Call me Zoolander!?

[lukemillar]

Had a conversation the other day with a biker who, like me, much prefers cornering left than right. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from a nervous wreck on rights or anything, but everything just feels more 'hooked up' when going left. Round-a-bouts are great, as is turning right into/out of a junction. Major roads to minors and vice-versa - all good. Anyone else have aversions to right-hand bends? Maybe it's the idea of something coming the other way and 'straying' over the white line, I don't know!! It always freaks me out when you get a bus/coach coming the other way on a right! Or maybe it's fighting the natural instinct to apex the corner and straying to close to the white line! :shock:

I have a trackday booked at the beginning of August so I'm looking forward to seeing if no oncoming traffic makes a difference! :D

So do you prefer rights or lefts :?:

EDIT: please excuse the completely subjective nature of this post - I know that every corner is different! Just generally speaking.........

[BILLY]

Love them all it's what biking is all about :twisted:

[northwind]

Lefts... I've had bad experiences with gravel on the outside of rights, and cars in the wrong lane. The first is only a risk if you hit the apex of a left hard, which usually you don't, while the second is less alarming to me when my head's not the first thing they'll hit ;) Plus, 3 of favourite corners are lefts.

[philipMac]

lefts... and I am out in the US at the moment, so everything is backwards... although I did learn to drive bikes in Ireland, where things are the right way around.

Not sure why. I just sort of like hanging off that side more.

[Lou M]

My accident was on a right hander, so hate them.

I must do a track day to improve my cornering, though the SV has done wonders since I've had him.

Nutty Lou x

[DanAbnormal]

I'm left bend inclined too. Just check my sliders out for proof!

I guess it has something to do with the brain but also every wobble or scary experience has been on right handers (roundabouts) so I guess it makes sense really.

Hooray for the lefties!

That said I still go into right hand bends with as much.....er...enthusiasm as left handers, I just feel a little more un easy.

[Moo]

Every other roundabout should be a left hand that would be fun. :lol:

[tricky]

I don't have a preference,
lefts felt more "natural" to me when I first started riding but now I'm equally happy going left or right. (RH Race school helped a lot here)

I don't much like turning right off busy roads though, I'm sure one day some git is going to run over my foot while I'm waiting for a gap in the traffic.
(Sorry for the minor derail)

[SpankyHam]

THis is strange. I prefer right hand corners.

[Abyss]

Only thing i dont like about right handers is major to minor on a busy road... stupid oncoming traffic

[lukemillar]

THis is strange. I prefer right hand corners.

Freak.

[SpankyHam]

:lol:

[JMG]

I find that left handers feel more natural, but they make me more nervous if i can't see round them. The possiblity of target fixating into an oncoming truck you see. :shock:

At least with righthanders there will be a nice soft hedge or tree to catch me. :D

[andyaikido]

On the road i find traffic coming the other way through a right-hander puts me off a bit.
I also find it more natural to hang off to the left as i don't sit straight on the bike. My right knee is always further foward than my left, don't know why, pretty sure both legs are the same length, maybe my arms aren't.

[Law]

Neither! I prefer straight roads. :P

[CoolGirl]

,pretty sure both legs are the same length, maybe my arms aren't.

Do you ride round in circles all the time then? :shock: :P

I used to much prefer left handers. I just thought it was cos I'm a southpaw, as I always felt more comfortable and everyone else struggled with the left-handers on the track :? I've a friend who's both a southpaw and former club racer, and he couldn't get his right knee down either.

[Sid Squid]

Call me Zoolander!?

Eh? :-s

I don't get it. Am I missing something really obvious - that everyone else knows naturally.

Confused of Nth London.

[Law]

I'm thinking Zoolander in the film can't turn left, or was it right?

[Sid Squid]

Eh?

Twice over now.

[Law]

It's a comedy film IMDB - Zoolander (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0196229/)

[Ed]

Rights are OK but I'm always wary of turning too late and going through the hedge.

[Sid Squid]

I like corners, all sorts of corners.

Lefty ones, righty ones - I love them all, they are my friends, and they welcome me.

[skidmarx]

Left handers often feel better because of the camber of the road. Maybe this builds more confidence in the left handers.

[lukemillar]

Left handers often feel better because of the camber of the road. Maybe this builds more confidence in the left handers.

Very good point.