Motorcycle Training Forum

[xj5373]

So I failed first time on the dreaded U turn (amongst other things if truth be told!) but passed the second time.
For me the secret to doing the U turn was to stop trying. It all became clear when we were practicing down by the unit and I couldnt U turn to save my life, but when turning around Rob's parked bike to have another go I could turn on a sixpence. Approaching it as a "fixed manouvre" was the problem, just turning the bike around was easy. As Rob says, it is all in the mind! or as Yoda (John) would say, " All in the mind it is!"
As luck would have it I couldn't get to Macc for the re-test so went to Newcastle and did the U turn in a road about as wide as the M6. Seems daft really but there you are.

[yorkie 1200]

hi welcome to the site

with me it was the emergency stop i could not stop myself from changeing down a gear wen stopping rob suggested i put my foot under the lever to stop it it took a few goes to sort it out but i did it in the end thanks rob

[Rjhmt]

Hi Ian,
Glad to see you come aboard!
Both Neil and you should have had no problem with the U-Turn.
However Macc/tightest road going/Mr Kevin was the final .....
However Newcastle, and RESULT.
I am conducting most of the bike tests in Newcastle at the moment, with good results.

[simplejim]

I agree, the curse of the U-turn is mainly in the mind. You've got to just see it as moving the bike around as if you were just riding. I struggled but it eventually just clicked- for me the turning point (no pun intended) was making sure I kept constant high revs and rear brake and just kept the clutch busy to get the bike round - once I had that in my head I was sorted...

Jim

[Rjhmt]

DO A PERFECT U-TURN
Whether you're about to take your test, or perhaps could do with a little practice, here are 4 steps to completing the perfect U-Turn.
1) Start to ride forward slowly before turning your head right round to look down and beyond your finishing point.
2) Turn the bars to full lock straight away and start to make your turn. Careful use of the back brake helps slow things down and gives more control.
3) On sports bikes or bikes with less lock, lean the bike over and move your body to the outside as a counterbalance. Put your weight through the outside peg too.
4) Feel like your tipping too far? Tempted to put a foot down? Don't. A bit of throttle will stand the bike up again-the same force stops GP racers from falling down at extreme lean angles.

[John (JT)]

The correct way - U-Turn


1. Good observations to the front and rear.
2. Engage 1st gear
3. Lifesaver (right)
4. Pull off with plenty of revs
5. Go and find a roundabout. A big roundabout

[Rjhmt]

Good tips John,
No wonder you like Newcastle! They are full of roundabouts

[John (JT)]

[smurfy]

I'm finding sellotaping my feet to the foot pegs is helping to stop me from putting my foot down not to mention the sharp wooden stake under my chin to stop me looking down at my front wheel!

Other than that - practice practice practice

[yorkie 1200]

[quote="smurfy"]I'm finding sellotaping my feet to the foot pegs is helping to stop me from putting my foot down not to mention the sharp wooden stake under my chin to stop me looking down at my front wheel!

.....we all done it

[John (JT)]

And some of us still do from time to time


Good luck with your test Smurfy - the u-turn is about a bit of practise,
confidence, looking where you want to end up and remaining RELAXED.

If you are too tense then it wont work.

Try to imagine Rob in his underpants and yellow wellies standing
on the other side of the road and about 100 yards behind you.

If that does not make you look around and relax with the giggles - then
I don't know what would.





'orrible thought

[Rjhmt]

Yep, sounds good
If that don't work I can always take my wellies off

[ValHarri]

i think thats where im going wrong, im not looking where i want to go, im looking at my front wheel , right ive read the instructions so im going out to practise

[yorkie 1200]

All the best
i think its the same for most new riders(it was for me anyway)you look where your going when you are riding down the road
why carnt we do it when doing u turns
practise practise practise
you got big advantage there val by having your own bike you can go out when ever you want

[ValHarri]

well im going to have to wait as the kids were supposed to go back to school tomorrow but the repairs on the school havent been finished so theyre not opening now til next monday, but brys been looking after them while ive been out in the evenings, i went out with Bry on saturday night too, my first ride in the dark , he said my gear changes, life savers etc are all good i just need to be a bit more confident with my speed, but im getting there!!