Do you ever give your left hand a break?

[CHEMIKER]

I've gotten into the bad habit lately of putting my left hand on my hip during my commute. I commute about 22 miles each way and the road is mostly straight highway. I do it when there is no one in front or to the side of me and I'm in the far left lane, and it's only for stretches of a minute or two.

I started thinking though, that's probably not smart to ever do. If something unexpected did happen, like an animal ran out in front of me or a car in another lane that I didn't see started to come over I couldn't do anything defensive and still maintain control.

So, do any of you give leftie a break now and then? If so, when? Alone on a straight stretch of highway? With other cars around but not many? While splitting traffic at 70 mph on one wheel?

 

[mstewar1]

Nope. And I've wondered about this in other threads. Call me old, call me a "hater", whatevs. I see a lot of what I'd consider "young guns" on their sport bikes riding around with their hand on the hip like that. Heck, I've seen whole packs of guys on sportbikes, every one of them riding by with their left hand on their hip. I think it's a style thing. I've heard the "resting" excuse but I'm not buying it -- I think that it's straight up posing.

You've hit the nail on the head, IMHO: I want my hands there for the control of my vehicle, plain and simple. If we relax our hands, if we don't exert a death grip, there's no need to rest them.

/end rant

 

[Fz6Sa]

Lane splitting wheelies should always be done while maintaining at least 85mph!!

Yes, - I do from time to time. On longer runs, I will sometimes give my left hand a short rest on the tank bag, - rest it behind me on the seat, or like you place it on the hip.

You are properly right, - safety wise it might not be the smartest thing to do, - but then again a hand that is stiff from cold or fatigue is no good either ....

 

[teeter]

Heck yeah I rest my wrists / hands as needed. Not for long and not often, but I deff do it. I sure aint posing either.... trust me.

Anyway, I look cool no matter what I'm doing.



FZ6SA said it perfectly: "a hand that is stiff from cold or fatigue is no good either ...."

 

[Norm]

I've done exactly what you've described but usually not on the highway. I'm no thrill seeker and at 51 years old I'm not trying to be cool. It just feels good. I do other things that MSF wouldn't like either, like put my bike in neutral at stop lights so I can adjust my mirror, or scratch my nose, or just to sit up straight and relax. As a physician I know that riding a bike itself is not what my colleagues feel is a smart lifestyle choice. As a biker, I've heard from other bikers that all kinds of other things aren't smart. Some things I do and some I don't. We all live with the consequences of our choices.

 

[davidsa1]

Oh heck yeah.

 

[Stumbles06]

Yup, I rest my left hand, but the same as you, only when there is no-one around me. Need both hands on the bars when there's cars about... You never know what they're thinking.

I've got a mate that rests his right hand on occasion too... Throttle locks are a great invention!!!

 

[Tremulant]

I catch myself resting my left on the tank occasionally on a long stretch of road, but it's usually absent-minded and I put it back where it belongs as soon as I realize what I'm doing. I don't frown on people resting their hands, but I just don't feel very safe doing it. Just my personal opinion. I don't care if anyone else does it unless they're putting me in danger!

By the way, the hand on the hip thing looks pretty gay IMO. If your doing it to be cool, stop.

 

[YamahaMAXdRPMs]

oh... now i get it.. resting the hand while RIDING... i thought... well.. nevermind... but yea... actually i probably spend more time one handed than i do two... 99% of the time i dont even realize it... i think it goes back to when i was a kid... i use to just ride my bike around my neighborhood for hours (literally) just to think... and i would ride with one hand... not that i tried, or i thought it was cool.. it was just natural.. i think i may have even gotten yelled at a time or two in the MSF for riding one handed... its not intentional... not because im tired... or because its cool... its just a natural motion... I also only drive with one hand... it almost feels strange to have two... like im somehow fighting hands for control..

 

[Frostbite155]

I've gotten into the bad habit lately of putting my left hand on my hip during my commute. I commute about 22 miles each way and the road is mostly straight highway. I do it when there is no one in front or to the side of me and I'm in the far left lane, and it's only for stretches of a minute or two.

I started thinking though, that's probably not smart to ever do. If something unexpected did happen, like an animal ran out in front of me or a car in another lane that I didn't see started to come over I couldn't do anything defensive and still maintain control.

So, do any of you give leftie a break now and then? If so, when? Alone on a straight stretch of highway? With other cars around but not many? While splitting traffic at 70 mph on one wheel?

First of all, if you drove at highway speeds and an animal jumped in front of your bike there wouldn't be much you could do about it really

I'm not really sure, but the way I sit on the bike with straight back and bent arms, I don't really ever feel a need to rest my arms (except throttle hand ofcourse), but for that I use resting techniques that do not require one to take the hand off the throttle.

 

[Ghost Weim]

Nope. But there are times when my right could really use a break!

I too prefer both hands on the wheel...

 

[doc_simple]

not a highway speeds, usually. At slower speeds I do, I also take both hands off to "reseat" my gloves when they are riding down. I like my fingertips all the way at the end. So let the flames begin, but remember a little thing called rake and trail :Flip:

 

[The Toecutter]

yea i rest my hand,I adjust my stereo strapped to my handle bar's and get really agravated when my phone ring's and i cant answer it!

 

[FZ1inNH]

What Norm said...

Yes, but only if deemed to be a safe bet. When I do though, my attention to everything around me is heightened though.

If I know the light is a long one, I'll go to neutral as well and adjust things but ONLY if I have a car or two stopped behind me as a buffer for any idiot who might not stop.. :thumbup:

 

[oldfast007]

Why not, how else are you gonna flip your cap around backwards and adjust the the left sandal as it starts to slip off your foot :squid:

Yes I too rest it often, but with due care...

 

[Rob2222]

If I had a stunt bike, yes, I would give my left hand a brake. :cheer:

 

[mglowe]

Now how is one suppose to fondle your pillion rider with both hands on the bar...?

Well aside from the pillion humor, I do rest mine, not always but mostly because of long rides.

 

[craig007]

I do it too, especally on long rides, resting the hand on the tank bag or hip.

I see a lot of gixer riders with their left hand behind them. I didn't think it was a coolness thing, but rather a comfort thing.

I did see this old dude on a Harley chopper sitting back on the highway at 70 mph with no hands!

 

[SovietRobot]

Sometimes if the conditions permit it. Usually on a straight rode by myself.

I'm left handed so whatever rest I can get I take it.

 

[Maycyn]

I have to agree with a lot of the previous posters. I too give my hand a rest now and again. After riding a few hundred miles a day I'm fidgeting like a toddler in a car seat. Letting my left hand have a minute or so break can't be as bad as the day I decided to throw my feet over my gas tank (although I kept both hands on the bike!) to stretch my knees out. I think the person riding in front of me had a heart attack when they saw my feet wiggling at them I quickly removed them, but it was great for the muscles!