U-Turns technique?

[Offroad]

I found this video and was embarrassed because just today I did the foot down technique just to make sure I didn't let my turn take me off the narrow road.

Does anyone use the technique described in the video?

I think I might try in a vacant lot but I was also thinking I wish I had those double crash bars front and back in case I dump it ;-)

Oh, I had never heard of moto gymkhana before ?

 

[the Ferret]

Yea I'm not letting go of the bars while pulling a U turn no matter what he says lol

 

[emptysea]

+1 , but there are a few things that I found interesting and with which I may experiment.

 

[Chapomis_imp]

If you have a black bike any of the three would look okay. Red bike, top only with red piping.

 

[CB4ME_imp]

Hey? What's wrong with "walking" a U-turn?

 

[the Ferret]

If you have a black bike any of the three would look okay. Red bike, top only with red piping.

Does that make U turns easier?

 

[Django]

Hey? What's wrong with "walking" a U-turn?

Well, not much in daily traffic life, I guess.

However, in a motogymkhana competition it means:[ul] [li]too slow,[/li] [li]reducing final score by ground contact
[/li][/ul]
Btw., doing a small U-turn without walking is part of the driving test to get a motorcycle driver licence in Germany, beside some other exercises.

 

[Cormanus]

If you have a black bike any of the three would look okay. Red bike, top only with red piping.

Does that make U turns easier?

Does that make U turns easier?
Might belong in that post about Corbin seat options. Maybe people with Corbin seats do better U-turns?

 

[davidantoniocostarica_imp]

Search "counter steering" it's nice technique

 

[Rebel73_imp]

Look through the turn where you want to end up. Feather the rear brake and make sure you stay in the friction zone.

I don't know if counter-steering comes into play as much in a slow speed U-turn. Countersteering comes into play at about 15mph +.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

I found this video and was embarrassed because just today I did the foot down technique just to make sure I didn't let my turn take me off the narrow road.

Does anyone use the technique described in the video?

I think I might try in a vacant lot but I was also thinking I wish I had those double crash bars front and back in case I dump it ;-)

Oh, I had never heard of moto gymkhana before ?

Interesting find. I can relate to some of the techniques already: My feet never touch ground on any turn. However, there are some other neat things to explore. In any case, I have not done U-turns without hands on bars. I have done left/right turns in snow covered asphalt with no hands, but that is about it.

 

[rboe]

When I took the motorcycle safety class to get my endorsement after a 25+ year hiatus we were hit with low speed maneuvers; e.g. a figure 8 in a box. Oddly enough cruisers were the easiest, sport bikes the worst (typically because they had such a narrow angle to lock).

It comes down to confidence in handling your bike. I borrowed my buddies 800cc cruise and had to do a u turn in our street. He commented that he wouldn't dare to that! It was his bike!

Putting your foot down, while it can be argued is poor form, in reality you can cause an accident, break your foot or at best just drop your bike. It seems to me more folks need to practice these low speed maneuvers; when you have control of your machine you avoid the bad juju and the bills that go with it.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

For some, and depending on their ride configuration, standing up can enabling.

 

[flynrider]

One thing I noticed wasn't mentioned in the video (yet quite apparent while watching) is the eyes. The rider is always looking deep into the turn, which is key. Much like a high speed sweeper, if you focus on the outside of the turn, that's where you're going to go.

I recently rode with a newbie friend and saw that she had trouble executing a U-turn on a fairly wide 2 lane road. I noticed that her head was pointed at the edge/shoulder of the road, which is where she ended up. After advising her to keep her head and eyes well inside the turn, she was able to make the turn in about half the radius as before.

 

[Offroad]

I actually practiced this in the local high school parking lot earlier this year.

Started out taking 3 complete parking lanes to make the turn, got it down to 2.
This was on the K bike, probably could've done smaller on the CB.

I'm still not confident enough to try it on a narrow 2 lane country road, but that is my goal.

There is nothing better when exploring back country roads to decide this is the wrong road and hang a quick U.

Using the rear brake and keeping enough throttle not to stall it seemed key. If I had to slip the clutch it felt unstable.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

A typical application I find myself using is two lane country road (one each way) with soft shoulders and a female passenger on the back. During the U-turn I never use the brake and maybe half the time I feather the clutch. Thinking back and reading Flynrider's comments, I believe I do look inside the turn. I have never thought about U-turns, but when they happen, the front tire inside edgewall grinds into the asphalt.

 

[kvdv_imp]

I got two words for y'all: Jerry Palladino. I bought his DVD a few years ago, and it transformed my riding. I still practice this stuff.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Police and military motorcycle flicks make it look so smooth and effortless. And they always seem to have the heaviest or oldest and crankiest rides around.

 

[the Ferret]

What I can tell you for sure when making a U turn.. or any slow turn for that matter, if you are leaned over at all DO NOT touch the front brake lol