Problems with U-turns... Help please

[yungatart]

I have never been able to master the art of a U turn...been practicing lately, in anticipation of doing my full. Every one has resulted in a drop! hXc is most distressed with me!
I look in the direction I am going, get part way through the turn, then over she goes.:confused:
I cannot pass my full until I can successfully complete a U turn with both feet up.
It is starting to really piss me off! (I feel so bloody incompetent!) :doh:
Any advice would be appreciated, particularly if it will help!

[Krusti]

I have never been able to master the art of a U turn...been practicing lately, in anticipation of doing my full. Every one has resulted in a drop! hXc is most distressed with me!
I look in the direction I am going, get part way through the turn, then over she goes.:confused:
I cannot pass my full until I can successfully complete a U turn with both feet up.
It is starting to really piss me off! (I feel so bloody incompetent!) :doh:
Any advice would be appreciated, particularly if it will help!

Don't forget that it's only a tighter round a bout, practice wider turns and gradually tighten them up.

Try using only your rear brake for control.

Find a carpark and practice a figure eight, gradually decreasing the radius of turn.

Don't forget, it's not that you can't do it, it's more like your brain won't let you.

YOU CAN DO IT.....

[justsomeguy]

You tried doing really large U turns, or even riding in a circle? Then slightly smaller ones?

"I think" that "you think" you can't do U turns and now when you try them your brain goes .........:shit: - A U TURN!!!

On a small bike I preferred doing them in second. As for looking where you need to - I try and look towards my tail light - but at a point that is at eye level or higher.

That's what I do, not sure if it's any use to you.

Good Luck young lady :niceone:

[justsomeguy]

Don't forget that it's only a tighter round a bout, practice wider turns and gradually tighten them up.

Try using only your rear brake for control.

Find a carpark and practice a figure eight, gradually decreasing the radius of turn.

Don't forget, it's not that you can't do it, it's more like your brain won't let you.

YOU CAN DO IT.....


Whoaaa......:eek5: Hey Krusti ..... two people thinking the same thing and posting at the same time...... weird.....:wacko:

[Krusti]

Whoaaa......:eek5: Hey Krusti ..... two people thinking the same thing and posting at the same time...... weird.....:wacko:

Yeah, we should get together one day and make more little know it alls........:woohoo:.....not

[Mr Merde]

It sounds like you are going too slow on the exit of the turn.

Try giving it a little acceleration as you straighten up. This should bring the bike upright.

My test ( all those years ago) finished with the transport cop having me do figure 8's and circles on the gravel parking out the back of their base. Figure 8;s got tighter and tighter till he was sure I was confident. Go and practice some of these (but not on gravel). They will get your skills working. Start real loose and slowly tighten them up. I find empty car parks are good for this.

Hope I've helped

Chris

[jade]

look at the horizon and not at the road and you will be sweet, trust me

[Mr Merde]

Whoaaa......:eek5: Hey Krusti ..... two people thinking the same thing and posting at the same time...... weird.....:wacko:

Eve spookier. Three people with the same answer.

Merde

[Krusti]

I think your real problem is not the tightness of the turn but more the curb on either side. So practicing in an open space will negate this effect.

[twinkle]

Try doing it on a bicycle first? Less expensive and painful to drop :shutup:

[merv]

OK they are meant to be feet up turns and what no-one else has mentioned is if you are going to take it nice and easy, practice like crazy (as in do it a lot of times in a carpark or somewhere) slipping the clutch.

Come up to the point you are going to turn, whip the clutch in and then turn slowly keeping the bke as upright as possible and just feather the clutch out lightly just enough to keep it moving and just keep on doin that through the turn. All the time keep the bike as upright as possible. If it feels like its getting away on you whip the clutch in again, if it feels like its going to sharpen up and lean over, just let the clutch out a little bit more and all the time just keep your throttle nicely under control. Avoid getting your bike anywhere near its steering head stop because the second it hits that you are going to tip inwards unless you have the bike dead upright. Hopefully they aren't going to make you do a U-y that is that tight.

Yeah I know, easy for me to say, not so easy to master.

You see the alternative is dirt bike type U-turns where you zoom around hard with your foot down, but these guys want foot up so that's no good.

[yungatart]

Thanks for your replies so far.
I will try starting off with bigger turns and gradually get smaller. Funny thing is I don't much like roundabouts either...
I do look at the horizon, not the road.
As for going too slow on the exit of the turn, can't be mate...I don't get to the exit!! I fall over before that.:no:
Poor Mstrs is despairing of me ever getting there, as am I.
I probably now have the mental block firmly in place, will take superhuman skills to remove it I fear.:rolleyes:

[Aitch]

Practice, parctice and practice.

When I did a defensive riding course in 1980 something we spent a lot of time just weaving in and out of cones at very low speed. Riding fast is easy, riding slow isn't!

[Macktheknife]

One of the most common things, believe it or not, is going too slow in a U-turn.
Balance on a bike depends on motion, (unless you are a guru) and if you do not have enough forward motion you tend to fall over.
Another common problem is people freak out and think they need to use the brake, and go for the front, if you are going slow and have the bars turned, as soon as you use the front brake you will almost always tip in and drop it.
The only way to fix these problems has already been suggested above, practice in a large area like a carpark, start with big circles and figure 8's, then gradually get smaller,
use the rear brake only if you have to,
keep your mind on the job at hand, not on your fears.
Keep some momentum going, it gives you balance.
Have fun with it.

[Finn]

Try this:

1) With your right foot on the ground, lean the bike over about 30 degress.
2) Turn the steering full lock to the right.
3) Rev the snot out of the engine.
4) Check the mirrors to make sure all is clear.
5) Drop the clutch.
6) Hang on.

Most importantly, remember to indicate.

[xwhatsit]

I slip the clutch too, it makes it less important to have ultra-smooth throttle control and you can concentrate on other things. That's for the really tight turns though.

What really helped me, is in slow speed turns in general (but especially U-turns), weight the outside peg. Really stand on the outside peg, the bike seems so much more stable.

The other thing that was recommended to me (but either I don't do it or don't know I'm doing it) is to do tight stuff dirt-bike style -- keep body upright, but tip the bike in underneath you.

I don't know. But weight the outside peg, it takes away that `tippy' feeling at the very least.

[merv]

Try this:

1) With your right foot on the ground, lean the bike over about 30 degress.
2) Turn the steering full lock to the right.
3) Rev the snot out of the engine.
4) Check the mirrors to make sure all is clear.
5) Drop the clutch.
6) Hang on.

Most importantly, remember to indicate.

Now that would have been cool on your CRF on a dirt track but the damn licence tester guys aren't amused by that kind of style more's the pity. Glad you remembered the indicator, most of us forgot that bit eh!

Gee I must like your posts I'm not allowed to give you any more bling until I spread more around. Now who else is deserving?

[The Stranger]

I have never been able to master the art of a U turn...been practicing lately, in anticipation of doing my full. Every one has resulted in a drop! hXc is most distressed with me!
I look in the direction I am going, get part way through the turn, then over she goes.:confused:
I cannot pass my full until I can successfully complete a U turn with both feet up.
It is starting to really piss me off! (I feel so bloody incompetent!) :doh:
Any advice would be appreciated, particularly if it will help!

Heavily weight your outside peg on low speed turns mate.
Get in a large car park and go in ever decreasing circles adding more and more weight to the outside peg as you do.
Using that method you can (with practice) pull turns tighter than full lock.

[TLMAN]

I had the same problem with dropping the bike half way through the turn when I first started out.
My main problem was I kept pulling in the clutch and putting (or trying to put) down my foot halfway through the manoevre because I wasnt backing myself.
I overcame it by maintaining a constant rpm of about 4000 and when I felt the bike going down, instead of putting my foot down I let the clutch out and the bike whipped itself up and the turn was easily made.
You really have to turn your body around and look in the direction you are heading, even counterlean your body in the opposite direction whilst pushing the bike into a lean in the direction you are going.
Its easy, just back yourself!!!

[The Stranger]

It sounds like you are going too slow on the exit of the turn.

Try giving it a little acceleration as you straighten up. This should bring the bike upright.



Good point. If you feel the bike is going to fall into the turn many people put their foot down. A little throttle instead at that stage will stand the bike up.

[justsomeguy]

Using that method you can (with practice) pull turns tighter than full lock.

How can you pull a turn tighter than full lock?

I'll go practice to try understand what you mean....

[RC1]

i dont think they will test you on a u-turn will they?? they never did for my test,

[canarlee]

Practice, parctice and practice.



thats one word repeated three times not three words!:p


the u turns? i keep a little throttle on and use the clutch to control the speed (after a while you will be able to rev the nuts {boobs lol} off of it and still find you are crawling at a snail pace), look where you want to go and when you get there stop. then take off again and try and land in the opposite side of the road to where you started from.

start on a wide road, there is one right by the park and its not a busy one (use the side road area to start, that will give you a larger turning circle), and then start from further into the road as you feel you can get it tighter, once a bit more confident then find a slightly narrower road and repeat.


i know, easier said than done. shall i pop round and show you how/where i mean? (i mean the area where the turn is to the right *as you look at the front* of your house) its just an idea.......

[Mystery]

Strangely enough, U turns were the first and probably only thing I got right when I had my first riding lessons.

I was taught to start off going straight to get a bit of speed/motion going, always look to the point on the road where I wanted to end up (under no circumstances was I allowed to look at the kerb) and to put my weight on the outside peg during the turn.

I found weighting the outside peg made me feel more in control of things and less likely to panic and put the inside foot down, which was ok on the light weight bike I ride but would not be so good on a heavier bike that is leaned over.

I hope this helps!

[yungatart]

i dont think they will test you on a u-turn will they?? they never did for my test,

It is in Stage 1 of the full test. Every one I know that has recently done their full here has had to do a u turn.
If you put your foot down, you fail, and cannot progress to Stage 2...hence you stay on restricted.
Besides, I have to master it for myself as much as getting my full, anyway, I'm not going to let a bloody U turn beat me!
I will go off to the local school and put in to practice what you guys have said....report to follow!
Thanks all...(and I do know that it is a confidence thing, and I lack a bit of that at times)

[The Stranger]

How can you pull a turn tighter than full lock?

I'll go practice to try understand what you mean....

Because it allows you to comfortably lean the bike into the turn, as your weight is on the outside of the bike. So if you hit full lock, but with the bike leaned into a turn, you will turn tighter than the bike would at full lock were the bike upright or were you not using this method.
You can easily simulate the effect when manouvering your bike whilst standing along side it.

Note the taller, heavier and longer the bike is the greater the effect. That said, I haven't found a bike yet that doesn't gain at least some advantage from this approach.

[NinjaNanna]

Avoid getting your bike anywhere near its steering head stop because the second it hits that you are going to tip inwards unless you have the bike dead upright.

That's strange my professional riding instructor (also happened to be a bike cop) taught me to actually go full lock - I found this to be a good thing too because you don't end up fitting the bike.

The secret as I was taught it was,

Counter Balance the bike with your weight - you'll need to move in the seat
Ride the Rear Brake and Clutch
Let the handle bars turn full lock - don't fight them (remember counter balance).

I must say this took some practice - but became totally natural soon enough.

[ambler]

Some good suggestions here, the most important being clutch control and sitting more on top of the bike while it turns

Don't be afraid to keep the engine revving high, you might think this makes you look like a noob who doesn't know what they are doing, but that's not the case at all. Controlling the bikes speed with the clutch is important and you need to have the engine turning at a constant (high) rpm to do this. This is easier said than done when you are turning tightly and the angle of the handlebars changes. Perhaps you could practise in a car park like: get up some speed, then pull in the clutch and rev the engine up to say 4-5k, then turn or swerve around a bit while trying to keep the engine rpm at the same steady point. (Use your ears to tell if it's steady, not the rev counter!)

Once you've got the hang of keeping the engine rpm like that, work on clutch control, just in a straight line. Get the engine to your 4-5k mark and keep it there, then use the clutch to ride as slow as you can. Each time you feel like you are too slow and need to put your foot out, let the clutch out a little to get a bit more speed, but don't let it fully engage like you would if you were gonna ride off - just give it enough to stop that 'falling over' feeling.
Next you could try turning as tight as possible while going slow and using the clutch for speed control, but only turn a 45 degree angle maybe, instead of a full 180. Each time try to turn for a bit longer, and sooner or later you will be going around 180 degrees.

As has been mentioned already, keeping your body upright while the bike leans over is the best way to keep control of it. You might be surprised just how far you can lean it. Your lower body should be 'melded' to the bike here - this means get a good knee grip on the tank and keep it! You could also practise this by starting with a shallow angle turn first.

In my experience the steering lock point is nothing to either seek or avoid, the important thing is that it doesn't surprise you. As long as you are aware that you are near the lock point and you are prepared to have the steering suddenly stop, then you should be safe.

About rear-brake, I wouldn't worry about that too much either. If your clutch control is good you shouldn't have too much excess speed. Consider that a bit too much speed means your turn will be wider than you wanted, but a bit too much rear brake means... clunk! I dropped my FJ last week in a tight turn when I inadvertently gave too much rear brake and the engine actually stalled. Not cool.

[quallman1234]

1)Be doing at least 50kmh before attempting this.
2)Clutch in
3)Lock the back
4)Shift your weight to the left or right with your foot down if its a left turn
5)Spin the bike around
6)Pin it
7)Drop the clutch...

Maybe thats just me? :lol:

[HungusMaximist]

^haha..

(i need at least 10 characters)

[merv]

1)Be doing at least 50kmh before attempting this.
2)Clutch in
3)Lock the back
4)Shift your weight to the left or right with your foot down if its a left turn
5)Spin the bike around
6)Pin it
7)Drop the clutch...

Maybe thats just me? :lol:

You're not Finn's son by any chance from a forgotten liaison are you?

Good for a dirt bike turn on a narrow track of course. Except like my description, you forgot the indicators unlike Finn who had that covered.

[McJim]

Hi Janet,

Best of luck with your full. I remember doing my basic handling with John Wright. He would stand in the centre of the turn and demand eye contact - in essence making you look over your right shoulder, not just to the right of the front wheel.

Without knowing any technical shit this worked for me - so when turning right look as far to your right as feels comfortable then add another 5 degrees. Your bike will go where you look.

Hope this is helpful too. Not as technical as other replies though.

[quallman1234]

You're not Finn's son by any chance from a forgotten liaison are you?

Good for a dirt bike turn on a narrow track of course. Except like my description, you forgot the indicators unlike Finn who had that covered.

Seriously!, Ask Sketchy_racer i showed him :P.
Mmm really gotta watch my self now on group rides now :(, Too tempted to mess around :(.

Ill show you next time maybe, but probably get told off :P hehe.

[merv]

Seriously!, Ask Sketchy_racer i showed him :P.
Mmm really gotta watch my self now on group rides now :(, Too tempted to mess around :(.

Ill show you next time maybe, but probably get told off :P hehe.

Nah all good fun, just not the sort of thing you'd do in front of the licence person eh! Like a handbrake turn in a car - I'm sure they'd love that too.

[yungatart]

"tis all good , Merv. I can sort out the wheat from the chaff!
And I did say that all replies would be appreciated, even if they weren't particularly hepful.....
I have decided to stop practicing this on the road and go to a carpark where I don't feel so hemmed in by the kerb...so much of this is psychological...
now I just have to talk hXc in to trusting me with his bike again! (thats prolly harder to do than the ruddy u turn!)

[janno]

I use my back brake at low speeds - apparently combined with a bit of throttle n clutch it tricks the bike in to thinking it's going faster so stays upright. But I've never had a problem with u turns so can't really imagine what might be going on.

Apart from that, I can't really help as I've always ridden horses, so have the "look where you are going" thing ingrained after 25 plus years of riding. Cos if you look at the ground on a horse, you usually end up there!

Good luck with it - you are going to feel a million bucks when you get it sorted!

[merv]

Hope you get it sussed.

As for the other stuff yeah don't worry about tyre smoking turns for a while yet.

[Kinje]

I have never been able to master the art of a U turn...been practicing lately, in anticipation of doing my full. Every one has resulted in a drop! hXc is most distressed with me!
I look in the direction I am going, get part way through the turn, then over she goes.:confused:
I cannot pass my full until I can successfully complete a U turn with both feet up.
It is starting to really piss me off! (I feel so bloody incompetent!) :doh:
Any advice would be appreciated, particularly if it will help!

This something we covered at the RRRS course in Napier- I think you were there?

During the figure 8 exercise we were told to look through the turn to the exit with your head up. Weight the outside peg, made a huge difference to stability at slower speeds.

Like others have said, find a carpark and practice with some space.

Good luck sorting it out and then with your test :)

[ManDownUnder]

A couple of suggestions - one I use to teach people backing (a car...) and the other one I was taught years ago on a defensive riding course.

Both need a carpark

The one I was taught first... ride in a circle big enough for you to not need your brakes. Your goal is to control the tip of the bike with the throttle only.

Start by riding straight and turning gently (left or right - doesn't matter). Put on some power as you are turning and you'll feel the bike straighten up and accelerate "out" of the corner. Give it a few goes and you'll get the measure of the bike - how much power it puts down and the effect it has on cornering.

Once you have that mastered, try riding either in circles or (preferably) figure 8's. Don't use the brakes, just the gas to see how well you can control the bike in ever reducing circle sizes.

Don't go nuts though. Getting dizzy happens quicker than you expect - and on a bike that gets expensive.

The other thing to watch is the risk of high siding it - too much power coming on too fast will cause the bike to go from one lean angle to the opposite... and it's a shitter of a thing if that happpens too fast.
===

The other is a slow bike race. Go from point A to point B as slowly as you can, without putting feet down or doubling back. You should be riding the clutch, braking, and using the throttle all the the same time.

It has nothing to do with cornering per se but gives you the ability to use a fine degree of control at all times - especially useful for U turns when you otherwise feel the bit "wobbly" on the way round.

Good luck!

[Big Dave]

www.rrrs.org.nz
would be perfect for you.

[timg]

Carpark's etc are ok for practice, but if you are expecting to fall :( try finding a flat grassed rest area or similar to practice on (just not first thing in the morning if there's been a dew to wet the grass). The bike won't get any damage from the low speed falls and you won't worry about it. All the best. :2thumbsup

[terbang]

1)Be doing at least 50kmh before attempting this.
2)Clutch in
3)Lock the back
4)Shift your weight to the left or right with your foot down if its a left turn
5)Spin the bike around
6)Pin it
7)Drop the clutch...

Maybe thats just me? :lol:

Nahh not just you, I watch my 16 year old daughter doing that on her DT 175 all the time. She usually follows it with a good 500m on the back wheel.

[gsp0702]

I had problems with U-turns when i was learning as well, what helped me sort it out was to move my head do observations in both directions ( if your doing a u-ey its going to ne on two way street and you should keep looking for traffic in both directions) stopped my head being over to one side and upsetting the centre of gravity, as if you think about it helmet wieghing a couple of kilos and your head all hanging over to one side is gonna upset the balance of things. Anyway thats what worked for me. And a couple of weeks after my test pissed the old man of by doing a perfect u-turn on his pan-european (ST1100) which he couldnt. Anyway good luck and i amsure you will get it sorted.

[Ocean1]

Ah, balance, one of my less (amongst stiff competition) refined attributes.
Confidence comes with success, which invariable comes with a couple of bruises. Still, an understanding of technique is (I’m told) important. Executing tight turns with both wheels in the attitude god intended does take a few practice runs to get down. As others have noted the bike needs to lean in order to turn, but at low speed you need to counter-balance that lean by sitting more upright and weighting the outside peg.

Extreme examples work well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b55Fs0405tI

Notice that his body is pretty much over the tyre’s contact patch all the time. Now don’t go thinking you need to park your arse all the way out there like that, but you get the idea behind the technique eh? Lean the bike and keep your body upright, control the rest of the balance equation with the throttle.

Start with plenty of room and a couple of markers (rocks, whatever). Gradually move the markers in as you get more comfortable. Good luck, when you get it worked out let me know huh? Could do with a bit of a refresher myself…

Next week’s lesson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BASRgFAszg

[quallman1234]

Nahh not just you, I watch my 16 year old daughter doing that on her DT 175 all the time. She usually follows it with a good 500m on the back wheel.

16 eh ;).
Indeed i do the same thing afterwards... What else are you meant to do after a low speed turn... On to the back wheel i go. :niceone:

On a more serious note, Hope you get it sorted :).

[klingon]

Hi Janet,

Best of luck with your full. I remember doing my basic handling with John Wright. He would stand in the centre of the turn and demand eye contact - in essence making you look over your right shoulder, not just to the right of the front wheel.

Without knowing any technical shit this worked for me - so when turning right look as far to your right as feels comfortable then add another 5 degrees. Your bike will go where you look.

Hope this is helpful too. Not as technical as other replies though.

Hiya, Tart!

I know you said you already look where you want to go, so maybe this is too simplistic for you. But seriously, I just want to re-emphasise what McJim said. Once I mastered that basic rule, I have never had problems with U-turns again.

So get one of those helpful men in your life to stand directly behind your bike. Ride away from him for 10 or 20 metres, turn to look back at him, and keep eye contact all the way through the turn. It doesn't matter how big a circle you make in your turn, as long as you don't break eye contact.

Good luck girl, I know exactly how frustrating this feels! :msn-wink:

[duckonin]

Hi Youngtart don't lean into your slow turns even remotely, by looking to much into a tight arc your body will want to follow don't look at the ground if at all pos as your eyes will take your head and with that it means a weight shift down and to the inside ( fall over) keep your head in line with your bike and load a little weight to the outside of your bike hip or shoulders it doesn't matter to much, as other have said feather the clutch if you feel you are going to fall into your circle do as above and remember to load a little weight onto your left bar for the right or right for left that should help keep your bike up where you want it in slow turns..cheers

[limbimtimwim]

Like others have said, it is important to be able to go slow.

Real slow.

Slower than walking.

Slower than slow walking.

[limbimtimwim]

www.rrrs.org.nz
would be perfect for you.OH MY GOD A PLANE IS GOING TO CRASH INTO THOSE N00BS!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Dave]

OH MY GOD A PLANE IS GOING TO CRASH INTO THOSE N00BS!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent - do you realise the odds of another plane ever...- Garp.

[scracha]

This is a fraction of what us Brit types spend a day or two doing before we're even allowed near the road.

Practise slow riding, then using 3 cones do tight figures of 8 and then attempt U turns.

1) Practise going between running speed, almost coming almost to a stop and walking speed without putting your feet down, without using the front brake and by keeping the throttle in exactly the same position. Slow speed control should be done only via the clutch lever and rear brake. Common noob mistakes are grabbing handful's of front brake or leaving feet off pegs for too long. Feet ON pegs is much more stable.
2) Get competent doing nice big figure of 8's. Look where your going (not at front wheel). Don't let bike run away from you. Bring cones closer together until figures of 8 are nice n' tight.
3) Should now be a piece of p!ss actually doing the U-turn manouvere. What's more important is that you're checking over your (right) shoulder and using them indicator things that most kiwi's think are optional accessories. Start practising between painted/chalk lines. Pull away from "pretend" side of road as normal (shoulder check, indicate, shoulder check, move off, cancel indicator, check mirror), get up to a stable speed before starting the U-turn manouvere. Most beginner mistakes are made by trying to turn before bike is at a stable speed. Mirror, indicate, shoulder check, TURN, check mirror, cancel indicator.

If it's a wee moped then it's harder and you have to do your speed control via the rear brake. It's much harder to do on a light little bike than on a bigger one and I sometimes used to get a red face when I jumped on some learner's 125 to demonstrate and ended up putting a foot down.

[Shiny side up]

I will try starting off with bigger turns and gradually get smaller. Funny thing is I don't much like roundabouts either...
I do look at the horizon, not the road.

Been thinking about this one....... I noticed (because I was thinking about it) that when I do really tight low speed turns I tend to lean the bike over but not my body. It make the bike peel round and still have my body to throw the other way to bring it back up again.

[Oakie]

Which bike are you doing this on? If it's the EL250, well Mrs Oakie has had problems on her's too. In fact she has just mentioned that this weekend was the first time she's done a U turn on her's without having a foot down. Come to think of it, I've found it a bit cumbersome too, compared to my bike. I know her's has a much wider turning circle than mine.

[smudge]

Practice riding as slow as you can in a straight (more or less) line without putting your foot down. Time yourself so you know if you're going slower, you cant do a slow U turn if you cant go slow in a straight line.

When you start practicing doing a U turn, try keeping your speed up a little. It is my bet that the motor is stalling, the handle bars are tucking in and you end up on your ear. Keep some weight on the outside peg - just a little and always always always look where you want to go. That applies at all speeds, look at a tree when you're in a hell tank slapper and you will hit the tree.

Keeping the revs up and slipping the clutch will probably have too much happening at once for it to work for you, but it depends a bit on the bike.

[yungatart]

Which bike are you doing this on? If it's the EL250, well Mrs Oakie has had problems on her's too. In fact she has just mentioned that this weekend was the first time she's done a U turn on her's without having a foot down. Come to think of it, I've found it a bit cumbersome too, compared to my bike. I know her's has a much wider turning circle than mine.

The last attempt was on hXc's Spada....never did master the art of U turning the EL...it is those long cruiser style forks I reckon, but I have successfully u turned the Ninja...was a while ago tho, and the last couple of times I have dropped it.
I kinda think it is silly that you have to do this with both feet up tho, because I can't think of a situation where you wouldn't be able to put at least one foot on the ground doing a u turn, in real life. I guess it proves something, but not sure what!
I will be using the Spada for my full (if he will let me......)

[MSTRS]

I kinda think it is silly that you have to do this with both feet up tho, because I can't think of a situation where you wouldn't be able to put at least one foot on the ground doing a u turn, in real life. I guess it proves something, but not sure what!


It proves competency of bike control (at least, it does to the tester). If you can't do it, you don't pass.
However, in real terms, I agree that having a foot down in a U-turn is not a hanging offence.

[tri boy]

I think the EL would be a very difficult bike to master tight "U" turns on.(I understand riding instructors have noted that cruiser riders do struggle with this).
Kannys little Volty is a breeze at said maneuver.:scooter:

[bandit_girl]

Hey there.
I'm no expert but .....
I did a defensive riding course a while ago and i don't know if you have been taught to counter steer and balance yet?. But learning to counter steer and balance on your motor bike will benefit you greatly when it comes to u turns and just about everything else you do while riding.
I really don't want to be babbling on about it in here if you already know how to do it.
But if you want to learn i'm happy to give you an explanation on it. PM me if you want help.

[zeocen]

I'm not sure if this is of any help for you, but thinking about U-turns reminds me of a video I did recently, and someone mentioned to me that seeing me do a u-turn from my field of vision helped them understand a little better (not that I do anything special in it, I just turn around).

http://www.livevideo.com/video/zeocen/7DE157B17421441897841625D6DAD24E/weymouth-part-1-memorieeeees.aspx

About 1:25 left of the video I do a u-turn, just a run of the mill u-turn due to missing a road, and I'm by no means a good rider, still a newbie myself! So I'm not sure if this will help but I thought I would post it here incase where I look/what I do helps you in any way, and good luck for your full!!

[Spyke]

hey
why don't you take a ride out to one of the great hb farmer boys, and use one of the old farm bikes to practice all of your slow riding. i would offer mine but it isn't running (argh). im sure they wouldn't mind and it would make you improve so much in under and hour.

[limbimtimwim]

I kinda think it is silly that you have to do this with both feet up tho, because I can't think of a situation where you wouldn't be able to put at least one foot on the ground doing a u turn, in real life. Feet on pegs improves balance. Having your legs waving around is upsetting the bike

[H00dz]

:bleh:I suck at these but will be trying out a lot of the feedback so hopefully It wont be long and Ill be mastering it too

[yungatart]

I have given up practicing for a while. i just want to enjoy riding without putting any pressure on myself, so that is what I have decided to do.
I guess the more I ride and enjoy it, the easier everything will get. Well, that's what I am hoping for, anyway.
Let me know how you go, Hoodz, I'll be thinking of you...

[Jizah]

I'll be doing my full licence on a CT110 so u-turns will be a breeze!

[scracha]

I'll be doing my full licence on a CT110 so u-turns will be a breeze!

See earlier post. Smaller bikes are HARDER to do u-turns on.

[vifferman]

See earlier post. Smaller bikes are HARDER to do u-turns on.
I don't think so.
It's not so much size, but how the weight is distributed, the steering geometry, and the relative positions of the bars, seat and footpegs. Apart from that, it's what you do with your body and its parts. On the VFR, to do a realy tight u-turn, I have to ride the rear brake, hang off the uphill side of the seat, and turn my head to look over my shoulder, or it just doesn't come together. The VTR1000 was about the same weight, but slightly easier as it was narrower. The last VFR was easier, as it had a lower seat, so lower CoG. The XBR500RS Mutant and VF500 were easyish, because they were light and narrow. The bikes before that were small and I did a lot of off-road riding, slides, donuts, etc. (even on the road bikes) so had the Body English thing well sorted.

[Jizah]

See earlier post. Smaller bikes are HARDER to do u-turns on.

Ever ridden a CT110? You can do a u-turn quite comfortably in a little more than a single lane, sometimes even within the lane.

[scracha]

Ever ridden a CT110? You can do a u-turn quite comfortably in a little more than a single lane, sometimes even within the lane.

You never read my earlier thread then :-) Back in blighted blighty I used to instruct the learners on their (mostly) 125's. The wee bikes aren't harder from a "weight" balance or amount of steering lock or any of that $hite. It's just that there's less centrifugal force from the engine spinning which combined with their low weight makes them more unstable. Honestly, you'll jump off the CT110 onto a 600 or summit and be amazed how much easier it is. I always found the the 2 strokes and the twist and go mopeds hardest to U-turn on. Many a red face was had by moi after jumping off my own bike to demonstrate to some learner who was wingeing about how hard it was on their bike.

[Grub]

Merv was there first with the magic answer


OK what no-one else has mentioned ... slipping the clutch

Just in case you think this is an advanced technique, it's not. This is the ONLY way to control speed and position in a u-turn.

Besides ... you've got the perfect bike for it haven't you :)

[Terminated]

In your full licence test the expectation is you can ride, however there is a strong emphasis on Hazard Detection.

Here is an entry from 2nd March 2007, take the time out to practise all facets of your slow bike control. You will gain confidence in some facets more quickly than others and I am sure you will enjoy the challenge and reward.

Heads Up and Enjoy




Here is a tip – go to the $2 Shop and pick up some tennis balls, cut them in half and use them as markers in the carpark. I use around 12 halves.


1. Counter steering [pushing on the inside grip]
I paced these out to 12metres apart with 9 markers.

2. Slow bike control u-turn [head position over shoulder, weight outside footpeg, clutch, throttle, footbrake.]
Here I make a box 15metres x 15 metres

3. Straight line slow bike control.
A narrow corridor just under a metre wide, 18 metres long space your markers down each side. From standing start move down the corridor no quicker than 10 seconds and see how long you can string it out to without putting a foot down and remaining in the corridorr

4. Braking procedure [off throttle, frontbrake, clutch, rear brake, gear down to first, left foot down, rear brake covered.]

Here I have markers each side about 4 metres wide and 10metres apart down the line with 3 down each side.

This is not a full on emergency braking procedure, just take your time and come down from 2nd gear then, 3rd gear., stopping in your own time the shute is just a guide area.
Do this several runs then ride through without braking taking a note the speed you were doing eg 25kph. This is will be your own comfortable starting point for braking practice.

5. Brake and Stop and Accelerate.
From standing start move off up to second gear, brake coming to a stop and without putting your foot down immediately accelerate again.

6. Head Up.
In all the above keep your head up, and enjoy your practice.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[_intense_]

look to where you want to go. head up if you are falling in?

[H00dz]

I have given up practicing for a while. i just want to enjoy riding without putting any pressure on myself, so that is what I have decided to do.
I guess the more I ride and enjoy it, the easier everything will get. Well, that's what I am hoping for, anyway.
Let me know how you go, Hoodz, I'll be thinking of you...


Sure thing tried some tips today..... big improvement guess its a confidence thing definately improved my handling from the tips suggested in your thread thanks for posting it here some Bling for your troubles

[2_SL0]

Try this:

1) With your right foot on the ground, lean the bike over about 30 degress.
2) Turn the steering full lock to the right.
3) Rev the snot out of the engine.
4) Check the mirrors to make sure all is clear.
5) Drop the clutch.
6) Hang on.

Most importantly, remember to indicate.

LMAO, I tried it, I did a 360 instead. What went wrong?