Left Handed Bike?

[Yarodia]

This is a bit of a stupid question, but is there such a thing as a left handed bike?
For example, with the front brake on the left hand bar and the clutch on the right hand bar.

Was just riding home after a 12 hour night shift and wondered what it must be like for left handed bikers :)

[wheelnut]

It is a stupid question :D

Why would you want to change things around for a left hander? I drive trucks in Europe, the clutch lever and throttle are just the same as a right hand drive.

Old Brit bikes had the gearchange on the wrong side as a way to be different.

The scariest thing I ever experienced was a ride in an old Ural with a sidecar. The bike was on the left and I was forced out into oncoming traffic so the rider could see what was coming :P

I am left handed and never think about the controls on my bike being wrong.

I did have a left handed shotgun though :wink:

[Peter Henry]

Yarodia...the nearest your going to get is a push bike here in Spain. For some reason they have switched around the brake levers here. :? However the control layout on bikes as far as I am aware is pretty standard throughout the world. 8)

[GSXR Carlos]

it is now cos of the big four jap manufacturers

i rode a new enfield bullet and i was worried that the controls would be different, but i was glad to find out they were exactly the same

[wheelnut]

it is now cos of the big four jap manufacturers

i rode a new enfield bullet and i was worried that the controls would be different, but i was glad to find out they were exactly the same

What was that like? I would love to have a go on one, to see if they have improved. I used to borrow one from a bloke when I was 15 :P

[CoolGirl]

I'm a southpaw, and never had any trouble apart from remembering which foot to put down in the test (I'd naturally go left).

I've ridden an old Enfield as well - you get used to it all being upsiude down and back to front straight away.

[cosmiccharlie]

This is a bit of a stupid question, but is there such a thing as a left handed bike?
For example, with the front brake on the left hand bar and the clutch on the right hand bar.

Was just riding home after a 12 hour night shift and wondered what it must be like for left handed bikers :)

I'm a gammy left hander and find 99% of things OK the way things are, but get funny looks when ordering Left handed Scissors and getting Kitchen knives sharpened on the other side :roll:

One thing I would like to try one day though is a Suicide shift with foot clutch, to see what it's like

[Yarodia]

One thing I would like to try one day though is a Suicide shift with foot clutch, to see what it's like

Never heard of it, does that just remove the lever like them new Honda whotsits?

Oh, and thanks for the replies. Just to fuel the fire a little, I remember driving a Fiat once and the indicators and wipers were reversed, I got used to it but there's no real skill in operating them. However the throttle being on your bad hand (for a leftie) surely makes it more difficult to control. Just like I find it hard to write with my left hand?

[GSXR Carlos]

it is now cos of the big four jap manufacturers

i rode a new enfield bullet and i was worried that the controls would be different, but i was glad to find out they were exactly the same

What was that like? I would love to have a go on one, to see if they have improved. I used to borrow one from a bloke when I was 15 :P

didn't spen long on it. the seat is sprung and i felt like i was on a pogo stick, not as nice as my sv :wink:

[haggis]

However the throttle being on your bad hand (for a leftie) surely makes it more difficult to control. Just like I find it hard to write with my left hand?

Yeah maybe so, but we have better clutch control than you conformist righties! :P

[northwind]

I think bike controls are 9/10 muscle memory rather than coordination, so left.right makes less of a difference.

[amarko5]

it would be difficult to clutch and throttle blip were the controls on the same side.

and why the hell would it make any difference being left handed as to which side the brake was on ???

P.S. I am also a cow hander :lol:

[stewboy]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol:


Im left handed and its no diffrent LMFAO

[Cloggsy]

Im left handed and its no diffrent LMFAO

Wierdos :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Viney]

Didnt someone do a wind up, Sexysi i think, about a left handed kit for an SV...my how i laughed!!

[stewboy]

Im left handed and its no diffrent LMFAO

Wierdos :lol: :lol: :lol:


thats a typical right handed thing to say ......... :lol:

[fizzwheel]

However the throttle being on your bad hand (for a leftie) surely makes it more difficult to control.

I'm a leftie and I cant say I've ever had a problem. It feels natural to use the throttle with the right hand and clutch with the left. Anything else would feel weird I think.

[Professor]

Mounting the bike from the left may feel unnatural for lefties. But
it is surely not a major problem.

I once got a birthday card bearing an artist's impression of a
motorcycle. The artist was obviously not a biker because he drew the
sidestand on the right. Don't think I've have ever seen a bike with
a sidestand on the right.

[keithd]

i too am gifted, and i don't have a problem! surely its no different driving a car and having to change gear left handed, right handed drivers don't have a problem there do they....? :shock:

nothing feels "unnatural" to me...

[Professor]

nothing feels "unnatural" to me...

So from which side do you, lefties, mount a horse?

[fizzwheel]

mount a horse?

You'd never catch me doing that. I reckon if I were to try it though it'd probably be the left hand side.

[keithd]

nothing feels "unnatural" to me...

So from which side do you, lefties, mount a horse?

personally, from behind.

:oops:

[fizzwheel]

personally, from behind.

:oops:

Not on the first date I would hope Keith :wink:

[keithd]

personally, from behind.

:oops:

Not on the first date I would hope Keith :wink:

oh no. just a bag of oats on the first date

if i was to mount a horse i'd say i'd chuck my right leg over first, the left being stronger and able to support my (substantial) weight better.

[Anonymous]

The side stand on bikes is on the opposite side of the exhaust (normally). The reason being that the exhaust is hot, so you dismount from the opposite side so as to avoid being burnt.

In the UK, exhausts are normally on the right, so as that they are away from the pavement, again for safety reasons. In foreign counties, they are on the left (ride on the right remember), so the bike falls that way when on the stand.

8)

[Professor]

The side stand on bikes is on the opposite side of the exhaust (normally). The reason being that the exhaust is hot, so you dismount from the opposite side so as to avoid being burnt.

In the UK, exhausts are normally on the right, so as that they are away from the pavement, again for safety reasons. In foreign counties, they are on the left (ride on the right remember), so the bike falls that way when on the stand.

8)

Just checked out the US Suzuki website www.suzukicycles.com : exhausts
and sidestands are shown exactly the way they are in the UK.

[Anonymous]

The side stand on bikes is on the opposite side of the exhaust (normally). The reason being that the exhaust is hot, so you dismount from the opposite side so as to avoid being burnt.

In the UK, exhausts are normally on the right, so as that they are away from the pavement, again for safety reasons. In foreign counties, they are on the left (ride on the right remember), so the bike falls that way when on the stand.

8)

Just checked out the US Suzuki website www.suzukicycles.com : exhausts
and sidestands are shown exactly the way they are in the UK.

:?

All the bikes ive seen in Europe were exactly as i described. :-k

[Peter Henry]

Joe..Your explanation as to why side stands are on any particular side is complete horse sh*t! :P

Made me giggle though. Like yeah manufaturers are going to change the run of the exhaust based on the country it is to be sold in! :P

So what about bikes with under seaters? Are we going to be getting a centre stand then? :P :P :P

[Anonymous]

Joe..Your explanation as to why side stands are on any particular side is complete horse sh*t! :P

Made me giggle though. Like yeah manufaturers are going to change the run of the exhaust based on the country it is to be sold in! :P

So what about bikes with under seaters? Are we going to be getting a centre stand then? :P :P :P

No.

Like i say, the bikes ive seen in europe were the opposite way around. I hadnt seen bikes in the UK with the exhaust of the opposite side so i figured it was because of the reason i said. Makes sense...

you drive on right, pavement is closer, so exhaust on different side, therefore dismount from opposite side.

Like i say, its based on my experience of bikes ive seen in mainland europe (France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg).

[Peter Henry]

Joe...You are still completely wrong! :P Why would it be any different here in Spain for example? The bike world is more about standardisation these days. I don't doubt that the odd bike might have the exhaust on the left but not any I can think of. :P

Your challenge is to post a pic of a bike that supports your theory. :wink:

[Anonymous]

Joe...You are still completely wrong! :P Why would it be any different here in Spain for example? The bike world is more about standardisation these days. I don't doubt that the odd bike might have the exhaust on the left but not any I can think of. :P

Your challenge is to post a pic of a bike that supports your theory. :wink:

Let me look for one and ill be back.

The first bike i saw with the exhaust on the opposite side from the UK was the Bandit 6 i referred to when posting last May about my trip around europe.

Side stand on right, exhaust on left. Saw a few others like that too.. so i presumed it was for the reasons i have said. Ill try find pics.

[Professor]

This matter is discussed in detail at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right

Apparently, the fact that most countries drive on the right is due
to Napoleon being left-handed. Driving on the left is more natural
because right-handed people tend to mount a horse or a bicycle from
the left side (thus, staying on the pavement).

[Peter Henry]

Prof...So where did old Napoleon have his exhaust fitted then? :wink: :P


*I can just picture GYKD frantically surfing the web trying ti find a suitable pic!* :P :P

[northwind]

There's a few UK bikes with the cans on the left... I can only think of wee 400cc ones offhand though, which are mainly imports.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

GS1200?

[cosmiccharlie]

One thing I would like to try one day though is a Suicide shift with foot clutch, to see what it's like

Never heard of it, does that just remove the lever like them new Honda whotsits?



It's where the gear selector runs up along the frame and you use your hand to change gear rather than your foot and you use a foot pedal to operate the clutch,

Mainly used on Choppers

[Peter Henry]

*Tannoy*

Calling GYKD, please call off your search for motorcycle picture. It's not that important! :P :P

[Anonymous]

*Tannoy*

Calling GYKD, please call off your search for motorcycle picture. It's not that important! :P :P

NEVER! I will prove my point. :wink: :lol: :lol:

[weegaz22]

only thing i think i can remember being different on bikes was the throttle on the left bar on the cali highway patrol bikes(remember chips? :lol: ) so that the officers could use their guns while on the move



be a bit stuffed if you came over a crest to find a big tailback while in a pursuit with gun drawn :lol:

[Filipe M.]

GS1200?

Yep, BMW R1200GS has a single exhaust on the left, usually hidden behind the panniers. Good one, Jordan.

[Peter Henry]

GS1200....could call but the stand is still also on the left. :wink:

Joe has failed miserably in the mission set for him......I wonder what Anne Robinson would say of him? :wink: :P

[carelesschucca]

who was the old GP rider that tried to ride his bike with everything round the wrong way, cause he'd broken his right wrist and could work the throttle... I'm sure it was one of the nutter Spaniards in the 70's or 80's

Having said that I'm sure he binned it after a few laps or came to his senses and gave up...

I'm away to check with Motorcycle racer...

[Filipe M.]

who was the old GP rider that tried to ride his bike with everything round the wrong way, cause he'd broken his right wrist and could work the throttle... I'm sure it was one of the nutter Spaniards in the 70's or 80's

Having said that I'm sure he binned it after a few laps or came to his senses and gave up...

I'm away to check with Motorcycle racer...

IIRC, Mick Doohan had the rear brake actuated by a small lever on his left thumb...

[fizzwheel]

IIRC, Mick Doohan had the rear brake actuated by a small lever on his left thumb...

Yep he did after he knackered his leg in an accident. I think a few racers use a thumb brake. Not sure who else though

[Vfr400]

Honda vfr400's depending on the model the exhaust could be on the left or right nc 24's on the right and nc30's on the left :D i think :oops:

Chris