how to do u turn on motorcycle

Published on Sep 15, 2013

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Learn how to do a figure 8 on a motorcycle from professional motorcycle instructor Joonil Park in this
Howcast video.
Hi, I'm Joonil Park for Howcast, and this video will help you to do figure eight maneuvers on your
motorcycle.
The figure eight move is utilized in many states' motorcycle licensing tests. However, after this test you'll
probably never have to do a figure eight again. Still, an important technique to master.
You can use it for U-turns after you finish your test, you can use a lot of the same techniques. Remember,
you want to turn your head as far into your path as possible. It will create balance. It will also sharpen
your turn, because the further you rotate your head, and the farther you focus your eyes, the sharper your
turn will be.
Begin your maneuver by turning your head to the left, starting your figure eight pattern. Use steady
application of the throttle, you want to make sure you listen for it, keep your RPM steady, and use the
middle part of your clutch, utilize the clutch levers travel, and keep that range in the sweet spot, slow
speed, and fine control. Use the middle part of the figure eight to transition from left to right, making sure
you turn your head ahead of your path, before your handlebars get rotated.
As you practice this maneuver, you can incorporate counterbalancing, using your body weight in the
opposite direction of the turn to offset the motorcycle's weight, leaning into the turn. Practice this
technique several times, and passing your motorcycle test will be a breeze.

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Published on Sep 14, 2013

Watch more How to Ride a Motorcycle videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/512933-...

Learn how to make a u-turn on a motorcycle from professional motorcycle instructor Joonil Park in this
Howcast video.
This is Joonil Park for Howcast, and this video will show you how to properly do a U-turn on a
motorcycle. U-turns are a necessary maneuver when riding a motorcycle in streets.
Couple pointers to look out for, make sure you pull over completely and safely, and before you attempt
the maneuver, make sure you check the mirrors, and check over your left shoulder to make sure the path
is clear to do your U-turn. It helps to slip your clutch within its sweet spot instead of letting the clutch all
the way out and using only the throttle, as it gives you more slow speed control.
The most important technique to keep in mind is to try to turn your head as far as possible looking into
the path of your direction. Not only will it make sure that the path is clear and safe for you to complete
your U-turn, but your body will naturally follow where you focus your eyes. The further you turn your
head, and the further you look into the turn, the more balance and sharper your U-turn will be. Keep the
throttle steady, smooth application of the clutch, and turning your head will accomplish your U-turn
safely, and in the smallest space allowable.
When you feel comfortable with this technique, add a counterweighting into your maneuver. This will
help stabilize the motorcycle, and offset the motorcycle weight leaning into the turn, with your body
weight offsetting and balancing it out to maintain stability. Practice this technique, and sooner or later it
will become second nature to you. Thanks.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MvO6tNbkw0

Uploaded on Sep 9, 2010

Uncomfortable on my new big bike, I used the techniques taught on the Ride Like a Pro DVD to
accomplish my mission:
Turn around in my 22 foot drive way.
I practiced and practiced. Driveway sits four or so inches above the grass, and if I didn't stay on the
asphalt, it wasn't pretty. Finally I did it. I thought I was leaning the motorcycle. I wasn't. Video proved it.

In frustration, I took my wife's advice and emailed the Motorman. He responded that I had leanophobia..
then he told me how to fix it. I did, and I was hooked.
I hurt my back in June, and haven't been quite the same with my skills since. I am not making full lock
turns. To make the second turn in the narrow part (just under 20 feet) I have to make a full lock turn.
Great practice and no room for error if I don't want grass stains on my knees.
By the end of the weekend, I'll post another clip and I'll be much better, quicker, and have a lot more lean.
Back to basics.. back to where it began

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Published on Aug 22, 2012

(2012) Part 2 of a 5-part series featuring Washington State's Motorcycle Skills Test. This video examines
the Turn from a Stop (also called, the "Sharp Turn") and the U-turn. Read set-up info & instructions
below.
TURN FROM A STOP
Set-up:
A sharp right turn and traffic lane marked by painted lines/cones.
Starting "T" (6' centered in front of turn).
6' wide traffic lane (10' outer lane lines; 4' inner lane lines).
Instructions:
Starting from the center of the "Start T".
When signaled, make a right turn within the boundary lines without crossing a line or putting a foot
down.
U-TURN
Set-up:
A u-turn area and a stop box marked by painted lines/cones.
20' wide area for cycles less than 600cc.
24' wide area for cycles 600cc and larger.
Instructions:
After the Turn From A Stop, diagonally cross to the opposite side of the box and make a left u-turn
within the boundary lines.
[for less than 600cc, stay within the 20' area]
[for 600cc or larger, stay within the 24' area]
Stop with your front tire inside the stop box.

 When signaled, turn right and get back in line.

This video is produced by the Washington State Department of Licensing.

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The eyes have it: look where you want to go!. Photo Credit: Photo Basem Wasef
It may look easy, but a smoothly executed u-turn on a motorcycle is more challenging than you might
guess.
How do you perform a u-turn that looks effortless? Consider these tips and practice them in the safety of
an empty parking lot, and you'll find yourself more easily turning your bike around on the street:

It's All in the Eyes

The old adage "You'll go where you're looking" holds especially true when it comes to u-turns.
That said, don't look down, and keep your line of vision going through the turn, constantly focusing your
eyes ahead, where you want to go, rather than towards the pavement below.

Ride Within the Friction Zone

The friction zone is the area where your clutch is slipping enough to transmit some, but not all power
from the engine to the rear wheel. Don't try to u-turn in neutral, and don't do with a gear fully engaged,
either; riding within the friction zone will give you more control over the bike through the throttle, which
helps modulate the motorcycles's lean angle through subtle adjustments.

Drag the Rear Brake

Avoid using the front brakes during u-turns, as the forks are more sensitive to diving at low speeds.
Gentle dragging of the rear brake creates stability, enabling better control while you're maneuvering your
bike through the turn.

Keep Your Weight Mass Centralized

There's a natural tendency to stick your leg out when you turn (making it ready to break a fall), but your
motorcycle will be more manageable when peripheral mass (ie, you!) is closer to the bike. Keep your feet
on the pegs; if necessary, you might be helped by putting some weight on the outside peg, in a similar but
more subtle way than you would while riding offroad.

Practice Turning Both Ways

For whatever reason, most people find it much easier to make tight left turns than right turns. To develop
a more balanced u-turn skill set, practice doing figure 8s in an empty parking lot. The drill will build your
muscle memory for both sides of your body. Similarly, try riding in a wide circle and narrowing your path
so you're forming an ever-narrowing spiral; once you can't turn any more tightly, exit and try it again the
other way. Remember to keep looking where you want to go, especially when you're changing directions.

As tempting as it may be to ride everywhere the moment you've scored your motorcycle license,
remember it's a jungle out there: challenging roads probably offer more hazards than you're ready to deal
with, thick traffic adds a layer of menace, and hectic intersections all increase the risk factors for new
riders.
Take your time by taking roads less traveled, and you'll be able to focus more on the art of riding without
worrying about avoiding dangerous distractions.
Don't worry; if you stay safe during your crucial early experiences on a bike, it will give you more
confidence when you're ready to take on more challenging conditions.

There's more to riding in traffic than just scanning your eyes ahead. Is that car to your right slowly
encroaching into your lane? Does that parked car have somebody about to swing the door open? Is the
person behind you aware that you're slowing down for red light?
In this age of rampant driver distraction, keeping a 360 degree image of traffic around you is crucial;
when you've reached that level of awareness, the unexpected is no longer a surprise.
Stay on top of your surroundings by scanning well ahead, checking side-to-side, and occasionally
checking your mirrors.

Riders who've been around a long time usually offer the same piece of advice to newbies: Assume you're
invisible.
While there are many ways to stay visible on a bike, it's also helpful to think about motorists around you
as oblivious to your presence. Even if it's your right of way, don't assume a car won't cut you off; even if
you've made eye contact with a driver, don't bet the farm that he or she won't make a sudden move that
puts you in jeopardy.
And finally, keep a finger over your brake lever at all times just in case emergency avoidance maneuvers
are required... and remember: only the paranoid survive

Motorcycling offers a deep sense of community; after all, it's one of the numerous reasons we ride.

As tempting as it is to throw a friend on the back and head for the hills, riding with a passenger
significantly changes your bike's handling dynamics-- and, let's face it, we're also more likely to push
harder when we're trying to impress someone.
Similarly, riding in a group poses its own set of challenges; not only do you need an added layer of spatial
awareness, there's often pressure to ride faster than you might feel comfortable with.
Spend your early riding time solo, and you'll get better in tune with your own pace and way of doing
things on two wheels. Soon enough, you'll be ready to share your riding with others.

by Jerry Palladino (MOTORMAN)

Recently some friends and myself took a Sunday afternoon ride to Ybor City. Ybor, for those of you
who don't know means, NO PARKING in Spanish. Once there, as usual, we had a tough time finding
a parking space. In order to actually park, we had to make several quick U-turns on the narrow
streets. Since I was leading, I could see in my mirrors the dirty looks my friends gave me as I led
them on several U-turns in an effort to find the elusive parking spot. Their grumblings over the quick
turns inspired me to write these tips.
As I have stated before, just about all production motorcycles are capable of making a U-turn in well
under 20 feet. That means that you can U-turn on just about any two lane road including the narrow
streets in Ybor City. Here's the technique you need to apply. If you are about to make a left hand Uturn, keep your foot firmly on the rear brake, keep the clutch in the friction zone and roll on the
throttle. Dip the bike towards the right curb, then quickly and smoothly turn your head completely
around to the direction you want to go. At the same time you are turning your head, you should be
pushing on the right grip turning your handle bars as far as possible and leaning the bike to the left.
The same technique applies if you are making a right hand U-turn.
To practice this maneuver find a parking lot with back to back parking lines. You will find the white
lines of the parking spaces are placed 10 feet apart. At first, use three parking spaces. Start with
your motorcycle towards the left side of the first parking space, then ride forward towards the right
of the opposing parking space, turn your head completely around as you turn the handle bars and
make a 30 foot U-turn. Keep practicing this making your turn tighter each time till you can
eventually turn using only two of the parking spots. That will give you a 20 foot U-turn and enable
you to make a U-turn on just about any street.
Practice this maneuver equally to the right and to the left. You may find that making a right hand Uturn seems to be more difficult if you are right-handed. That means you practice the U-turn to the
right more than to the left and you will get comfortable making the U-turn in both directions. The
real key to this maneuver is to look where you want the bike to go. Remember, if you look at the
curb or the end of the pavement on that narrow street, that's where you will go. So, at all costs,
avoid that temptation. With about 3 hours practice, you should be able to turn on any street
whenever you feel like it with total confidence. Good Luck!

Completing a SLOooooW TIGHT U-Turn!

By Phil the Strat/OZ

Having ridden "The Tardis" for the 21 years (78-99) I had the machine on the road, I was always
particularly interested in how the Police could manipulate their m/cycles so effectively. I must admit,
this was emphasized by my neighbour, Chris, at every opportunity, as he is an ex Police pursuit guy,
on his ex Police K1100LT. He also takes corners verrrry different to me.....but that's another story.
My initial ride on his K1100Lt, along with my son, whilst he and his son rode "The Tardis", spelt the
death knell of my time traveller. Talk about a different generation of m/bike. That led to a test ride
on a BMW K1200LT-C, which almost instantaneously followed the purchase of the same machine.
The K1200LT-C is about 130kgs heavier than my XS, and has this "top heavy" syndrome at low
speeds, attached to it. Soooooo many new K12 owners have promptly dropped the brand new
machine, almost on the dealer's front tarmac.
This aggrevated Chris to no end, such that he wrote the following, which I posted to the K12 site. It
was/is of invaluable use to the K12 guys, and may help someone here.................
Tips for BMW riders wishing to do nice, tight U turns, without resorting to the humiliation of:

your passenger having to get off the bike;

dropping your pride and joy;

paddling your feet on the ground like you are riding a child's tricycle;

wobbling around like a learner rider;

driving around and around town until you can find a roundabout;

driving around two entire blocks, so as to reverse your direction.

This is the technique that the NSW Police pursuit motorcyclists utilise todo U turns, whether it is on their
K1100LT, their Harley Road King, or their Honda 1500. Bear in mind they have around 100kg (220lbs) of
equipment on board, which would equate to a pillion passenger in most books....
This technique will turn your cycle around in a two lane road, leaving about 1.8m or 6 feet to spare.
Interested? Read on....
The key to making nice, tight U turns is centripetal force. Remember that expression from your high
school physics days? It is the force you can feel when you hold a spinning top, and try to move it
suddenly. The top resists - the faster you spin it, the more resistance you feel. To make centripetal force
work to your advantage, you induce spin into your engine components by revving the motor. Not blipping
the throttle, but by running up to, and holding at around 2,500 RPM. The centripetal force exerted by your
spinning engine components under these conditions is considerable - more than enough to hold you, your
bike, your pillion and luggage upright whilst you manoeuver through your turn.
The steps to follow are:

1. Pull to side of road and stop.

2. Check mirrors for traffic approaching from the rear
3. Check for oncoming traffic
4. Signal your intention to turn
5. RPM to 2500 and hold it there.
6. Clutch out until begins to engage and move off. Do not fully release - allow to slip only. BOTH
FEET UP.
7. Control your speed by using the rear brake ONLY, and continuing to slip the clutch
8. **KEEP YOUR HEAD UP - LOOK TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO**
Failure to do so will result in you leaning the bike, which means you are approaching fall-over
territory at low speeds.
9. Did I say KEEP YOUR HEAD UP? Well, I'm saying it again. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.
10. Using the rear brake to control your speed, come to full lock and begin your turn. KEEP YOUR
HEAD UP, and aim to turn at about walking speed.
11. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP - control your speed with the rear brake maintain engine speed.
12. Accomplished riders do not even need to take their feet off the pegs to execute this manoeuver,
especially if they keep their head you-know-where.
13. After you have completed your graceful U turn, allow the clutch to engage fully and ride off into
that sunset, to the admiration of onlookers and other lesser riders that have witnessed your skill
and precision.
GUIDE FOR RELUCTANT DAREDEVILS
If you are not-so-sure you can do this, try a little practise. A good venue is a car-park, where you can go
nice and slow and get the hang of slipping the clutch and riding the rear brake at the same time. When you
are making a U turn, you should do it at about walking speed or less - at 2500 RPM this can only be
achieved by the use of both clutch-slip and rear brake. Try a few low speed figure 8 turns, wide at first,
then approaching full-lock.
You will be able to do full-lock (bars against the tank) U turns in either direction with practise.
Get in the habit of keeping your feet up on the pegs, so as you develop your balance and make use of the
centripetal forces generated by using the motor. (Cops call feet-down riders 'paddle-foots', and feel it is a
sign of only limited ability to control the motor cycle)
A few of you are saying - slip the clutch! NEVER!! Believe me, the cost of replacing a worn clutch is
much LESS than that of replacing a busted fairing. (my K1100LT has 60,000km on it and the original
clutch is holding up just fine. The first 40,000km were spent as a low speed Police escort cycle)

SUMMARY

HEAD UP HEAD UP HEAD UP HEAD UP

ENGINE SPEED CONSTANT THROUGHOUT TURN @ 2500RPM (higher if you want even
more stability)

WALKING SPEED BY SLIPPING THE CLUTCH AND RIDING THE REAR BRAKE

FEET UP AND ON THE PEGS

CHECK FOR TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BEFORE YOU START YOUR TURN

HEAD...........UP

There are certain, often, easy things that we perform everyday in life. Like taking the stairs
for example, trivial, simple enough tasks, right? Unless old age or liquor-induced inebriation
push us down, stairs are far from difficult. However, such tasks can prove complicated for
no reason other than that they exist in our reality. Take the rider in the video for instance,
who crashes into a fence after losing control of his bike while attempting to make a simple
U-turn.

A case of bad clutch control and possibly wrong body position, resulted in this rider slamming himself
and bike into the fence.]
The poor gentleman, 10 embarrassing minutes before his test, according to the video description was
practicing his third U-turn when things went awry. Almost completing the turn, it appears that the rider
gunned the bike, launching it out of control and into the fence. Watching the video slowly, you can see the
riders head crashes into the fence, saved by his ever-important helmet.
READ MORE: 10 THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM 10 MOTORCYCLE CRASHES | RideApart
The video doesnt inform us if he passed his test. We can only hope, he practiced his U-turns a bit more
before going. While it is easy to laugh and chuckle for our bemusement, it proves that even the best of us
can get pushed down a flight of stairs sometimes.

New rider: How to perform a U-turn

Published: 10 December 2009

Look where you want

to go
A U-turn is the real-life use of all those slow speed skills you have built up by practicing in deserted car
parks and on your riding course.
It's also one of the most common fails during the test, for both observation and control.
Turning across the flow of traffic in both directions means that good observation is key throughout the
manouvere, so check for oncoming traffic and have a good long look over your shoulder before you start
your turn.
The start of your turn needs to be as near the kerb as possible, but it's often worth getting moving in a
straight line before you dial in some steering input so that you've got the bike balanced and your engine's
power balanced against the clutch and with some use of the back brake.
Do that last lifesaver look over your shoulder and swing into the turn smoothly.
The important thing to remember is that to carry out a tight U-turn, the bike must lean toward the inside
of the turn.
The more you lean, the tighter the arc of the turn. Many riders, especially beginners, want to feel the
security of having both feet on the ground, but doing so increases the radius of the corner since the bike
remains nearly straight up-and-down.
Another trick is to lean your body towards the outside of the turn.
As the bike goes through the turn, concentrate on looking up the road to where you want to be instead of
focussing on the kerb or the front wheel.

If you need to tighten the turn increase the rear brake, if the bike feels like it's dropping in too fast,
increase the throttle a gnat's.
You might find the road's camber changes both these inputs too.
As you come out of the turn, release the rear brake to allow you to pull away smoothly, taking another
quick check over your shoulder as you do so.

Get a friend into biking and win 10000 for you, and 5000 for them with the MCN 1000

How to Ride a Motorcycle Slowly

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Ken Condon 13 Comments

Oops.
photo Ken Condon
Even though the ability to keep your motorcycle upright at parking lot speeds wont necessarily save your
life, it may save you from a broken foot (happened to me) and expensive damage. Sure, you can try to
balance your bike using your legs, but its way better for your confidence and street cred if you rely more
on proficient slow-speed maneuvering skill.

Dragging feet is for losers.

How Not to Suck at Slow Speed Riding
As speeds decrease, we lose the benefit of inertia and gyroscopic forces. The slower you go, the greater
role you play in keeping gravity from pulling your motorcycle onto its side. This means keeping the
Center of Gravity located directly above the tire contact patches (or keep the contact patches directly
beneath the Center of Gravity).
To do this, you must constantly adjust the Center of Gravity / contact patch relationship. Its like trying to
balance a broomstick on your palm. It takes continual adjustment to keep the brooms contact point
vertically below the Center of Gravity so the broomstick remains upright react too slowly and the
broomstick falls to the floor.
You must do the same thing when trying to stay upright on a slow moving motorcycle. The difference is
that the motorcycle is the broomstick and you must move the tires contact patch to keep in balance.
This can be done by turning the handlebars left and right, causing the steering head and the motorcycles
Center of Gravity to shift from side-to-side.
All photos Ken Condon

Shifting body weight can help maintain balance.

photo Ken Condon
Body Positioning
By shifting your bodyweight, you move the combined Center of Gravity of bike and rider over the contact
patches. A limber torso and a loose grip on the handlebars helps maintain balance in this way.
When making tight turns, position your weight on the outside footpeg (the right peg for left turns) to let
the motorcycle lean. Keep weight on your footpegs so you can lean the bike more-or-less independently
of your body (and vice versa). This allows you to quickly shift body weight, turn the handlebars, or lean
the bike to regain balance.
Brake Control
One other reason for keeping your feet on the footpegs is so your right foot can apply rear brake pressure
if you need to slow.
The rear brake is also useful for increasing stability. Maintain steady drive while you drag the rear brake
to control speed and also give the drivetrain a force to pull against. This tension steadies drive force
and helps pivot the bike around when making tight U-turns.
Drive Control
One of the most critical controls to master when performing U-turns is throttle control. Forward drive
must be delivered smoothly, otherwise you risk dropping your motorcycle. Its really difficult to make a
tight U-turn with the motorcycle lurching abruptly from ham-fisted on-and-off application of the throttle.
All Together Now
Lets put all the parts together to perform a tight, slow speed turn:
1. Slow to a suitable speed
2. Once the motorcycle is slowed, release the brakes
3. Lean the bike and turn the handlebars
4. Turn your head like a barn owl
5. Ease out the clutch about halfway
6. Roll on the throttle slightly to pull the bike around the turn
7. Drag the rear brake lightly and slip the clutch for speed control.

Turn your head, turn the handlebars, lean the bike, slip the clutch, drag the rear brake, and control the
throttle. Thats not too much to do, right?
You may have to lean quite a bit, but thats okay as long as you maintain steady drive. Minimize throttle
movement by keeping your wrist down and anchoring your thumb or index finger to your handlebar
control pod.
Slow speed handling doesnt have to cause anxiety. A bit of knowledge and practice can increase
confidence and decrease the likelihood of a slow speed tip-over and possible injury.

Riding Right: Making the Perfect U-Turn

How to practice to get it right
By Jerry Motorman Palladino
Email to a friend
One of the most common questions asked by riders is how to properly make a U-turn on a motorcycle.
The best way to learn how to make a U-turn is to practice in a parking lot using these instructionsthe
same ones I use in my classes and in my book, "Ride Like A Pro." The following guidelines are for
making a U-turn to the left.
To set up your U-turn practice area, mark off a U-shaped area approximately 34 feet long and 24 feet
wide. You can use chalk, cones, or tennis balls as markers. Put one marker in each corner of the U-turn
and no more than two or three markers down each side. Keep in mind that you can set up the U-turn as
wide as you care to. However, 24 feet is the size of your average side street.

Donna Palladino, Jerry's wife, makes a U-turn in a coned-off practice area.

The trick to the U-turn is to use a dip. Mark a pivot point about 12 feet from the end of your U-turn space.
(See diagram below.) Hug the right side of your marked-off area, then just before you approach your
pivot point, turn the bars quickly to the left, away from the pivot point, then to the right toward the pivot
point. Once your front tire is heading toward the pivot point, quickly snap your head and eyes as far to the
left as you possibly can. In other words, youre looking over your left shoulder.

This exercise from Jerry's book illustrates how to properly set up and maneuver through a U-turn practice
area.
The entire time youre performing the U-turn you need to be in the friction zone and have a little pressure
on the rear brake. Your speed should be about 5 mph. Allow the motorcycle to lean as you turn the
handlebars. You need only lean about as far as the bike leans when its sitting on the kickstand. Dont ever

look at the opposite side of the U-turn area. Even a split-second glance in that direction will cause you to
steer the motorcycle toward the left side of the turndoing that will make your turn considerably wider
than 24 feet. Most full-size cruisers can turn in 18 feet, meaning you have 6 feet of error.

Read WRN's review of Jerry's book, "Ride Like a Pro," from which this article is excerpted.
The most common mistake riders make during this exercise is looking at the opposite side of the U-turn
instead of immediately turning their head and eyes as far to the left as possible. The second most common
mistake is going too slowly and then attempting to turn with the bike straight upyou must have a little
momentum in order to lean the bike. Mistake number three is pulling the clutch in or releasing the throttle
right in the middle of the U-turn. Doing either one of those two things will cause the bike to tip over, as
gravity will pull you to the ground when there's no power to the rear wheel. Mistake number four
is briefly straightening out the handlebars as the bike transitions to the left. Straightening out the
handlebars, even for a split second, will cause the bike to go straight for two or three feet, which will
cause you to lose space while making the U-turn.
About the Author
Jerry Palladino is the founder of Ride Like A Pro, Inc., a company that produces
motorcycle instructional DVDs and books. Jerry also teaches classes to experienced
riders who want to enhance their motorcycle skills. Visit RideLikeAPro.com.

BACK TO BASICS - SLOW SPEED MANEUVERS

by Jerry Palladino (MOTORMAN)

I've gotten a lot of email lately stating some of my readers missed the first few
motorman columns. Being it never hurts to review the basic techniques involved, here
goes.
The first thing you must master is head and eyes. What this means exactly, is that
wherever you look, that's where the bike will go. The reason the phrase head and eyes
is used is that if you turn your head to the right, but your eyes look straight ahead, the
technique WILL NOT work. Both your head and eyes must turn in the direction you want
the bike to go. Never look down unless you want to go down. Head and eyes does take
practice to become second nature. The good news is that you can practice this
technique every time you are on your motorcycle. Simply pulling out of your driveway,
for instance, if you are turning to the right, turn your head and eyes to the right, look
down the road where you want the motorcycle to go and you'll immediately notice you
will be making a much tighter turn than normal. When you stop at a stop sign and are
about to make a left hand turn, turn your head and eyes to the left, avoid looking at the
curb or the center line of the road and focus on where you want the bike to end up and
you will find you will never drift towards the curb or the center line of the road. You can
even practice this technique on a bicycle by making U-turns on the street in front of
your own home.
The second technique you must learn is how to use the friction zone. The friction zone
is the area on the clutch between fully open and fully closed. In other words, as you let
the clutch out and the bike starts to move, you're entering the friction zone. An easy
way to become accustomed to riding the bike in the friction zone is to practice the slow
race. That is simply going as slow as you possibly can without releasing the clutch
completely.
The third technique is the proper use of the rear or controlling brake. With the
motorcycle in the friction zone, keep your foot on the rear brake and feather it as the
bike starts to move. By doing this you are making the motorcycle think it's going faster
than it is. When you apply power and keep your foot on the rear brake, it keeps the
motorcycle from falling over at low speeds which is where most people have a problem.
I've never heard of anyone having problems balancing their motorcycle at 50 or 60mph.
If you don't use these techniques at 5 or 10mph the motorcycle feels clumsy and wants
to fall over on it's side. AVOID using the front brake at all costs when riding at parking
lot speeds, as applying the front brake at 5 or 10mph with the handle bars turned even
slightly, will pull you to the ground like a magnet. Of course, once above parking lot
speeds, you must use the front brake as well as the rear brake, as 70% of your braking
power comes from the front brake.
Avoid dragging your feet along the ground as this tends to upset the balance of the
motorcycle, and of course, if your feet are dragging on the ground you cannot have
your foot on the brake. As soon as you start to move your bike from a complete stop,
both feet should automatically come up to the floor boards or pegs and your right foot
should be feathering the rear brake. Once you master these three simple techniques,
you will be amazed at the tight maneuvers your bike can perform. You'll know you've
gotten it right when you can make full lock turns in both directions at 5mph with the
pegs or boards scraping a perfect circle in the pavement.
Remember, all it takes is a little practice. Good Luck!

Hi,

Someone in general suggested asking you guys as well.

I failed my DAS a couple of weeks ago on my U turn. I can't seem to do it when I'm only
going forward a couple of bike lengths, I can do it fine if I ride 40 metres or so before
turning in.
On my test I didn't turn in enough and ran out of road to turn in.

The bike is an ER5. I have a RF400R at home. There don't seem to be many airfield type
places I can practice on, so my practice is pretty much limited to DAS sessions.
I think the problem started on my first day on 500's I fell off a couple of times just after U
turns - from standing still just fell sideways. I am now using a shorter seat on the ER5 which
is better but I think I now have a bit of a subconcious problem with them after falling off.

I have another test on Thursday so has anyone got any good tips/advice?

Thanks
Carrie
Nobody203
15/06/2004 at 15:13
Howdo,

umm pint of grolsch is traditional, and welcome to the forum.

Cant really help you with the advice, as I'm afraid I struggle with slow speed control to this
day, am still working on it!

However couple of suggestions to check out for advice, have a look on Horse's and the Spin
Doctor's websites (details in their signatures) lots of useful tips.

We have covered u-turns before on here, will see if I can search any decent threads for you.

I am supposed to have written a sticky for Spin covering where you find this stuff, still not
quite got round to it yet

EDIT: Just found this from DIY's site

U-turns

That'll do to get us started :smoke:

WUSS#1169, pipe 'n' slippers officionado. 'L'Homme Bleu qui marche plus vite', yes and
keep it that way. This is also still dull

VFRs are nice, a bit like me, nice but dull :smoke:
carrie78
15/06/2004 at 15:29
Thanks - just having a look now.

Thanks
Carrie
switch
15/06/2004 at 16:06
I had problems on my DAS lessons when target fixating on the kerb opposite - this meant i
kept running wide. Try keeping your vision high (not looking at the front wheel) and keep
adjusting where you look as you go through the u-turn. The phrase "you go where you look"
is a good reminder

Also, keep the revs up a bit and slip the clutch as you go around. My instructor taught me to
do this and use the rear brake (never the front) to slow yourself a bit if you need to.

It was the trickiest bit of the test for me, but keep practising and it does get easier.
diy
15/06/2004 at 16:40
There's an on-line video and guide here

www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/tips.html

When I say video - it was the first one we did

most u-turn problems can be fixed by keeping your head up and your eyes where you want
to go.

Use your back brake to tighten the turn, if you think you are going to run wide. But
importantly don't start the turn until you have got your clutch and throttle right. Practice
going in a straight line first and then using the brake to slow right down. You'll never master
u-turns until you can manage slow speed in-line.
PoleyHants
15/06/2004 at 17:31
Clutch in. First gear. Lots of revs. Front brake on. Ease clutch out and spin 'er on the spot.
Perfect U turn.
Count Steer
15/06/2004 at 18:37
'Look where you want to go' still applies...or as I've seen it put for U-turns...look 'til it hurts!
Not an expert...slow control is still an ongoing 'area for improvement' (getting better )...but
much of it seems to be about clutch control and revs...the Docs web site is a v informative
place on this. Hard to translate the written word into action but once you know you have
room to stand the bike up again on the clutch and then do it...it starts to fall into place.
Erm...poor choice of terminology...it doesn't fall...it goes brrmmmm...round and back the
other way...
nitrox32
16/06/2004 at 07:47
Have just passed my DAS and was struggling with U turns to start with. My instructors tips
were, more noise the better "Rev the nuts of it" and make the back brake sing !!! when he
demonstrated it he really does rev it slipping the clutch and you can hear the back brake
singing !!! worked for me.
YourOldNemesis
16/06/2004 at 08:11
I was in exactly the same predicament and actually ended up failing a test for dropping it
on a u-turn! Trouble is, I knew I could do it as I had done it many times successfully in the
past, but had a real mental block about it because I dropped it on a test doing a u-ey.

After I dropped it on the test I got back to the school and got one of the instructors to take
me out to practice to prove that I could do it, I failed to do about 15 in a row and was totally
demoralised.

The best advice I was given, which really improved my confidence and vastly improved my
ability to do u-eys was to practice on a pushbike. It sounds stupid but it's true. Go out for an

hour or so on a few evenings and just do tighter and tighter u-turns on it. I ended up at the
point where I could do it in a space about 3ft wide. Do it till you're completely and utterly
sick of it. Then get back on the ER-5.

Good luck, this technique really worked for me.

Everything I post is just my personal opinion not that of Visordown yadah yadah yadah. I
think everything's shite and if I'm slagging something in particular off at the moment, it's
just 'cos I'm thinking of it at the time, not 'cos it's any worse than anything else.
TRX n Me = :o)
16/06/2004 at 11:29
Look where you want go, balance the revs, clutch, back brake in whatever way feels
comfortable and avoids stalling it.

Car parks are sometimes private land, might be worth checking around.
Murphy's 6th Law 'if every thing appears to be going fine, you missed something'

One day my fingers will type the letters teh in the correct order..... one day.....

Want a holiday in France?

TiT #38D
Green Lantern
16/06/2004 at 16:17
Here's one that'll get the instructors going, methinks..........

Where I did my DAS, they taught it entirely differently. Like this......

Lifesafer, get bike moving in stright line, another lifesaver before the U, GET OFF
EVERYTHING (in other words, no back brake, no clutch, no throttle). You're just using the
momentum of the bike. Steer (counter, although you don't realise you're doing it), the bike
goes round on a sixpence.

But a bit fast (they said you can get a minor for too much speed).

Now, I know the purists will hold up their hands in horror. It might be cheating, but they
maintained that most Dassers found it easier than the "proper" way.

Don't try this at home, it's not the approved method. However, it worked for me. And I then
went post-DAS off on my own practicing the proper way!

Just give me a minute whilst I don my asbestos suit...........

Aka Hal Jordan

Mid-corner, I ran out of talent.........

In brightest day, in blackest night....no evil shall escape my sight

www.glcorps.org
100% Jawbone
17/06/2004 at 12:23
when checking the road behind for traffic identify a 'target point' a reasonable distance
down the road. could be a road sign, a lamp post, window of a house..whatever. If you have
something to look at you're less likely to look at the kerb opposite.
If you turn your head you'll have the confidence to get the bars turned, if you've got the
bars turned you'll know you cant hit the kerb, if you know you won't hit the kerb you'll know
there is no need to back off the power. Keep it revving with clutch slipping as you'll have
power available if the bike starts to fall in, and the faster revving crankshaft will make the
balance easier (the crank is the bikes third gyroscope and the two main ones, the wheels,
don't work at really low speed.)

People nearly always put their foot down toward the end of the turn because they didn't 'do
enough' at the begining ie didn't turn in confidently because they didn't look where they
wanted to go.
IMO sportsbikes are harder to u-turn not because there is less lock available, but because
the riding position makes it harder to look around at the road behind. Sit as far forward as
possible, almost on top of the petrol tank to make this easier

Practice U-turns on a bicycle if you don't have a 125. Its a test of balance and steering after
all.
apex

17/06/2004 at 15:08
The U-turn for me was my biggest demon when I did my DAS. (as for many people I guess)

Not sure why, but I actually found them easier on the GS500 DAS bike than on the little
Honda CG 125's. Felt alot more stable and better balanced. Not to say that I didn't screw up
plenty of u-eys whilst practising

It seems to me that if you start looking at the opposite kerb after you have started your
turn, you're screwed. I had to force myself to keep looking at where I wanted to end up and
not directly in front of me.

I was so nervous on test day. I did take the time just to sit for a few seconds just to try and
compose myself before making the turn (I made it by the way!).

Good luck for your test!

"They'll talk to ya and talk to ya and talk to ya about individual freedom. But they see a free
individual, it's gonna scare 'em!"
carrie78
17/06/2004 at 16:06
Thanks for all the advice.

I passed this morning.

Thanks
Carrie
Coggy
17/06/2004 at 16:19
Well done.Virtual pint of guinness please.

(Ritual on here.You buy everyone a virtual drink with virtual money)

livelyvices
18/06/2004 at 07:19

carrie78 wrote

...[snip]...
Someone in general suggested asking you guys as well.
...[snip]...

Be warned survivalists. One post over there and you become "Someone in general"!

Do NOT RIDE it at all if...

Reasons you should not ride the motorcycle in the first place:

You dont have gear or the wrong borrowed gear (meaning it doesnt fit you)

It doesnt have a kill switch

The brakes are too worn out

When you rev it at idle, it wont idle back down right away

Issues with the brake or headlight

A demo ride that doesnt involve a walk around or provides you with information before the ride

You dont feel comfortablethis is simple, don't force yourself to do anything you dont want to
do

This isnt a ride at the carnival, if you dont have the confidence and get hurt, it can result in serious
consequences. Id much rather be a guy without a crazy story to tell, than an Internet star who is know for
the fiery crash into a parked car.