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Think the subject says enough. I'm practicing in a parking lot and i'm getting a little more fluent with them. Rode down there today and there was conveniently spraypainted on the black top a 20 foot wide street replica with the center stripes and all. about 80 feet long, perfect area to practice. But it doens't make much of a difference when you can only pull it off half of the time. So any pointers? Maybe a few basics that I may be forgetting?

Look all the way through the turn, no matter the turn. For U-turns, that means looking as far behind you as you can.

It takes a while, but if you practice leaning off the other side of the bike away from the turn, you can turn a lot tighter. This only works at speeds lower than the speed of a human jogging. As in, this only works at speeds so slow that countersteering is not in effect.

I'm sure you're aware of the balance of clutch and throttle (while hanging off the seat and weighting the outside peg), if you're practicing at all. Good on you!

Lastly, I find it helps very much if I use a little rear brake to help stabilize the bike, *while* I'm using throttle and clutch control.

Oh...and some bikes are MUCH easier to control at slow speeds in second gear, give it a try. My big Concours felt like it grew wings when I began practising slow-speed stuff in second gear. But the little Honda lugs too bad and needs to be in first.

Please wear all your gear while you practice, have a good warm engine and good warm tires and good clean pavement.

Tell us how it goes!

These tight, slow turns are typically the one skill that new riders have the greatest difficulty with. During the MSF Basic rider course this is the much dreaded "box". Many people obsess about it, but to be completely honest its the very least important skill. If you cannot do a smooth slow speed parking lot turn, what are your alternatives? Put your feet down and power walk!

There are several things that are key when doing this kind of turn.

1) Turn your head. Most people claim "I am turning my head" but its typically not nearly enough. Sit straight on your bike (when its stationary). Turn your head to "full lock". You should be looking behind you, over your shoulder. Pretend you are an owl! THIS is a full head turn.

2) Don't look down at the pavement. Keep your head up, looking behind you with that big head turn. If you are trying to pull a U-turn, picture a person in the center of the other lane (the one you want to get into) about 15 feet behind you. Look through their imaginary chest or shoulders, not their feet.

3) Control your speed. This is key. For most riders this is a friction zone exercise. The clutch is neither fully engaged nor fully disengaged. Its in that friction zone, and you are sort of tractoring around the turn. Think ahead a little bit. "I'm okay now but in 5 seconds I'll be too slow. I better ease out a bit." "I'm good now but I'll be too fast, I better ease in a little." Clutch control is everything. It can be done throttle only, but this is typically much harder for about 97% or riders...

Try this in first and again in second gear. Many people find it easier to putter aroung in second, as they are a little smoother without a lot of throttle jerking.

Turn your head
Keep your head (and eyes!) up
Use the friction zone.

Those three are key. There is a fourth element. Counterweight. When turning left you push down hard on the RIGHT peg, balancing the bike. When going right you push down hard on the left peg. Keep your upper body upright.

How much counterwieght you need depends on the bike. Standards and dual sports are easy. top heavy sporties require a lot of counterwieght. Some people will shift their bottoms to one side, hanging half a cheek off the seat to help remind them of what side to counter wieght. IT IS NOT AN UPPER BODY LEAN!!! It is simply applying lots of down pressure through your foot to the peg opposite the turn.


nny rider

Well I tried this in the parking lot and pulled it off decently about 25% of the time. But I went for my first ride out of town, actually out of state with my dad today and I had to pull a u-turn in town. And I pulled it off right away and fast. So I think the problem is my speed. I think I'm taking it too slow when I'm practicing which is leading to some balance and overcorrecting issues. I'm going to try this out tomorrow see it it helps.

This should help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2fGYU1CNb0

Good luck!

lol i've seen this vid already. I've been using youtube a lot in the past few weeks for any knowledge i can acquire. But thanks nonetheless.

I find an issue I have is that I never give enough throttle. It helps me to think about using the clutch AS my throttle, if that makes sense. I keep the throttle revved a bit and let the clutch out enough to get going. If I'm being jerky with the throttle (off, then on, etc) it throws me off.

Make sure you're giving it enough throttle. As long as you're tight on your clutch control you're not going to go flying off the bike or something .

ttty2t1j3 wrote:But it doens't make much of a difference when you can only pull it off half of the time. So any pointers? Maybe a few basics that I may be forgetting?

More repetitions and more repetitions and still more over weeks and months. I can do a Uturn down to about 15' anywhere any time--slow in first gear. In second gear I'm good for the first try in the parking lot but not yet in the street. I'm sure I've done a thousand practice reps by now.

U Turn in a live traffic enviroment is a requirement for a UK licence

Ride straight for a couple of metres to get the bike balanced.

Grip the tank with your knees.

Plenty of revs - use the bite point of the clutch to control the speed.

Look all the way through the turn - the bike goes where you look.

Push your feet down on the pegs