Starting in 2nd?

[Rebel0007]

Left turns are longer.

[jonnythan]

My 550 is a bit of a dog in first gear. As a result, I often have to shift into second halfway through making a left turn from a stop. . .

That this happens only in LEFT turns says to me there's something else going on. Heck, why not just 'wind it up' in first and shift up after you're straightned out.

P

Left turns are longer. I'm generally moving much more quickly through a left turn than a right.

[ArcticHarleyMan]

1st gear is there to use. And as has been said before, go through the turn in first, until you are experienced in quickly getting up to speed and leaning. Then you can begin shifting into second, and sometimes 3rd.