Why the 'U' turn?

[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?

Of course you are Donor, we all know this

[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.

[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:Me]

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:Me]

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.

[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.