Motorbike test tomorrow... any tips to help me on U turns?

Question

Motorbike test tomorrow... any tips to help me on U turns?

Answer 1

make sure the road in both directions is clear, before the manoeuvre

Answer 2

Keep the revs nice and steady and not too high or low and dont look at the kerb. Good luck on the test matey

Answer 3

Don't look down. Look back through the turn, look 180 degrees back. Press down on the peg that is on the outside of the curve. Lightly slip the clutch for speed control. If you have to brake use the rear brake lightly, but it shouldn't be necessary. The key is like most maneuvers on a motorcycle, smoothness. Good luck.

Answer 4

U Turns are the easy part. The hard part is weaving through the cones, especially if you have a larger bike. Find out how the test is scored and then you can go in with a strategy. By me it's nearly impossible to legitimately pass the test on a 600 or bigger bike. They score the test if if put a foot down its half your points but missing a cone is only like 2 points and you can miss 11. I specifically skipped two cones on the weaving b/c I knew I could do the rest of the test perfect and passed no problem.

Answer 5

Give yourself space....use the road don't feel you have to turn the min you start to move. Keep revs high, slip the clutch and drag the back brake if you really need to and do what I did....scream to yourself  DO NOT PUT MY FOOT DOWN!!

Oh and for heavens sake don't do what I did on every pracitce and grab the front brake....sure way to fall off !!

You'll be fine....good luck.

Answer 6

Keep your eyes on where your going not your feet and in a blink of an eye it will be all over. Good luck.

Answer 7

I'm a MSF instructor in training, been range aiding 3 years. Nailed the U-Turn box every time.

Dog's answer is one of few on here that is worth listening to. Speed=Stability, go to slow and you're going to put your foot down. The clutch always makes it smoother. Big left turn, then big right turn. 1st turn look at your entry cones, 2nd turn look for exit cones, its that simple.

Answer 8

1.  Practice

2.  Practice

3.  Practice

Those are the top 3 in my book of tricks.

Answer 9

It'll probably be pretty obvious when your instructor is going to ask you to do the U-turn so make sure you pull in as close to the kerb as possible to give yourself the maximum amount of space.

Make sure you do all those observations, make sure you use enough revs and turn your head to look down the road not at the opposite kerb.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Look to where you want to go, not where you are. Speed affects how you do the turn. One answerer said to push on the footpeg oposite the turn direction. Tighter turns require even more. If your turn is left, (which is always easier because of the crown on the road surface), you should shift your weight to the right, even sliding one 'cheek' off the seat on the right. I can u turn my Road King in 1 1/2 lanes using this system and enjoying the bike's lower center of gravity. Lean right / look left / turn the bars left. Exactly the opposite of a high speed turn; no counter steering here.

Answer 11

look in the direction you want to turn and not at the floor or you will never make it. Look towards the kerb and the bike will guide itself towards it, try to stay calm and keep the revs steady. Good luck

Answer 12

ok here goes. mirrors .look. move along the road when  your ready lifesaver ,full lock counter balance ride the clutch keeping revs up looking down the road where you want to go (not the other kurb or the front wheel this will disorientate you)keep your target fixation on where you want to go ,when your there stop safely dont stall .job done each point is as important as the next remember  Full lock straight away look down the road GOOD LUCK

Answer 13

look toward where you want to be and not at the wheel or kerb. it will happen naturally.

Answer 14

You will be fine if you go with Dogs answer, relax and practise beforehand.

It was the only bit I was worried about. Now I've passed I can u-turn my cruiser no problem !

Answer 15

When making sharp, low speed turns, shift your weight to the outside of the circle or turn.  In other words, when making a U turn, your body should be upright or even leaning to the outside while the bike is leaning into the turn.  Shifting some weight to the outside footpeg also helps, especially on big bikes.

Keep the engine at a fast idle and control your speed by slipping the clutch.  Don't worry, you won't hurt the clutch.  Just remember that clutches aren't light switches, either on or off, but more like a dimmer switch that can be slowly turned up or down.

If the bike tries to fall into the turn, shifting your weight helps, but also releasing the clutch a bit more to increase your speed just a tad will make the bike straighten up some.

Answer 16

Don't go too fast, keep your head up, turn your head and face in the direction you want to go.  Don't look at the ground.

Answer 17

Drive to the DMV  and practice on their  course right now if Your worried about it. It's usually painted on the pavement. Drive around the circle at a nice controlled speed and practice going in and out of the cone part of the course. To me the corners were easy, driving between those lines on the straight part was harder than any part of the test that involved corners. Good luck!