U-Turn Q&A, Tips and Tricks

[swbarnett]

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

Mostly yes. However, if you're driving your sister's SR Corolla with a bunch of friends in the middle of the night and you can't make up your mind where you're going a few laps one direction can easily be followed by a few in the other. Rince and repeat...

[Boblar]

Just wanted to say that this thread has some great tips on slow speed u-turns etc. It's been really helpful for me, and the key is practice, practice, practice

[george formby]

Just wanted to say that this thread has some great tips on slow speed u-turns etc. It's been really helpful for me, and the key is practice, practice, practice

Spot on.
Get yourself around motogymkhana, great thread on ADVrider about it. Couple of threads on here, too, but it's not setting the biking world on fire. Which is weird coz most of the riders I know cannot do full lock turns for love nor money.
What works at 20kmh works at 120kmh.

[rastuscat]

Just my 2 cents.

Remember that the engine produces power, but it's the clutch that keeps it at the rear wheel. If you are in a full lock turn, rear brake trailing, clutch feathered, head looking where you are going, weight outside, the tendency is to pull the clutch in or brake when you feel it going down.

The key is to put more power on, it's the only thing with any chance of preventing a lie down. Kind of counter intuitive. Up thecrevs, let a little more clutch out and the bike will try to stand. We like that.

[george formby]

Just my 2 cents.

Remember that the engine produces power, but it's the clutch that keeps it at the rear wheel. If you are in a full lock turn, rear brake trailing, clutch feathered, head looking where you are going, weight outside, the tendency is to pull the clutch in or brake when you feel it going down.

The key is to put more power on, it's the only thing with any chance of preventing a lie down. Kind of counter intuitive. Up thecrevs, let a little more clutch out and the bike will try to stand. We like that.

Yup, it's a mental thing keeping the throttle open and using the rear brake or clutch. I just use the brake now, dab it on to make the bike lean & turn then release to stand it up again, throttle stays constant.
Practice, practice, practice.