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I'll have to check the state book. I think it says in there how big of an area.

I would have to say (I attended the calss out here in California about 2 months ago) That this was the hardest part of the test for me. At first I couldn't do it at all. Then I started to watch everyone else pull it off with ease and decided. What the hell? I locked the wheel to the left and counterleaned and the rest is history. Don't sweat it too much, If you think about dumping the bike you will. You have to think about yourself pulling off a beautiful u-turn. Worst case scenerio you fall at 5 mph and never get on a bike again. Best case scenario (The one I am pulling for for you) you don't even think about the lines bust out a great u-turn and next thing you know you are crusing down the road smiling ear to ear. I can tell you that the day I got my M on my license every ride to work has been so gratifying. Stick with it have confidence and you will do fine!

Actually this was the most fun part of the class for me as well as the most educational . My spousette had taken the course the year before and never had to do the figure 8's .
This past Sunday while out for our morning cruise , we decided to go out to the MSF class and watch . We were there for over an hour and never saw the class enter the box and do any 8's at all .
Go figure .
Kind regards, Wizzard

Wizzard,

When I took the class you had two seperate days. The first day they didn't do the figure 8's.

I took a class a long, long time ago (Alabama) and then again earlier this year (Wash.). It seems like we got introduced to the 8's in the larger box the second half of the first day and then on the second day we practiced in the test size box in the morning and then took the test in the afternoon.

yeah we didnt try figure 8's until the 2nd day. we did tight turns like the first part of the figure 8...but not the whole thing.

Bike Phreak wrote:Wizzard,

When I took the class you had two seperate days. The first day they didn't do the figure 8's.

Sunday was the 2nd day ............
The class was so big that they had an (A) & a (B) class .
Oh well it was fun to watch and reminisce .
Regards, Wizzard

I passed the figure 8's without a single mistake....but i screwed almost everything else up LOL, got 16 points.

anyways, where i took my MSF (so cal) they started us off with a 24 foot figure 8 box, then during the test it's 20. these are/were my observations:

1) at first people didnt counterlean and some (including myself) still pulled it off..however as WEIRD and unnatural as it feels to have your "O Ring" hanging off the seat, DO IT it REALLY helps
2) its harder if youre carrying a few extra lbs (beginners)
3) its easier on the 125 nighthawks then the GZ250..or any 250 probably because of the weight difference
4) dont give the bike any throttle you should have it open just a bit and dont move it...BUT if you do give it throttle and it turns out to be too much, squeeze the clutch because if you let off the throttle suddenly the ride will become much more choppy.
and most important..like someone else said, believe you can do it, because if you're nervous (like i was) youll eventually screw something up. have fun and goodluck!

i believe the figure 8's were supposed to do 3 things... btw i took mine last oct. #1 clutch control vs throttle, #2 slow control of the bike and #3 countersteering. Somebody said it right, let your peripheral vision see the lines, and LOOK LOOK LOOK AT where u want to go. Don't watch the front tire or the lines, u're more likely to dump the bike, ie; because you go where you look, or mess up the box. Crank your head around to see around the turn to where u want to be. It's a challenge, but me, 42 who has never been on a bike, aced it, i was on the line, but not over the line, didn't lose any points. YOU CAN DO IT. Relax, do what the teach has told you, and u'll be ok.

Figure 8's a sinch, just look where you want to go, trust the bike, and watch the throttle.

I just kept on steady throttle and motor'ed out of the box. But like someone said, start with the big box, move it in.