Why the 'U' turn?

[Lucy]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway....why do you have to do u turns on a driving test? I am sitting my 'full' on Tuesday and have been practising these, as I keep reading how people do two or three on their tests.

I never do u turns in my normal riding, so I am practising these purely for my test. I did figure 8s at the RRRS course, and they were fun, but I don't do them either, when I am riding my bike.

Why are U turns so important that they are tested? Is it to show you are in control of your bike maybe?

[chanceyy]

my understanding is to show that you have good control at low speed .. but then I have not sat my full yet :lol:

[sAsLEX]

I have heard the Police are so poor at them they have them in the test to ensure that more people are not injured on our roads by incompetent U turns.

[Warren]

I do U turns occasionally in everyday riding, and I think most people do. I only do them when lost or go past somewhere I want to go (such as spotting a particular shop after passing it). If you only ride between known locations on known roads then you would probably never do one.

[sunhuntin]

i have done heaps of u turns when riding. my worst planned one was to take a photo of a cheese cutter. NEVER put your left foot down when there is NOTHING for it to lean on... makes it fuckin hard to get the bike upright!

as for why we have to do them... who knows. i know i did an impromptu one on the restricted [turning around to come back from the 100k section] they are a peice of piss once youve done them a few times.

[janno]

They show control of the bike at low speeds, and the more you get out and about the more you will start to do them in your normal day to day riding.

It's not unusual to see grown men (and women) on litre bikes diddling about doing 45 point turns because they can't do a neat and tidy u turn in a tight radius. Not a good look, and shows lack of overall handling skills.

[blue eyed savage]

whats so hard about them. only thing i worry about is stalling my bike.
did like 2 or 3 on my restricted, made a few wrong turns but still pasted. just praticed in an emty parking lot

[McJim]

It's not unusual to see grown men (and women) on litre bikes diddling about doing 45 point turns because they can't do a neat and tidy u turn in a tight radius. Not a good look, and shows lack of overall handling skills.

I can't do a U turn in a narrow road on my Ducati...but then there are ocean liners with tighter turning circles than Ducatis....:rofl:

U turn on a naked 250 is a piece of piss coz the handlebars come round an extra 15 degrees.

[klingon]

When I was on my learner's I used to do a U-turn every day in the car park at work, to get in the right position to park. Then I got my restricted, changed jobs, and I don't think I've done a single U-turn since then. I hope I still have the knack when it's time to sit my full. :sweatdrop

[Ixion]

It doesn't matter how far the bars turn cos you lean the bike, Just lean a bit more.

I don't understand how people who say they don't do U turns turn around ? I would do several every day.

[discotex]

Why are U turns so important that they are tested? Is it to show you are in control of your bike maybe?

You should only have to do one u-turn in a 50km/h zone for your full test.

The reason is it lets them test a bunch of skills all at the same time.

1. Indicating
2. Head check
3. Checking traffic hazards in both directions
4. Slow speed handling
5. Gap selection

Cages have to do their u-turn in a 70km/h zone or higher but bikes get off a bit easier.

Just remember when you do the hazard identification part to point out the tester behind is a hazard. Also tell them if it was a stop sign or give way sign etc. Don't forget pedestrians and anything else moving.

[janno]

I can't do a U turn in a narrow road on my Ducati...but then there are ocean liners with tighter turning circles than Ducatis....:rofl:

U turn on a naked 250 is a piece of piss coz the handlebars come round an extra 15 degrees.

True, true, I must admit my 650 Hoonda is the size of a lot of 250s so nice and easy.

I can u turn on MY ducati though . . . :clap: cos it's a GTL500 so about as big as the Hoonda!

[Toaster]

I tried a U-turn on the M109R once..... after 3 miles, she finally came around and headed the other way.

[Donor]

You should only have to do one u-turn in a 50km/h zone for your full test.

The tester made me do 2 for my full - does this mean I am special? :blink:

[Toaster]

The answer to why is simple - they can be potentially very dangerous and present many potential "threats" from different directions - in front, behind and both sides when vehicles pull out or round corners at speed.

It is a reasonably good test in the right conditions to see if you can show an awareness of multiple threats and indicates your ability to pick a sensible spot to minimise the potential dangers.

The two recent cases in the media are sadly very good examples of a "simple" u-turn going very badly wrong and would likely be due to a number of contributing factors in the crashes.

[discotex]

The tester made me do 2 for my full - does this mean I am special? :blink:

Yep speshal. But you already knew that ;)

Guess they might do get you to do extras to make sure but if you nail it there should only be one according to the instructor I did my DD course cage ride with.

[Lucy]

You should only have to do one u-turn in a 50km/h zone for your full test.

The reason is it lets them test a bunch of skills all at the same time.

1. Indicating
2. Head check
3. Checking traffic hazards in both directions
4. Slow speed handling
5. Gap selection

Cages have to do their u-turn in a 70km/h zone or higher but bikes get off a bit easier.

Just remember when you do the hazard identification part to point out the tester behind is a hazard. Also tell them if it was a stop sign or give way sign etc. Don't forget pedestrians and anything else moving.

Fair enough, that makes a lot of sense.

.[/QUOTE]whats so hard about them. only thing i worry about is stalling my bike..[/QUOTE]

I don't find them all that hard, just wondering why they are so necessary.


[/QUOTE]I don't understand how people who say they don't do U turns turn around ? I would do several every day.[/QUOTE]

Well it's like when the doctor told my Grandad to take up walking a mile a day. He did it religously and now we have no idea where he is.....

:Oops:

[Lucy]

The answer to why is simple - they can be potentially very dangerous and present many potential "threats" from different directions - in front, behind and both sides when vehicles pull out or round corners at speed.

It is a reasonably good test in the right conditions to see if you can show an awareness of multiple threats and indicates your ability to pick a sensible spot to minimise the potential dangers.

The two recent cases in the media are sadly very good examples of a "simple" u-turn going very badly wrong and would likely be due to a number of contributing factors in the crashes.


This is a big reason why I don't normally do them. I am never in that much of a hurry that I can't just pull over and have a good look around and triple check, before I turn back.

[toebug]

If you ride enough surely you will do u turns for hundreds of reasons, I do plenty to turn around and re-ride the cool section of road that I just came through.

And hell if your bike is too big to turn tightly hold the front brake tight and dump the clutch! Bloody easy to turn then!

[sunhuntin]

surely the full u turn isnt meant to done in one fluid motion? ie, indicate, pull over, quick check, indicate out, turn, and pull over, without taking feet off the pegs.

when ever i u turn, i always put my feet down, check a few times in all directions, pull out into the turn and pull my feet up. if you aint meant to do it like that, im in trouble!

[Monsterbishi]

The U-turn may not even be part of your test, wasn't in mine, but then again, the tester knew I'd been on my learners for over a decade so had already realised I wasn't exactly new to the game :Punk:

[Ixion]

surely the full u turn isnt meant to done in one fluid motion? ie, indicate, pull over, quick check, indicate out, turn, and pull over, without taking feet off the pegs.



Well, that's how I usually do them! But I dunno what a tester would want. Thing with stopping is, when you start again you need to ride forward a bit anyway, to get enough speed up to lean over.

I have seen people try to do U turns with the bike upright, steering it with the bars. I don't think that works. A U turn is just a right hand turn immediately followed by another right hand turn. You countersteer and lean just like any other right hand turn.

[Winston001]

I can't do a U turn in a narrow road on my Ducati...but then there are ocean liners with tighter turning circles than Ducatis....:rofl:



Amen to that! The ST4 I thrashed er.... tested felt like it needed a paddock to complete a U turn.

[AllanB]

Its in case later in life you want to become a car cop and kill motorcyclists :gob:

[Lucy]

Well, that's how I usually do them! But I dunno what a tester would want. Thing with stopping is, when you start again you need to ride forward a bit anyway, to get enough speed up to lean over.

I have seen people try to do U turns with the bike upright, steering it with the bars. I don't think that works. A U turn is just a right hand turn immediately followed by another right hand turn. You countersteer and lean just like any other right hand turn.


To give myself enough room I usually pull quite far over to the left, and instinctively (because I am heading left) I indicate left, then I start to indicate right before I do the u turn. Now I don't know if that is the right thing to do.

Maybe I just don't ride enough.

[MSTRS]

You countersteer and lean just like any other right hand turn.

Sure about that? CS doesn't kick in until a bike is travelling at >25km. Still, wouldn't want to spend too much time sideways to the traffic flow, eh?
Interestingly, some people lean themselves into the turn, and some lean the bike more. I guess we all find which style works best for us/our bike.
Me - I tend to weight the outside peg, and lean the bike more than me

[sunhuntin]

To give myself enough room I usually pull quite far over to the left, and instinctively (because I am heading left) I indicate left, then I start to indicate right before I do the u turn. Now I don't know if that is the right thing to do.

Maybe I just don't ride enough.

i swing in, if theres enough room, to the point where i am almost back end to the pavement. essentially, completing part of the turn. theres no way i would pull left and stop paralell, because by the time ive finished trying to look behind me, things in front of me may well have changed. i prefer a headcheck or 3 over mirrors.

[Ixion]

Sure about that? CS doesn't kick in until a bike is travelling at >25km. Still, wouldn't want to spend too much time sideways to the traffic flow, eh?
Interestingly, some people lean themselves into the turn, and some lean the bike more. I guess we all find which style works best for us/our bike.
Me - I tend to weight the outside peg, and lean the bike more than me


To give myself enough room I usually pull quite far over to the left, and instinctively (because I am heading left) I indicate left, then I start to indicate right before I do the u turn. Now I don't know if that is the right thing to do.

Maybe I just don't ride enough.

Well, I'd say lower then 25. Maybe 10 - 15kph.Though it probably varies from bike to bike.

My procedure for U turns is to signal left, slow down and pull to the left, not quite in the gutter but hard left. Continue at maybe 20-25kph, watching traffic, when appropriate signal right, head check, check again for oncoming , and peal into a right hander. At the road centre, I just continue the right hander instead of straightening up. 20 or 25kph in, steady throttle until I'm coming out of the second right hander (ie the second leg of the U ) then roll on and exit at maybe 40 kph

That's what I term a U turn. Though some may apply the term to the "Stop, foot down, turn bars hard right, move off foot down until bike is across the road, then turn right". I don't know what teh etsters will expect.

But I should say that I don't do U turns if there is significant traffic. I don't think it's safe. In heavy traffic I'll turn the bike perpendicular to the road, either by stopping and then rolling backward on full lock, taking advantage of the camber, or by riding up a convenient driveway, along the footpath (that's what they're there for ) to the next driveway and out. Then it's just a right hander out of a driveway.

[MSTRS]

Well, I'd say lower then 25. Maybe 10 - 15kph.Though it probably varies from bike to bike.
...

Agreed. And sometimes it could be significantly higher than 25kph. Did you watch the bars in this? They turn in the direction of travel, or is countersteering really a myth as Aaron would have us believe? http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1276605&postcount=1

[Usarka]

U turns for test shouldnt include a stop.

I misheard the tester and turned down the wrong street, it was super narrow and executed a sweet-as u-turn. he said the next street that i should have taken was quite wide and was so impressed with my u-turn he terminated the rest of the test, and forgave me for missing a 50 sign (i saw him slow in my mirrors so slowed also - i think that helped)....

lime in corona is much better than lemon.

[Chrislost]

would you fail your licence if you locked the rear up to u turn?

bad habit i have since hanging out with stunt monkey

[Mom]

The tester made me do 2 for my full - does this mean I am special? :blink:

Of course you are Donor, we all know this :bleh:

[The Pastor]

i didnt do one for my full test :|

[ambler]

Of course it is to show that you are in control of your bike, isn't that what the test is about? U-turns are a very common part of driving, it would be a pretty lame test without a u-turn somewhere. Maybe they could also cut out the part where you ride the bike as well, and just get you to sit on it and start the engine or something.

But to answer why the u-turn is a good test feature, I would agree with discotex.
I would probably do 5-6 u-turns every day, I find it hard to believe that you never do u turns in your normal riding


This is a big reason why I don't normally do them. I am never in that much of a hurry that I can't just pull over and have a good look around and triple check, before I turn back.

"before I turn back" = "before I do a u-turn" ?

ahh I am probably just bitter because the test I had to do was way harder than the NZ one - after riding a 400 through rush-hour traffic for about two hours a day for two years, I still had to sit the test 6 times before I passed:

Flash movie: http://aja.ne.jp/bike/guide_b.html (click Start to keep going when the movie stops)
WMV (onboard cam): http://aja.ne.jp/bike/futyu250.wmv

You have to do this test on a 750cc bike which you have never ridden before, although you are allowed to take one 'lap' around the course to get a feel for the clutch etc.
By the way in the flash movie, each time the text bubble pops up, it is pointing out something that could lose you points if you dont do it correctly - about 6 of these and the test is immediately over - my first test lasted 30 seconds. It costs $50 for each test, but the stress of having 40 people watching you like a hawk while you do it is free.
Oh yeah, you also have to memorise the test course too.

[Lucy]

Of course it is to show that you are in control of your bike, isn't that what the test is about?



, I find it hard to believe that you never do u turns in your normal riding



"before I turn back" = "before I do a u-turn" ?

.


Actually I thought the basic handling test before getting your learners was to show you are in control of the bike.

Sorry that you find it so hard to believe that I hardly ever do u turns - I find it hard to believe you live in Tokyo. But there we have it. Stalemate.

Yes, 'before I turn back'. Isn't that the point of the u turn? to go back where you came from?

Your test was on a track? Lucky thing. Don't be bitter, you've passed now. All is good.

:banana:

[Skyryder]

You should pull up to the kerb or verge of the road and park at an angle so that you can see what's coming from behind. There are very few bikers who can master a u turn. Sure most of us can manage the manourve to some degree of success but when you see a biker who can perform the manourve in one flawless effort and accelerate out of the u turn it is a joy to behold.


Skyryder

[ambler]

Actually the word you used was 'never', which is hard to believe.

I never do u turns in my normal riding,
Living in Tokyo is not so strange, 12 million other people do ! ;)

[Motu]

I used to do U turns in top gear on my BSA M20.....saves having to do all those complicated gearchange thingies.

[The Stranger]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway....why do you have to do u turns on a driving test? I am sitting my 'full' on Tuesday and have been practising these, as I keep reading how people do two or three on their tests.

I never do u turns in my normal riding, so I am practising these purely for my test. I did figure 8s at the RRRS course, and they were fun, but I don't do them either, when I am riding my bike.

Why are U turns so important that they are tested? Is it to show you are in control of your bike maybe?

Never ridden with qkkid have you.
You need to be well practiced in the art of U turns when he is leading a ride.

[The Stranger]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway....why do you have to do u turns on a driving test? I am sitting my 'full' on Tuesday and have been practising these, as I keep reading how people do two or three on their tests.

I never do u turns in my normal riding, so I am practising these purely for my test. I did figure 8s at the RRRS course, and they were fun, but I don't do them either, when I am riding my bike.

Why are U turns so important that they are tested? Is it to show you are in control of your bike maybe?

From your post, it would appear thay you miss the fact that the same skills that are important at higher speeds are also important at low speed.
Thus it allows for testing of high speed skills in a safer environment.

[Ixion]

I used to do U turns in top gear on my BSA M20.....saves having to do all those complicated gearchange thingies.

Well, yes, but you fail to mention that the M20 was a side valve, and top gear could well be 10kph .

[klingon]

ahh I am probably just bitter because the test I had to do was way harder than the NZ one ...

Wow, that's quite a test! That track would be great fun to do just for the heck of it, but doing it as a test with a whole bunch of people watching you would be pretty stressful.

The little animated bike did some odd things IMO. Like indicating left while going past the first left turn and into the next one. And crossing the yellow line to get past the hazard (when it was possible to do without going over the line). I hope the little animated rider passed the test.

[Lucy]

From your post, it would appear thay you miss the fact that the same skills that are important at higher speeds are also important at low speed.
Thus it allows for testing of high speed skills in a safer environment.

For example?

(Not being a smart arse, just want to find out everything I can). Generally I consider myself a safe (nana like) rider, and so I don't want to fail because of some lack of skills that I don't even know about.

I've done a practical full car test in the last five years, so know all about spotting hazards and doing head turns etc.

[Lucy]

Actually the word you used was 'never', which is hard to believe.

Living in Tokyo is not so strange, 12 million other people do ! ;)

Well yes you are right, I did say 'never' but I said 'in my normal riding'. I've done heaps lately, practising for my test.

There seems to be a bit of confusion in what constitutes a u turn, turning back by pulling over to the left, stopping, looking, and then turning back (right) seems to be called a u turn by some folk. And if they are right then I DO do them, for that is my usual method of turning around on the same street.

The riding along, and indicating right before smoothly doing a u turn, all in the same movement, without going to almost a complete stop on the left, is what I never have to do in my normal riding. But once again, I've done it heaps lately, in case they want me to on my test.

:clap:

[jrandom]

For example?

Er... for example... U-turns?

See, U turns on a bike, you have to lean the bike a bit and turn the handlebars into the turn, maintain a constant speed so that you don't topple over or squirt into the kerb on the opposite side of the road, and also keep an eye out for random hazards to avoid being smooshed into the tarmac by a truck, etc.

Throttle control, confidence, balance, avoidance of target fixation, looking through your turn instead of wherever the bike is pointing, and situational awareness. All rolled up in a nice little 20kph bundle.

A smooth quick U-turn is the sign of someone who's comfortable with their bike. If you can pull one off with aplomb, you can probably go around high speed corners quite well, too.

I think that's what Der Stranger was getting at.

[jrandom]

The riding along, and indicating right before smoothly doing a u turn, all in the same movement, without going to almost a complete stop on the left...

The road code, if I recall correctly, stipulates coming to a stop and indicating for three seconds before initiating a U-turn.

So that's how I'd play it on a bike during a test.

[Ixion]

For example?

(Not being a smart arse, just want to find out everything I can). Generally I consider myself a safe (nana like) rider, and so I don't want to fail because of some lack of skills that I don't even know about.

I've done a practical full car test in the last five years, so know all about spotting hazards and doing head turns etc.

Well, a U turn (a moving one) calls for quite a few capabilities to be shown pretty much simultaneously. To get it right you need to have road positioning; situational awareness; hazard identification; road code knowledge; balance skills sorted; clutch and machine controls well developed; turning and countersteering on the ball. And a few others. As well as handling things like indicating, shoulder check , etc. And you have to do all of those within a few seconds.

So, odds are, unless at least most of them are so well practised that they are completely automatic, something will be fluffed.

It's quite easy to demonstrate that you can handle clutch control when that is ALL you have to concentrate on. But add all those other things and it needs to be so well practised that you don't need to think about it.

I think any newbie, after a few hours on a bike, can usually manage to start off and ride away in a staright line. But get them to try a U turn and they'll be so busy trying not to stall , fall off or put a foot down, that they'll completely forget about signalling., Or something.

So I think it tells the tester that those vital skjills are not merely things you know how to do, but are so ingrained that in a genuine emergency you won't need to have to THINK about them.

[vifferman]

Throttle control, confidence, balance, avoidance of target fixation, looking through your turn instead of wherever the bike is pointing, and situational awareness. All rolled up in a nice little 20kph bundle.
Yes indeed. Although for "throttle control", I'd subsitute "throttle / clutch / rear brake control", at least on your average sprotsbike, where a run-of-the-mill u-turn involves balancing the right amount of propulsion against the appropriate speed, while looking over your right shoulder. And "balance" may at times (for a really tight u-turn) require you to resort to applying lots of 'body english', while pushing the bike down into the turn. All this, as you said, while being aware of what's going on around you, not slipping over on the patch of diesel, and coping with overheating in your riding suit because the examiner has spent too long faffing about before you left.

[Ixion]

...

ahh I am probably just bitter because the test I had to do was way harder than the NZ one - after riding a 400 through rush-hour traffic for about two hours a day for two years, I still had to sit the test 6 times before I passed:

,,,
Oh yeah, you also have to memorise the test course too.

Bloody hell. I'd have no chance, I'd take a wrong turn for sure.

S'interesting. My test , many many years ago, was quite short and simple. Just ride up a hill , round a car park, up another hill. And a U turn and a couple of emergency stops. But I reckon maybe most people nowdays would fail.

When I arrived the snake said "Oh , yeah, I've seen you riding around". oh shit. Is that good or bad? But i reckon it must have been good, cos some candidates, he'd make them ride around the neighbourhood while he followed on the snakemocycle. But he didn't do that with me.

Just said, "Ride up that hill over there (the snake centre was next to a sports field). Then ride round the car park at the top. I'll be standing on the path half way up watching you. Then come back down the hill, and when I raise my hand you do a fast stop.If you do that OK I'll tell you what to do next"

Uh, OK. Sounds easy eh? Yeah except that the hill and the carpark were all gravel. Rough , rutted gravel, cut up by the wheels of Ford Zephyrs and Vauxhall Veloxes. Ever done an emergency stop downhill on gravel ?

Anyway, that done to satisfaction, next bit. "Ride along the road, through the intersection and up the (steep but sealed) hill on the other side. I'll be standing on the roadside. Stop beside me , and restart on the hill.Carry on up the hill and half way up , do a U turn, no stopping, feet up , and return.
As you go past me , another emergency stop". He watched the valve on the wheel for the hill start. Slightest backward movement, fail.

Now the U turn was a bit tricky. Cos it was a U turn, half way up a steep hill. And you had to give hand signals !. Ever tried hand signals (no indicators on bikes back then )? Left hand, stop signal, grab clutch to change down, signal, grab clutch, signal.Right hand, signal right turn, grab throttle (half way up a hill, remember!), Signal. Grab throttle, Rinse lather repeat. At the same time as all the other stuff.

Reckon many learners would pass nowdays (especially the gravel bit) ?

[Ocean1]

Ever tried hand signals (no indicators on bikes back then )? Left hand, stop signal, grab clutch to change down, signal, grab clutch, signal.Right hand, signal right turn, grab throttle (half way up a hill, remember!), Signal. Grab throttle, Rinse lather repeat. At the same time as all the other stuff.

Reckon many learners would pass nowdays (especially the gravel bit) ?

:laugh: Had forgotten all about the hand signal thing at test-time.

My test was even briefer, but it also included a U-turn on a hill. Managed it OK on a BSA Bushman but I'm not sure I could, now, on the Buell.

[The Stranger]

For example?

(Not being a smart arse, just want to find out everything I can). Generally I consider myself a safe (nana like) rider, and so I don't want to fail because of some lack of skills that I don't even know about.

I've done a practical full car test in the last five years, so know all about spotting hazards and doing head turns etc.

Throttle control and Looking where you want to be.
Both equally important for good riding at both high and low speeds.
There are other things that can be tried and applied at low speeds which are effective also at high speeds - such as weighting pegs.

[sunhuntin]

Throttle control and Looking where you want to be.
Both equally important for good riding at both high and low speeds.
There are other things that can be tried and applied at low speeds which are effective also at high speeds - such as weighting pegs.

i thought the weights were so you didnt scuff and wear the actual pegs down when cornering [as per smokys thread... :girlfight:]

i like the idea of taking part in slow races at rallies, where the idea is to cross the line last, without taking your feet off the pegs. i have seen one race which involved guys on harleys. one dropped, and the rider ended up with a shattered ankle.
to "train" for something like that, i often make a run down main street or across a 2 lane bridge when its dead locked, going as long as i can motionless, allowing only throttle and brake tapping to hold my position. i also do it when pulling into the lean too... throttle and brake only, slow as possible. [and its around a tight narrow "s" between the house and garage, so quite tricky]
good fun, and all skills that can be applied to every day riding.

[Ocean1]

i like the idea of taking part in slow races at rallies, where the idea is to cross the line last, without taking your feet off the pegs.

Yup. This guy's almost got it sussed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwEeIOA1-Ck&NR=1

Bit more practice and he might pass...

[MSTRS]

i thought the weights were so you didnt scuff and wear the actual pegs down when cornering [as per smokys thread... ]



Nah. Those weights are to reduce peg vibration. There is a screw in 'hero knob' to take care of the pegdown scuffing.
The weighting of pegs referred to in this thread is your own weight distribution on the bike when doing tight turns.

[Lucy]

Thanks everybody. That all makes sense. I generally feel pretty confident on the GN, but walking speed is not my strong point, so I'd better make sure I do my u turns at speed. Perhaps I'll drop the clutch and skid it around as someone suggested....

I can't wait to get the test over and done with, then at least I'll know for sure if I have any gaps in my skills. Can always do another test if I fail, after having improved my riding of course. But I hope I pass.

Thanks for the explanations.

[Skyryder]

A smooth quick U-turn is the sign of someone who's comfortable with their bike. If you can pull one off with aplomb, you can probably go around high speed corners quite well, too.

I think that's what Der Stranger was getting at.


"Bout where I am coming from too. When a U turn is completed with a little throttle about three quarters into the turn, (the extra power allows the bike to be leaned over with a tighter line ) it looks stunning. It's one of the most difficult manourvres on a bike. No too many can do it.


Skyryder

[sunhuntin]

Thanks everybody. That all makes sense. I generally feel pretty confident on the GN, but walking speed is not my strong point, so I'd better make sure I do my u turns at speed. Perhaps I'll drop the clutch and skid it around as someone suggested....

I can't wait to get the test over and done with, then at least I'll know for sure if I have any gaps in my skills. Can always do another test if I fail, after having improved my riding of course. But I hope I pass.

Thanks for the explanations.

lucy... you need to practise at slow speed as well... the slower the speed, the harder the bike is to control, and youll never know where it may come in handy. the gn being so light is ideal to do this on. thats why i make a point of doing slow speed stuff as much as possible on all my bikes. my current problem spot is the 500, but thats cos im not used to it yet, plus shes harder to control at slow speed due to the height.

[ambler]

When a U turn is completed with a little throttle about three quarters into the turn, (the extra power allows the bike to be leaned over with a tighter line ) it looks stunning. It's one of the most difficult manourvres on a bike. No too many can do it.
I use a lot of throttle all the way thru the turn and control it with the clutch, which is a hell of a lot easier than trying to control speed with the throttle, and guarantees no stalling. On the downside the loud revving can make you look like a newb (until you get to that 3/4 point and zoom off).
"Not too many can do it" depends where you live I guess... I would say 80% of riders here can do it without any trouble, thanks to that strict-ass test.

[Lucy]

Well, I did the test, and passed- yippee. Had to do one u turn, but it was in a much wider street than I was used to so didn't have to think much about it at all in the end.

More of a concern was when checking over my bike before leaving home, I discovered that my 5 day old WOF had escaped from it's plastic cover, and with the issuing garage 30k in the wrong direction from the testing location (which was another 80k) instead of a relaxing ride to the test, getting in the groove, I was rushing and thinking 'I hope I can find somewhere to give me a new WOF label before the test'. In the end I did, and had plenty of time, but it wasn't exactly a relaxing morning. Plus I kept taking off with the side stand down, a habit I had managed to break, but which came rushing back with nerves.

Frankly I would have failed me for it, but he didn't seem to think it was a dangerous mistake and passed me.

Before we did the highway riding part he asked me to 'try and get to 100' (cheeky eh, must know the GN) he also said that I wouldn't get a ticket for going 100k on the test, and said 'in fact you can't get a ticket for anything while you are doing the test' so I said "Oh great, can we go and have some beer?" He laughed, but said 'no'.

Thanks for all the advice. I like KB!

Cheers!

[vifferman]

:laugh: Had forgotten all about the hand signal thing at test-time.
Phark! So had I. Not summat I was used to - had to practice it special-like, just for the test.
No "cop lurkin' in the bushes" for me - I got a genuine bike cop: "That red bike yours?"
"Yup."
"Meet me in the carpark and we'll go for a blat!"
Perhaps I took him a little literally, and went a tad fast in the 30km/h section. D'Oh!
He commented on that, but didn't fail me. But his whole treatment put me at ease, so I didn't stuff up due to nerves. Unlike the bastid that took me for my car licence; ever tried to do a 3-point turn in an Austin 1800 on a road one and a half car widths wide? Or back into a driveway the width of the car, and at an acute angle to the road? :confused:
He obviously thought, "I'll show this blardy 15 year-old he's not ready for the road!" :eek:
But... he was nowhere as scary as my instructor (my father), so he failed in his mission.

The easiest test was the HT. Once I'd got the RUC updated (it was only 5000 miles overdue...) Luckily, this was still MOT days, and the cop saw no advantage being gained in the paperwork involved in fining another Gubmint department... :whistle:

[vifferman]

Well, I did the test, and passed- yippee. Good stuf! :niceone:
Congratumalations!

[Chickadee]

congrats on the full license, should be more chicks with bikes out there!

[MSTRS]

Good for you, and well done.
But best break that stand habit....it could hurt you one day.

[TOTO]

Congrats

Are they asking for the u-turn in restricted ?

[sunhuntin]

not in restricted, but you may do an impromptu one when turning around from the 100k section.

lucy... i got the try and get to 100 chat as well... i think its cos they think we are well behaved and have never gone over 70k before.

[Motig]

Well done Lucy. Personally I'm to well mannered to do a U turn."U turn" "No, U turn" "No U" "U turn U were first" "No no U go" "I insist U go" "No U" ....... and so on, it could take ages so that must be why the slow riding practice was mentioned as being important too I spose.

[yungatart]

Well done, Lucy!