U-turns on an incline/hill

[redwing]

Thanks fellows ... nice to know that I'm not the only one who gets the creeps about u-turns. Turning the handle bars to lock just doesn't seem right. Although the more experience I get the thought of a u-turn seems very possible; but I'm still just thinking about a u-turn. I seem to have chicken strips in two places.

In the movie 'Long Way Down,' one of the riders said the simplist (simple-ist) is the best... so for now I'm good with that.

Robert

[NORTY]

I saw the list from the op.
From 40 years experiece (of going up & down hills.)
When I teach a noobie about U-turns on inclines, I tell them "speed is your friend."
I'm talking inclines of >10% BTW.
One of the notorious parking lots is located @ The Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs. I've seen many bikes go over. All because of one thing~ they lost speed making the U-turn and stalled.
Going downhill, making a U-turn, I'd use the rear brake mostly.

These "abilities" can be learned best while riding a dirtbike.

[storysunfolding]

Whoa whoa whoa- you guys aren't dissing my buddy gravity are you?

Once I tell him about your anti gravity tactics you aren't going to like it. You bring a knife, he brings a gun, you bring a gun, he brings a tank, you bring at least 7-8 mph through your uturns and BOOM- the gravity of Jupiter.

Don't tell me I didn't warn you.

[Wordherder]

The one time I've ever dropped my bike was attempting to make a U-turn on a hill on a wrong turn halfway up a semi-paved *cliff* in Kentucky, yes I was an idiot. 25 yards farther up the hill and I'd have hit a nice flat, wide parking lot in which to turn around. Instead, I tried to hold up an 825-lb. Harley with one leg while making a 3-point turn and you know what? I can't hold up almost a freakin' half-ton with one freakin' leg. Kaboom, gas spillin' out, bike lying downhill so I couldn't even lift it up. Stood there and swore until my *wife* puttered up the hill on her Suzuki and helped lift up the Milwaukee paperweight. Gaaaah. No damage except to a turn signal, bent shifter (still works to this day) and my pride.

Here's some video of happier moments (mostly) on that cruise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Jvjq4cW5s

[UTRider]

I heard that the Alameda County Sheriff advanced rider course has an exercise where students need to make u-turns on an incline. I'm very comfortable with u-turns on flat pavement, but that exercise sounds really tough. Any tips? I assume the normal u-turn tactics still work:
* use the clutch friction zone to manage speed
* use the rear brake to further control speed
* optionally shift to 2nd gear for smoother throttling
* turn the steering to a full lock position
* look waaaay into the turn and never down
* lean the bike as much as safely possible
* use the human body as counterweight

But any tips specifically for uphill to downhill u-turns?

Double, triple check no gravel on the road. That's how I went down once -- well more of a tip over since I can walk faster than I was going. But it's a big difference between tipping over on Flat and tipping over downhill. Glad I was wearing all my gear. I really wanted to see the video of the tip-over, but it shut the camera off and I lost the video.

[RhadamYgg]

Funny, I had to do a U-turn today. My biggest concern was getting nailed by a car. Of course, it was one of those super wide residential roads, flat... The bike was light and easy to maneuver - that helps a lot.