Hi, thought I might throw this question out there to all you track riders. I am in the novice group and trying to improve. I find that I have much more trouble turning to the left than to the right. When I lean off the bike on the left side, I'm stiff and everything seems forced. Going to the right, I find that it is much easier to hang off the bike and the position seems more natural to me. I'm including a photo of me going right. If anyone has any tips or ideas, I'd be all ears. Like I said, I'm trying to improve. I'm wondering if the whole thing is in my head? Thanks for any thoughts.



BTW my next track days will be on Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day Weekend at NewJersey Motor Sports Park.

 

silly me....that is me going LEFT not right.

 

i've asked this questions before and from the responses i've come to assume that turning is like being right-or-left handed; everyone is typically more comfortable with one than the other. btw, i'm the opposite; left feels much more natural than right.

 

You might be right about that. Funny thing is that I'm left-handed. It would seem seem to make sense that going left would be my preferred direction.

 

Im right handed and find left way easier and natural... hmmm, maybe there is a rhyme to this madness....

 

Left is normally easier because throttle is on right side.Practice hanging off move to either side.You need to kiss the mirrors.In other words,your face needs to be where your mirrors normally are.Then the rest of your body will follow.Keep it going you'll do just fine.

 

Oh and keep your eyes on the track and not the photographer.

 

Very good input guys. I definitely think I need to work on that "kissing the mirrors" concept. I'm 6'5" and getting down low is a chore. Still, I believe that is a key to some of my uneasiness.

As far as looking at the photographer, I have to admit that it does look like I'm staring right at him. Honestly, I did not even know he was there. He moves around the track all day long to get different views of the riders. I should, however, have been much more focused at looking down the track. I don't really know what I was looking at; but pictures don't lie.

The more I ride on a track, the more I realize I have to learn. I think that is a big part of the appeal for me. I don't actually care about lap times; but I do want to be riding properly with good technique.

 

Being left-handed you may also feel less comfortable with the throttle on your "weak/high" side. Give it some time, and lots of practice, practice, practice.

 

Erich,

You can always visit NHMS if you want to practice left hand turns. As someone who normally rides at Loudon and is more comfortable going left, I just did my first two days on Thunderbolt and thought it was nice turning right for a change.