having a TL1000r this topic doesn't really apply to me as when i want to go right,the bike wants to go left and vice-versa,so,i don't know how to answer this?Well i do,both lefts and rights are a challenge to me!Honda sp1 i had really made me feel 100% in corners,fantastic bike that was,really inspired my confidence in corners

[Phone_Monkey]

I prefer left handerss, even though i came off turning left. wierd, but cos my collarbone on the right was broken, it feel wierd when turning right (I know i should be relaxed with my upper body though)