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

Keep revs high, clutch slipping and feather the rear brake as required. Keeping the revs high is the key to it, flywheel spinning acts like a gyro. Really is easy.

Originally Posted by specialone

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.

Yeep the end result might be the same, but if you set out to perform a manouever on a motorcycle (whatever it may be), and don't succeed then you do need to analyse, go over and refine.

Other things that you don't pull off so well may not end in the same pretty result. If my brain wants me to do one thing, and my motor co-ordination fails me, I go back to it until I can do it - I won't leave it just because there is another means to the end.

Originally Posted by thulfi

Yeep the end result might be the same, but if you set out to perform a manouever on a motorcycle (whatever it may be), and don't succeed then you do need to analyse, go over and refine.

Other things that you don't pull off so well may not end in the same pretty result. If my brain wants me to do one thing, and my motor co-ordination fails me, I go back to it until I can do it - I won't leave it just because there is another means to the end.

TBH thats two seperate things, if i dont make a really tight uturn and put my foot down i aint gonna stress over it, in fact wouldnt even register as a problem, but other areas of my riding which dont go to plan then yes i would analize it and try and improve next time.
As Lozzo said earlier in this thread, its a meaningless routine designed by people who probably have never rode a bike.

Yeep, but if I couldn't physically do u-turns and others could I wouldn't really settle for anything less. If they can do it, so I should be able to also.

I see what you're saying, its hardly the most important/useful routine, but if I couldn't do 'em due to incompetence/lack of control then yeh that would be an issue - not because I wanna do U-turns, but because it would peev me off til I got the hang of it.

Originally Posted by thulfi

Yeep, but if I couldn't physically do u-turns and others could I wouldn't really settle for anything less. If they can do it, so I should be able to also.

I see what you're saying, its hardly the most important/useful routine, but if I couldn't do 'em due to incompetence/lack of control then yeh that would be an issue - not because I wanna do U-turns, but because it would peev me off til I got the hang of it.

I understand where you're coming from, but i can do them, passed my test doing them, 1st time i might add lol, but wouldnt be a personal failure if i didnt get them right all the time, but as you say if everybody done them well and you couldnt then thats a different story, i would practice until i was competent, then never do them again

Originally Posted by SVFreak

Keep revs high, clutch slipping and feather the rear brake as required. Keeping the revs high is the key to it, flywheel spinning acts like a gyro. Really is easy.

I'm not sure that's true. The flywheel can't take ANY orientation, hence isn't a gyroscope.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroscope

It is also very light compared to a motorbike, or rider. High revs let you control your speed with the clutch, which is often easier than low revs . Rear brake is also very helpful, the clutch can be slipped and very slowly drag the bike against the brake, this seems to me to reduce the effect of throttle/clutch input, meaning ham-fisted application won't make you unstable. I can perform a low-speed turn on a bicycle with no flywheel.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by carternd

I'm not sure that's true. The flywheel can't take ANY orientation, hence isn't a gyroscope.

It can, it just has to haul the mass of a bike with it. How much difference it makes I have no idea. I doubt anyone would push their bike over at different revs to test it.

[jamesterror]

3 point turn on the SV was a bit pooy on some roads, I was taught high revs, gentle on the clutch and a bit of back brake, its equally faster in residential areas to make use of the path, you pay for it so why not use it.

Dont think its been mentioned but having got the hang of it pretty well on my DAS, I found this makes a huge difference:

Pull away in a straight line for a couple feet to get your balance first, going into a uturn without being properly balanced at low speed is a recipe for disaster

[Bibio]

a lot of very good advice above.

how about finding a MC training school like the one you used to get your lessons and give them some cash for a days training of 'u turns' on different bikes till you have it nailed.

that way you have an instructor to show you your faults plus if your going to drop a bike your going to drop their bike. well worth the cash.