Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello! I'm both new at the site and at motorcycling, this site is spectacular btw...

OK, now I took my course around last Oct. and bought myself a Triumph T-bird sport <3 Ever since the weekend I took the course I was very uncertain of a few things. I know I probably should have asked, however I did get there very early *i'm talking 6 a.m. with 2 degree wind fact. * so I just kinda of wanted to get out of there. lol My concern is with turning! It's probably something I could have managed over time, but I do want to learn the RIGHT way.

My problem is mainly on slower turns. When you come upon the turn how far [/i]into the turn are you suppose to look? I don't want to hit whatever is right next to me!

Also, here's the biggie, when turning are you supposed to hold the clutch in as you turn? Are you supposed to not use the clutch at all when making a turn? Perhaps the friction zone? See, I have been somewhat lost for a few months now, and do not want to develop bad habbits. Thank you all for any advice you can give me, and please go in depth if you can! I'm so glad I found this site lol Thanks guys/gals!

~Jon[/b]

looks like I need to work on the grammar a bit too

You might consider REtaking the MSF course... see if you can find the BRC II.

It sounds like you need more help than can be offered online.

P

I'm guessing that you're talking about sharper turns on a highway as opposed to slow speed manuevering in a parking lot? If I'm right, I would say it's important that you look as far into the corner as possible. Your bike will follow where you look. As to the speed, if you slowed before the turn, which is the correct way to do it, you then just stay in gear, and accellerate out of the corner and that will bring your bike up to the verticle as you exit the corner. It's important that you slow before and that you are in the correct gear for the speed you are doing. Most sharp corners on a highway require that you drop at least one gear, possibly two, more if you see a sign like this one, or one where that angle is even worse...


With that said, most of us like to go looking for these signs... lol.

Retake the MSF, x2...this is something very basic they would have taught you in an MSF.

Well as for taking the MSF course again, I say just go out and practice. Try to time you practice time with traffic at a minimum and for slow turns find an empty parking lot and practice figure 8's.
Ditto on what dr_bar said.
Luck.

I don't think he needs to take the MSF course again. They didn't exactly tell us how far to look through a turn either.

I just look where I plan to end my turn and go from there. Seemed to work in the MSF and the coaches never complained so I guess that'll do me.

chemicalpoet wrote:When you come upon the turn how far into the turn are you suppose to look? I don't want to hit whatever is right next to me!

I know what you mean. You need to scout out the surface for hazards as early as possible (that goes for all the time, anyway) and look into the turn as far as you can and through the upcoming straightaway; look where you want to go, not down at the road. This means if you're doing a u-turn, look as far behind you as you can. It takes practice to balance that with keeping an eye out for surface and other hazards, but it'll come with experience.

Also, here's the biggie, when turning are you supposed to hold the clutch in as you turn? Are you supposed to not use the clutch at all when making a turn? Perhaps the friction zone?

I pull the clutch lever in for two things and two things only: changing gears and coming to a stop. You should be in gear as much as possible. It's especially important in a turn where you need to keep your speed up/increasing. You should be able to go really slow (slow enough for any turn) without needing the clutch. That said, some people slip the clutch at next-to-stalling speeds to compensate for lack of good throttle control (or, for example, when the choke is still on and idle is high).

My MSF bike throttle was difficult (for me) to control at low speeds without needing the clutch, but the experienced instructors could do it just fine. They did explain it was ok to use the clutch in that case, but it's better not to have to. And when I say slow speeds, I mean speeds that hardly register on the speedometer; such as when you're doing a tight u-turn in a parking lot.

You don't have proper control over the bike (this goes for cars as well) when the clutch is disengaged, so you should avoid coasting in any normal situation.

hmm, I see... thanks guys. I believe rbickers got to me the most. I don't have 400 buckaroos for another course, yeah it was spenive'! I think I got some of the incentive to use the clutch so much on turn because I usually drive some sports cars where the clutch is needed in corners *im not bragging, please dont take it that way >_< lol* I thank you all for the reps. and I believe I got the info. needed thanks again! Safe riding!

I really like your avatar.