U Turns

[stitch]

Well I finally got back to doing my lessons after having to cancel a test due to illness, everything is finally coming together EXCEPT the dreded U Turn. My test is on Friday and I feel quite confident that I will do ok on everything else but that.

Aparently you only need to do it the once but you only get one shot. My problem is out of 15-20 try's I might only do it once.

Any advice.

I am doing my test on a 500 and if I don't get through this I will not be able to afford to do it again until next year sometime. ARGHHHHHHHHHH.
I don't think my bike will like being left on it's own for that long, it will get lonely.
Stitch

[Mr Tickle]

I don't know but GL on your test
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Mr Tickle

[steveh]

with the U-turn, dont go to slow and not to fast, keep the revs constant and the turning smooth, and dont try get yer nee down


good luck, Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[sychosis]

Try counter leaning, my instructor told me that as you start to do your u-turn, start to lean the bike, but stay upright yourself
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Bikes owned: Aprilia RS 125 GP1 2003 (Now sold), Suzuki GSX-r600 1997 (streetfightered), https://www.bikepics.com/members/sychosis/
psy?cho?sis (si-ko-sis),n. pl. psy?cho?ses (-sez) ,A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

[Full Bananas]

Look where you want to go and (almost impossible) try to stay relaxed.

Good luck.

[paulodd]

Its all in the head movements mate, if you look where you want to go, the bike will naturally follow you. Take it slowly, its one of those natural horrible things. Where your head goes you go. It feels strange at first but it does work.

Good luck with it mate and let us know how it goes.


Paul
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Paul
1999 Yamaha R6
www.coventrybikers.co.uk / www.norfolkriders.co.uk

[Annabella]

[NICCI]

Hi, I know exactly what your going through!! It took me ages to get the u-turn right...... Not too slow keep the revs up, go about walking pace. Pull off as though you were going to ride in a straight line. Go forward about 1-2 bike lengths before you turn look at where you want to go and keep your eyes on the spot, turn in tighter (not quite full lock) at the start to give yourself plenty of room. But don't forget to make your life saver check before turning!.. Try walking it with the bike for a start so you know the bike will go round (the test instructor should ask you to do this). Good luck and just keep practising but don't forget to have fun!!

[bikedudextrm]

Took me a while to get them right, the mistake i was making was looking at the curb when i was doing the U-turn and this used to make me think i was going into it all the time so i would try and turn sharply and end up putting my foot down , my instructor said to me to look where i want to go when i'm doing it and not down at the curb. That seem to sort it, after a few practice goes i could then do my u-turns perfect 10/10.

On my test i had to do 2 u-turns, the road i had to do it down was a dead end so i done the first u-turn but then the examiner said to do another one to come back up the road, i done it fine .
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https://www.bikepics.com/members/bikedudextrm/

[Ninja]

I tend to drag the front brake slightly and slip the clutch to fight the engine against the braking to help with the stability when I do low-speed stuff like this - not sure if thats acceptable under current testing tho'?
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James
4 wheels transport the Body ... 2 wheels transport the SOUL

[Doobrey]

From my experience as a car driver, I found that I have issue with the high revs...lots of sound, disturbing the neighbourhood,etc..

I got to the point and thought " sod it ", if it revs hard, but I can control it with the clutch and back break then so be it. Since then, I have managed to keep the revs a lot higher than normal, then use the clutch/rear break scenario and it seems to work well.

Everyone's advice about looking up really does help, but in my opinion, so does high revs.....

[stitch]

Well folks I am about to set off for another lesson, one which the instructor said he would have me doing u-turns for two hours if necessary to get it right.
The other thing is in the training yard with brick walls on either side of me i can do it nearly every time, put me on a road which is wider with curbs and it all goes pear shaped. literally
Thanks for all the comments. will be sure to let you all know how today went. Can't wait for test on friday though.
Stitch

[Ian (GPX)]

U-Turn .... Tip(s)

Use the rear brake to control the bikes speed, keep the throttle constant and find / use the biting point of the clutch, just roll along in a straight line at around 2 - 5mph (walking speed) so that you can relax and get steady.
When ready and clear in front (no traffic approaching), check right mirror, if and only if it's clear behind you, look over right shoulder (lifesaver) then start to turn and look where you want to be while keeping the rear brake applied and throttle constant and clutch at the biting point, as bike starts to tip over to the right, use the upper part of your body to lean the other way (to the left), this stops the bike from falling away from underneath you. Don't look at the curb, the road or the clocks on the bike, always look to where you want to be.

[sychosis]

Another tip, try to use all of the road, my instructor told me to try and finish the u-turn about a foot away from the gutter.
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Bikes owned: Aprilia RS 125 GP1 2003 (Now sold), Suzuki GSX-r600 1997 (streetfightered), https://www.bikepics.com/members/sychosis/
psy?cho?sis (si-ko-sis),n. pl. psy?cho?ses (-sez) ,A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

[Going2fast]

U-turns are intresting, best advice is relaxe!! As said you want to find the biting point in the clutch, me personally stay in 1st and just keep slipping that clutch, and for more control use the rear brake.

Dont worry you'll get it to a tee 15mins before your test, hehe.
Andy
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Passed My Test 15/03/05
BikePics Profile ||| 96' RVF 400 ||| 01' CBR 600 F Sport ||| 2009 Yamaha YZF-R6 Delivered 23/06/09
/-\ndy

[instigator]

Can't really say anything that hasnt been said already. Master a u-turn in a 10ft wide road and then you have no problems

Once you'vve got it mastered on a normal width, go for a 10ft'er...it helps

[Mantzy]

After doing U-turns for nigh on 3 hours straight today (was dizzy by the end), I can suggest to counterbalance by shoving your arse off the left side of the seat, keep your nuts into the tank, your head up, check behind right shoulder, move off slowly, right shoulder check again, turn bike left into the gutter before quickly turning the bars all the way right and look the direction you want to go. DO NOT USE THE THROTTLE. Let the clutch do all the work.

Oh, and hope that the road isn't too highly cambered when it come to the U-Turn Proper. Cambers tend to make the process just that little bit harder as you have to shut the clutch off (but not too much) after climbing out of the gutter.

Well, thats my opinion. Good Luck on Friday too (i'm joining ya!).
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[stitch]

Well i managed a few u-turns. instructor said i should definitely be ok with the rest of test and we will do more u-turns tomorrow but he said he doesnt see why i shuldnt nail it
hope so cos i cant do any of this again till next year.
PS Mantzy. the only nuts i have are the salted veriety

[r1_lad]

Yeah just as other people have said really, back brake to control the bike at slow speeds and look where you want to go.
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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard

[8316]

what about just whipping in the clutch? i find that really easy, but i dont think youre allowed to do it. anyone think its possible to get away with it in the test?
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Now own a Fireblade!! Speed Limits? Bah!

[Full Bananas]

What, just coasting through the u-turn? I'm not sure but I reckon they'd say the bike wasn't under control and fail you.

[foxbat]

In reply also to 8316, I would say probably not - they like to see you demonstrating slow powered control of the bike and perhaps freewheeling, clutch in isn't that really.

I am no expert and was crap at U-Turns (hit and miss) but eventually found my method. Here's how I was taught.

Before you even start, set yourself a point to finish on the other side to ensure a good U-shape and finish line. Then:

1. Visual check (F, B, F, B..go)
2. Set-of slowly in balance and set and hold med/high(ish) revs with clutch/throttle - the engine noise helps judge this
3. Do your LS check, turn and aim for your apex on the road centre line to help you utilise the whole width of road
4. Encourage the turn and keep your balance on the correct side with a measured pushing action with your left arm. If you pull your right arm to steer, it can off-set your balance in towards the direction of turn and thus again you may put your foot down to stabilise.
5. If necessary, adjust your speed on the back brake, even hold it if you have to but keep the revs high - never use the front brake (the front wheel locking will make the front of the bike dive to the side and your foot will come down instinctively or you will go down) so don't even touch it
6. Look at where you want to be and you will go there.
(I actually found that it was easier if I let my eyes turn with the bike and not focus on any single point - if I looked at the finish point, the bike tended to want to turn quicker and I'd lose my balance)
7. Aim to finish at your point in control and with even braking

The key things for me were to relax my arms and lots of practice.

All this for one bl**dy test manueovure !! Whatever happed to a 3-point turn??

Hope it goes well.

[Mantzy]

To all those doing U-turns on a 125...

You'll need to use the throttle. If not, your clutch will unlikely pull you around quick enough and you'll be struggling for balance.

For 500 users, you can get away with just using clutch control. In 1st with the clutch being played it is fairly easy. DO NOT USE THE THROTTLE. In fact, grab the end part of the bar to NOT use the throttle. Also, don't use the front brake.

Test tomorrow. Crapping myself. Passed mock test though with 2 minors.
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[sychosis]

The only thing I'm having probs with is the emergency stop, but I'm getting it sorted
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Bikes owned: Aprilia RS 125 GP1 2003 (Now sold), Suzuki GSX-r600 1997 (streetfightered), https://www.bikepics.com/members/sychosis/
psy?cho?sis (si-ko-sis),n. pl. psy?cho?ses (-sez) ,A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

[nick.h]

how big is the space you have to do the u turn in? an unlimited space or confined?
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[Italjet MM5A] ll [Rieju RS1 Evolution] ll [Suzuki GS500e] ll [Suzuki GSX600F] ll [Honda CG125] ll [Pug Elyseo 125] ll [Yamaha YZF750R] ll [Yamaha Thunderace] ll [Yamaha R6] ll [Triumph 955i] ll [Hayabusa RZK3] ll [Suzuki RGV250] ll