Nervous on roundabouts today. Tight cornering

[Aaron_newrider]

Hey guys,

Note: No abusing, no laughing, no giving me shit, if ya wanna hastle a noob fuck off :) Just looking for your comments

Took a bike for a fang today, gt250r, but I suck at roundabouts and go way too slow. Main reason I wen't slow today, was because there was road-works about 50-100M away and there was water/possibly oil in it on the road right across the roundabout but it wasn't much.

I think I just don't like the whole major lean going slowly, going 40K+ it's easy, and I enjoy leaning into the corners but I'm useless at doing it slowly and guess I'm scared of falling off from the bike sliding out.

Anything anyone can recommend to getting my confidence up?

Cheers:rockon:

aaron

[firefighter]

Hey guys,

Note: No abusing, no laughing, no giving me shit, if ya wanna hastle a noob fuck off :) Just looking for your comments

Took a bike for a fang today, gt250r, but I suck at roundabouts and go way too slow. Main reason I wen't slow today, was because there was road-works about 50-100M away and there was water/possibly oil in it on the road right across the roundabout but it wasn't much.

I think I just don't like the whole major lean going slowly, going 40K+ it's easy, and I enjoy leaning into the corners but I'm useless at doing it slowly and guess I'm scared of falling off from the bike sliding out.

Anything anyone can recommend to getting my confidence up?

Cheers:rockon:

aaron

I had the same problem at the very start.

Your looking down right? ie, not looking up at your exit? More just a little ahead and down a bit?

Stop looking down!!!

Look UP and at your intended exit, physically make yourself do it, and practise this at quiet roundabouts.

It works. :scooter:

[sil3nt]

I guess i am in the same boat as you. I am very much a learner and small roundabouts can be a bit of a pain but things that help me are:

1. Relax!!
2. Look through the turn at where you want to go

I dont think i even bother moving my weight around at this stage. I was worried i was going to slow until i followed a car that was doing the same speed so i think i am doing ok. I think the looking through the turn is what really helps at roundabouts more than anything.

[YellowDog]

Hey, you are right to be cautious if there is potential hazzards around.

You can lean on slow corners, but just not as much.

As a suggestion, why don't you practice slow cornering in a completely upright position. Just let the rear brake drag so that it doesn't run away.

At such slow speeds you can also move your weight from side to side to counter balance the slow lean.

Once you can do it really slowly, just try to use the same control at a slightly faster speed.

Works for me.

Good luck.

[Spuds1234]

With slow turning, look up and if you have to, lean away from the turn.

This will allow you to do slow, tight turns (uturns etc).

It takes lots of practice and you need good throttle and clutch control.

[varminter]

I assume you mean turning right, left and ahead should be no problem. I know what you mean but all you have to do is as you get to the bit where you start to go right just look where you want to go, the bike just goes there. Trust me it works. You could start with larger roundabouts and work up to the little one's. Don't worry about speed, that's where the problems occur (assuming your not going slow enough to fall off), as you have seen cars don't usualy whiz round.

[Deano]

Find a closed carpark and practice tight turns ? It's just a matter of confidence, balance and experience. (Like anything really)

[Quasi]

Hey guys,

Note: No abusing, no laughing, no giving me shit, if ya wanna hastle a noob fuck off :) Just looking for your comments

Took a bike for a fang today, gt250r, but I suck at roundabouts and go way too slow. Main reason I wen't slow today, was because there was road-works about 50-100M away and there was water/possibly oil in it on the road right across the roundabout but it wasn't much.

I think I just don't like the whole major lean going slowly, going 40K+ it's easy, and I enjoy leaning into the corners but I'm useless at doing it slowly and guess I'm scared of falling off from the bike sliding out.

Anything anyone can recommend to getting my confidence up?

Cheers:rockon:

aaron

Hey Aaron - good on you for asking. There is a huge wealth of knowledge amongst the members here and people are more then happy to share it. Anyway - I have found the same as already been suggested. Try not to think too much about how you are going to get round and think about where you intend going and focus on that. Its more about riding intuitively. Plenty of practise and it will all come together for you:sweatdrop

[scracha]

Hey guys,

Note: No abusing, no laughing, no giving me shit, if ya wanna hastle a noob fuck off :) Just looking for your comments

Don't be ashamed. Roundabouts are dangerous things, full of fucktards that don't know what lane they should be in, who they should give way to or when to indicate. Add $hitty diesel patches (overfilled diesel vehicles braking and turning suddenly for the first time since filling up), pot-holes (trucks lifting the road surface) and silly distracting landscaping, then they should be taken with extreme caution. Gain confidence in what lane you should be in and when to indicate by reading up on the law.

The idea behind roundabouts is to improve traffic flow and therefore the idea is to keep your vehicle moving. Lane discipline aside, approach the roundabout, look at the vehicles on (or coming onto) the roundabout to your right and adjust your speed to try and get onto the roundabout with a nice safe gap. If you have to stop before entering the roundabout (no gap, poor visibility or traffic in front of you) then wait for a gap, move off, quickly check for a gap again (that's a 'lifesaver') then look where you're going. You see a lot of idiots going onto roundabouts looking to their right. There's no point in doing this as
a) You've checked the gap twice
b) You're now comitted so there's sod all you can do to avoid something anyway
c) The idiot on their mobile phone who started moving off in front of you may have suddenly changed their mind and suddenly stopped. That's why there's so many rear end crashes approaching roundabouts. It may be 'their fault' but you're insurance company and the police won't agree.

The best piece of advice I can give you (at roundabouts or otherwise ) is to pretend that you are invisible every other vehicle/dog/pedestrian on the road.

Mini-roundabouts are a complete different beast. They are a complete fuckin waste of time and in this country the safest option is to give way to any vehicle bigger than you or driven by a pensioner.


Confidence:- go when it's quiet and go round and round the roundabout
OR
get a mate with a car, "borrow" some traffic cones and make your own roundabout to practise on in an empty car park.

Confidence is best increased through experience. If you get too much confidence too early then it's usually followed by landing on your arse.

[CookMySock]

Good words above.

You can also speed up a bit and concentrate just steer with the bars and fight through though the fear, but large levels of concentration and balls are required, and if you panic and stuff it up you will mount a kerb somewhere.. :pinch:

Somtimes you will have shit days where you just don't feel in touch with the bike.

Steve

[Aaron_newrider]

Thanks for the comments guys - I think 1) I'm looking down too much 2) Maybe i'm looking around alittle too much for those crazy cage drivers trying to kill me.

General idea: Look ahead to where i'm going, practice on some big round abouts, try it upright, and steal some cones from the roadworkers.

Cheers all,

Aaron

[=cJ=]

Yep, I had the sam eproblem. I found a carpark that I wouldn't get kicked out of, then used some ice cream containers to mark out a figure of eight, then went round it ad nauseum.

Fixed my roundabout problems right up :)

[tigertim20]

Thanks for the comments guys - I think 1) I'm looking down too much 2) Maybe i'm looking around alittle too much for those crazy cage drivers trying to kill me.

General idea: Look ahead to where i'm going, practice on some big round abouts, try it upright, and steal some cones from the roadworkers.

Cheers all,

Aaron

Yep you got it matey! just practice it heaps (ha!, like you NEED an excuse to get out on a bike eh?)
Good on you for asking, better you do than have one of us scrape ya up off the road cos you didnt ask!
By the way, there are fuckall people on here who will harass you for being a noob. (and the ones that are will quickly get told to fuggoff very quickly by other members in my experience anyway)
keep riding, keep practicing, and see you on the road sometime dude

[Aaron_newrider]

Yep you got it matey! just practice it heaps (ha!, like you NEED an excuse to get out on a bike eh?)
Good on you for asking, better you do than have one of us scrape ya up off the road cos you didnt ask!
By the way, there are fuckall people on here who will harass you for being a noob. (and the ones that are will quickly get told to fuggoff very quickly by other members in my experience anyway)
keep riding, keep practicing, and see you on the road sometime dude

Thanks Mate, I was actually test driving a bike today :wari:, taking afew different bikes to see what I like. Still gotta get the bike and i'm already getting frustrated at stuff I can't do well lol.

Cheers

[p.dath]

Try entering from the left and cross to right right hand side of the lane just after the apex (which will depend on where you are exiting). Look through the line from you head through the apex of the corner (and this will move).

[Aaron_newrider]

Abit technical for a round about bro, yes when I'm in a cage doing 100k through a 60k corner, i worry about the apex and when to start/stop breaking and when to start accelerating again, but not on a roundabout. Could be wrong but seems OTT for a round about? Just take the line that looks the best?

Cheers though
aaron

[Mort]

You go where you look... look 1m in front of your front wheel and you'll get lost.

Try the 2-step drill.

1. Look at the point you want to turn and 1 second before you hit it.....
2. Look at your apex or wherever you want to be next...

when you get to 1 sec from the point you want to be, look for the next point.

Good on yer for asking....

[mossy1200]

If you get a chance get out on a trail bike (beg borrrow or s...l).Then stand on the pegs and go slow.See what you can achieve without placing your feet down.Have fun with a dirty bike and things become natural on the road.

[p.dath]

Abit technical for a round about bro, yes when I'm in a cage doing 100k through a 60k corner, i worry about the apex and when to start/stop breaking and when to start accelerating again, but not on a roundabout. Could be wrong but seems OTT for a round about? Just take the line that looks the best?

Cheers though
aaron

You were saying you were nervous going around a roundabout. If you take a good line you'll find it much easier. You have to take a line no matter what - so why not choose one that makes it easier. Doesn't mean you have to go around it at 100km/h. :)

[BiK3RChiK]

Try entering from the left and cross to right right hand side of the lane just after the apex (which will depend on where you are exiting). Look through the line from you head through the apex of the corner (and this will move).

If you are on a two laned roundabout, watch for the idiot car drivers who apex the roundabout by taking up both lanes!:bash: If they can't see me in a 4wd, they won't see you on the bike!

[varminter]

If you are on a two laned roundabout, watch for the idiot car drivers who apex the roundabout by taking up both lanes!:bash: If they can't see me in a 4wd, they won't see you on the bike!

I was thinking of carrying some ordinance for those bastards, something like a bazooka would do the trick.

[junkmanjoe]

i came with in a mouses cock of being taken out, on a hupper hutt roundy.

the guy didnt even look, just went stright out in front off me.

if i was another 1-2 sec faster,,, toast.:gob:

just have to be alert and ready to stop at anytime in the citys, even if you in the right.

[davebullet]

You go where you look... look 1m in front of your front wheel and you'll get lost.

Try the 2-step drill.

1. Look at the point you want to turn and 1 second before you hit it.....
2. Look at your apex or wherever you want to be next...

when you get to 1 sec from the point you want to be, look for the next point.

Good on yer for asking....

This is what i do too. You'll find the further through the corner you look the slower it all seems to happen. What I mean is things don't seem to rush up at you and you'll think you are taking the corner really slowly when infact its going much quicker.

Besides, bikers forget they like to take round-a-bouts quicker than cars - it's fun to lean a bit and get up some speed... but remember they may not be able to react as quick as you.

and... never never look down. doesn't matter how slow you are going, whether it is full lock turns at 1mph - keep your eyes up

[BiK3RChiK]

I was thinking of carrying some ordinance for those bastards, something like a bazooka would do the trick.

LOL Yeah, that might do it! Although, I doubt this chick will do it again. She got the brunt of my horn and almost jumped into the lap of the guy in the passengers seat! I hope he gave her an earful. Stupid broad. :bash:

Word of warning if you are anywhere near Whakatane... If using the roundabouts on the approach from Tauranga side watch out for them! Losers abound here who apex the double roundabouts.:2guns::bye:

[LaytonNZ]

Mate, we all used to do it:D I found you just have to get used to the bike and you can do "Anything"

[Danae]

I know what you mean, when it's been raining or is still raining roundabouts can be real nervewracking. Go as slow as you have to, don't worry if there's a car up your arse.

I'm not sure this is the right thing to do but in wet weather I try to keep the bike as upright as possible. On roundabouts I hang myself off the bike slightly - less likely for the tyres to slip out? Then lean the bike if the turn isn't sharp enough.

[DEATH_INC.]

I've been riding going on 25 odd years now, and I still wobble round the things like a beginner if I'm not hammering it. I can go flat out knee down no worries, but when I'm behaving I just f**k it up completely. Dunno why, but the stoopid things just get me.
Don't worry about it, roundabouts are one of the more dangerous things on our roads, Diesel, loose chip, bad drivers blah blah, all seem to hang out at roundabouts. Go the speed you feel happy with.

[JellyBellyKelly]

i've just brought my first bike and had first lesson today with my partner who has been riding a long time - he put some sticks on work car park (no cars today) and i weaved my way around them - much harder going slow!!!! but it really made me realise how far i can go with my bike (yamaha scorpio 225) ie leaning as far as i can go and to realise how much more secure i feel when i grip the fuel tank with my thighs. i haven't been on road yet, but he made good sense in getting me to practise off road to find my limits. good luck... i'm still buzzing and it's been several hours!!! :niceone:

[vifferman]

What they all said. The only thing I'd add is that roundabouts are tricky because they're often not smooth, they can be off-camber, and they are so tight (esp. the smaller ones). When you're looking through the turn, you'll find you actually have to look right over your shoulder!
Some people here have said NEVER look down; that's not strictly correct. What you need to do is don't spend too much time looking down - just quickly scan the surface of the road for obstacles, bumps, potholes, oil, etc. without allowing it to become your main focus. After a while, you'll find you point your head (and inside shoulder) in the direction you're goimg, and can still flick your eyes around without it affecting where you're going.

[cheshirecat]

And a study of these guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1BJ-RgcU1I&feature=related) could help - or not as they come off a few times!

[kevfromcoro]

Aron....
no one one here is going to give you shit for asking for advice.
as stated ..there are some very good riders on KB.
and roundabouts are scary things
just one thing? most of us corner better to the left or some to the right.
do you have trouble on right handers
its quite coman.

[Mom]

I live in the country now, I dont come across these traps for biker roundy things very often. Once upon a time the Panmure roundabout was my twice daily commute. It has only got busier since I lived there.

I aproach a roundabout like any other intersection, the cars cant see me, they wont see me, and will attempt to kill me as a result. Yes you have to go slowly when it is busy, but you can still ride slowly with confidence.

Pick your path through the roundabout as you approach. That is your right of way, assuming here you understand the road rules of course. Look to your left and enter the roundabout with confidence, make sure you have clocked any potential blind car drivers entering the roundabout from your left. Always be prepared to avoid dickheads.

Practise slow speed travelling. Hint here, your clutch is your best friend to control slow speed.

[oldrider]

I live in the country now, I dont come across these traps for biker roundy things very often. Once upon a time the Panmure roundabout was my twice daily commute. It has only got busier since I lived there.

I aproach a roundabout like any other intersection, the cars cant see me, they wont see me, and will attempt to kill me as a result. Yes you have to go slowly when it is busy, but you can still ride slowly with confidence.

Pick your path through the roundabout as you approach. That is your right of way, assuming here you understand the road rules of course. Look to your left and enter the roundabout with confidence, make sure you have clocked any potential blind car drivers entering the roundabout from your left. Always be prepared to avoid dickheads.

Practise slow speed travelling. Hint here, your clutch is your best friend to control slow speed.

Hey Anne, if you fall off, PM me, I know CPR, I will be there in a heartbeat! :D :doctor:

[GOONR]

Aron....
no one one here is going to give you shit for asking for advice.
as stated ..there are some very good riders on KB.
and roundabouts are scary things
just one thing? most of us corner better to the left or some to the right.
do you have trouble on right handers
its quite coman.

My left turns are better than my right turns. Just feels better for some reason. Maybe cause I'm left handed, I dunno.

[Aaron_newrider]

My left turns are better than my right turns. Just feels better for some reason. Maybe cause I'm left handed, I dunno.

I'm lefthanded but my right turns are much better than my left. Weird aye - i only write right left handed though do everything else (golf, hockey, tennis) right handed :)

[squirrel]

I am a very new rider and it's so nice to see that other new riders have exactly the same problems as me - I break into a sweat at roundabouts! I dropped my bike (a hyosung gt250) 2 days ago after turning around outside a cafe, was not actually moving at the time! Apparently it happens to everyone!

[Mumbles]

practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice
and smile this will become second nature to you soon enough.
Good technique helps and you've got more than a few tricks listed here to go over and practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice.
Remenber your bike WILL go where you look when your riding ....

[DarkLord]

Nothing wrong with going slow on roundabouts. I hit some black ice the other morning halfway through a roundabout on my GT250R and the rear fishtailed as I was going round a corner. I kept it upright but it was not a nice thing to happen on my morning commute to work.

Take it easy, try not to feel pressured by other drivers behind you and go as slow as you need to. Coming off is not fun, and can be very expensive.

Ride safe.

[ReigN]

Hey Aaron, my cuz and I in exactly the same boat when it comes to circles(roundabouts) but yeah I'm still just taking my time and trying to perfect it, don't really concern myself with traffic behind at the mo as I'd rather make it through the circle safely without arsing up and falling over. Relax and proceed with caution I guess. As for the turns, my right turn is still crap but will get there...eventually haha. Stay safe dude!

[wysper]

I am in the eyes up and watch your exit brigade.
If you are looking down at your front tyre, or close to it, you tend to panic and you don't have any reaction time.

Once you have assessed to the best of your ability that it is good to enter the roundabout. Be positive, watch where you want to go and go. This is slightly ignoring the whole potential driver hazards on the roundabout. More advice on just getting through the roundabout really.

Same as cornering on the open road. Watch pretty much as far ahead as you can. Try not to focus on where you ARE but where you WANT TO BE.

Easy said. Slightly harder to do. Especially when you are new. Sometimes even after 20 years plus I still f*ck that one up LOL

[BiK3RChiK]

I am in the eyes up and watch your exit brigade.
If you are looking down at your front tyre, or close to it, you tend to panic and you don't have any reaction time.

Once you have assessed to the best of your ability that it is good to enter the roundabout. Be positive, watch where you want to go and go. This is slightly ignoring the whole potential driver hazards on the roundabout. More advice on just getting through the roundabout really.


I try to look through the turn, but get freaked out when cars roar up to the intersection as if they are going to enter it right in front of me! :mad: I'm still managing to stuff up small roundabouts, but am improving... Gonna get Steve to help me do some more slow speed turn stuff. Hopefully that sorts it out.

[Rayray401]

1. Find an empty carpark
2. Practice figure 8s at a speed as slow as you can (go both ways)
3. As you get better, try do smaller figure 8s, try go for the smallest figure 8 you can do, at the same time increasing the speed that you do.
Thats what dad made me do before i got my licence...XD

Hmm, and my left corners are alot better than my right...i still have trouble leaning/hanging off the bike when doing a right..dunno why ><

[heyjoe]

hey there Aaron, Welcome to the world of riding. Don't be concerned about getting stick for asking. That is what kb is all about as well as sharing.

My 5c. Take your time at roundabouts and follow some of the good practice advice already given here. You have a right to be in the roundabout as a road user and vehicle on the road. Try not to think you are lesser than the cars wanting to use the roundabout. Be wary of them and exactly where they all are when you approach the roundabout. ie behind you, on Left & right of roundabout and who is coming in towards. you. Sometimes lunatics drive cars. Once you make the decision to enter use the advice given by other replies. I agree with the comment of making the assumption that no-one can see you or has seen you.

Practice, practice and experiment a little for the confidence build up and ride safe.

[Vgygrwr]

Suggestions that helped me a lot were to practice slow speed turning in a car park with a mate, or anything at eye level that you can go round, standing at the center. The idea is to keep looking at your mate while turning. Helps the "keep your eyes up and look through the turn" your mate can tell every time you look down. Also helps with the use of peripheral vision, seeing everything without focusing hard on one spot. I found it help a lot in being confident of bike control and just being able to concentrate everything else around. It is practice though the bike has to become an extension of you. Helps lots with U-turns as well.

[SMOKEU]

If you want to gain confidence on a bike then go to a race track. You'll get more skills on a track than on any road.

[Markw336]

yeah im scared on roundabouts even tho i only have a 50cc Scooter:scooter:
maybe you just dont feel confidence in the tyre width i mean my scooter have very thin tyres so thats why i feel scared:scooter:

[Knoppies]

If you are on a two laned roundabout, watch for the idiot car drivers who apex the roundabout by taking up both lanes!:bash: If they can't see me in a 4wd, they won't see you on the bike!

I get this ALOT and I drive a 4wd. I love overtaking ppl on the inner lane in a car that ways 3 times what theres does. Will make anyone feel slow. I have this knack for seeing accidents before they happen, so I know which cars to slow down for. But sometimes I dont see it comming and I end up with my right two wheels ON the roundabout, which Im sure I will get pulled over for dangerouse driving.

Its easy to go straight through all roundabouts at 60km/h in most cars (even in my 4wd) and KEEP IN YOUR LANE. It helps to be in the outer lane though. (if your back wheel goes more than 2 inches onto the white line, you apexed too early. You should be able to do it without touching the line. If you can't then don't.)

I had a women (I assume she was on her phone, either that or the person who passed her license should be killed) in the left lane move more than half her car over into the right lane. Then she returned to her left lane. She was traveling a little under 50 in a 60 zone. I was overtaking her (yep in the middle of the roundabout) when I realised she was crossing the line, Slammed my breaks and thank God I saw it, Riding the middle of the roundabaout wouldnt have helped in that situation. I flashed my lights at her (wanted to blow my horn and pull fingers) but either she didnt notice or she didnt care.

My headlights are at the height of most windshields. The expression someone has when they moving over the line and they realise a set of headlights is about merge with their right ear is priceless, but it still pisses me off when I have to dodge them.

[Metalor]

^^^ Or people in the inside lane think it's ok to drift over into the left hand lane upon exit. THIS pises me off, even though I'm expecting it to happen whenever I'm riding next to a car.

Best idea is to ride like you're invisible and NOBODY can see you at all, that will help you be alert and be ready to take evasive action if trouble starts brewing.

If you ever want a quiet ride with another 250 rider I'd be happy to take it easy and ride with ya. then when you get your confidence up a bit you can go for a more 'energetic' ride.

[nothingflash]

my right turn is still crap but will get there...eventually haha. Stay safe dude!

I hope so bro otherwise you'll have to go everywhere the long way...which is not a bad thing I guess!! :yes:

[nothingflash]

If you want to gain confidence on a bike then go to a race track. You'll get more skills on a track than on any road.

...because most race tracks have roundabouts...

[1wheel riot]

just say to your salf as your comeing up to it (i think i can i think i can i think i can i think i can) it works i do it all the time.

[The Stranger]

Took a bike for a fang today, gt250r, but I suck at roundabouts and go way too slow.

1) Consistent throttle - if you are having trouble with this one then relax your arm and your grip more.
2) Look where you want to wind up - not at what you don't want to hit.
3) Weight the outside peg, hard.
4) Practise in a carpark.

[Howsie]

Hey guys,

Note: No abusing, no laughing, no giving me shit, if ya wanna hastle a noob fuck off :) Just looking for your comments

Took a bike for a fang today, gt250r, but I suck at roundabouts and go way too slow. Main reason I wen't slow today, was because there was road-works about 50-100M away and there was water/possibly oil in it on the road right across the roundabout but it wasn't much.

I think I just don't like the whole major lean going slowly, going 40K+ it's easy, and I enjoy leaning into the corners but I'm useless at doing it slowly and guess I'm scared of falling off from the bike sliding out.

Anything anyone can recommend to getting my confidence up?

Cheers:rockon:

aaron

Cant be assed reading the entire thread but if you go into an unused carpark ie a school at the weekend and practice tight turning, eventually you should be able to turn around in the space of 2 car park widths, maybe slightly less.

While this isnt much bigger than the length of the bike itself, its quite achievable. Start out slow and turn, then slowly start to turn tighter and tighter. Before you know it, you are turning around in the space of the 2 parks. Let me know if you would like a bit of tuition on this, happy to help.