View Full Version : U turn, on a slope?
auvicua
27th November 2010, 12:49
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!! Both on a uphill and I was trying to make a U turn. Are bikes not supposed to make U turns on slops? Or just me lacking some skills? Damn it, my leg still hurts.........
MIXONE
27th November 2010, 12:54
WTF is a slop?
marty
27th November 2010, 12:58
Saving bandwidth 1 keystroke at a time :facepalm:
LOL
hayd3n
27th November 2010, 13:09
yes you can preform a u turn on a slopE .
it just take's confidence, keep the bike steady but not too slow that you will loose balance.
one thing at a time obi-won .
practice tight turns on a flat area first preferably away from other small children and vehicles
buy crash bungs!
Usarka
27th November 2010, 13:28
The yanks had to put handbrakes in their tanks in vietnam for this purpose.
BMWST?
27th November 2010, 13:47
you need to be able to control your speed,with good clutch control and be aware that as you start on the downhill part the bike will want to speed up which means you need more room for the turn or you have to brake.As you brake the bike will want to fall down hill,and its likely your downhill foot wont reach the ground,so its best to apply rear brake just before you start the down hill turn.
p.dath
27th November 2010, 15:04
Come along to NASS for some free training.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/77111-North-Auckland-Street-Skills-NASS
Maha
27th November 2010, 15:37
you need to be able to control your speed,with good clutch control and be aware that as you start on the downhill part the bike will want to speed up which means you need more room for the turn or you have to brake.As you brake the bike will want to fall down hill,and its likely your downhill foot wont reach the ground,so its best to apply rear brake just before you start the down hill turn.
....And there is no one better to teach you that low speed/clutch control on the north shore and beyond than Tricia O'Conner from Roadcraft.
http://rcsom.co.nz/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001522219348#!/Roadcraft
george formby
27th November 2010, 15:39
More info please.
If your stationary facing uphill & you can comfortably get your feet down it's easier to let the bike slowly roll back on the brakes, front wheel turned up hill, once the bike is straight, turn the wheel downhill & pull away. Turning on the face of a hill is like taking a corner, you must have positive throttle to stop the bike falling in & physically turn your head to look where you want to be. It's a question of practice which will give you the confidence to trust your throttle, balance & momentum.
Think ahead when your riding regarding how you can ride away from a stop & where you can confidently turn. Make riding easy for yourself.
Maha
27th November 2010, 15:50
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!! Both on a uphill and I was trying to make a U turn. Are bikes not supposed to make U turns on slops? Or just me lacking some skills? Damn it, my leg still hurts.........
....And there is no one better to teach you that low speed/clutch control on the north shore and beyond than Tricia O'Conner from Roadcraft.
http://rcsom.co.nz/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001522219348#!/Roadcraft
Have a look at the links and bite the bullet.
superman
27th November 2010, 20:50
Seconded, Tricia is great. Did my basic handling skills course with them and learnt a lot in the short time I was there with them. Will definitely be going again for more advanced training at some point.
YellowDog
27th November 2010, 21:08
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!! Both on a uphill and I was trying to make a U turn. Are bikes not supposed to make U turns on slops? Or just me lacking some skills? Damn it, my leg still hurts.........
I do this task around 200 times a day. Once you get the hand of it, it's quite easy. Get up a reasonable speed and then counter steer to make the bike lean the way you wnat to go. It doesn't need much as the slope will pull you around once you have started. You do need to ease off the gas once over the apex, as braking effect of the hill becomes acelleration as you start going down hill. Use the back brake to control your speed and turn. The front brake will throw you onto the dirty stuff.
Practice makes perfect. Good luck.
hayd3n
27th November 2010, 22:04
I do this task around 200 times a day. Once you get the hand of it, it's quite easy. Get up a reasonable speed and then counter steer to make the bike lean the way you wnat to go. It doesn't need much as the slope will pull you around once you have started. You do need to ease off the gas once over the apex, as braking effect of the hill becomes acelleration as you start going down hill. Use the back brake to control your speed and turn. The front brake will throw you onto the dirty stuff.
Practice makes perfect. Good luck.
dude the person has been riding for a week ,some veterans dnt even no how 2 countersteer
davebullet
28th November 2010, 05:34
Have a look at the links and bite the bullet.
Hey - don't get rough!
dude the person has been riding for a week ,some veterans dnt even no how 2 countersteer
What's a countersteer?
Seriously - how are your U turns on the flat? Practice on the flat first leaving the uphill / downhill until you have your slow speed skills (feet up, not wobbly etc...)
Also - never look down when doing a U Turn. What's probably putting you off balance is not having a level horizon. If it's in the burbs - use a house and its horizontal lines to give your eyes the "balance" they need.
PS: Go to NASS or get a mentor to help you.
Genie
28th November 2010, 05:51
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!! Both on a uphill and I was trying to make a U turn. Are bikes not supposed to make U turns on slops? Or just me lacking some skills? Damn it, my leg still hurts.........
Yep ME TOO! I thought it was a blonde thing.
I have learnt yes they can do this but one must remember where one is, i.e. not on the flat. I've also learnt that I must remind myself my bike is not like my car and my legs do need to be able to touch the ground. It can cost money if I dont' remember that, plus I dont' like scratching my bike.
Lesson learnt.
sinfull
28th November 2010, 06:49
Move to CHCH ...
Owl
28th November 2010, 07:35
Move to CHCH ...
Palmy is flatter...........but then it is Palmy.
As you all were:facepalm:
sinned
28th November 2010, 07:37
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!! Both on a uphill and I was trying to make a U turn. Are bikes not supposed to make U turns on slops? Or just me lacking some skills? Damn it, my leg still hurts.........
You have had some expert advice by the time I posted this, moving to ChCh is not one of them - even though the author has a bit of street cred.
I did what you did when I came back into riding and also on a new bike and I feel your pain. I knew what I did wrong and shouldn't have tried the turn, it was a $120 new brake lever lesson.
Plenty of advice given on slow practice etc but practice on the flat will not fully prepare you for a turn on a hill. My advice is don't make a u turn from take off if you are facing uphill and will be turning downhill as you can't easily hold enough speed to balance the bike and the ground is a long way down (downhill) if you need to stop and get the foot on ground. Options are; maneuver the bike so you can start off downhill with little turning, get your speed up then turn or find somewhere else to make the turn.
If none of those options work for you ChCh may be the only option left.:gob:
scracha
28th November 2010, 12:16
I remember as a learner the bastard tester made me do a hill start followed by a U turn on a hill...I had to put a foot down and failed...git.
It's all about back brake and clutch control. Once you can do dozens of U turns on the flat (find quiet road or car park and mark out narrower U turn area with chalk) then you'll find it a breeze.
Katman
28th November 2010, 16:40
That's so racist.
spacemonkey
28th November 2010, 17:05
Move to CHCH ...
Yup I can see the post's now..... "Halp!!! I cant seem to do a u turn in an aftershock.... And I've dropped the bike on a slope twice now but he just swears at me in Chinese or sommat??"
Sentox
28th November 2010, 20:45
I do this task around 200 times a day. Once you get the hand of it, it's quite easy. Get up a reasonable speed and then counter steer to make the bike lean the way you wnat to go.
Doing a u-turn on a slope at such a speed that counter-steering becomes dominant would probably be pretty scary for a beginner... hell, I don't do my u-turns that fast on the flat.
NordieBoy
29th November 2010, 06:53
Took me a couple of mins to do a u-turn on a slope yesterday.
Just your basic 100 point turn. None of this 3-point turn nonsense here.
BMWST?
29th November 2010, 15:17
Took me a couple of mins to do a u-turn on a slope yesterday.
Just your basic 100 point turn. None of this 3-point turn nonsense here.
a 100 point point turn still requires delicate clutch control
HenryDorsetCase
29th November 2010, 15:22
All I do is coast to a stop facing up the hill, then allow the bike to roll backwards, turn the bars and the bike will start to turn, still going backwards. When it comes round past 90 degrees to the slope you can then whip the bars round and ride off. Feet up through the whole manoeuver is the key here, for maximum style points.
Pascal
29th November 2010, 15:41
WTF is a slop?
The crap that comes out of a stock truck?
NordieBoy
29th November 2010, 15:59
a 100 point point turn still requires delicate clutch control
Very, very delicate...
<img src=http://sports.nelson.geek.nz/motorsport/mybikes/Trips/20101128%20Hira%20Crooze/slides/20101128-135709-0017.jpg>
BMWST?
29th November 2010, 19:03
All I do is coast to a stop facing up the hill, then allow the bike to roll backwards, turn the bars and the bike will start to turn, still going backwards. When it comes round past 90 degrees to the slope you can then whip the bars round and ride off. Feet up through the whole manoeuver is the key here, for maximum style points.
i want to see that
SMOKEU
30th November 2010, 14:32
OK. Got my new bike just one week, and dropped it twice already!!
That's why I recommend a cheap naked bike till you know what you're doing.
rocketman1
17th December 2010, 19:20
I have fallen off many times doing U turns, mainly on moto-x bikes however.
Doing a U turn on a slope depends on several things
1. The degree of the slope
2. The width of the road
3 The speed U are going
4 The height of your seat
5 The length of your legs
On a wide road no problem, just build up speed in first gear, feet on the pegs, look where you want go , NOT down the slope, You go where you look. Turn and it should be no problem .... Remember Dont Stop. carry out the move in one confident maneuver.
On a narrow road different story, you may or may not get around in one go. Then dont try it will most likely end in disaster.
I suggest in this case, let the bike roll back slowly turning to 90 degree across the slope keeping your weight on the uphill side, dont do this fast as the bike will stop and your weight can be enough to keep the bikes momentum going downhill pulling the bike upright enough to overbalance, then the ground is a long way down, there is no way you have legs long enough to stop the bike going downhill. Now Keeping your weight uphill and the bike leaned slightly uphill take off as you normally would down hill.
If you find that your are however going over down hill, dont try to put your foot out to save the bike, its too late you will not, you need to jump clear asap as the bikes going over, at this stage you need to do barrell roll down the hill, letting the bike go all together. Don't end up under the bike with a hot exhaust on your leg or petrol or battery acid dripping on you.
Now you only have to try and pick the bike up dust yourself and your pride off , learn from what you have done wrong, call yourself a dickhead, go home tell the wife you've done a couple of thousand dollars damage to your pride and joy.
Best of all practice this so it never happens to you.
I wish I had.
Ocean1
17th December 2010, 20:06
When riding at walking pace, if you can stop the bike at any time throughout the manoeuvre without falling off then you can say you have full control.
Yeah I know, it’s a lot to ask. But even a rough approximation of success here will be very encouraging, ‘cause it works. And once you can claim a modicum of skill in this regard you can claim to be in control of your machine.
Start by making a 90 degree turn from going up to going across. Do it both ways, focus on keeping the bike vertical. Try across / down.
As things improve slow it down. Put it together into a full 180. I promise within half an hour you’ll be doing u-turns like a pro.
If the audience is stunning enough you can now launch into full figure eights at a crawl. Get that right and you’ll pull ‘em every time.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.