Riding Tips: “Can’t Turn Right”
Feb 18th, 2009 by Leo
In Zoolander, the main character wasn’t an “ambi-turner” he couldn’t turn in both directions, he could only turn right (or was it left?). That’s either the funniest thing you ever heard or the stupidest. That is, until you start to ride a motorcycle in a cramped city… Most people who have this trouble have a hard time making sharp rights, but some have a tougher time turning left. So what can you do to get over this…fast? Here are two suggestions, and maybe some citybikers can add some more:
One – Get Oriented
I mentioned body position a couple of posts ago… If you’re having trouble turning right (but no trouble turning left) or vice versa, chances are it’s because your body is oriented left. In other words, like what your mother used to say, the problem is you’re not sitting straight. But to over come this problem, when you come up to a sharp right (while you’re still going straight) orient your body so that your hips and torso are pointing in the direction you want to turn. Set yourself up for the turn before you get there, then “slow, look, lean, roll.” [I'm assuming you already know how to turn a bike, this isn't beginner advice, it's trouble-shooting advice for specific hangups daily riders develop.]
Two – Use the Dip
Once your torso is pointed in the right direction there’s a way to get even tighter turns out of your bike… Use the dip. This is something most cruiser riders do; Goldwings, and other large cruisers are beastly when it comes to tight low speed maneuvers, but this technique helps with scooters and bikes as well. Instead of going straight and then turning right, a trick to help make sharper turns is to make a “dip” in the other direction. So if you need to make a sharp right the way you do it is: you make a slight left turn first and then turn right…and somehow this enables you to make a tighter arc. Give it a try, if it helps, great, if not then forget about it.
Got a tip that can help someone who has trouble turning in a particular direction? Post a comment. With your help we can all be ambi-turners some day. Cheers!
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