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

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Weirdfish

Counter balance. Shift your **** on the seat to the opposite side to the turn, bikes with a larger turning circle such as sports bikes need to be lent over more to achieve a tighter turn, even at slower speeds, but of course if you lean with the bike or try and stay upright at slow speeds they will tip over!

Interesting. I'm not doubting that what you say works, as you are an instructor, but I can't work out why. It's possible to ride a bike leant over at slow speeds, and if you counterbalance totally in the opposite direction, you travel in a straight line. I always thought a bike turned by "falling" into the corner, hence by counterbalancing you increase your turning radius.

I'm probably missing something somewhere.

[yorkie_chris]

For people who are scared to lean into corners themselves, let bike move.

Overall lean angle will not be zero

Guys, thanks for all the great help. I'm hoping to take the bike out soon *looking outside window*, it's raining at the moment which is no fun on a bike .

I think I've mastered corners a bit better (from when I posted a previous thread on the subject). Before I was countersteering, but unconscious of doing it (so not pushing the bike to its ability). Now I am thinking about countersteering while I go around corners, pushing it that extra bit harder.

Sorry to deviate from the original subject, but if I am going around a roundabout and I am faced with a pothole (or a crack in the road), how will I know the bike will go over it, without slipping under me? I think my conscience is getting the better of me and so slowing me down making me avoinding them .. I'm on about the potholes where you can feel a real jolt in your suspension.. those ones

Cheers again guys!

[ophic]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

For people who are scared to lean into corners themselves, let bike move.

Overall lean angle will not be zero

More of a psychological effect than physical then?

[TheRamJam]

Originally Posted by Weirdfish

I am a bike Instructor and would say that the sensible advice, although not as funny as some of the other advice, is spot on, although there is one more thing you should consider, especially on more sporty bikes.......
Counter balance. Shift your **** on the seat to the opposite side to the turn, bikes with a larger turning circle such as sports bikes need to be lent over more to achieve a tighter turn, even at slower speeds, but of course if you lean with the bike or try and stay upright at slow speeds they will tip over!
Other advice as already given: Head up and contrary to a lot of instructors advice, DON'T turn your head all the way around to look up in the direction you want to end up facing, but keep your head at 90 degrees to your body. Turning the head too far causes imbalance, at the left kerb the focus point should be the opposite Kerb, as you reach the middle of the road the focus point should be a distant fixed point further up the road (lampost, parked car etc).
Keep the momentum, with a bit of speed comes better balance (but this needs confidence).
Be quite aggresive in your attitude towards DOING IT!
If it feels like it is going wrong get the clutch in, DON'T TOUCH THE FRONT BRAKE!!!
Did you train with 'Dexterity'? If so I am sure Andy or one of the lads would be happy to let you have go in the training site and give some free advice!
Practice, Practice, Practice!
All aspects of bike riding are worth getting good at, the ability to demonstrate a good U turn will benefit your riding and confidence in other areas.
Good Luck
Jim

Basically what a was taught too buddy. Look at kerb going into the turn and then up the road whilst coming round. Was a bit tricky at first but it does work and after practice on the CBF500 i found myself turning with only half the road required. Clutch at biting point and throttle set. These should stay the same throughout the manouvre and control your speed with the rear brake. Keep your hand off the front

Haven't quite got the u-turns up to pat yet on the GSXR though lol

Originally Posted by simesb

It may be the government's fault that you had to sit a test, but it certainly wasn't their fault you took a wrong turn.

I sat my test in 1979, when it cost £7 all in, you only did one test on the road, you didn't need lessons, you could take it on a 250 and didn't have to put up with all the crap the government throw in the way of new riders nowadays.

I'm sure things like the U-turn are specifically designed to put people off taking a test, not to ensure they are capable riders. When I took mine there were far more bikes on the road and the number of road deaths on bikes were no greater than they are now when you compare the figures like for like.

Things haven't got better for motorcyclists, they've got worse because of all the rubbish we have to put up with and life is so much more restrictive. Adding more and more crap like this into the test, and then restricting power outputs for new riders just allows the government to bring even more liberty taking measures against us.

Originally Posted by kd80

Sorry to deviate from the original subject, but if I am going around a roundabout and I am faced with a pothole (or a crack in the road), how will I know the bike will go over it, without slipping under me? I think my conscience is getting the better of me and so slowing me down making me avoinding them .. I'm on about the potholes where you can feel a real jolt in your suspension.. those ones

Cheers again guys!

Lift your eyes and look further forward than you are now. Plan your line to avoid anything that may give you cause for concern.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

I'm sure things like the U-turn are specifically designed to put people off taking a test, not to ensure they are capable riders.

I don't believe that to be true - the U-turn is about showing low speed control, not a government conspiracy to stop people taking bike tests.

I had to reverse round a corner in my car test for similar reasons - it's not a maneuver I have done more than 2 or 3 times since but that doesn't make it any less valid as a test.

You are of course welcome to not do a U-turn if you fear for damage to your bike, but to condemn it as a conspiracy is somewhat daft.

Nothing wrong with getting better in another area of motorcycling, especially one that helps your slow speed control. There are times when I do find U-turns useful, and when I can't be bothered to 3 point turn it/put my feet down.

As for potholes, I can relate. Here in London the roads are a joke in some places, and there's been recent water pipe refurbishment around my area, meaning the roads have been dug up well, but not put back together too neatly.

Especially at night, there are times when you see a pot hole maybe a little too late for your liking, and think 'man if I'd gone over that would defo have stacked it'.

I always keep the look where you wanna go, chin up tips in mind when riding, but, well potholes are annoying!

IMO cant see what difference it makes if you start doing a u turn and you put a foot down, who cares, the end result is the same.
I can do them, dont do them very often though.