U turns

[Retro-Man]

Just wondering, How many people struggle with U turns and more to the point is it specific bikes you struggle with .
This comes about because I have found that I can not, no matter how hard I try get an ER5 through a U turn, I can however turn a CG125 fairly easily and My VFR400 is a piece of piss to take through a U turn.

Which by all accounts is a fairly unusual position to be in
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[Flip]

I find it harder on sprts bikes. But then again I never use U turns. /Shrugs

[instigator]

I find U-turns really easy, its all about using the back brake...and positioning yourself correctly on the bike. If I don't use the rear brake, it jsut doesn't work well, if not at all. If you touch the front brake, well......you're not supposed to, will screw up the turn completely.

I had an er5, could do a u-turn on a ha'penny. All down to the technique. Can do it on my hornet with renthals on even easier.

I do u-turns all the time, so maybe that's why I can do them. Bet I could do it on a sportsbike too, nae bother. I'd just practise, practise....practise.

[impaler]

[stinkwheel]

Everybody struggles with them on their test. Slow riding is the hardest part of riding a bike and it is in the test to show you can do it (rather than as the way you are expected to do a turn in the road).

It is surprising how much you start to use the 'slow riding' technique after you have passed your test, especially in heavy town traffic.

It is definatley easier on some bikes than others. Utter piece of piss on my supermoto. Tricky on a Harley.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

I can't think of many situations where I've had to do a U turn in real life on a bike- and there's always donuts if you need to turn really tightly .

If you practice, it should be easy enough on any bike.
The trick is to overcome your natural instict to shut the throttle as it starts to fall and instead pull it on, then you should be able to do it on the lock on most bikes.
(Though tried this on the KLR while bored and promptly fell over as the turning circle is damn tight!)

[Retro-Man]

the problem seems to relate to lean, I keep the chain tensioned (constantly driven) controlling speed with back brake and clutch.
I get 3/4 of the way round on the ER5 and then the bike just drops. I have never actually dropped the bike always choosing to put my foot out first.
What I can't comprehend is that on the sports bike I can turn on a sixpence without any loss of balance or instability at all.
I've even tried a ZZR600 which again went round very easily.
My gut feeling is that it is a geometry mismatch between the bike and my rather portly 5ft11 frame
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[Zoffo]

The secret is the use of the rear brake. Use gentle but consistent throttle and use the rear brake to control speed. The idea is that it doesn't affect the arc of the turn as it would if you used the front brake or the throttle to alter speed.
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[Retro-Man]

[G]

It might be because the ER has a tighter turning circle.
I suspect it's still about just make yourself turn the throttle more if it starts to fall.

[craigs23]

U-turns are a cinch once you realise how to adapt a technique for different bikes. My bike's lock is absolutely ridiculously small, but full lock turns aren't hard at all. I too agree that the back brake is an essential stability control.

Just practice - might seem very CBT, but feet up turning circles (or figures of eight) getting smaller and smaller until you're at full lock is the best way that I've found to understand low speed control for the different bikes that I've owned.

Especially with sports bikes, it feels natural to lean the bike to turn it instead of turning the bars as much. Riding my mate's CG125 (round the block to relive some memories) proved how easy slow speed maneuverability can be - including u-turns.

[gowenwilliams]

I'd guess if there is a difference, it will be in the rake angle of the forks on the ER5, which I expect is not as steep as your average sports bike.
this will result in a longer front trail, which leads to greater directional stabillity, in a straight line.

In low speed cornering the ER5 will feel more 'heavy' than a normal sports bike, and this will give the effect of "I get 3/4 of the way round on the ER5 and then the bike just drops". Where as the sports bikes have a shorter trail and are therefore more responsive to steering input.

It could also be due to the 'centre of gravity' height. Try with a full/empty tank, might make a difference?

[instigator]

3/4 of the way round and then the bike drops?

Sounds like a classic symptom of you not relieving the back brake and getting onto the throttle. Thats what you should be doing 3/4 of the way round. Getting to straighten up and power on.

[Retro-Man]