Wookie hates left turns

[wookie]

Just got back from another track day. Yeah, a track day in February. Guess you can call it a SoCal special.

Once again, it's at Fontana, a left-turn dominant track. I looked the pics and noticed just how much my left turns really suck compared to my right turns....

[Thundurburd]

Well for what it's worth (from a weak kneed old guy who rides a cruiser) they look pretty good to me.

Nice pics.

[SNAFU]

Looks good to me too.

[bm50Chapin]

I can see what you're saying. It just looks like you're slightly more tense in the left turn than the right. But I'm like the other guys, looks great to me!

[inspiron]

Hey Tom, fantastic pictures! Looks like you had a great time.

Although you aren't happy with your left turns, I have to complement you on the position. That shot could be used as a poster for how you should always take turns - your bike is leaned, and your body is in line with it, but you've made sure that your eyes are level with the road by turning your neck. You're looking through the turn.

In the right turn picture, you are hanging off a bit more? Or is it just the camera angle?

[kay]

Nice shots Wookie!!!!

But I do see what you mean. In your right turns, you've got your "shoulders in position" better.
But still, great riding!

[frostbitevinnie]

Great pics!! I am sure even though you think your left turning sucks you could out ride us all. BTW I thought the only thing you could find in Fontana are gang bangers and Hells Angels, or is that Rialto? I grew up in Redlands. It's been so many years I can't remember. At least on your bike you could out run them all.

[wookie]

Thanks, all.

I added some visual aids so it's easier to see. The green line in each picture shows the centerline of the bike and the yellow line shows the orientation of my back. In the left turn, my back was out of alignment with the bike by about 20 or so degrees. In the right turn, my back was parallel with the bike, the correct orientation.

I was hoping to correct this problem yesterday but apparently more work is needed. I think one of the problems is my habits from canyon riding, as I really don't like to stick my body out to the left while canyon riding for the fear of some cager running over the DYL

[palanon]

Nice!

I'm jealous, track days in Feb. and you have that horrible choice of what steed to ride.

I'm going to print those pictures, staple them to a tree in my back yard and through snow balls at them.

[tricker]

Originally Posted by palanon

I'm going to print those pictures, staple them to a tree in my back yard and through snow balls at them.

i might do that.... or just scoff loudly cause your riding and all i see out my window is a whole lotta snow..

[Thundurburd]

Originally Posted by tricker

i might do that.... or just scoff loudly cause your riding and all i see out my window is a whole lotta snow..

While wookie gets to practice his cornering on the track, I get to practice digging out my mail box and fire hydrant from the snow bank. Maybe I should start a thread about snow throwers and the upgrades I'm planning next summer.

Just kidding, don't want to hijack this thread either.

They still look like great pics to me, thanks for posting.

[wookie]

LOL

The weather this past Saturday was actually crappy, cold (high of mid 50F), cloudy, etc. The trackday I did on January 12 was much better, sunny, warm (mid 60s).

[Mavman]

Hey wookie. Maybe time for an avatar swap for pic #2......you know, a reminder for what your striving for concering left turns.

[ORBrit]

I'm impressed!
Who took the pictures for you?
They did a pretty god job with maintaining the camera angle so you are able to compare your turns.

[87gsxrnut]

Move your outside shoulder more to the outside and rotate it in more, and get lower on the tank. Your face should basically be behind the mirror.

- Nut

[wookie]

yeah, will work on that next month.

I'm basically doing at least one track day per month these days.

[wookie]

Originally Posted by ORBrit

I'm impressed!
Who took the pictures for you?
They did a pretty god job with maintaining the camera angle so you are able to compare your turns.

The pics are taken by Caliphotography.com. They're contracted by the trackday organizer. I get to know their lead photographer so well that I can make special requests like at which corner I want my pics taken and he will do it for me.

Normally at this track, you get the left-turn pictures because this is a NASCAR track modified for bikes. But for that right-turn pic, I specifically asked them to take a picture at Turn 9, which is a right turn, just so that I can compare the difference.

[chrisan]

I have the same problem but with my right turn.
With me I stick to the center of the bike trying to look, behind brushes and rocks, further around the turn /often blind right turns ,as you know,in Malibu/.
also I fell twice on my right, never to the left. My left turns feel comfortable because I can see much further trought the turn. Strange but quite the opposite from you.
And yeah track days in the winter...
I'm going to The Streets of Willow next week.
P.S. I'm shure you know the proper technik for hanging off, but never hurt mentioning that the hips should be rotated outward towards the turn, and the chest too. locking your outside knee on the tank, you should be able to let your hans off the bars and be stable. /when stationary/
great pictures.

[motorbike.ventures]

Man, I wish I could turn like that Maybe in time...
Thanks for sharing, the visuals help too

[jprisme]

D*mmmmn man you are the man i wish i could do some leaning like that. i almost ate sh*t just trying look and do that in a chair. haha really nice maybe when i get money and get all the one piece suit, boots ,i will go out there and take the course.