Failed U-Turn resulted in my bike on its side :(

I like Cake .......... that is all!!

[Paul the 6th]

if you're having trouble with your u-turn, maybe try counter steering?

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

if you're having trouble with your u-turn, maybe try counter steering?

Now now

[dizzyblonde]

I think we're all just going round and round in circles....
How about we watch a barge go round and round in circles instead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZdwUoyb90

oh look, hes even got his balls on the tank!

180degree endo is the way forward...

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

I've done literally hundreds of U turns on the SV and never dropped it once. I do them as a matter of course and I think if you do you get enough practice, you never risk dropping it. I admit that on a very steep rake and trail sportsbike I may paddle a bit more often, and the SV is not the best bike for U turns compared to the kind of bikes DAS schools use, but something like your Versys should turn on a sixpence.

You're absolutely right in every respect, and I can execute perfect feet up U-turns with the bars at absolute lock in either direction... I just choose not to because it's inevitable that one day it will all go pear shaped and I'll be looking at a repair bill. Those sort of low speed manouvers aren't for me, and by the looks of things the vast majority of experienced riders feel the same way.

I think as a band of older/experienced riders we're saying "leave the U-turns for the newbies who feel they have to learn them, and those who feel it makes them a better rider if they do them all the time". We'll have the last laugh when we compare your broken plastics costs with the ones we won't have. I'd rather waste my time learing how to go even faster round corners, rather than how to go even slower.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

You're absolutely right in every respect, and I can execute perfect feet up U-turns with the bars at absolute lock in either direction... I just choose not to because it's inevitable that one day it will all go pear shaped and I'll be looking at a repair bill. Those sort of low speed manouvers aren't for me, and by the looks of things the vast majority of experienced riders feel the same way.

I think as a band of older/experienced riders we're saying "leave the U-turns for the newbies who feel they have to learn them, and those who feel it makes them a better rider if they do them all the time". We'll have the last laugh when we compare your broken plastics costs with the ones we won't have. I'd rather waste my time learing how to go even faster round corners, rather than how to go even slower.
__________________

I'd debate that it's "inevitable", I think it's more likely we'll be laughing at broken plastics after going faster round corners than doing u-turns, after all a little dab of the foot is not going to save the bike on a fast corner if that goes wrong, and you'll read about many more crashes on corners than drops on U turns on any biking forum. And it's not something I have to waste any time learning, it was learned 18 years ago for the road, and about 22 years ago on a Gas Gas 327 for getting round trees, and regular use keeps the hand in.

Still, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Still, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

That's cool, but may I end with this - if I wanted to practise going slow, I'd have bought a moped or a bicycle.

Originally Posted by Weirdfish

Why do so many people struggle? Because it is a real skill, any joker can ride a bike along and bumble through a few turns round the block, but real clutch control and good balance are required for a good U turn.

Yeh exactly, that's why becoming better and better at U-turns was important for me, and not just cos of the fact its a U-turn.
There are a set of traffic lights that I U-turn regularly at near a place I go to play pool, and if it wasn't for my confidence in doing 'em I'd be pooing it every time. When you've got some impatient Londoner behind you, you just wanna do the darned U-turn and throttle out of their instead of faffing about with feet down.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

I think as a band of older/experienced riders we're saying "leave the U-turns for the newbies who feel they have to learn them, and those who feel it makes them a better rider if they do them all the time". We'll have the last laugh when we compare your broken plastics costs with the ones we won't have. I'd rather waste my time learing how to go even faster round corners, rather than how to go even slower.

Well I sat my test not too long ago, but never once did I drop my bike whilst learning, be it figure of 8's or U-turns. I'm not sure why you seem to think dropping it on a U-turn will happen eventually - my u-turns have only got better as my clutch use and confidence has improved.

This forum is of great value to us noobs cos we have the ancient folk here to spread their biking wisdom - but I am truly interested as to why you think doing U-turns will end up in a botch up and some broken plastics instead of mastering the slow speed control of a bike.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

That's cool, but may I end with this - if I wanted to practise going slow, I'd have bought a moped or a bicycle.

Why? Piece of pee going slow on a moped/bicycle. Not ridden much in London rush hour traffic then? - I never thought riding slow was that crucial til I got to the jungle.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

That's cool, but may I end with this - if I wanted to practise going slow, I'd have bought a moped or a bicycle.

Of course, you can end however you want mate, if I can end by reiterating the fact that there is no need to practice any more than there's a need to practice counter steering If you do it anyway, you just do it!