Can U do a U-Turn?

[jpilone]

I know, of course you can, but can you do it with actually turning the handlebars nearly full lock?



Now, I'm not saying like the above pic, because not everyone has the ability/skill level to do those kind of turns.

But what about if you go to make a U-turn onto a 2 or 3 lane road and need to keep it in the inside lane or middle lane? Can you do that without putting your feet down?

Steering rake can affect your ability to turn the bars at full lock (or nearly), it can make the front end seem to want to go full lock and you need to fight it when it does that (you get used to it, I've ridden bikes with moderate rake). But that doesn't mean you can't turn it full lock and go.

Try going to a parking lot and going in circles, using the following 4 things:

1. Turn your head and look in the direction you want to go. Remember, if you look down, that's where you will go, keep your chin up.
2. Use the friction zone and keep the rpm's up. If you have a tach, around 2,000 rpm's is ideal. If you don't have a tach, if it sounds like you're using too much throttle, that's just the right amount.
3. Use the rear brake, doing that combined with the friction zone puts power to the rear wheel, thus creating stability to your bike while moving slowly.
4. Turn the handlebars as much as you feel comfortable doing, and go (with a slight lean)
5. If you need to, you can counterweight yourself on the seat (when turning left, shift your butt to the right part of the seat).

Keep practicing until you can turn the bars full lock (or as far as you feel comfortable turning). If you feel unstable and run into trouble, do not pull the clutch in, that will make the bike drop to the ground. Instead, let out of the clutch and the bike will right itself, thus getting you out of that uncomfortable situation.

Enjoy!

[zymox]

In sweden this was an obligated task to manage in both directions when you took the test for motorcycle driverlicens.

You walked your bike with the handlebars all the way to the stop and then you added approx 4 inches to every line that will be if you draw a square around your walked U.

Then when this was performed you had to drive your bike and make a U-turn inside that box without touching the ground with your feet.

You where not allowed to use the break and also the master had to here you working with clutch so you had to rev your engine up and down at the same time.

Now days they have changed that practice to something else but in my time this was an obilgated task to manage before you could have your licens.

[PR3VS56]

I got their video, and if you follow their learning steps it's not that hard.

1. Notice his right foot on the rear brake.
2. Notice his head looking where he's going.
3. Notice his left hand (well, you can see it with the rider at the far right) holding the clutch at the friction point.

That's all it takes boys & girls.

[jpilone]

Here's one of the other Drill Team members, who is also a motorman

[Mr Cujo]

I dig draggin' the boards on my Ultra..

Yup, I can do lock to lock U-turns...and I practice slow speed maneuvers often.
I'd really like to go to a RLAP (or similar) training event, but the time and travel is sometimes problematic.

[Nazzdak]

Hello-

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessary to drag the boards or turn the handle bars to full lock to make, say, an 18 foot U-Turn. What it is most important, is to look where you want the motorcycle to go, long before it gets there. This, in turn, creates good motor placement.

When you hear an excessive amount of floor board scraping or see an overuse of the rear brake, it is usually an indication that both the rider's head AND eyes are LATE, and he is overcompensating.

The parameter dimensions in this youtube video are 46x18. Click here>>> ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIIbUUypKk) Each of the three entrance/exit gates are 5 feet wide. The center cones are placed at the 23 foot mark. Thus, with the base of each cone being more than 11 inches wide, the two rectangles are less than 23x18 total feet. Thus, here is some clear proof that you do not need to drag the floor boards or turn the handle bars to full lock to make a successful series of 18 foot U-turns. Again, what is most important, is knowing where to look, and knowing when to look there. Eyes, lead the hands. Hands, lead the motor. ALWAYS.

Put simply, when it comes to making tight U-turns, it is far better to pay attention to a rider's head and eyes, than it is to pay attention to his use of the handle bars or the rear brake.

David

[hxturbo]

I can do it without using the brake.....I'm a motor cop so I get a lot of practice. The eyes and head where you are going is a great suggestion. And don't use the front brake or pull the clutch in. Power in and power out.

[jpilone]

Originally Posted by hxturbo

I can do it without using the brake.....I'm a motor cop so I get a lot of practice. The eyes and head where you are going is a great suggestion. And don't use the front brake or pull the clutch in. Power in and power out.

I had to learn to do it without the rear brake myself, otherwise you get the fluid too hot and lose the rear brake while doing routines.

[moulin6801]

I am from Brazil and I hate to say, but in the US that bike license ride is a joke!!
I could not believe when I went to get my US license and the guy just ask me to go around the parking lot, turn and come back to him!!! That's how they do in Lousiana anyway.
I can not speed for anywhere else. But when I got my motorcycle license at 18. It was a tough 30 mins test that we even have to ride over a yellow line in the floor without following to the sides of it!
How is it in your State??? Easy or Tough!???

[Shoe]

Originally Posted by moulin6801

I am from Brazil and I hate to say, but in the US that bike license ride is a joke!!
I could not believe when I went to get my US license and the guy just ask me to go around the parking lot, turn and come back to him!!! That's how they do in Lousiana anyway.
I can not speed for anywhere else. But when I got my motorcycle license at 18. It was a tough 30 mins test that we even have to ride over a yellow line in the floor without following to the sides of it!
How is it in your State??? Easy or Tough!???

I agree. The southern states are a joke at least.

I took my driving test in California (when I was stationed there) and it is much more difficult to pass. You need to go around a course in California (much like the one in the MSF courses) and they deduct points for every mistake you make.

Here in Mississippi (where I am currently stationed), the course consists of going around the block. If you come back, you pass.

And they can't figure out why there are so many motorcycle accidents around here......

Dave

[Mr Cujo]

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessary to drag the boards or turn the handle bars to full lock to make, say, an 18 foot U-Turn.

I have no opinion..(actually I do, but it's not a popular one) and you may be right.

There's also a fair number of people in the world who think that it's not necessary to have windscreens, helmets, scotch, red meat, cops, or democrats...

Fact is, scraping boards can be fun...



.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I can do the figure 8 in the small box they use for the Beginer MSF course, which is smaller than the one they use for the ERC one on both my Road Glide and my Fatboy.

In fact I took the ERC again this year just so I could practice on my new bike, and get the insurance break.

[facn8me]

I was taught how while working for the city of B.A. I was the emergency vehicle mechanic including the police bikes. They ran Kawi's. It was always so much fun test riding them. Amazing how many car front end's ya see diving from drivers hitting thier brakes. I remember one officer complaining his bike was running bad. I had a "little" leeway while riding them but 90mph in 3rd was about my limit for "pushing my luck" After several rides I questioned him further since it pulled good all the way to redline. Turns out his would only run 135mph while the other guy's would do 140mph. I also remember keeping several set's of clutch discs soaking during training week. They would burn them so bad the steels had to be tossed in the trash. Do not have a bike with boards to drag them and do figure eights while throwing sparks. The Duece drags the jiffy way to easy.

[jpilone]

Not everyone is a good rider, we had a Rider Skills class for our local HOG chapter not long ago. I can't tell you how many long-time riders that are out there that duck-walk their bikes and can't do a slow turn. It's many years of developed bad habits.

[jeffsglide]

Jeff acocella Independant motorcycle skill team, see you in Leesburg.