It helps to have ridden dirt bikes in the past to perfect this technique.
I call it the "Bat-Turn"
I call it the "Bat-Turn"
Fear of U-Turns
- Thread starter stevethelondoner
- Start date
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[quote author=The Seeker link=topic=1492.msg11882#msg11882 date=1221404536]
It helps to have ridden dirt bikes in the past to perfect this technique.
I call it the "Bat-Turn"
[/quote]
Ah yes I perfected it on my dirt bike. Funny thing is most younger riders think you should never use your back brakes at all :silent:
It helps to have ridden dirt bikes in the past to perfect this technique.
I call it the "Bat-Turn"
[/quote]
Ah yes I perfected it on my dirt bike. Funny thing is most younger riders think you should never use your back brakes at all :silent:
I use my back brake all the time!?
If the surface is clear of debris and dry, I use my front brake IN CONJUNCTION with the rear. I never use the front brake is there is any chance it'll lock-up on me.
If the surface is clear of debris and dry, I use my front brake IN CONJUNCTION with the rear. I never use the front brake is there is any chance it'll lock-up on me.
I would say I use my back brakes 90% of the time in conjunction with the gears. Only use the front in an emergency or once I am coming to a stop at a traffic light. This seem to be more the old school way of riding as the younger lot just use the front brakes no gears and no back.
I used to use the gearbox to slow me down also. But over the last few years I've begun only using it when I'll need to be in a lower gear when I begin moving again...not for a complete stop. I guess my thinking is that I can extend the life of my clutch if I don't use it as much. I rarely use the clutch in upshifts above 2nd gear. I just let off the throttle and time it so that it just slips up into the next higher gear.
I rarely use the clutch for upshifts either; but I definitely gear down for stops.
I just figure brake pads are easier and cheaper to replace than the clutch.
I've never had to replace a clutch on any bike I owned - unless I bought it used.
Me neither actually....I guess I'm just being a bit anal about it!! LOL
Well I must admit I cannot ever remember replacing a clutch either, But I did not want to say anything 
Close to 85,000 miles on the Trophy now and the clutch is still solid as a rock.
(but that's because I don't use it as much...Hahahahaha!)
(but that's because I don't use it as much...Hahahahaha!)
:y24: :y24: :y24:
The H**** CB900F I have is a great road bike, but it has a notchy transmission which is unusual for a H****.
I've taken to not using the clutch after second gear too. I just accelerate to a certain speed, relax the throttle a little and it slips into the next gear as slick as a whistle.
I can also gear down that way, but use the clutch more often to do that.
OTOH, the transmission in my T100 is as slick and positive as any I've ridden. It clicks in and out of gears like a dream and I love riding it.
Both transmissions in my vintage bikes are beautifully slick too.
I've taken to not using the clutch after second gear too. I just accelerate to a certain speed, relax the throttle a little and it slips into the next gear as slick as a whistle.
I can also gear down that way, but use the clutch more often to do that.
OTOH, the transmission in my T100 is as slick and positive as any I've ridden. It clicks in and out of gears like a dream and I love riding it.
Both transmissions in my vintage bikes are beautifully slick too.
stevethelondoner
Well-Known Member
Just got back from a little bit of a ride to unwind after work. Had a go at u-turns...and I tell ya what...I dont see this bike making a bloody u-turn. I tried it about 3 times and I am not making it...not big u-turns but around two country lanes wide. Seeing thats where I was, in the country. I am becoming real bloody nervous and after screwing up and not wanting to dump my bike i was riding home thinking...I aint gonna grasp this, maybe I should't of got a bike. Crazy i know but it's my anxieties. was looking forward to my first bike week but heck...if i cant u-turn whats the point. Maybe Im going to slow...in class they tell ya clutch to friction zone but when i do that it want to go over when i start the turn. I have no bloody idea obviously.
Cheers
Steve
Cheers
Steve
Steve, you are trying too hard. Don't fight it. A cruiser is harder to do tight turns on than a sports bike or a standard bike. But you can and will do it.
Practice wide circles and wide figure eights until you are comfortable and confident at doing them. Then tighten down the circles and eights a little - not a whole lot and get confident and comfortable with them. Continue this process.
Practice wide circles and wide figure eights until you are comfortable and confident at doing them. Then tighten down the circles and eights a little - not a whole lot and get confident and comfortable with them. Continue this process.
Steve,
Go to a big empty parking lot. Place an object on the ground large enough to focus on. Do 360 degree turns around the object. Keep making the circle tighter each time around but even each 360. NEVER take your eyes off the center object. There is no better way to practice tight turns. To keep from getting dizzy change direction. Only take you eyes off the target when stopping.
Go to a big empty parking lot. Place an object on the ground large enough to focus on. Do 360 degree turns around the object. Keep making the circle tighter each time around but even each 360. NEVER take your eyes off the center object. There is no better way to practice tight turns. To keep from getting dizzy change direction. Only take you eyes off the target when stopping.
stevethelondoner
Well-Known Member
Cheers guys,
Im losing my confidence here....blimey i wanna crack this. All the bloosy parking lots round here have those bloody conreate parking things over them. Was looking out today for a big emty space but aint coming up with much. There is one but I flew past it today and didnt get a decent look.
Thanks again,
Ride safe
Im losing my confidence here....blimey i wanna crack this. All the bloosy parking lots round here have those bloody conreate parking things over them. Was looking out today for a big emty space but aint coming up with much. There is one but I flew past it today and didnt get a decent look.
Thanks again,
Ride safe
Steve
I dont know how big your two lane country roads are over there but over here you would be scratching to drop a uee on such a tight road.
I figure if I gotta do a three point turn in my car , then the same applies to the bike.
The only difference is on the bike I will only go to the centre of the road before I back up, otherwise you are fighting the camber.
:y18:
I dont know how big your two lane country roads are over there but over here you would be scratching to drop a uee on such a tight road.
I figure if I gotta do a three point turn in my car , then the same applies to the bike.
The only difference is on the bike I will only go to the centre of the road before I back up, otherwise you are fighting the camber.
:y18:
Steve, I don't know exactly where you are in the Orlando area, but if you go to Winter Garden (West on Hwy 50) there are a couple of abandoned shopping center parking lots where you can plan to your heart's content.
Listen to what Carl, Diligaf and the others are saying....and go to the abandoned parking areas and just make yourself comfy with large circles, then smaller circles, etc. You will have lots of room and you will be amazed at how quickly it will start to come together.
A few years ago, when I lived in that area, my challenge was to take an autistic son of a friend on the autism awareness ride. I was very concerned about doing it so I met him and is mother at one of those parking lots on a Sunday afternoon and just played most of the afternoon with him on the back of my bike. By the time that the ride was held (the following weekend) he was comfortable on the bike and I was comfortable with him being there. It made for a great 15 year old birthday gift, and helped me as well, improving my tight turning skills.
Just trust yourself and your bike....you can do it. Believe me, if I can master it, you should become a super star in no time....lol
Listen to what Carl, Diligaf and the others are saying....and go to the abandoned parking areas and just make yourself comfy with large circles, then smaller circles, etc. You will have lots of room and you will be amazed at how quickly it will start to come together.
A few years ago, when I lived in that area, my challenge was to take an autistic son of a friend on the autism awareness ride. I was very concerned about doing it so I met him and is mother at one of those parking lots on a Sunday afternoon and just played most of the afternoon with him on the back of my bike. By the time that the ride was held (the following weekend) he was comfortable on the bike and I was comfortable with him being there. It made for a great 15 year old birthday gift, and helped me as well, improving my tight turning skills.
Just trust yourself and your bike....you can do it. Believe me, if I can master it, you should become a super star in no time....lol
