Fear of U-Turns

[stevethelondoner]

OK, I know i have posted this out there before but I avoid bloody u-turns like crazy right now.....I am fearing doing them because i really dont wan to drop the bike for a start. Sounds crazy I know. I did them in the class, we did the figure eight in class but the bike was only a 500 buell. This speedmaster is a bit larger then the bike I did it on let me tell ya. Plus heavier. So, at some stage I know i am gonna come up to one that I am gonna have to do. carl, mate, do ya have any trouble with this. I should come out to you and practise this in a parking lot somewhere. I have an anxiety as it is so that dont help.

Ride safe guys.

Steve

 

[dazco]

Steve, trust me on this....that will change ! When i first got my speedmaster i felt like the front end was solid lead and even riding in a straight line slowly felt wierd. Forget u turns ! in fact, i failed the bike test to get my license (hadn't had a bike in 20 years so mine had expired) miserably because you had to turn in a circle w/o putting your feet down and not going out of the lines. I felt it would be impossible on this bike. i practiced till i was able to do it. But it wasn't until even later on, maybe a year or so that it because easy. Now i can easily do a full fork lock turn at less than walking speed with ease. It just takes time. The longer wheelbase is very different than most bikes. But once you get fully used to it it will be no issue at all, and the longer wheelbase is them an advantage at high speeds and even in fast sweepers.

But just don't worry about it. let it happen naturally and before you know it it'll be a breeze.

 

[stevethelondoner]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=1492.msg11304#msg11304 date=1221073484]
Steve, trust me on this....that will change ! When i first got my speedmaster i felt like the front end was solid lead and even riding in a straight line slowly felt wierd. Forget u turns ! in fact, i failed the bike test to get my license (hadn't had a bike in 20 years so mine had expired) miserably because you had to turn in a circle w/o putting your feet down and not going out of the lines. I felt it would be impossible on this bike. i practiced till i was able to do it. But it wasn't until even later on, maybe a year or so that it because easy. Now i can easily do a full fork lock turn at less than walking speed with ease. It just takes time. The longer wheelbase is very different than most bikes. But once you get fully used to it it will be no issue at all, and the longer wheelbase is them an advantage at high speeds and even in fast sweepers.

But just don't worry about it. let it happen naturally and before you know it it'll be a breeze.
[/quote]

Cheers mate for this......right now it just scares the crap out of me in a big way. I look at these guys and think, "how the heck do they do that" Im talking bigger Bikes then ours. they make it look bloody easy.

What did you do to practise mate? Parking Lot?

Ya right....it feels like that front end aint gonna make no tight u turn. Is it a question of leaning it over more? Seems like at slow speed the bloody thing wants to drop over...

Cheers and Ride safe

 

[CarlS]

Steve, go a large parking lot and practice a circle at a radius that you are comfortable with. Do the circle in 2nd gear and use your clutch and throttle to maintain the circle. Gradually decrease the radius of your circle. Do your circles both clockwise and counter-clockwise. Do this every week for a while. You will get comfortable with it. I would be glad to practice with you.

 

[devo]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=1492.msg11304#msg11304 date=1221073484]


But just don't worry about it. let it happen naturally and before you know it it'll be a breeze.
[/quote]

And that is the essence of it.
Steve, wots making it hard for you is your anxiety. Stop thinking about it entirely, and as your experience with the bike grows, you'll suddenly realise you'r doing them without even thinking about it.
:y18:

 

[dazco]

What did you do to practise mate? Parking Lot?

I practiced only for the test so i wouldn't fail it again, and i used the actual DMV testing site in thier parking lot on sundays when they're closed. but after i passed it my further improvement came just from riding. I have almost 25k on the bike now so it's long since become second nature as it will for you too in time. Like Devo said, just try not to think about it so much. Just ride in the way that is comfortable for you and in time you'll find yourself doing it easily. But dwelling on it as he said will just cause a snowball effect of more and more anxiety. You have just as much potential as anyone, so let it happen naturally. Just ride as safely as you feel you need to in the meantime till you become more confident. It WILL happen.

 

[stevethelondoner]

Cheers BIG TIME!!!! Guys,

Boy O Boy am i glad I found this site, making great friends that can help is what it's all about......and all the Florida riders you will meet me........Oh yes!........you will meet me....hahahahaha I may be going around in circles but I will be there.

Ride safe guys

:y18:

 

[Dilligaf]

Keep some of you weight on the outside peg by applying downward force with your foot and look where you are going, not near where you are. Does that make sense? In a left turn pressure on the left bar and right peg (not exaggerated) will stabilize the bike. Looking to close will give you the tendency to lean too far over. Look at the final point of the turn.

 

[DaveM]

Steve I have been riding for some 30 years now. When I first got on the Speedy I also thought it would be impossible to do tight turns. However after a few days I did not even notice it anymore. Good advice has already been given so all I can add is just start off with wide circles in both directions and gradually make it tighter as you feel confident about it. Lets us know how it goes :y18:

 

[Lioness]

I had the same problem when I got the Tiger. The bike is so damn tall that it felt like it was going to tip over every time. Got used to it now but sometimes I still put my feet out for balance. I think the worst bike I ever had for u turns was the Daytona - that thing really didn't like u turns. It hated pot holes even more. The America was a breaze.

 

[stevethelondoner]

Again, I really appreciate all ya input guys, I am not to bad in real tight turns now. My dad use to wear his knees out on his pants he told me because of how far he would lean. Bends....I love them...just like everybody that rides something about leaning in to a bend and throttling out of it.....just them bloody u-turns.

Cheers

 

[triple trouble]

It helps with a big bike to feather the back brake slightly to stabilise things when making a Uturn. Practise makes perfect. If an old geezer like me on my Rocket can do then any one can. Paul the Londoner :y18:

 

[stevethelondoner]

[quote author=triple trouble link=topic=1492.msg11438#msgPaul the Londoner :y18:
[/quote]

You from London Paul? Where abouts mate? and ya u-turn a Rocket.....DAM mate I bow to you...hahaha

 

[stevethelondoner]

Dont know what happened there it showed up in Blue:

You from London Paul? Where abouts mate? and ya u-turn a Rocket.....DAM mate I bow to you...hahaha
Ride safe

Steve

 

[triple trouble]

Forest Gate, up the 'Ammers

 

[Rocky]

Lots of good advice has already been given here and I can only echo those words.
I had the same problem years ago and thought I could never do it, but over time it simply came to me as I gained confidence and learned the clutch/throttle engagement routine. It's about balance and learning how your bike reacts to the throttle and clutch at slow speeds.
I can make a U-turn on a two lane road without any problem now.
Like most things in life, once you learn how to do something difficult, you will wonder why you ever thought it was hard.
Give it time. It will come to you I'm sure.

 

[stevethelondoner]

[quote author=triple trouble link=topic=1492.msg11614#msg11614 date=1221225604]
Forest Gate, up the 'Ammers
[/quote]


Nice one mate....Im the other end...I am a spurs fan but come from Woolwich....hahahaha

Ride safe

 

[shyguy344]

Steve, there are a bunch of us in Florida, and I know we would all love to meet you. Trust the advice you have been given. Most of us had the same problem when we started out, but "time wounds all heels" ...or is it the other way around...lol.

Just relax and it will come.....trust me....and everyone else.

Bob

 

[The Seeker]

Here's how I do it....

1) DO NOT SLOW DOWN
2) IF YOU ARE GOING SLOW...ACCELERATE
3) AT THE POINT YOU WANT TO MAKE U-TURN.....SLAM ON THE REAR BRAKE...HARD!
4) AS REAR TIRE IS SKIDDING, THROW YOUR HIPS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO TURN
5) THE REAR OF THE BIKE WILL SWING AROUND DOING A PIROUETTE ON THE FRONT TIRE
6) WHEN THE FRONT END IS FACING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, LET OFF THE REAR BRAKE
7) YOU HAVE JUST MADE A U-TURN

 

[DaveM]

Um you forgot to add
8) Don’t try this at home folks