U Turn!

[deano]

I ain't even atempted a U turn yet - only just mastered right turns at roundabouts

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by deano

I ain't even atempted a U turn yet - only just mastered right turns at roundabouts

lol deano!

I should just make a list of things that might take some tine to get the hang of: U turns, right turns, roundabouts .........or may be just find straight roads?

But then thinking back a year or thirty, I used to make bogies, (a plank of wood with a wheel on each corner) with me dad and ride it down some hills near where we lived, tugging at the 'steering' rope to try and turn and avoid crashing into the trees at the bottom. Never worked though as the string was just there for something to hang onto

Can just imagine explaining that to 'how did you get all those bruises' brigade - me dad put me on a plank of wood, shoved me down a hill and I crashed into a tree

[druidsam]

those vehicles were known as bogies here as well..strangely enough i saw a kid on one today and thats the only one i have seen in years,kids today have too much money and are more interested in gameboys and stuff



...................Sam

[aspe16]

Originally Posted by Spree

Doing the U turn is more of a confidence thing than ability. Once you have managed to do it a few times, it becomes almost natural. Its just the first few times when you get it wrong that makes you think you can't do it.

Agree with this
I was doing the U turn resonably well until I looked at the kerb.
Look at kerb - hit kerb - fall off.
Now have 'I am going to fall off / I can't do this' thoughts as I come to do them.
Instructor says it is all down to confidence & practice, once I have done them sucessfully a couple of times, I'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

[Spree]

Originally Posted by aspe16

Agree with this
I was doing the U turn resonably well until I looked at the kerb.
Look at kerb - hit kerb - fall off.
Now have 'I am going to fall off / I can't do this' thoughts as I come to do them.
Instructor says it is all down to confidence & practice, once I have done them sucessfully a couple of times, I'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Very true Aspe and don't forget to look where you want to go - NOT the kerb

Originally Posted by Shar69

Hey Guys

I am doing a course at the minute, have done two days and am doing another two days after the weekend.

I have not got a grip of the U Turn, I mean when I do it, I do it really well, but they are few and far between, Like out of about 10 I can do 2, which is pretty naff really. HAHA.

Any advice would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks
xxx

I hated the U turn. I couldn't do it for ages, I used to go to a small local carpark every sunday for a couple of hours for months to practise - and I still couldn't do it.

I even fell off doing a U turn on a lesson and the instructor had to pick my bike up, and then me as I was stuck underneath it. Very embarassing.

Then a year after starting to ride I had a course thing with my test at the end in Peterborough (the test centre in Wrexham closed and I didn't want to do it in Chester as I don't know the roads and I used to live in Peterborough so felt more confident doing it there) and the instructor was fantastic. He watched me fail a couple of U turns then told me that my problem was the kerb.

He said if I did my lifesaver as I pulled away and didn't look to the front of me but kept my eyes behind me on the other side of the road where I wanted to end up I wouldn't see the kerb and it might help. I also had to close my left eye as I started to turn so I didn't see the kerb out of the corner of my eye.

BINGO!! Using his advice I did it every time with no problems. Was worried the next day as I thought I wouldn't do it again, but used the new tecnique and BINGO!! again.

Failed my first test but not on the U turn. Passed second time, both tests no probs with the U turn.

And now I can even U turn my chop first time, every time, on the narrowest roads - I just do it how he said and BINGO!!

Give it a try - look where you want to be and make sure you can't see that kerb.

Also - practice your slow controls. Get the bike to biting point like you do on a hill start then give it a little more so you're just moving, and then just use the back brake to control your speed. I used to practice that up and down my street. It's really handy for traffic too - especially when you can't filter.

Good luck!

Suffie

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by Suffrajet

He said if I did my lifesaver as I pulled away and didn't look to the front of me but kept my eyes behind me on the other side of the road where I wanted to end up I wouldn't see the kerb and it might help.

.................... ??

[albatora]

As most of above, have to agree.

I also found it easier by stopping a bit further out from the kerb, originally I was usually tight against it. When pulling away I actually turned into the kerb that I pulled out from which believe it or not helped me u-turn move easy.

Had a few stellas tonight, finding it hard to put what i mean into words. I can see what i do in my head.

i ride a rs 125, an it just wont u turn mate , unless i do a crazy lean on it, but my winter hack ybr 125 i dont even need to think about to do it, what are u ridin mate?, best thing u can do is find a car park and just practice

hi

i've not long done my test, like whats been said don't look any where but the direction you intend to do, and don't forget the lifesaver they will nail you on that, i found it a litttttttlllleee hard on the 500cc as i'm tiny and could throw the 125 around but the weight of the 500 as i had only 1 days use was quite hard to adjust to it.

good luck though