U-turns

[Aidey]

Doing a u-turn on a big heavy bike is bad enough on a flat wide road, but recently tried it on a hill. How I managed not to drop it I don't know, but it's nigh on impossible without putting your feet down. And why is it so bad to put your feet down anyway? Beats dropping the thing anyday.
So how do you do it? Answers please.

 

[Stevebrooke]

Lots of experience, balance, and controls management.

It does take lots of experience to do it Lumpy, unfortunately it is part of the test these days so you have to learn it pretty quickly.

 

[Artemis]

As a current learner, doing my test this week, I can tell you that the instructors really push you on this one. It's come together for me, at last and it's all in the slow control and leaning slightly out of the turn if necessary. I'm sure experience is also a really big part of it, but according to the instructors, us new riders can probably do the slow control bit better than those who've been riding for years, because it's being drummed into us all the time. Mind you, the biggest thing I've tried the u-turn on is a CBR600, I'll have to get back to you when I've tried the Bird.............

 

[Stevebrooke]

Artemis

It,s not too bad on the learner bikes, either 125 or DAS. There's plenty of turn in the handlebars. When you get on the Bird there is only about 2/3rds of the handlebar turn, and also your thumbs can get caught between the bars and the tank if you are wearing thick gloves.

I've been practicing in an empty car park at work for the last 3 or 4 weekends in order to be ready for my IAM test this weekend, and to be honest I'm still nowhere near as smooth as I think I need to be. It's either smooth with a large wide turn, or a bit unsteady with a nice tight turn. I can't seem to get them both together. Out on the road I'm OK. I just seem to have trouble doing the required "tricks" for the examiner.

I'm hoping and praying that the car park we start and finish in will be crowded with Christmas shoppers so the examiner will have me going round the car park roads instead of in circles or figures-of-eight.

 

[Supabird1100]

I've been practicing in an empty car park at work for the last 3 or 4 weekends in order to be ready for my IAM test this weekend.

I did my IAM test in January 2003 just after a couple of days of snow. The slow speed stuff was 'interesting' to say the least !!!!! Come to that..... so was the country lane twisty bit !!!!

Take it slow....keep a few revs on it.....slip the clutch to alter speed, don't try and use the throttle.....ride the rear brake pedal right through the turn... and keep your head up and look where you want to be.

Good luck with the test, Steve. :beer:

 

[Artemis]

Artemis

It,s not too bad on the learner bikes, either 125 or DAS. There's plenty of turn in the handlebars. When you get on the Bird there is only about 2/3rds of the handlebar turn, and also your thumbs can get caught between the bars and the tank if you are wearing thick gloves.

Had all sorts of problems with the 125, but I've pretty much cracked it on the Kawasaki 500 at the school and my own CBR600, although I get the same thumb problem with that because of the lock. The school actually recommended that I don't use my CBR for the test because of that.

I seem to find it easier on the larger bikes though, maybe the extra weight helps because I'm much smoother on them.

It's also partially psychological, I think. When the instructor asked us to do a u-turn in the earlier days, none of us could do it, until we went the wrong way and he said OK ladies (poor sod had 4 women!) let's spin 'em round, and there followed 5 perfect u-turns (including his). Avoid the word u-turn and it's OK.

Good luck with your IAM, fingers crossed.

 

[Floozy666]

Will be remembering all this next week, my test next Tuesday, bit I'm really worried about is the u-turn, can do it OK on my 125 but not yet tried it on a bigger bike - hopefully will get to give it a go on Coddy's Yammy 650 before the weeked - at least with that old rustbucket it won't be too awful if I do drop it (well that's my opinion although don't think Coddy will see it quite that way when I'm trying to pick it up off the tarmac - lol) - Good luck Artemis and Steve hopefully we can make it a hat trick :yo:

 

[RHINO]

Fix your eye on where you want the bike to end up. Find an imperfection, stone, crack or anything on the road where you can use it as a marker to aim for,, if you keep your eye on it then the bike should end up there.....drag the rear brake slightly, keep the revs steady and slip the clutch then practice practise practise....... Easyer on a big bike than a 125 i found.

All about hand eye co-ordination i guess, bit like clay pigeon shooting.

 

[Bob Pinder]

My two pence worth

Practise on a flat dry area well away from anyone/thing else.
Make sure the area is not covered in leaves/loose stones/crap etc etc

Quiet industrial estates can be good.

Start with big circles one way then the next.

By all means cover the REAR brake but not the front!

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Take it slowly at first and keep practising alternately.

Keep the revs constant and feed in the clutch as necessary.

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Try to get your feet up as soon as possible.

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Practise, practise, practise but if its not going well then stop and come back to it later.

Me? I can do it both ways on the lock stops so if I can do it then anyone can

 

[Artemis]

Practise on a flat dry area well away from anyone/thing else.
Make sure the area is not covered in leaves/loose stones/crap etc etc

Quiet industrial estates can be good.

Airfield's OK then? Guess I'm spoilt.

 

[RHINO]

Practise on a flat dry area well away from anyone/thing else.
Make sure the area is not covered in leaves/loose stones/crap etc etc

Quiet industrial estates can be good.

Start with big circles one way then the next.

By all means cover the REAR brake but not the front!

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Take it slowly at first and keep practising alternately.

Keep the revs constant and feed in the clutch as necessary.

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Try to get your feet up as soon as possible.

Relax and breathe normally and keep your head up.

Practise, practise, practise but if its not going well then stop and come back to it later.

Me? I can do it both ways on the lock stops so if I can do it then anyone can

I bet your a HOOT in bed Pinder......

Breath normal dear,, keep your head up...

Shall we try it on the industrial estate?

OOh put your feet up as soon as you can!

Start with big circles one way, then the other

Practice Practice Practice............

 

[paulh]

best advice i was given ........'don't look down, cos that's where you'll go (or at least your foot will)' :xm


this advice really is the same as 'keep your eyes up and aimed where you want to go' ...... you really need to STARE at a point down the road and you'll be amazed at how unerringly you go straight to it

btw - applying a constant light pressure on the rear brake does make the bike squat a bit and therefore adds a little more stability too.

 

[Artemis]

Did several great ones today, let's hope I can do the same tomorrow........

Of course I can

 

[solorider]

i did a u turn on a rd250 a few years ago but i misjudged the road width so i tried to put my right foot down,but my trousers and leggings had blown up and over the kickstart! next thing im on the floor with my left leg resting on a very hot exhaust! the moral of the story is dont wear loose clothing especially if the bike has a kickstart

 

[derek kelly]

I was once on my VT500 and I was wearing trainers :blush: , I stopped at some lights went to put my foot down, lace tangled round foot peg, managed to free it before bike went over, lesson learned......







MAKE SURE YOUR LACES AREN'T TOO LONG!

 

[trousersnake01]

On flat ground, practice some full lock pull aways, once you have mastered that you will be turn on anything.