Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ok guys, i have some questions.

1. i'm having a real hard time making tight turns at slow speeds. as an example, if you asked me to make a u-turn in a parking lot, i would most likely have to take my feet of the pegs and push off the ground to keep my balance. any tips?

another time this effects me is when i'm trying to turn right out of a parking lot, and i basically can't even stay in my lane, and drift into the oncoming traffic lane.

2. i know this is one of those "keep practicing" things, but i'm having a hard time QUICKLY getting out of first. you all remember how you had to slowly release the clutch and slowly roll the throttle when you first started riding. That's what i'm going through right now. I'd like to be able to just snap out of first, because i usually feel like a douche at the stoplight with a line of cars behind me because the car in front of me takes off and i take 8 seconds to go because i'm trying to slowly get into first without stalling the bike.

i'm sure you all know what i mean, these must be common problems.

thanks

find a big parking lot and pratice riding in a big circle and as you get better ride in a smaller and smaller circle at the same time go slower and slower, but! go BOTH directions, like go 10 times one way and 10 times the other direction, or do a big figure 8, don't be afraid to lean the bike over and scrape ur toes with ur feet are on the footpegs.

damn dude are you serious? leaning the bike that far at slow (under 10 mph) speeds? i'm pretty sure i'd eat gravel.

well anyway, i'm having some serious getting into first issues, so if anyone has any tips...it's really the only thing keeping me from hitting daytime traffic.

The last two tips I remember being significant:


1: The heavier the bike, the more you need to COUNTER-balance the bike in the turn. Also true at lower speeds. You need to sit on the corner of the seat opposite to the direction of the turn.

2: When pulling out onto a busier street, have your bars (wheel) already pointing in the direction of the turn. It won't 'fold' the bike like you'd expext on a bicycle.


And one basic...

3: Get good at dragging the rear brake in turns, modulating the clutch, holding a contant throttle.


Hope these help....

Take the MSF course, it is worth it for a beginner.

you need to worry about starting and stopping before you worry about slow speed/tight turns.

go to an empty parking lot and practice starting (which will also force you to practice stopping). spend a day doing nothing but maintaining a steady throttle and easing the clutch out. the more you do it, the more comfortable you'll become.

I heartily recommend taking an MSF beginners course before riding any more. The course starts with clutch control

You are not only learning bad habits, but you appear to be putting yourself and everyone else in danger. Sorry to say, but it is possible you are quickly headed for an accident if you don't get some one-on-one coaching.

Also, don't take off so hot, when turning from a stop. And you need to be looking through the turn.

Just take the MSF course. They show you in person what to do. Its hard for people to try to explain over the internet how to practice manuvers.

if you are making a left lean right to counter your weight! to the center position. This is off the NYSDMV look for the heading turning!


http://www.nysdmv.com/mcmanual/ride_within.htm

MotoF150 wrote:find a big parking lot and pratice riding in a big circle and as you get better ride in a smaller and smaller circle at the same time go slower and slower, but! go BOTH directions, like go 10 times one way and 10 times the other direction, or do a big figure 8, don't be afraid to lean the bike over and scrape ur toes with ur feet are on the footpegs.

Not bad advice really...

Anyway, don't worry about leaning extremely until you're more comfy, but moto is right that you can scrap the footpegs on a bike in a tight circle at slow speeds. I've seen guys IN a MSF course doing it in their figure 8, very balls to the wall.

The MSF is a great course and it's wonderful at giving you the basic skills to practice in a parking lot. It's highly recommended.

As for first. Start then stop, see how fast you can start then stop, start, stop, start, stop- do you get the idea?

Don't just get going and think "wowie zowie I'm riding!". Just start and stop every five feet or so until it's second nature. Do something else for awhile (turns, weaves, uturns etc) then come back to it. Do that until you can do it every time.