U-Turn Q&A, Tips and Tricks

[Maha]

'Ooo trying on a roundabout is risky'

Sooner or later, you are going to have to use one...all in good (and your own) time.

[Katman]

Often the mistake is trying to turn too sharply at the start of the U-turn.

Try starting with a slightly wider arc and then tightening the turn as you get about a third of the way into it.

[Tigadee]

I have done more than a dozen U-turns sucessfully and without using the rear brake to slow things down.I usually use the front brakes or let the bike slow down to a slow enough speed to do the turn.How many of you use the rear brake when turning?Just wondering.

Make sure you stay off the front brake during turns, because the human tendency is to grab the brakes if one thinks one will be in trouble.

The front brake, being stronger than the rear, will jerk the bike to a halt faster than you can react and you'll fall. The rear brake has less brabbing power and is ideal for this kind of slow speed handling. Balancing the clutch, throttle and rear brake is the best when slow speed manouvering, especially with traffic around you or in tight areas, e.g. busy car parks.

Bleeding off speed w/o brakes before a turn is not wrong, although in traffic may not be ideal as you take too long to slow down and traffic behind you gets annoyed/frustrated. Not often but it does happen... Use combo of engine braking (lowering the gears as you slow) and brakes. That way you'll always be in the right gear in case you need to start moving again or get out of trouble/lane.

Sounds daunting but with time it'll be second nature.

Here's a list of noob mistakes (I've learnt anyway):
1. Forgetting the sidestand (and dropping bike)
2. Forgetting to turn off the indicator after turning
3. Stalling (and dropping bike)
4. Braking too hard/too soft (too hard and dropping bike, too soft and end up not stopping in time)
5. Letting the clutch out too fast
6. Putting yur foot out on the wrong side of a slope when stopping (resulting in a drop/fall )
7. Running out of petrol (won't usually happen if you've got a fuel gauge)
8. Running on near flat tyres (so check everytime you fill up)
9. Leaving the KILL switch off and then wondering why the bike is dead when I try to start it the next day!
10. Leaving the bike in first gear and bike jumps forward when you next start it (resulting in almost dropping bike )

[george formby]

Practice your clutch, brake & throttle control in a straight line. When you are comfortable balancing the bike with these three controls at walking pace start to practice your turns. Turning your head to look where you want to go is paramount.


HERE is a vid of meself practicing figure eights through a 1 meter gate........ Get your contolrs right first then get into your turns. Feels terrible if you think the bike is going to stall. I use the rear barke to control speed, not the throttle. I keep the revs up & apply or relax the brake to maintain momentum.

[chasio]

Use your head.
It dictates where your bike will go.
Do what liljegren said above, but turn your head in the direction you want the bike to go, looking at the bars will make it difficult.

A good place to practice is at a round-a-bout (just make sure your indicators are on)..do a loop, go up the road, a couple of side streets, come back and do it again, it will be in a different direction thatn first also, try it, it works.

You'd better find a REALLY quiet roundabout to go around in the wrong direction....

[Gremlin]

Practise. Every bike is also different so if you change bike it will feel different until you get used to it.

Start off with simple stuff like wide u-turns, slow speed riding (go as slow as you can, and down below walking speed) and you'll get a feel for the bike and how the weight affects turning etc.

The actual techniques have been covered above, but first you need to get comfortable with the bike. Then practise.

For a comparison, I've done 80k+ on a CB900 and know it very well because all the km are city riding, tight turns etc. Lock to lock u-turns, figure 8s etc are all easy. On my BMW I've done 55k+ but still not anywhere close to the ability of the CB900, as a lot of the km are open road. With some recent practise I've noticed I'm getting better...

[george formby]

Practise. Every bike is also different so if you change bike it will feel different until you get used to it.

Start off with simple stuff like wide u-turns, slow speed riding (go as slow as you can, and down below walking speed) and you'll get a feel for the bike and how the weight affects turning etc.

The actual techniques have been covered above, but first you need to get comfortable with the bike. Then practise.

For a comparison, I've done 80k+ on a CB900 and know it very well because all the km are city riding, tight turns etc. Lock to lock u-turns, figure 8s etc are all easy. On my BMW I've done 55k+ but still not anywhere close to the ability of the CB900, as a lot of the km are open road. With some recent practise I've noticed I'm getting better...

I concur. Glad somebody else see's the value of continuing to practice regardless of experience.

Oh, it's fun too.

[HenryDorsetCase]

head up, clutch slip, fingers OFF the front brake, drag the rear brake. LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. Repeat till you can do full lock figure eights starting in either direction.

We practiced this at the Karel Pavich Pro Rider course a couple weeks back. Its good fun. I usually do a few in the carpark at work when leaving. People look at you funny but the hell with them.

http://www.prorider.co.nz/motorcycle...ng.php?page=90

I recommend this course to anyone, it doesnt matter how long you've been riding or how good you think you are, you'll learn something. Not just newbs, anyone.

[nzspokes]

Make sure you stay off the front brake during turns, because the human tendency is to grab the brakes if one thinks one will be in trouble.

The front brake, being stronger than the rear, will jerk the bike to a halt faster than you can react and you'll fall. The rear brake has less brabbing power and is ideal for this kind of slow speed handling. Balancing the clutch, throttle and rear brake is the best when slow speed manouvering, especially with traffic around you or in tight areas, e.g. busy car parks.

Bleeding off speed w/o brakes before a turn is not wrong, although in traffic may not be ideal as you take too long to slow down and traffic behind you gets annoyed/frustrated. Not often but it does happen... Use combo of engine braking (lowering the gears as you slow) and brakes. That way you'll always be in the right gear in case you need to start moving again or get out of trouble/lane.

Sounds daunting but with time it'll be second nature.

Here's a list of noob mistakes (I've learnt anyway):
1. Forgetting the sidestand (and dropping bike)
2. Forgetting to turn off the indicator after turning
3. Stalling (and dropping bike)
4. Braking too hard/too soft (too hard and dropping bike, too soft and end up not stopping in time)
5. Letting the clutch out too fast
6. Putting yur foot out on the wrong side of a slope when stopping (resulting in a drop/fall )
7. Running out of petrol (won't usually happen if you've got a fuel gauge)
8. Running on near flat tyres (so check everytime you fill up)
9. Leaving the KILL switch off and then wondering why the bike is dead when I try to start it the next day!
10. Leaving the bike in first gear and bike jumps forward when you next start it (resulting in almost dropping bike )

Listen to this man, hes an expert. Hes crashed multiple times.

[george formby]

May i add to your list Tigadee..

Not fully releasing the rear brake, it eventually goes a lovely blue colour. Great for lighting your ciggie on, though. Shortly after you just about dropped the bike when you pull the clutch in, in the middle of a turn.

[Tigadee]

Listen to this man, hes an expert. Hes crashed multiple times.

Cheeky!

Lies! I only crashed once! I'd fallen multiple times...

May i add to your list Tigadee..

By all means, good sir...

[Ender EnZed]

A good place to practice is at a round-a-bout (just make sure your indicators are on)..do a loop, go up the road, a couple of side streets, come back and do it again, it will be in a different direction than first also, try it, it works.

I don't know what kind of roundabouts you use, but down here they all go clockwise.

[Maha]

I don't know what kind of roundabouts you use, but down here they all go clockwise.

ahahhhhhh true, well spotted

[Tricia1000]

If you need any professional training to help you master Slow speed manoeuvring, and U turns, in preparation for your restricted test give me a shout. I am in Auckland.
Tricia1000
RoADA (Dip)
Consultant to NZTA

[p.dath]

Come along to NASS and we'll teach you how to do it.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Nort..._Street_Skills