U-Turn Q&A, Tips and Tricks

[goodguy8]

keep going around and around a Roundabout and slower and slower.. then try a u turn.. ul find it much easier..

[mowgli]

What a coincidence. I was out practising the same thing this evening. After dozens on U-turns on various roads I found there were two points additional to what's been said already. First keep your head level. I tried looking around but really the key was keeping your eyes level. I guess the horizon provides a stable reference to keep your bearings. I strongly agree with keeping a constant throttle position thoughout which leads to my second point. While riding the clutch and dragging the rear sometimes you get the feeling that you're going to collapse into the turn so you put your foot out, damn! In actual fact all you really need to do is let out the clutch a bit and the bike will stand back up nicely. It takes a few goes to get comfortable and trust that you won't drop it but it worked well for me.

[Gaz]

Actually , 8's are the real thing. Left hand O, into a right hand O and back , and repeat. Once you cna do full lock figure 8s , u turns are a doddle.

+1.
Turning your head completely around is the key. Unless you turn your head at the beginning of the turn you'll wobble around, regardless of the speed.

2nd gear is best, feather the clutch and control the speed with the rear brake. then look and lean - done.

[GaZBur]

What Duc said - Lean the bike in while you stay upright.
Plus - Feather the clutch like most of the others say, but I find the front brake gives more control in a tight turn than the rear. Two finger braking means you have a good grip on handle bar control and throttle.

Or alternatively you could just lean it over, dump the clutch and spin a few doghnuts and when the bike is pointed in roughly the right direction straighten it out with a nice monster wheelie just like I do! (In my dreams that is!)

[heyjoe]

Start over at left or move to the left to give yourself more room then turn head (bike will go where the eyes go), use clutch to feather, use rear brake very lightly to help stabilise the bike throughout (it works) and turn with light throttle. At low speeds the countersteering thing may not work so well so its a bit more like a real turn of the wheel.

[TOTO]

I still cant do it properly , still put my food down. Dunno why they want no foot down ?

[CookMySock]

[....] cranked the steering to lock and started pulling the u turn and promptly started wobbling. Every time i try it I get the wobbles unless I am already going at like 10 k and there is heaps of room. If i am starting from stand still I really have trouble doing a u turn, or even at a walking pace it's tricky. What's causing the wobble, do I need to counter balance the bike.

You're doing good bud.

You control your balance in a turn with speed or steering. If you cant add steering lock (already on full lock) then you are stuck with using the throttle - add a small smooth amount of power and that will add more outward force.

Practice circles in a carpark using EITHER steering or power, then once you are skilled you can use one or the other, or both.

Steering: start at 12-15km/hr and countersteer into a circle and maintain it with very very small countersteering changes - accuracy!! Don't wiggle around on the bike - use steering only and make tiny changes. When you are expert at this add your head and shoulders and SLIGHTLY weight the inside of the corner - notice the corner tighten and the steering become lighter.

Power: enter a tighter circle at low speed and nearly full steering lock - notice the tendency for the bike to topple toward the inside of the corner - increase your speed using power, and notice the bike stays upright now. Be careful - keep it smooth and decrease your circle radius and increase your lock until you are at full lock and maintaining a smooth line with throttle. Hit a slippery patch doing this and you have little or no options so watch it.

Oh, the wobble is prolly you paniccing.. "Pilot induced oscillations"

DB

[HungusMaximist]

All I can say is that never grab a fistful of brakes while you're doing a U-TURN.

[thehollowmen]

ok, there is a video about "ride like a pro" from the US, can't remember the name of the guy. He was a harley bike cop there and so the slow speed uturns and things were pretty well practiced. He also did lots of practice things like lock-8s and lock-0s in the vid and explained how to do them.

Anyway, feather-touch the rear brake and never touch the frount one. Clutch control is important too.

Make use of the whole road, so pull left into the cycle lane / car parks a bit before U turning to the right. A half a meter or so can make it so much easier.

don't forget to head check :-p

I've seen a goldwing do a full lock peg scraping uturn in a narrow dunedin street, so my advice is practice what everybody is saying and make use of ALL the room available on the road.

[vifferman]

You've actually got ALL the answers here, in dribs'n'drabs.
Here'e the complete list:
1. Head: keep it level, but look right through the turn, where you want to go. For sharp turns, you'll find you have to look right over your shoulder.While doing that, quickly scan with your eyes fro obstacles (debris, potholes, etc.)
2. Speed: This is critical. You can control it with a mixture of throttle, clutch and back brake. Using the back brake means you can use a bit more throttle, which makes it easier.
3. Body position: control your lean by moving your butt. Unlike higher-speed turns, you will probably need to keep your body to the outside of the turn (fairly upright) and push the bike down. Sometimes it's easier if you are standing up, rather than sitting, as you can move the bike around more, using a combination of foot pressure on each peg, body movements and handlebar adjustments. However, if your bike has very low 'bars, standing up may be more awkward.
4. Steering: a combination of handlebars and body position and speed. Unlike 'normal' riding, you are basically steering where you want to go. You can move the handlebars quicker than your body, so moving them back and forth will help control the bike's balance.
5. Practice makes perfect.

Don't worry about dabbing with your foot while you're learning - it's better than dropping your bike. As you get better, you won't need to do it so often.

[jrandom]

When doing U-turns, I like to stick my right leg out, motocross style, and imagine that I'm sliding the rear and throwing up a huge rooster tail.



I never actually touch a boot down, but it's fun to pretend, and somehow it always makes me do tighter U-turns, too.

[jrandom]

Don't ask me...I always get hubby or son or some other gorgeous male to do it for me...

ZOMGLOL! Oh, man. Do you mean, like, you stop, get off, they ride up and U-turn your bike for you, then you hop back on?

You must get some very odd looks.

Have you considered going to a carpark and practicing until you can do U-turns yourself? It should only take an hour or two.



Actually, the RRRS course would surely be ideal for you. Are such things available in HB?

[Strider]

practice, practice and practice in a empty safe car park. you will get it in the end.

[EJK]

You seriously gotta come to AWNR dude lol

[G4L4XY]

I'm on my restricted and have just completed a defensive driving course to knock down my retricted license time.
During the practical test I was asked to do a U-turn in one motion without putting my foot down which I failed miserably.
I aim to practise it a bit more but does anyone have any advice for me. I've been riding for two years just never really had to do a u-turn before. I have a Hyosung Gt250R...
If anyone wants to give me a lesson that'd be greatly appreciated