can't turn right

[JDRSV]

G'day.
I have a little problem.
After 7 years road riding
12 years dirt bike riding
and a season and a half of Club racing.
I still suck at right handers.
Lefts feel very natural, but rights just feels awkward. body postion, no matter what I change feels wrong, like I'm trying to pull the bike over.

Recently got a new dirt bike and really like it, I can turn the bike on the throttle left very well, can get the back to slide smoothly using body english and only a little throttle, but, rights I seem to be pulling the right bar back and down as I wind the throttle on (opposite to counter steering) which makes the front push.
I may be doing the same on the road.
On the track I dont notice the difference so much, but I have had only 1 off on a left turn on a drying track but had about 6 offs on rights.

on the road I feel a lot more stable on lefts while also taking a given turn faster and with more lean angle.

I have done CSS levels 1 and 2 and a couple other courses but the problem remains.

I know there are a lot of good riders and races on here and would really appreciate any advice, or a technique I could practice.

Cheers

[Tomintoul]

You mean you're not an ambi-turner?

[TheSwede]

Here's a good site that might contain something useful:

http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/corners/#leaning

But one trick I've used is to lift your inside foot of the peg completely and then steer ONLY by pushing with the palm of you inside hand. This is enforces the proper cornering technique and weight load, you might have learned this at CSS but if not it might work.

It might also have something to do with your eyes, looking where we want to go is the most powerful tool we have.

You could also try altering the way you grip the throttle, grip it "earlier" if you know what I mean so that you don't twist down so much when you open it up at the corner exit.

[klavdy]

Move to Australia or England for a while.
It will force you to turn right correctly.
A lot of it has to do with the way you perceive the "feel" of the crown of the road.

[TheSwede]

Move to Australia or England for a while.
It will force you to turn right correctly.
A lot of it has to do with the way you perceive the "feel" of the crown of the road.

It might be the coriolis effect, try Australia!

[aceyx]

You have a dominant side which is normal. Train stabilizer muscles and for even strength on both sides of your body (free weights), it will make your posture more symmetric and it will feel less weird.

[jpe70]

The most silly thing; check placement of your right elbow. Is it about same as your left when turning that way? (relative your knee). One way is harder as others write, but usually not extremely so.

[JAndrewG]

Ever thought about a career in Nascar?

[JDRSV]

Ever thought about a career in Nascar?

I have thought of trying speedway.

And as for moving to Australia like some have mentioned.
I'm Already there

coriolis effect, LOL

Thanks for the feed back, changing how I grip the throttle may be something to look at.

Cheers

[naimchase]

changing how I grip the throttle may be something to look at.

Consider this.

I used to have more trouble in right turns than in left.
In 1984 I sustained a track injury that prevents me from reaching for the front brake or using my wrist to turn the throttle.
Since then, I always ride with three fingers covering the front brake and roll the throttle with my thumb.
This means I cannot pull or twist the right bar.
It is an effort to be smooth with tiny throttle changes, but my right turns are much better.

You will have to find some mental or physical trick to change the forces you put into the bar.
Good luck.

[rs250slowpoke]

I have the exact same problem, but with left turns. Body position on bike feels unnatural and akward. Right handers no problem. Can go much faster, more lean angle, etc. Ive tried moving around the bike differently and nothing fixes it. Pics of me on track in left handers are nearly upright. Maybe its mental? I have had couple big offs going lefy. Perhaps I need a shrink ?

[scubacat]

I too have issues with right hand turns....feel "all off". I think it's just a mental thing...

[JDRSV]

Consider this.

I used to have more trouble in right turns than in left.
In 1984 I sustained a track injury that prevents me from reaching for the front brake or using my wrist to turn the throttle.
Since then, I always ride with three fingers covering the front brake and roll the throttle with my thumb.
This means I cannot pull or twist the right bar.
It is an effort to be smooth with tiny throttle changes, but my right turns are much better.

You will have to find some mental or physical trick to change the forces you put into the bar.
Good luck.

You may have something there.
I broke my right wrist on the dirtbike a year before getting my first roadie.
There was 1 particular left corner at our local track where I did roll the throttle with my fingers and it worked well.
Have never used this technique on the road and haven't had the ape on the track yet.
This might me worth a bit of practise.

Thanks

[JDRSV]

Well I leave on Saturday for an approx 7000km trip
so there will be lots of time to practise.

[Peter S]

I am left handed and am more comfortable when turning right. I had often wondered whether this was 'normal' so I asked all my mates if they cornered better one way than the other. All the right handers said they preferred left turns. The only other left hander I have met said he prefers right turns! Curious how many agree with me.
After viewing track day pics of myself in action I noticed I sat further back and more upright on the bike when turning left so I now make a conscious effort to get my head further forward and keep the weight over the front wheel. This has helped a lot as it tends to stop the bike running wide. Hope this helps.