Roundabout skills.

[auvicua]

Ok. Being a relatively new rider, I found myself have difficulties going through roundabouts smoothly. Every time I go through a roundabout, two things came in mind: should I leaning in like go through a corner or should I use my body weight to counter the bike like you do for a U turn? The two conflicting thoughts make my roundabout experience rather daunting. Could any experienced rider enlighten me on this? Cheers :yes:

[vifferman]

The most important thing is your head position, which is affected by where you're looking. Roundabouts are tricky, because the road surface is often off-camber, bumpy, sometimes greasy, and a small-radius turn, so you need to look through the corner (often by looking over your right shoulder) while glancing at the roundabout itself to check the surface. Just make sure your "glancing at the road" doesn't become looking at the road, as that's usually what stuffs up your turn and makes you wobbly.
Best thing you can do is to find a roundabout with no traffic around and do a circuit or two of it to get your "looking through the corner" technique right.
As to body position - that should come automatically for the amount of throttle/speed you have. It's a corner like any other, albeit with a lot more happening, especially when there's traffic around.

[doko]

Ahh man I have the same problem I end up going around those little tight ones really slow. :facepalm:

[YellowDog]

Well that's a tough problem.

Once you've mastered one type of roundabout, another totally different one comes along.

As has already been said, just look at where you want to go and the bike will take you there.

Not too slow, not too fast, nice and smooth :yes:

[Spearfish]

Multi lane ones have a bit going on, especially if you have to change lanes while going around...and your not sure what exit you need....neither do half the cars sharing the thing with you so no indicators are being used by most, the ones that are indicating you cant trust.

[rapid van cleef]

is this stuff not taught on the basic skills test etc?

[Urano]

oh... you'll learn with time.
it's easier than it seems.

much more important than the to-lean/not-to-lean question is the where-i-have-to-look-at problem, and the oh-what-a-wonderful-world-would-this-be-if-everybody-decide-to-use-turn-indicators-properly issue...

take your time, be safe.
;)

[davebullet]

When my bike leans, my body leans with it (keeping a vertical line with the bike). This applies regardless to the scenario.

When you approach the roundabout - look towards the straight ahead exit. Use your peripheral vision to check for approaching cars.

Just before you get to the centre and about to countersteer turn your head and look through the exit then push right on the bar to drop the bike in and lean with it. Coming back out, push left on the bar to stand the bike up.

Keep an even throttle throughout or better still, slightly positive throttle as you round the centre. This transfers the weight to the back and helps stand the bike up to exit.

[John_H]

If it's a very slow turning tight roundabout sometimes you do need to counter the bikes weight by leaning the other way, like when doing a tight u-turn. If the roundabout can be taken faster i.e. is not quite so tight, then you can lean into the turn.

[White trash]

Bigger round abouts are the perfect place to practice getting your knee down. Totara Park in Upper Hutt springs to mind.

[MSTRS]

Bigger round abouts are the perfect place to practice getting your knee down. Totara Park in Upper Hutt springs to mind.

I've practiced doing this for years. So far, I'm dizzy and really good at not getting my right knee down. Of course, I'm really crap at not getting my left knee down...

[White trash]

I've practiced doing this for years. So far, I'm dizzy and really good at not getting my right knee down. Of course, I'm really crap at not getting my left knee down...

Lol. You need a bigger roundabout then.

[skinman]

I cant get knee down
to many bits start scraping ohh i know why, not a sports bike:facepalm:
have found small, off chamber roundabouts make the most scraping noises.

[chasio]

When you approach the roundabout - look towards the straight ahead exit. Use your peripheral vision to check for approaching cars.

Only your peripheral vision?

I check with a bit purpose than that, myself.

[Juzz976]

Thinner oil in the steering damper helps too, if you have one, which you shouldn't so I'll shut up.

Car park practice should help a bit, roundabouts can be very different.
Theres one here on top of a hill that catches people out as people lean too far over, cars on the other side cannot see you.

I've had to e-brake at least a doz times at this roundabout and I'm aware of this hazard and actively minimize risk of not being seen.

[SMOKEU]

A quick flick of the wrist is the easiest way to go through roundabouts (counter steering).

[Biker Mice]

I need to learn how to drift my bike!!!!!! :shit:

[vifferman]

Only your peripheral vision?
Well... essentially, yes.
It's like what I said ("glancing") - looking for hazards without target-fixating on them. Being aware of what's going on, while keeping your head/focus pointed in the direction you intend to travel. It's easy (and very useful) to practice looking around without target-fixating. Comes in handy when you're in an "Oh Shit!!" situation and need to look for an escape route.
One way I've practiced it is when there's some crap on the road, like a piece of wood, a pothole, or even an imaginary one substituted by a road marking, caseye, or whatever. I've practiced swerving around it by being aware of it but looking where to go to miss it.

[superman]

Well... essentially, yes.
It's like what I said ("glancing") - looking for hazards without target-fixating on them. Being aware of what's going on, while keeping your head/focus pointed in the direction you intend to travel. It's easy (and very useful) to practice looking around without target-fixating. Comes in handy when you're in an "Oh Shit!!" situation and need to look for an escape route.
One way I've practiced it is when there's some crap on the road, like a piece of wood, a pothole, or even an imaginary one substituted by a road marking, caseye, or whatever. I've practiced swerving around it by being aware of it but looking where to go to miss it.

Yeah, he should have done that kind of thing at the basic handling course. You go down a slalom and never look at the cones, just at the very end of where the seperated cones finish. Works a treat and seems almost magical :laugh:

[kerryhare]

is this stuff not taught on the basic skills test etc?

No it is not. And going thru the cones is nothing like going thru a roundabout imo. When I first started out a year ago I had problems with roundabouts as well.

[george formby]

Magic roundabouts, often a nightmare. All the hazards you can think of neatly collected in one place. I ride them like a blind corner, very steadily with maximum observation for cars dashing out, slippy goo, off camber slippy goo, white lines, the car behind closing to quick, the car behind trying to beat me to the exit ( lifesaver is my friend) etc etc, then it rains:facepalm:
Maximise your space on the round about, look well ahead round to your exit & be smooth with throttle, speed & braking. I have no hesitation in dominating my lane & riding slowly if I have any doubts about grip. I'm also very clear about indicating my intentions entering & exiting the roundabout & will use the horn at the slightest hint someone has not seen me. I also have no qualms using the bikes acceleration to get out of a potential situation.:scooter:

[That looks like fun]

What I have found is that how you approach an intersection, roundabout has as much to do with success as anything else. :blink:
I do as much as I can before the roundabout, Where is the traffic? where is my exit? lane markings? all these type of decisions are able to be made or will have to be made at some stage so the earlier I can make them the less info I need to process while on the roundabout. :shit:
Less decisions means I give myself more time for the other issue's. Road surface, camber, shape of roundabout, girl with short skirt :innocent:
Its about changing to a system of action instead of reaction :yes:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/about-driving/giving-way-at-roundabouts.html
This is the "legal" way of doing it. I have seen Highway Patrol cars doing it wrong so don't expect everyone one to be doing the right thing :shutup:

[White trash]

I need to learn how to drift my bike!!!!!! :shit:

I'll teach ya :D