U Turn

[porky]

Bit of help needed, have'nt ridden for 20 odd years, now getting back into it sportster in garage etc (did'nt do my test when i should have done)
Done my CBT yesterday, no problems. Today started on a kawazaki 500, encountered no problemo's .. UNTIL the U turn, man no way could i get it right, the instructor was dumbfounded, he showed me time & time but i could not get the hang of it, everything else no trouble, can i get failed on a bad U turn. I'm gonna get the bike out tommorow & pratice, test on thursday & failing ain't an option, any tip's gratefully received.
cheers & gone

[jim3940]

Try to keep calm. Remember to breathe out. Picture yourself doing it (including the observations) in your imagination time and time again. Picture doing it sucessfully. Good luck

best of luck with the test

Remember to turn your head and look in the direction you want to turn. This is critical on u-turns.

And don't look down at the ground.

[Gray]

Don't look at the bike, look where you want it to be, little bit of throttle, slip the clutch a bit to smooth the power delivery and control your speed with the rear brake.
Find a car park with a bit of space and practice figure of eights. Tighter and tighter.

[dorsetster]

I try to balance throttle and front brake, avoid using the clutch as much as possible.

[Tones]

Everyone has their own technique for this. What's good for some ain't good for others.
Better using clutch control rather than attempting small throttle control. You could stall and fall off in the road, instructor won't be impressed.

Try using clutch control and rear brake. Keep rear brake on slightly. This keeps your foot on the peg. Slip the clutch to get and maintain the slow pull off and steady speed.
As said previously, no need to look down, feel the machine through touch and ears, look where you want to go and do it.

[pippin]

Originally Posted by usabear

Remember to turn your head and look in the direction you want to turn. This is critical on u-turns.

And don't look down at the ground.

1) as mr bear says
2)apply few revs
3)open clutch
4)apply a bit of rear brake

get balance between revs & clutch so bike is just moving,apply rear brake, release brake peddle controlling the speed you turn with pressure on brake peddle which will also keep bike upright, and look the way you want to go ie behind you .
a police trainer told me they call this the HENDON SHUFFLE...

co-ordinate all these things and you will be surprised how tight a circle you can complete.
practice makes perfect,no magic formula. hope this helps a little it works for me.

[pippin]

Originally Posted by usabear

Remember to turn your head and look in the direction you want to turn. This is critical on u-turns.

And don't look down at the ground.

1) as mr bear says
2)apply few revs
3)open clutch
4)apply a bit of rear brake

get balance between revs & clutch so bike is just moving,apply rear brake, release brake peddle controlling the speed you turn with pressure on brake peddle which will also keep bike upright, and look the way you want to go ie behind you .
a police trainer told me they call this the HENDON SHUFFLE...

co-ordinate all these things and you will be surprised how tight a circle you can complete.
practice makes perfect,no magic formula. hope this helps a little it works for me.

[Folkie]

This was the thing that worried me most when I was learning. I practiced twice every day, on the way to work and on the way home again. Found a big empty car park and tried riding round. Not tight turns (at first), not figure 8s, just big circles. The I made the circles tighter. When I'd got that working well I tried it on the road. You need a deserted road. I kept on practicing on the road until I could do it perfect every time. Then I took my test. The U turn wasn't perfect (nerves and all), but it was OK.

I reckon you need to learn the slow riding, and slow speed control, going in a straight line first. Practice slipping the clutch, feathering the throttle, and riding the rear brake. When you're confident at that, then start learning the U turn. As other have said, look where you want to go, definitely not down at the road or the front wheel.