Back on a Bike...

[Oldie]

Hello Rupert, welcome on board. I hate to admit this but I failed my test on the u turn three times! I was getting target fixation, every time I saw the kerb on the other side of the road I lost the plot. All the advice I had received from the instructors was to turn my head as far as I could and look down the road.
Anyway I was on the verge of giving up when I decided to try another school. I explained my problem to a lady on the phone. She told me that she had had three people that day who were just like me, and that they were all doing it just fine by the time she had finished with them!
Well I met this lady at the school and out we went. After only ten minutes riding to get the feel for the bike she said ok let's get this turn sorted out. She told me her technique and told me to go for it. With grave misgivings I did so and b***er me I did it! I was then told to do another(gulp)which I did and then another. I could not believe it! Anyway after riding around for about half an hour. She pulled me over in a much narrower road and told me to do a u turn. I said you are joking to which she said no I'm not, go on do it. Three times I did that turn and each time my confidence soared. The day of my test(the next day) I was followed by an examiner in a car. The e stop done, push the bike round and the u turn. No problem!

Later, just like Andy the comms started playing up. I heard about one word in every sentence and was frantically gesticulating at my helmet. I pulled over and the Instructor came storming out of his car at me. He said something about me being deaf but after the silly bu***er changed his batteries it was alright! I think he was a bit embarrassed!
I passed!

How to do the u turn, all the usual advice.
1. Use your back brake to adjust speed
2. Slip the clutch
3. Keep the engine revs up, 'cos it acts as a gyroscope.
4. Lean your body to the left a bit. Not into the turn.
5. Look over your shoulder and pick a target down the road on the opposite side.

Now Polly's secret(bless her)

You do all of the above except no5.
What you do is turn your head just over your shoulder.
Don't strain your neck!
Pick a target you can see easily, lamp post, coke can, anything you can use as a marker.
Start your turn, either from stationary or rolling and as soon as you see the target it look down the road.

That's it.


Long winded post but I hope it helps you.

Rick

[zap303]

Hello Rupert,

I only passed my DAS in December, so it’s all fairly fresh for me. I'm now saving to buy my 1st bike and hoping to get a Ducati Supersports.

Anyway, U turns, this was my worry and just about everyone else’s worry who I met doing the course. I had a nightmare at 1st even on the 125's but I started to get better at them and they moved me to try on the larger bikes. 2nd day on the larger bike, and I dropped it (well sort of put my foot down and placed the thing on the floor!) Anyway this shot my confidence to bits and the instructor made me try another 15 times before I got it, not sure it worked for me as I was so het up about dropping it. Then I came home and had a look at the internet for tips and the one I found that helped me was the bottom placement trick. Think it depends upon your personal U Turn faults tho!

Basically prepare, just before you are about to U turn place your left bum cheek over the left hand edge of the bikes seat (right cheek if U turning left), then do the rest as taught to you. I found this helped my balance no end, as when the bike went over to the right as it wants to do when doing the U turn my body was more upright and counterbalanced to the bike. Again this all depends on your own personal U turn faults. But it helped me and after that I managed to get 9/10 U Turns perfect (well Ok at least).

This technique also gives your right arm (left if going left) more space to pull in the handlebars to full lock.

What do the full time bikers think to this?

Like my instructor said when I passed, I will never have to do another U Turn in my life if I don't want to, not even sure it will be possible on a Ducati anyway! But it does help with good slow speed handling ability.

Also try and get an instructor who will take you thorough country lanes and give you good instruction on counter steering and bike placement and speed through corners, apparently it’s not event meant to be taught on the DAS syllabus. Although this knowledge is just as important if not more so than other aspects of the DAS!


Cheers

Matt

[Steve GD]

On a supersport it is possible to do a U-turn and stay in the same county. Just.

[zap303]

Lol!!

[rupert]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice - I'll try and remember it when I do my DAS.

It's great to have so many people who are happy to give advice and the benefit of their wisdom.

I'm going to concentrate on the Theory for the moment - which hopefully shouldn't be too bad - done a few practise tests, etc and did all right.

Cheers,
Rupert.

[Ghost]

I can't make a Ewe turn, but if I get its back legs in me wellies, I can make its eyes water.



Phil

[Oldie]

With a remark like that you should have SS on your bikes fairing.
Sheep Shagger!

[David.Hicks]

Originally Posted by Steve GD

On a supersport it is possible to do a U-turn and stay in the same county. Just.

Unless you live here

[JerryXt]

+ 1 one the high revs, back brake and clutch method. You can keep the bike stationary, both feet up using that method. But not your own bike, clearly!

People aren't always taught to look where you want to go. It sounds silly, but it works at any speed. If you're approaching a bend a bit quicker than you're used to, just look around the bend, relax and the bike will go there.

The first time I did Brands, I went around Paddock a little quicker than I had on previous laps and got a fixation for the gravel trap at the bottom of Paddock Hill. I would have parked there too had I not looked up the hill to Druids.

Works a treat on u-turns too.

[MarkST]

Just drop her over and gas her up.

[rupert]

Just got back from doing my theory test and hazard perception, it seems that I was perceptive enough as I got 50 out of 50 for the theory and 57 out of 75 (I think) for the hazard - the pass mark is 44 - so could have done better but all done now.

Just got to book up my DAS and then I'll be away...

[Steve GD]

Congratulations, Rupert...good luck with the DAS

[Fireman]

Originally Posted by rupert

Just got back from doing my theory test and hazard perception, it seems that I was perceptive enough as I got 50 out of 50 for the theory and 57 out of 75 (I think) for the hazard - the pass mark is 44 - so could have done better but all done now.

Just got to book up my DAS and then I'll be away...

Hi Rupert,

You didn't see Chris Evans of Radio 2, Billie Piper, and TFI Friday fame on your course / tests etc at Dunsfold?

He was talking about doing this back in December and lives near Chiddingfold which as you probably know is just around the corner from Dunsfold Park.

[Oldie]

Well done Rupert! Hope the CDs' helped.

Rick

[rupert]

No sign of Chris Evans, I'll keep an eye out for him when I am doing my DAS.

Rick - the hazard perception CD certainly helped so thanks for that.

Cheers,
Rupert.