Right and left turns.

[ppopeye]

https://www.bikesales.com.au/editorial/details/faq-why-do-we-feel-more-confident-on-left-handers-111227/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=link-ad&utm_medium=facebook-paid&utm_content=faq-why-do-we-feel-more-confident-on-left-handers


Interested to hear your impressions.

[StinkyPete]

As it's been explained to me by a riding instructor, there are a couple of reasons why we tend to prefer left hand corners to right hand corners.

Left   -   When turning left, we exert pressure on the left side bar to make the turn, and also have more "run off" road width if we muck up the corner, making us feel more confident.
Right - When turning right, we exert pressure on the right side bar and that hand is also controlling the throttle, so the right hand is now doing two jobs now instead of one, and we also have far less spare "run off" width in case of overcooking the corner as we are riding quite close to the left road edge if on a correct corner line, so the brain is quietly urging far more caution.

[WendyL]

I actually prefer right handers.  My ex scared the crap out of me years ago on a couple of left handers up through the Adelaide Hills.  Chasing a guy riding solo on a Fireblade, we were 2 up on a FJ1200 fully loaded for camping.  Went round a corner on front wheel and side stand, drifted into the oncoming lane.  Thank god there was nothing coming the other way!

[alans1100]

I wonder how I ever managed before I ever heard of counter steering in 2007 - must have been doing it without knowing it.

Not sure why but I can corner faster to the left than I can to the right most times though I think it's more related to how confident I am in leaning the bike over; Maybe I turn left a lot more than I do right.

Most of the time I tend to ride one handed so push right to go right and pull right to go left and it's just automatic and don't think about it. Same for the left hand if I want to give the right one a rest for a minute or two.

The writer mentioned staying wide then moving to the apex but what does that actually mean?

The UK professional learn to ride videos say stay wide until you can see the exit then move across to the centre or set up for the next corner.

[Brock]

I'm comfortable either way, guess I am an ambiturner

[Skip]

It is a peculiar thing. I have more confidence to go harder into a left hand corner. When growing up on dirt bikes, I was more competent doing donuts and sliding through a left hand turn than a right hand turn. I am right handed. No idea why. Just is. 

[SteveR]

It is a peculiar thing. I have more confidence to go harder into a left hand corner. When growing up on dirt bikes, I was more competent doing donuts and sliding through a left hand turn than a right hand turn. I am right handed. No idea why. Just is.

Same here, I read StinkyPete’s explanation of road position etc, thought ‘that makes sense, but...’. On the farm I always rounded the sheep from the right, so I had a hard left turn to get behind them. Same pulling up to the shearing shed if a girl was visiting, always skidded in to a stop to the left...

[Marcus]

The right-hand side of the bike is where the brakes are...
You can't stick your leg out when you panic when leaning right lol

[hobs]

Had a nasty, heart stopping experience recently. While riding with a pillion on the back, I approached a reasonable sized round-a-bout to make a right turn. for some unknown reason, as later related by the pillion passenger, when I leaned to swing right, the pillion passenger remained upright. The difference it made to the turn was remarkable and scary. I was yelling at the pillion to lean and also pushing down quite firmly on the right handlebar to force the bike to lean more to be able to take the roundabout. The forces pushing the bike upwards while I was trying to push the bike downwards was quite a battle. made it around the roundabout with only inches to spare from hitting the gutter and crashing. Was a heart thumping moment for sure. The pillion had ridden a few times with me before and had no problem leaning. They didn't know why they didn't lean at that time, inattention at the moment I suppose, but was heart thumping for both of us. The pillion weighed about 140kg, which I think made it worse to control.

Anyone else had a nasty experience with pillion riders?


Cheers, Hobs.

[Shillas]

Brock, it could also be described as bi. I'll take myself to the norty corner 😄

A pillion at 140kg!  The impact on riding conditions is self explanatory. They were controlling the ride.

[Brock]

I would prefer the pillion to sit still, as then I can control the weight shift if needed.

 I once had a sister lean the other way on a right corner, we went left, up a driveway (just missed a power pole) along the foot path and then back onto the road. I guess you could say we took the corner a little wide. Needless to say, I have never had her on the back again.

[Biggles]

My load limit for pillions is rigidly set at 100 kgs.  Not only would a heavier pillion be a hazard if they didn't lean with the bike, I simply couldn't hold the bike up when stopped if they moved around.     
Quite apart from that, if you check the handbook, you'll see the total of rider and pillion is 196 kg for an ST1300.  I haven't looked at the ST11 manual, but doubt it would be any more.
So a 140 kg pillion leaves 56 kg for a rather slight rider to manage the operation.          

[alans1100]

Quite apart from that, if you check the handbook, you'll see the total of rider and pillion is 196 kg for an ST1300.  I haven't looked at the ST11 manual, but doubt it would be any more.

The 1100 combined weight for rider, pillion etc. is 201kg while the 1100A is 191Kg. The difference because of the ABS components
making a higher tare weight.

 

[alans1100]

I would prefer the pillion to sit still, as then I can control the weight shift if needed.

Heather can move as much as she likes except during corners etc.

Tammie (her daughter) doesn't even move anytime that I notice but then she is somewhat lighter than her mum.

[Biggles]

The 1100 combined weight for rider, pillion etc. is 201kg while the 1100A is 191Kg. The difference because of the ABS components
making a higher tare weight.

I expect that tare would be allowing for a full fuel tank, but watch out for the panniers and top box.  My right pannier always has 5kg in it.
It's also possible that it doesn't include the weight of the top box, which isn't a standard item.

[Brock]

I laughed at the specs for my ZZR1100, that stated the the bike was set for a rider and pillion weight of 95Kg. I was 105 (still am)

[Biggles]

I laughed at the specs for my ZZR1100, that stated the the bike was set for a rider and pillion weight of 95Kg. I was 105 (still am)

... and you broke it?   

Seriously- you wouldn't want to add a pillion to that ride.

[Brock]

Nah,

Just cranked up the springs. It was a good bike until I lost second gear, and one cylinder and the the clutch basket broke again (I think)

Thats when I bought the ST1100

[Biggles]

Nah,

Just cranked up the springs. It was a good bike until I lost second gear, and one cylinder and the the clutch basket broke again (I think)

all symptoms of weight stress!