please help the new rider lol

[myf4i]

Ok I am a new rider since May of this year I have a 2002 Honda f4i and for some crazy reason I have the hardest time turning left when I am riding on the freeway. It never fails I tense up when I see them coming. I am usually traveling about 70 and have to slow down becasue I am scared that I am going to drift into the next lane. I know it sounds silly maybe it's fear.Any suggestions?

[Onlypastrana199]

are you left or right handed? Just a random question...

Most likely it is just fear, go to a parking lot and practice your left circles and figure 8's, practice left turns at different speeds and when you get back on the freeway, remember you have the skills, look through your turn, and stick the turn

I have an easier time turning left than right, I practice and make it a point to work on my right turns. I wrecked partially because I panicked in a right turn. Work on your skills and slowly the gap will close. Don't try and take something faster than you feel comfortable.

[Vivace]

I am usually traveling about 70 and have to slow down becasue I am scared that I am going to drift into the next lane. I know it sounds silly maybe it's fear.Any suggestions?
Without seeing you ride, I can't say for sure but sounds to me like a classic (and easily curable) new rider move. When you are turning the bike, are you trying to steer it like a bicycle? Below about 25 mph this works like a charm, but when you get going faster, the bike will start fighting you - it has to do with the mass and rotation of the wheels and the effects of gyroscopic force which will make you drift out rather than turn in. Physics lesson aside, the way to turn a motorcycle when its up to speed is to push on the inside bar, i.e. if you're going left, push on the left bar. If you are steering the bike like a bicycle, you are doing exactly opposite of what is going to work. At that point, the only way you're going to make that bike go where you want it to is to lean your body into the turn until you've counteracted the reversed steering input. My guess is that you are moving your body or possibly leaning on your arm going right, but not so much going left. Anyways, worth a try :)

btw, this push left to go left kind of steering is called countersteering.

[myf4i]

Thanks, :thumbup: I will try everything suggested! And I am right handed Onlypastrana199. I guess I just need to keep practicing and the chicken thing, that will definitely loosen me up. Love it. :happy
Thanks again. I'm sure more newby questions will pop up. Stayed tuned ha ha

[ajgs500]

are you left or right handed? Just a random question...

Most likely it is just fear, go to a parking lot and practice your left circles and figure 8's, practice left turns at different speeds and when you get back on the freeway, remember you have the skills, look through your turn, and stick the turn

I have an easier time turning left than right, I practice and make it a point to work on my right turns. I wrecked partially because I panicked in a right turn. Work on your skills and slowly the gap will close. Don't try and take something faster than you feel comfortable.

+1 Oh and this chick is right 99.9% of the time. Trust me I learned the hard way!!! :bow :bow :tongue

[myf4i]

Wow it’s been quite a while since I have been on. Well just an update from my last post......... I CAN TURN LEFT :thumbup: . The past couple of weekends I have been riding and taken her to the hills. A little scared at first but that was the best thing to do to learn how to turn correctly. So now on the freeway I'm takin the turns lol.........:happy Too bad the nice weather is almost over..

[KCDakar]

Wow it’s been quite a while since I have been on. Well just an update from my last post......... I CAN TURN LEFT :thumbup: . The past couple of weekends I have been riding and taken her to the hills. A little scared at first but that was the best thing to do to learn how to turn correctly. So now on the freeway I'm takin the turns lol.........:happy Too bad the nice weather is almost over..

Congrats! Remember to look through your turn!
It's all good!!!:thumbup:

[myf4i]

Thanks a bunch all of the advise has really helped. :)

[Corny]

Fear goes away with confidence. I've tapped cars. I've been hit by a car turning left. Once you get confident you can control your bike and make you do what you want it to do - you'll lose a lot of that fear.

It comes with learning :)

[myf4i]

Yes, I agree with that, When I first started riding I was too worried. The more time I have on the road the more confident I get. It is easier to ride when you feel like you know what you are doing. :)