Slow speed control is key to a good 'U' turn. You will need to keep the engine pulling throughout the turn and control the speed using the back brake. It's amazing how slow you can go and keep you're balance. Here are the basic steps.

* Positioning - You need to make as much...

Here's how I perfected my U-Turns.

Do complete circles, tight ones, at 8-10 MP/H, gradually decrease the speed until the bike feels like it's going to fall over while going around in tight circles. Keep doing it until you master it.

Then practise U-Turns, it's half a circle, it's piss easy if you can keep the bike up at slow speeds doing complete circles over, and over, and over. There is absolutely no reason to use the rear brake. Work the clutch and throttle, SHIFT your butt in the opposite direction over the seat a bit to keep the bike from falling over while you do the U-Turn. It takes practise but after a while it becomes as easy as taking a turn at a junction. Look where you want to turn.

Low speed circles are great for all sorts, mainly for learning how to keep the bike upright and compensating on how much you need to shift your weight. If you can master doing 6 MP/H circles (small than mini roundabouts) while the bike is leaned slightly without ever needing to drop your foot, or bike, you know at that stage your U-Turns will/should be easy.

Either go at night and go around mini round abouts, over and over and over and over in circles, as close to the O as possible, or find a car park and do even tighter circles.

All well and good, and some proper tips there, but don't forget some of these people are doing it on a larger and heavier bike than a 125. As has been said before don't panic. A bigger bike may be intimidating, but just remember that riding a big bike is your goal and not to be put off. Get as many practice runs as you can, and dont be afraid to ask your instructor for extra practice at the manoever, if you feel you need it.

havin recently passed my bike test (first time) due to an excellent instructor, in may this year, i can confirm that it is mandatory to keep pressure on the rear brake all the way thru the u turn manoevre, ,and no, no indication is required.if you take off the brake at any time during the u turn you will automatically fail your test. and of course if you put your foot down, ditto. i panicked about it too, but all was ok on the day

do you think the reason we're asked to walk the bike to the other side of the road then ride back to the examiners side of the road is to save they're blushes if they cock it up

I think it's about the rider controlling the bike both riding and walking with it

It's to prove for yourself that the bike can be turned around within the width of the road.

Huh? You are asked to perform a U-Turn... Putting the foot down, then yes, often that is the case but you will find a lot will give you a second chance, especially if the road isn't very wide. If you practise enough getting a U-Turn done in less than 2 seconds flat after a quick observation check, it won't matter if you the rear brake or not. If anyone failed my test over not using the rear brake during a U-Turn I'd kick up so much fuss that they'd wish they never failed me. As long as a person completes the U-Turn, does observation checks, does it safetly without losing control of the motorcycle then it's all good.

Using the rear brake, in fact, could be argued that one has lost some control over the motorcycle if they are forced to use it during a simple U-Turn. It would show that the person has not developed their slow riding skills enough. Those with good clutch control absolutely don't require the rear brake, it does more damage than good.

Spot on - I have heard of a case where an examiner asked a pupil to do this and they couldn't even get the bike round pushing it, which meant that they had to go and find a wider road. Perhaps you should take a gentle sweep when pushing it (not on full lock) and give yourself a fighting chance

The best thing is practice - but I have found that dragging the back brake makes the bike feel more stable while you slip the clutch.

i found it odd that during my training id been taught to walk the bike then ride it - test day the instructor gets me to ride it first then walk it back he said the sun was so low in the sky it would have been directly in my eyes if id walked first then ridden back

My instructor told me it was because there was an incident once where a guy was taking his test and he put his foot down on his U-turn. Then the examiner did a U-turn to come up behind him - and falls off. They get back to the test centre eventually, and the guy's told that he's failed his test because he put his foot down on his u-turn - not popular with the guy since the instructor made an even bigger cock up of it than he did.

And so now, we push round and U-turn back so that the instructor never has to do it.

Obviously, I don't know much of that is urban legend, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were true...