If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member
I have a 1200lb Harley and I can U-Turn that better than the 250cc learner bikes. "Seat time" as mentioned in the video makes a HUGE difference as you learn to balance the bike better throughout your entire ride and build up confidence. I wish my basic instructor had taught us the techniques found here. I didn't learn the 3-part (friction zone, throttle, and rear brake) technique until I did UA-cam searches. I was taught to counter balance, but that's not enough; need that rear brake too.
I live in Northern California and often ride at the base of the Sierra Nevada's Highway 49. One of the best places in the country to ride. However in the spring in the fall, deer migrate as they have done for centuries before the roads were built. The highway department does not install deer crossing signs up at random locations. They are there for a reason! I strongly recommend heads up and slow down when these signs occur anywhere in the country. You do not want to be the "road-kill".
Precisely why this video was made; it takes a lot of practice I'll admit and I still am far from getting this down especially on a sports bike where a little input on the bars makes the bike drip really quickly compared to a standard motorcycle with wider bars.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Remember to keep your eyes on the horizon / where you are headed prawn balls. Riders that struggle are generally looking at the ground, and just ahead of them. Look all the way around at where you are headed, eyes on the horizon and body relaxed, upright counterweighting the bike. You'll get it in no time with a little practice. :)
I practice this all the time on a Bandit 1200S and the way I do it ( at first) is while on the move. Even just doing circles and figure 8's. The key (to me) is getting my clutch in that "friction zone " he's talking about: it's right at the point where the clutch engages. The next thing is applying pressure on the rear brake; just enough for the pads to touch the rotor. Then the next thing is the throttle. just enough to make the bike move. Now, all 3 things happen at the same time and the bike will want to stand up. Another thing to practice is when coming to a red light:. try not to put your feet down at that light. You can do this by: Gearing down early, lightly apply the back brake and lightly apply throttle. the bike will want to stand up. There's' a sweet spot Same thing in the U-turn.
So glad I found this channel! Watched your "eye" video and had to subscribe. Amazing story, and awesome tips and techniques on riding from all of your videos. Thank you!
If I may, an "experienced" rider has no problem with u-turns (or anything else involved in normal riding). Piling up hours or miles in a straight line does not make a rider experienced. ;)
Indeed. The slow speed stuff is what separates the men from the boys when it comes to riding. Any idiot can ride fast, only the skilled can execute graceful slow speed maneuvers.
Totally agree. I was really impressed watching a motorcycle cop leading a motorcade into an intersection. He entered the intersection, stopped the bike and remained motionless, upright, without needing to correct at all, and then moved on when the rest of the motorcade was satisfied that the intersection was clear.
Hi Kevin, I was trying these u-turns this weekend (because I realised that I've never trained a slow-moving motorcycle control), and I encountered a problem, specifically while performing a U-turn to the right. I have a Triumph Daytona 675 and when I turn the steering fully to the right, my wrist will make a contact with the tank and forces my hand to close the throttle, therefore I'll lose the engine power. Any advice? Thanks a lot in advance, great videos you have here ;-)
these slow speed control techniques help enormously to look for escape routes in emergency situations.Trust your eyes and the body will follow.Feet up only u-turns help use rear brake pedal .Controlling rear wheel turn speed is at least a third of it imao,
Thanks for the video, never really thought about counter weighting when doing the u-turn. The MSF Course here in CA never once had us do a u-turn. Seems like there courses lack quit a bit when compared to other states.
Not that I doubted you, but WOW what a difference it makes!! I still find myself not counter weighting about 1/2 way through. Then I remember and I go from making a silver dollar sized turn to a dime turn. Really is amazing how just shifting your weight cuts the u-turn so much better and gives you way more control.
The CA curriculum changed a couple of years ago and the U-turn is no longer one of the exercises conducted. While it is absolutely a valuable skill (I would argue it's a required skill), statistically speaking an at-speed corner is where you will have a problem. I think that is why the new curriculum has an increased component that focuses on at-speed cornering. Unfortunately, because these courses can only be so long, compromises have to be made on the course's content. This is where Kevin's (and others') videos come in and serve as a way to explore/refine skills.
+alatus897 Great comment! Nothing here I disagree with. TX is in the process of curriculum change, I have not seen the extent of it yet but will be re certified by the end of the year.
Hey Kevin, I got out today and practiced the dreaded U turn. Again and again in a nice vacant parking lot. Left, right, large circle and smaller circles keeping my head turning towards and into the turn. It felt good to have success in this area and tons more confidence. I need to practice more, and will. (Rear brake, never the front!!) Thanks again for the basics and the confidence to go out and do this.
Riding the rear brake, while maintaining some throttle and feathering the clutch in the friction allows the rotation of the motorcycle's crankshaft acts like a gyroscope and keeps the bike upright. It works like a charm. 👌
That is a nice idea how it works. But in reality it is not what happens. The moment of inertia depends on the mass that you have at a high distance from the axis of the rotation. This is why spinning tops have a large diameter and are relatively short. If you try to use a pencil as spinning top, it will just fly away. Ignore the gyroscopic effect from the crankshaft, it isn't relevant. I have another idea how it works. But I haven't done any research on it, so don't trust me. I think if you have the rear brake and the clutch on their friction zones, you will take all the slack out of the powertrain and this results in much finer control of the power-delivery. There is no jump in the amount of power that is delivered to rear wheel that would upset the balance and everything just feels smoother. At least that is what I think what happens.
@@zvpunry1971 your very right. Having the throttle up is like having power (money in the bank) ready for delivery with the fine motor skills (dexterity) of your fingers in the brake to manipulate and control the release of said bank of power when you need it. You wouldn't want to release a rubber band instantly by just letting go. It'll snap back with no control. Instead pulling on the rubber band and bringing it back to slack slowly keeps you in control of how quick or slowly the rubber band returns to a resting manor. It makes sense if you don't think about it.
I've been riding for some 35 odd years and i realize that I still need to practice somme tachniques,,your vids are very helpfull,well made, well done!!thank you!
Wow! Excellent video(s). After years away from motorcycling, I got a BMW R1200RT. I thought my driving skills would come right back. Wrong. U-turns are a challenge. (Among other things). I am going to take these techniques to the empty parking lot, and get it right! Thanks, I am now a subscriber
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
At the start of each season I go to an empty parking lot and practise riding at very low speeds and turning tight radius circles without putting my feet down. Being able to ride slow is every bit as good as being able to ride fast.
Great videos brother, good editing and over all awesome content. I build Cafe Racers on my channel but I love all bikes and the bike community are some of the most friendly supportive people I’ve ever met. Love what you are doing. Keep the vids coming brother. 👍
When I ride to work, usually during my lunch break I'll go out and just do some figure eight motions and u-turn practice in the big empty lot. The other thing I practice at the same time is accelerating to about 30-40mph and then emergency braking as fast/hard as I can a few times. This way, every single day I get some practice in those two very challenging (but critical!) skills. If you can make it happen I strongly recommend it!
When I bought my large Harley, I quickly figured out that turning it around was a bit more problematic. A few years ago, I saw videos of people doing U-turns on 2-lane city streets, so I worked on it for awhile and got where I could do a U-turn on the 2-lane subdivision street in front of my house. That's a bit more than 2 lanes in width though since it does allow room for cars to be parked on both sides and there is still enough room for another care to drive between them. So, I guess it's probably closer to an actual 3 lanes in width. Since then, I've seen videos of people doing U-turns within 2 parking spots, so I went up to the local high school when no one was around and decided to give it a try. It's a bit of work, but I eventually got to the point where I could do it, although not as effortless as it appears to be done in this video.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Love your videos I'm in Connecticut ride up to train me better. I just started riding less than 3 months and before I even started going on a bike I practiced turning along with stopping before I hit the road. Love your videos great!!!!
Great video. Need to do a video about 'uninsured motorist fund.' One in 6 people here in Pennsylvania are uninsured. I was hit by one of them! My small 'uninsured motorist fund' has still not been awarded after all but 8 months. Not much for my company to hand over. Please check your fund, bump it up to a minimum of $150,000. And Google your insurance co. on their % of paying this fund out when needed! This could save your livelihoods and house!
Patricia Baker You can buy uninsured motorist coverage, at least in my state. It is cheap, not mandatory, and highly recommended. I just reread your post. By “fund” do you mean coverage? To me “fund” means a separate pool of money set up by the state to cover damage from uninsured motorists.
Thanks for the video Kevin ! I'm going to put sand bags in my BMW's luggage and practice U-turns to be better prepared for fall touring. Better now than on the road. ☺
Or, do like me & use your motorcycle for grocery shopping. My Concours can handle $75 in groceries. A 25 lb bag of dog food will rest on the passenger seat well.
After driving a car, I found that looking where you want to go vs where you're going is counter intuitive, but that's how they taught me in the MSF course I was so surprised when I tried it the first time and it worked. Thanks for the demo.
A very excellent video for me, returning to the ride after 30 years hiatus, I realize there are increasing levels of skill, but this is a great vid for all of us; after all, how often do we actually U-turn, anyway? Thanks for reminding me what a U-turn is!
Thanks Kevin, this is very helpful! I have a question, I’m 5’ 10”, new rider (less than one year), I own a Harley 883, I’m putting forward controls on it, I’m also considering putting taller handle bars on it somewhere between 10” and 12” high. My coworker has the same bike as mine but he has 10” ape hangers on his, I notice it’s a more comfortable ride going straight but turning is challenging, his bars are also very narrow (less than 30” wide). Do you have any advice for a newer rider such as myself? I’d like to get away from leaning forward while riding but at the same time I fear I’ll have less control turning the bike with taller handle bars, thank you, Kevin.
I’ve been riding for over 15 years and still have anxiety over u-turns. I bought a brand new bike and it’s worse. I’m afraid that if I take it out to practice I might drop it. My problem is that I lose confidence mid turn 😩
This is awesome. I will become a supporter and encourage all my riding brothers, and sisters to do the same!!!! Buy the way nice hat. Do you sell them on your website?
Video starts at 2:41 Come on man, this is why I don’t watch your videos. You have great tips but it takes you like 10 minutes to explain a 30 second concept.
Hey, Kevin, Since I began watching your video's, I recommend them to fellow bikers. Further more, you are one of the rare persons that really intend to teach, rather than "showing off" how good they are. Thank you.
Yes you have helped me Yes when you said dirt bike riders and return bikers are most likely to get in a crash. I thank you for your honest and true want to help. And you may have saved a life (me). I took the riders safety test,thought l would just go get my license till I saw your web page.l am 47 years old and have a lot to learn though l have been riding all my life in the dirt and some street riding.
Great video! I'm just back to riding after 39 years and have been viewing all of your videos. Just need some warm weather so I can head to the parking lot and practice. I used to be pretty good with my 350 Honda but I need the instruction for my HD Sportster Superlow. Keep up the good work...also thanks for the video about your eye!! I don't even notice it now.
Amazing how many UA-cam motorcycle experts are telling us what to do yesterday clicked on one gentleman said definitely all you need backbreak come to a stop the next expert says put both feet down go extremely slow makes you wonder
Since you have commented on more than one of my videos with the phrase "UA-cam Motorcycle Expert" I thought I would respond. I am not sure which video you are referring to other than mine...but there is often many different ways to accomplish the same thing safely...it is not always a matter of this is ALWAYS right and that is ALWAYS wrong. Just look at any sports franchise. Not every NFL team runs the same offense and defense but there are many teams that are successful despite this. As far as being a "UA-cam Motorcycle Expert" I will let you be the judge. - I started riding in 1978 - I am certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation as a Rider Coach - I am certified to teach the Basic Rider Course - I am certified to teach the Basic Rider Course 2 - I am a Total Control certified instructor to teach the Total Control Intermediate Riders Clinic. - I have signed hundreds of certificates for riders to get their motorcycle endorsement in the State of Texas - I have taken dozens of motorcycle safety courses myself. - I have been operating MCrider full-time since October 2016 Those are my credentials. There are many other very qualified instructors who share their knowledge on UA-cam also. Just because we do a few things differently does not invalidate anyone's credentials but it is up to you to find reliable sources online. I like to think I am one of those "UA-cam Motorcycle Experts" who provide a reliable source...at least I work hard to do so.
On my R6 I don't need any throttle, a bit of the clutch out will push it forward but it's so much harder than on my CBR250. I can really throw the 250 around tight, it's got a smooth turn but the R6 seems to have this point where the bike just wants to suddenly tip over a lot.
Yup, I get that but the point where I want to tighten up the turn at speed the bike feels like it's going to tip over. It more than likely isn't, I can go through the turn at slow speeds no issues but if I go a bit faster I feel like it's going to fall lol
i have the same problem on my zx6r...shit i hit the curb with my bike today practicing trying to make a u-turn on a deserted road it through me off onto the sidewalk..ouch..bike has some minor scratches...the axle sliders helped to protect the bike
Bikes always want to be upright. ESPECIALLY the faster you go. Its got to be something you're doing vs something the bike wants to do. It could be something as simple as you not looking where you need to be looking.......Next time you're out there try to not pay attention to the gauges vs body positioning, where you're looking and feeling what the bike is doing.
U-Turns, even wider ones, such has making a left turn, from the turn lane, to change from northbound to southbound on a typical city road have always left me unsure, wider than I'd like, unstable, etc. Though we did the tight turn part of the basic MSF course (Chesapeake, VA), it was never explained like you did in this video (especially the counter-weight). To be honest, I never even considered parking lot practice, until I started watching your vids; just practicing on the road to gain confidence, which is NOT a good technique - esp in the bay area in Cali (the moto death camp)). Your simple suggestion made me think, "duh, of course you should practice" (esp since I recently went down, probably from not practicing)! I really appreciate the videos, and will become a patron. Ride safe, my man! And, thanks again. Love the vids.
First thing I did was find my bike slow speed which is 6.5 - 7.5. I did this in a parking lot. Let out the clutch an see where you can maintain the lowest speed with no clutch. Use this speed as a key to your turns. I started, again in a parking lot, and did circles to the left and then to the right. Using that slow speed you found. You continue the circles as many times as you want or feel comfortable with. You will eventually find that without fooling with the clutch you can make those circles pretty small and that tells you that you are ready for U-turns. Good practice to do until you are free of fear. Fear is what causes most of the problems in biking.
Hey I ride with the Denton Del Fuegos. Real cone heads. I have a Connie and they put me through the paces. My street riding has improved 100%. Though I can't come close to what they do. Anyway, you never know how bad you ride until you get ot there and mix it up with the pro's.
Friction zone, throttle control, rear break and eye. Everyone knows the theory, but not everyone practices and refreshes U-turn skill regularly. Practice makes perfection.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
I ride a Honda ST 1300 which is a fairly heavy bike. I'm 5'8" and 165 pounds so I'm a little on the small side and sometimes feel I have too much bike. I attended an advanced riders course when I had 750 V twin cruiser and learned the friction zone technique. I practiced and got pretty good at making tight u turns. Recently while riding the 1300 I needed to make a u turn on a narrow road. No problem, got "in the zone", turned the steering to the lock and made a nice turn. A few minutes later I attempted to repeat the process but allowed the bike to come out of the friction zone. Had the bike gotten any further over I wouldn't have been able to keep from dropping it in the middle of a rural road with no help. Now I'm a little spooked at having to make another u turn. I have to make myself practice and get comfortable with it again. Everything you've talked about is exactly what was taught in the course.
I agree. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could manage to stay on a bike at all without being practised at finesse on the clutch. The friction zone really is the key to riding. When I first started, I was leery of "riding the clutch." I approached the bike the way I had always driven a stick in a car. The safety course set me straight on that.
Thank you, I am a new rider. I took the rider course and had a great experience. I spent the last season riding locally with a few friends and was able to clock 1,500 miles with very little mishaps! But I'm still very nervous about riding, I am planning on taking an advanced course this Spring to ease my nerves. But I get a lot of negativity as it relates to riding from my family, friends and even my doctor. This doesn't help build confidence, any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated. On a separate note; this website is awesome and I enjoy the content tremendously, thank you and keep up the great work!
Hi Kevin. I was out in the parking lot today practicing my u-turns. I have DCT motorcycle. Any advice? I found left u-turns much easier than right ones. Thanks for the videos!
I'm so impressed with your videos. I've been riding for many years but am reminded of how much I need to revisit certain techniques and practise them as often as possible -- always room for improvement. Thank you!
I was finding it hard to do u turns at slow speed with my new bmw GS 1200 adventure. I applied the technique of controlling the power with the clutch while applying brake in the turn and it works amazingly well. I can now turn at a slow speed at maximum deflection with complete control. Thanks very much!
Why are they conducting MSF courses with 250cc bikes now? When I went through it, as a mandatory course to ride my bike on base while serving in USAF, it was MANDATORY that we bring what we plan to ride. Yeah, they did offer small bikes for those who haven't bought a bike yet but, that's defeating the purpose of the course. I bought my 1978 Honda CB750 Nighthawk before course, got my license on it, parked it at base entrance for weeks while I practice riding. When I finally got in to the MSF course, I had an "idea" how my bike handled. Good luck to all new riders out there, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you bring what you intend to ride when attending MSF course. Yes, it would be easier to pass the riding portion but, you're fooling yourself thinking you're a "competent" rider by doing so. Stay safe, learn the skills you need on YOUR BIKE. Fast forward to 2020, I tide my 2nd Honda Goldwing, a 2007 loaded model weighing 900Lb+ at age 60. That's 42 years since my 1978 CB750. STILL riding, still no crashes with one drop due to being a "cocky" 20 something year old G.I back then, @6 months experience. You LEARN as you ride, each and every day.
So do you adjust your entire body or just slightly lean to the opposite side?? I didn't really see any upper torso movement during your figure 8s compared to the demonstration in the garage. I want to make sure I get this down correctly. I always feel like I'm going to accidentally modify the clutch or throttle while I'm rotating the steering wheel lol
You look like a student of Jerry Palladino. At least you explained the techniques right and don't need to hang half your body to the opposite side like some UA-cam 'experts' and 'instructors.'
I have used throttle/clutch control + back brake for all my low-speed maneuvers, as taught in the BRC, years ago; however, I am considering buying a bike (BMW R1200C) that has fully integrated brakes. i.e. back brake applies front brake. My guess is to lay off the brakes and only use throttle/clutch control. thoughts?
I know many experienced--often track EXP.--who fear U-turns even on 650s. Thank for pointers, I ride a Honda ST1300 and BMW RT 17K/year. Without U-turn skills it would not be safe.
I just pulled a single lane u turn,….. on my Grom. 😂. Mini bike does mini turns. 🤣. I’m a new rider, but I ride daily. 1200miles in a couple months. 😁 Non-stop smiles for miles.
Kevin, Like you I am proud to have served in the military-(U.S. Navy Vietnam Vet) and I have been a "safe biker" for 55 years now. I learned from both experiences that it is so important to always keep your head on a swivel with defensive concentration in mind. Love your work and keep it going strong 'bro!
Using the rear brake: I believe this helps by causing the swing-arm to stretch out, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the bike. The type of bike you have will definitely makes a difference in how easy or hard it is to make U-turns. Many bikes have a high center of gravity, especially with a full tank of gas. Others, like the BMW R series, have much lower centers of gravity. I once had a BMW R65 which was really easy to turn lock-to-lock. Sorry I sold it!
Kevin I ride a Yamaha Morphous maxi scooter every low center of gravity. I have a terrible problem down u-turns. This scooter is 93” long and 551lbs. Help! Rear brakes works like a clutch.
Just two questions. My bike is an automatic so I cant slip the clutch. With as constant drive how do i do that and turn with a constant throttle without staling the bike or dropping it. Secondly, if I am going too fast or faster then surely we are using counter steering as opposed to counter weighting which you showed. Some will get confused between the two. For counter steering are we not steering and positioning ourselves differently.
Hi Kevin. I would like to ask you if you could do a video about tight u-turn's ( 8's ) on unlevel ground, i guess that's the ultimate driving skill that lot's of riders struggle for...with your feet on the footrests. Nevertheless, as far i know there is no demo video on ytb on this subject. I hope my comment is pertinent, and i guess lot's of riders will appreciate, once again, your knowledge on this subject. As far i'm concerned, once a rider master this technique, i mean the tight 8, up and down, left-right, right-left, it'll be a better rider and more confident on any slow riding situation. So, once again, thank you sir, for your effort and knowledge. Cheers from Portugal. Ricardo
Today i broke my own personal rule: This bike is not for commuting. Well today the mother nature decided to have a warmer day and take a break from the rain. So I rode my Ultra to work. on the way home, the long route became more appealing. I got quite side-tracked. I pulled a u turn to avoid a congested intersection. I made the BIG mistake of looking down at mid turn. Geez that was a close call! I managed to somehow keep the rubber side down (barely). It's truly amazing just how quickly the bike fallows the head and eyes! Keep your head and eyes subconsciously locked on where you want that front tire! Never look down or down you'll go!
I am sure I do not have to tell you but what you just described is 100% correct. Some bikes are easier than others My Gold Wing was easier to make U_TURNS than my Kawasaki Nomad or Yamaha Road Star. With a little practice you can do it on any bike. That was an excellent training video.
I just ride my new650cc motorcycle, which I never done before. This motorcycle is tall and very heavy. And the most struggle action that I experienced was when have to u-turn in the narrow road (5-6m) and that road is climb up
I've been riding over 40 years. Just yesterday I was looking for an address and took a wrong turn into a skinny dead end street. No problem. I saw it coming too, but too late, I couldn't stop. Now my right engine guard has a four inch bruise when I raked the curb. Wow. What an amateur. What a noob. I'm gonna be pissed off for days.
I was forced to learn all this slow speed stuff in order to survive back in the 80's. Over here in the UK we have some really narrow streets which are frequently congested with traffic. The only way to make progress is to filter through it at a very slow speed, zig zagging around avoiding oncoming bikes and having to lift handlebars over theirs to get past them. Teaches you brake and clutch control if nothing else! I had more trouble with higher speed maneuvers.
5:13 to 5:18. I wouldn't say the body is leaning in the opposite direction so much as your body is staying..UPright while the bike leans...which is fine and works well. People..work on doing those ab stretches xD Sincerely though Also...Remember that the more you lean the bike while doing slow speed u turns ( as in between 5 and 9 mph easily) the more weight you need to put on the foot peg opposite of the direction you're turning to properly counter balance the bike. It's just one of those things to a reasonably extent you'll need to " feel " out depending on your bike, speed, and how far you let it lean combined with that friction zone precise control.
I went from an 800lb vtx 1800 to a 650lb 2010 honda sabre the vtx I could make any u turn easy but with the 35deg of rake on this sabre it's a whole diff animal and it's much harder any tips on a raked out bike
Please let me see a video using your Goldwing DCT bike. No clutch makes this a more formidable challenge. Some tips and trick using this evolving transmission would help. It is a little hairy using a very sensitive throttle by wire throttle and just a rear linked braking system. Thanks.
It's true even me riding for 4 years still struggle with U turns. Was riding a 150cc making U turns was easy but a week ago I moved up to a R25 that's where I start to struggle almost dropped the bike few times
they dont mention this in riding courses: DO NOT do a U Turn on a hill, or any place the pavement is sloped left or right you will need more throttle than you think going up the hill, and the bike will speed up going down the hill and if you blow it and need to put your foot down half way thru the turn, your foot will be waving in the air, you cant plant it, and you WILL drop the bike. Keep going till you find level pavement, then make your U turn.
It is easier than it looks. One other thing. Shifting your weight on a cruiser with forward controls is not the same as when the pegs are underneath you. BTW - the owners manual will tell you what the turning radius is for your particular bike. Mine is 10.2 feet. So trying to turn tighter than that is impossible. Goes back to knowing your bike....
Im a learner rider. I keep trying this technique but fail miserably. How do you maintain the bike at such a low speed without stalling? And yes, my clutch is in the 'friction zone' while im doing this.
I practiced for an hour going around every cul de sac in local area and was great. Later on I went out to test a camera mount on bike(reluctantly cos I was tired). I did one short turn and dropped bike due to not thinking straight and grabbed front brake while crawling! at least the playback on camera amused my cocky son.
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I have a 1200lb Harley and I can U-Turn that better than the 250cc learner bikes. "Seat time" as mentioned in the video makes a HUGE difference as you learn to balance the bike better throughout your entire ride and build up confidence. I wish my basic instructor had taught us the techniques found here. I didn't learn the 3-part (friction zone, throttle, and rear brake) technique until I did UA-cam searches. I was taught to counter balance, but that's not enough; need that rear brake too.
1200 lbs? Did it eat a Honda?
Thanks Kevin for your dedication 🌹
Just found this, will have to view more , thanks
I live in Northern California and often ride at the base of the Sierra Nevada's Highway 49. One of the best places in the country to ride. However in the spring in the fall, deer migrate as they have done for centuries before the roads were built. The highway department does not install deer crossing signs up at random locations. They are there for a reason! I strongly recommend heads up and slow down when these signs occur anywhere in the country. You do not want to be the "road-kill".
Well, it looks definitely easier than it acutally is. I struggle with it tremendously...
Precisely why this video was made; it takes a lot of practice I'll admit and I still am far from getting this down especially on a sports bike where a little input on the bars makes the bike drip really quickly compared to a standard motorcycle with wider bars.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Remember to keep your eyes on the horizon / where you are headed prawn balls. Riders that struggle are generally looking at the ground, and just ahead of them. Look all the way around at where you are headed, eyes on the horizon and body relaxed, upright counterweighting the bike. You'll get it in no time with a little practice. :)
I practice this all the time on a Bandit 1200S and the way I do it ( at first) is while on the move. Even just doing circles and figure 8's. The key (to me) is getting my clutch in that "friction zone " he's talking about: it's right at the point where the clutch engages. The next thing is applying pressure on the rear brake; just enough for the pads to touch the rotor. Then the next thing is the throttle. just enough to make the bike move. Now, all 3 things happen at the same time and the bike will want to stand up. Another thing to practice is when coming to a red light:. try not to put your feet down at that light. You can do this by: Gearing down early, lightly apply the back brake and lightly apply throttle. the bike will want to stand up. There's' a sweet spot Same thing in the U-turn.
It takes time you will get it. But the looks of the time of this video I do hope you have down by now!
Super Helpful,
Here in the uk 🇬🇧
Thanks.
So glad I found this channel! Watched your "eye" video and had to subscribe. Amazing story, and awesome tips and techniques on riding from all of your videos. Thank you!
So helpful, thank you very much!
If I may, an "experienced" rider has no problem with u-turns (or anything else involved in normal riding). Piling up hours or miles in a straight line does not make a rider experienced. ;)
Indeed. The slow speed stuff is what separates the men from the boys when it comes to riding. Any idiot can ride fast, only the skilled can execute graceful slow speed maneuvers.
Totally agree. I was really impressed watching a motorcycle cop leading a motorcade into an intersection. He entered the intersection, stopped the bike and remained motionless, upright, without needing to correct at all, and then moved on when the rest of the motorcade was satisfied that the intersection was clear.
That's definitely true. You have to get out of the "comfort zone" to learn.
There are riders piling up hours riding in a straight line? Do tell. Where does this occur?
Mark - I agree
Keeping your feet on the foot pegs makes for a much more stable turn. You can always put your foot down if it becomes a necessity.
Thanks for the video. Is the steering in the "Locked " position?
Hi Kevin, I was trying these u-turns this weekend (because I realised that I've never trained a slow-moving motorcycle control), and I encountered a problem, specifically while performing a U-turn to the right. I have a Triumph Daytona 675 and when I turn the steering fully to the right, my wrist will make a contact with the tank and forces my hand to close the throttle, therefore I'll lose the engine power. Any advice?
Thanks a lot in advance, great videos you have here ;-)
these slow speed control techniques help enormously to look for escape routes in emergency situations.Trust your eyes and the body will follow.Feet up only u-turns help use rear brake pedal .Controlling rear wheel turn speed is at least a third of it imao,
Thanks for the video, never really thought about counter weighting when doing the u-turn. The MSF Course here in CA never once had us do a u-turn. Seems like there courses lack quit a bit when compared to other states.
I bet you will find you can perform a lot sharper u-turn if you incorporate the counter weighting.
Not that I doubted you, but WOW what a difference it makes!! I still find myself not counter weighting about 1/2 way through. Then I remember and I go from making a silver dollar sized turn to a dime turn. Really is amazing how just shifting your weight cuts the u-turn so much better and gives you way more control.
+SD Cruiser that and turning your head make a big difference in the size of the u-turn.
The CA curriculum changed a couple of years ago and the U-turn is no longer one of the exercises conducted. While it is absolutely a valuable skill (I would argue it's a required skill), statistically speaking an at-speed corner is where you will have a problem. I think that is why the new curriculum has an increased component that focuses on at-speed cornering. Unfortunately, because these courses can only be so long, compromises have to be made on the course's content. This is where Kevin's (and others') videos come in and serve as a way to explore/refine skills.
+alatus897 Great comment! Nothing here I disagree with. TX is in the process of curriculum change, I have not seen the extent of it yet but will be re certified by the end of the year.
Hey Kevin, I got out today and practiced the dreaded U turn. Again and again in a nice vacant parking lot. Left, right, large circle and smaller circles keeping my head turning towards and into the turn. It felt good to have success in this area and tons more confidence. I need to practice more, and will. (Rear brake, never the front!!) Thanks again for the basics and the confidence to go out and do this.
Riding the rear brake, while maintaining some throttle and feathering the clutch in the friction allows the rotation of the motorcycle's crankshaft acts like a gyroscope and keeps the bike upright. It works like a charm. 👌
That is a nice idea how it works. But in reality it is not what happens. The moment of inertia depends on the mass that you have at a high distance from the axis of the rotation. This is why spinning tops have a large diameter and are relatively short. If you try to use a pencil as spinning top, it will just fly away. Ignore the gyroscopic effect from the crankshaft, it isn't relevant.
I have another idea how it works. But I haven't done any research on it, so don't trust me. I think if you have the rear brake and the clutch on their friction zones, you will take all the slack out of the powertrain and this results in much finer control of the power-delivery. There is no jump in the amount of power that is delivered to rear wheel that would upset the balance and everything just feels smoother. At least that is what I think what happens.
@@zvpunry1971 your very right. Having the throttle up is like having power (money in the bank) ready for delivery with the fine motor skills (dexterity) of your fingers in the brake to manipulate and control the release of said bank of power when you need it. You wouldn't want to release a rubber band instantly by just letting go. It'll snap back with no control. Instead pulling on the rubber band and bringing it back to slack slowly keeps you in control of how quick or slowly the rubber band returns to a resting manor. It makes sense if you don't think about it.
Thanks,
I've been riding for some 35 odd years and i realize that I still need to practice somme tachniques,,your vids are very helpfull,well made, well done!!thank you!
Nice move u teach me a lot
Wow! Excellent video(s). After years away from motorcycling, I got a BMW R1200RT. I thought my driving skills would come right back. Wrong. U-turns are a challenge. (Among other things). I am going to take these techniques to the empty parking lot, and get it right! Thanks, I am now a subscriber
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Michael MacDonald I was thinking the engine flywheel caused the gyro effect.
Brand new rider here. You're videos are extremely educational. Thank you.
At the start of each season I go to an empty parking lot and practise riding at very low speeds and turning tight radius circles without putting my feet down. Being able to ride slow is every bit as good as being able to ride fast.
Great videos brother, good editing and over all awesome content. I build Cafe Racers on my channel but I love all bikes and the bike community are some of the most friendly supportive people I’ve ever met. Love what you are doing. Keep the vids coming brother. 👍
When my bikes full lock in any turn especially a u turn it just feels wrong like my instincts kick in and telling me your gonna drop the bike lol.
Full lock is tough. I’m still trying to master it.👍🏼🏍
For me, it's especially frightening when turning right for some reason.
@@carolinekido6125 no doubt!
As always, very clear and concise. Thanks
When I ride to work, usually during my lunch break I'll go out and just do some figure eight motions and u-turn practice in the big empty lot. The other thing I practice at the same time is accelerating to about 30-40mph and then emergency braking as fast/hard as I can a few times. This way, every single day I get some practice in those two very challenging (but critical!) skills. If you can make it happen I strongly recommend it!
i thought i was the only one. you make it look so easy thanks
You can do it Tammy, just takes technique and practice. Thanks for watching, Kevin
When I bought my large Harley, I quickly figured out that turning it around was a bit more problematic. A few years ago, I saw videos of people doing U-turns on 2-lane city streets, so I worked on it for awhile and got where I could do a U-turn on the 2-lane subdivision street in front of my house. That's a bit more than 2 lanes in width though since it does allow room for cars to be parked on both sides and there is still enough room for another care to drive between them. So, I guess it's probably closer to an actual 3 lanes in width.
Since then, I've seen videos of people doing U-turns within 2 parking spots, so I went up to the local high school when no one was around and decided to give it a try. It's a bit of work, but I eventually got to the point where I could do it, although not as effortless as it appears to be done in this video.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Best video to explain on how to u turn, really helped me, thank you so much
Love your videos I'm in Connecticut ride up to train me better. I just started riding less than 3 months and before I even started going on a bike I practiced turning along with stopping before I hit the road. Love your videos great!!!!
Thank you for the very useful information. I'm going to try that scary u turn myself.
Great video. Need to do a video about 'uninsured motorist fund.' One in 6 people here in Pennsylvania are uninsured. I was hit by one of them! My small 'uninsured motorist fund' has still not been awarded after all but 8 months. Not much for my company to hand over. Please check your fund, bump it up to a minimum of $150,000. And Google your insurance co. on their % of paying this fund out when needed!
This could save your livelihoods and house!
Patricia Baker You can buy uninsured motorist coverage, at least in my state. It is cheap, not mandatory, and highly recommended.
I just reread your post. By “fund” do you mean coverage? To me “fund” means a separate pool of money set up by the state to cover damage from uninsured motorists.
Thanks for the video Kevin ! I'm going to put sand bags in my BMW's luggage and practice U-turns to be better prepared for fall touring. Better now than on the road. ☺
Or, do like me & use your motorcycle for grocery shopping. My Concours can handle $75 in groceries. A 25 lb bag of dog food will rest on the passenger seat well.
Put some cooking oil on the ground too, while you are at it.
Sell it while your at it
@@chriscuc1602 LOL
Great video! Thanks! Glad i came across your channel! I'm really keen to learn how to ride a bike properly. Your videos are a godsend
+Taran Nijher Good to hear Taran, new videos weekly. Thanks for the comment.
After driving a car, I found that looking where you want to go vs where you're going is counter intuitive, but that's how they taught me in the MSF course I was so surprised when I tried it the first time and it worked. Thanks for the demo.
A very excellent video for me, returning to the ride after 30 years hiatus, I realize there are increasing levels of skill, but this is a great vid for all of us; after all, how often do we actually U-turn, anyway? Thanks for reminding me what a U-turn is!
Thanks Kevin, this is very helpful!
I have a question, I’m 5’ 10”, new rider (less than one year), I own a Harley 883, I’m putting forward controls on it, I’m also considering putting taller handle bars on it somewhere between 10” and 12” high. My coworker has the same bike as mine but he has 10” ape hangers on his, I notice it’s a more comfortable ride going straight but turning is challenging, his bars are also very narrow (less than 30” wide).
Do you have any advice for a newer rider such as myself? I’d like to get away from leaning forward while riding but at the same time I fear I’ll have less control turning the bike with taller handle bars, thank you, Kevin.
I’ve been riding for over 15 years and still have anxiety over u-turns. I bought a brand new bike and it’s worse. I’m afraid that if I take it out to practice I might drop it. My problem is that I lose confidence mid turn 😩
This is awesome. I will become a supporter and encourage all my riding brothers, and sisters to do the same!!!!
Buy the way nice hat. Do you sell them on your website?
Video starts at 2:41
Come on man, this is why I don’t watch your videos. You have great tips but it takes you like 10 minutes to explain a 30 second concept.
A diagram of where your focus point is would be a huge help.
I like the half-a-cheek movement also. And the dip helps this dip how to maneuver properly. Thanks.
That was explained fantastically. Thanks 👍🏻🛵
You are welcome DervMan...thanks for the comment!
fantastic
Can you make a video doing these maneuvers on the Road King? I have a street glide, so the lighter bike doesn’t do much for me.
Look at ride like a pro web site for all on Harley. Police instructor. Much detail.
Is putting a leg down illegal or something?
Hey, Kevin,
Since I began watching your video's, I recommend them to fellow bikers. Further more, you are one of the rare persons that really intend to teach, rather than "showing off" how good they are. Thank you.
Yes you have helped me
Yes when you said dirt bike riders and return bikers are most likely to get in a crash. I thank you for your honest and true want to help.
And you may have saved a life (me).
I took the riders safety test,thought l would just go get my license till I saw your web page.l am 47 years old and have a lot to learn though l have been riding all my life in the dirt and some street riding.
Wow...you are SO much nicer than the bastards I had in my MSF course 9 years ago just outside of Buffalo, NY. Wish I had had you as a teacher!
Great video! I'm just back to riding after 39 years and have been viewing all of your videos. Just need some warm weather so I can head to the parking lot and practice. I used to be pretty good with my 350 Honda but I need the instruction for my HD Sportster Superlow. Keep up the good work...also thanks for the video about your eye!! I don't even notice it now.
I really enjoy your style of teaching... it's clear, to the point.. your voice is calm. Thank you Kevin!
proper counterweight technique video pl
Amazing how many UA-cam motorcycle experts are telling us what to do yesterday clicked on one gentleman said definitely all you need backbreak come to a stop the next expert says put both feet down go extremely slow makes you wonder
Since you have commented on more than one of my videos with the phrase "UA-cam Motorcycle Expert" I thought I would respond.
I am not sure which video you are referring to other than mine...but there is often many different ways to accomplish the same thing safely...it is not always a matter of this is ALWAYS right and that is ALWAYS wrong.
Just look at any sports franchise. Not every NFL team runs the same offense and defense but there are many teams that are successful despite this.
As far as being a "UA-cam Motorcycle Expert" I will let you be the judge.
- I started riding in 1978
- I am certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation as a Rider Coach
- I am certified to teach the Basic Rider Course
- I am certified to teach the Basic Rider Course 2
- I am a Total Control certified instructor to teach the Total Control Intermediate Riders Clinic.
- I have signed hundreds of certificates for riders to get their motorcycle endorsement in the State of Texas
- I have taken dozens of motorcycle safety courses myself.
- I have been operating MCrider full-time since October 2016
Those are my credentials.
There are many other very qualified instructors who share their knowledge on UA-cam also. Just because we do a few things differently does not invalidate anyone's credentials but it is up to you to find reliable sources online.
I like to think I am one of those "UA-cam Motorcycle Experts" who provide a reliable source...at least I work hard to do so.
On my R6 I don't need any throttle, a bit of the clutch out will push it forward but it's so much harder than on my CBR250. I can really throw the 250 around tight, it's got a smooth turn but the R6 seems to have this point where the bike just wants to suddenly tip over a lot.
HypnoticCrab try using a little throttle but holding your back brake on. Riding through the brake, feather the clutch so you don't stall.
Yup, I get that but the point where I want to tighten up the turn at speed the bike feels like it's going to tip over. It more than likely isn't, I can go through the turn at slow speeds no issues but if I go a bit faster I feel like it's going to fall lol
i have the same problem on my zx6r...shit i hit the curb with my bike today practicing trying to make a u-turn on a deserted road it through me off onto the sidewalk..ouch..bike has some minor scratches...the axle sliders helped to protect the bike
Rogue Warrior sucks bro, so sad seeing bikes scratched up
Bikes always want to be upright. ESPECIALLY the faster you go. Its got to be something you're doing vs something the bike wants to do. It could be something as simple as you not looking where you need to be looking.......Next time you're out there try to not pay attention to the gauges vs body positioning, where you're looking and feeling what the bike is doing.
Thanks for the vid im planning on getting a bobber and wanted to know how that would work thanks
U-Turns, even wider ones, such has making a left turn, from the turn lane, to change from northbound to southbound on a typical city road have always left me unsure, wider than I'd like, unstable, etc. Though we did the tight turn part of the basic MSF course (Chesapeake, VA), it was never explained like you did in this video (especially the counter-weight).
To be honest, I never even considered parking lot practice, until I started watching your vids; just practicing on the road to gain confidence, which is NOT a good technique - esp in the bay area in Cali (the moto death camp)). Your simple suggestion made me think, "duh, of course you should practice" (esp since I recently went down, probably from not practicing)!
I really appreciate the videos, and will become a patron. Ride safe, my man! And, thanks again. Love the vids.
You have calming type of voice that makes me sleepy. Good vid though 👍👍
First thing I did was find my bike slow speed which is 6.5 - 7.5. I did this in a parking lot. Let out the clutch an see where you can maintain the lowest speed with no clutch. Use this speed as a key to your turns. I started, again in a parking lot, and did circles to the left and then to the right. Using that slow speed you found. You continue the circles as many times as you want or feel comfortable with. You will eventually find that without fooling with the clutch you can make those circles pretty small and that tells you that you are ready for U-turns. Good practice to do until you are free of fear. Fear is what causes most of the problems in biking.
Hey I ride with the Denton Del Fuegos. Real cone heads. I have a Connie and they put me through the paces. My street riding has improved 100%. Though I can't come close to what they do. Anyway, you never know how bad you ride until you get ot there and mix it up with the pro's.
Friction zone, throttle control, rear break and eye. Everyone knows the theory, but not everyone practices and refreshes U-turn skill regularly. Practice makes perfection.
I did this today, and it's way harder than you make it look here. It will be a while before I can manage 800 Lbs in four spaces. Ooohhff.
In order to achieve a pro u-turn handling of your bike, practice on level ground, then, on unlevel ground. Try the u-turn on unlevel ground (up-down, down-up, right-left, left-right) only when you master the level ground u-turn. There are no u-turn unlevel ground videos on UA-cam, as far as i know. Ride safe. Cheers from Portugal.
Much harder in practice. Agreed. Long term every weekend practice helps. Never stop riding regularly. Your skills will rot.
I ride a Honda ST 1300 which is a fairly heavy bike. I'm 5'8" and 165 pounds so I'm a little on the small side and sometimes feel I have too much bike. I attended an advanced riders course when I had 750 V twin cruiser and learned the friction zone technique. I practiced and got pretty good at making tight u turns. Recently while riding the 1300 I needed to make a u turn on a narrow road. No problem, got "in the zone", turned the steering to the lock and made a nice turn. A few minutes later I attempted to repeat the process but allowed the bike to come out of the friction zone. Had the bike gotten any further over I wouldn't have been able to keep from dropping it in the middle of a rural road with no help. Now I'm a little spooked at having to make another u turn. I have to make myself practice and get comfortable with it again. Everything you've talked about is exactly what was taught in the course.
I agree. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could manage to stay on a bike at all without being practised at finesse on the clutch. The friction zone really is the key to riding. When I first started, I was leery of "riding the clutch." I approached the bike the way I had always driven a stick in a car. The safety course set me straight on that.
you sir are awesome teacher. thank you!
Thank you, I am a new rider. I took the rider course and had a great experience. I spent the last season riding locally with a few friends and was able to clock 1,500 miles with very little mishaps! But I'm still very nervous about riding, I am planning on taking an advanced course this Spring to ease my nerves. But I get a lot of negativity as it relates to riding from my family, friends and even my doctor. This doesn't help build confidence, any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated.
On a separate note; this website is awesome and I enjoy the content tremendously, thank you and keep up the great work!
I like the way you explained that not to worry about using markers,just get used to the turning and the technique first,that helped a bunch,thank you.
Hi Kevin. I was out in the parking lot today practicing my u-turns. I have DCT motorcycle. Any advice? I found left u-turns much easier than right ones. Thanks for the videos!
These vids are great. My wife and I started riding again after years and these vids are serving as great reminders of skills we need to work on.
I'm so impressed with your videos. I've been riding for many years but am reminded of how much I need to revisit certain techniques and practise them as often as possible -- always room for improvement. Thank you!
I was finding it hard to do u turns at slow speed with my new bmw GS 1200 adventure. I applied the technique of controlling the power with the clutch while applying brake in the turn and it works amazingly well. I can now turn at a slow speed at maximum deflection with complete control. Thanks very much!
Thank you for all your videos, They help so much
Thanks a lot Kevin! You are an awesome teacher! Your videos are top notch quality and i like a lot your stories as well!
Appreciate this Vlog Kev. Great Instruction and Demo.
Why are they conducting MSF courses with 250cc bikes now?
When I went through it, as a mandatory course to ride my bike on base while serving in USAF, it was MANDATORY that we bring what we plan to ride.
Yeah, they did offer small bikes for those who haven't bought a bike yet but, that's defeating the purpose of the course.
I bought my 1978 Honda CB750 Nighthawk before course, got my license on it, parked it at base entrance for weeks while I practice riding.
When I finally got in to the MSF course, I had an "idea" how my bike handled.
Good luck to all new riders out there, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you bring what you intend to ride when attending MSF course.
Yes, it would be easier to pass the riding portion but, you're fooling yourself thinking you're a "competent" rider by doing so.
Stay safe, learn the skills you need on YOUR BIKE.
Fast forward to 2020, I tide my 2nd Honda Goldwing, a 2007 loaded model weighing 900Lb+ at age 60.
That's 42 years since my 1978 CB750. STILL riding, still no crashes with one drop due to being a "cocky" 20 something year old G.I back then, @6 months experience.
You LEARN as you ride, each and every day.
So do you adjust your entire body or just slightly lean to the opposite side?? I didn't really see any upper torso movement during your figure 8s compared to the demonstration in the garage. I want to make sure I get this down correctly. I always feel like I'm going to accidentally modify the clutch or throttle while I'm rotating the steering wheel lol
Very thorough and professional tutorial for safety and survival. Thanks! I'm subscribed and a patron.
You look like a student of Jerry Palladino. At least you explained the techniques right and don't need to hang half your body to the opposite side like some UA-cam 'experts' and 'instructors.'
I have used throttle/clutch control + back brake for all my low-speed
maneuvers, as taught in the BRC, years ago; however, I am considering
buying a bike (BMW R1200C) that has fully integrated brakes. i.e. back
brake applies front brake. My guess is to lay off the brakes and only
use throttle/clutch control. thoughts?
I know many experienced--often track EXP.--who fear U-turns even on 650s. Thank for pointers, I ride a Honda ST1300 and BMW RT 17K/year. Without U-turn skills it would not be safe.
I just pulled a single lane u turn,….. on my Grom. 😂. Mini bike does mini turns. 🤣. I’m a new rider, but I ride daily. 1200miles in a couple months. 😁 Non-stop smiles for miles.
Kevin, Like you I am proud to have served in the military-(U.S. Navy Vietnam Vet) and I have been a "safe biker" for 55 years now. I learned from both experiences that it is so important to always keep your head on a swivel with defensive concentration in mind. Love your work and keep it going strong 'bro!
Using the rear brake: I believe this helps by causing the swing-arm to stretch out, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the bike. The type of bike you have will definitely makes a difference in how easy or hard it is to make U-turns. Many bikes have a high center of gravity, especially with a full tank of gas. Others, like the BMW R series, have much lower centers of gravity. I once had a BMW R65 which was really easy to turn lock-to-lock. Sorry I sold it!
Kevin I ride a Yamaha Morphous maxi scooter every low center of gravity. I have a terrible problem down u-turns. This scooter is 93” long and 551lbs. Help! Rear brakes works like a clutch.
Just two questions. My bike is an automatic so I cant slip the clutch. With as constant drive how do i do that and turn with a constant throttle without staling the bike or dropping it.
Secondly, if I am going too fast or faster then surely we are using counter steering as opposed to counter weighting which you showed. Some will get confused between the two. For counter steering are we not steering and positioning ourselves differently.
Hi Kevin.
I would like to ask you if you could do a video about tight u-turn's ( 8's ) on unlevel ground, i guess that's the ultimate driving skill that lot's of riders struggle for...with your feet on the footrests. Nevertheless, as far i know there is no demo video on ytb on this subject.
I hope my comment is pertinent, and i guess lot's of riders will appreciate, once again, your knowledge on this subject.
As far i'm concerned, once a rider master this technique, i mean the tight 8, up and down, left-right, right-left, it'll be a better rider and more confident on any slow riding situation.
So, once again, thank you sir, for your effort and knowledge.
Cheers from Portugal. Ricardo
Today i broke my own personal rule: This bike is not for commuting. Well today the mother nature decided to have a warmer day and take a break from the rain. So I rode my Ultra to work. on the way home, the long route became more appealing. I got quite side-tracked. I pulled a u turn to avoid a congested intersection. I made the BIG mistake of looking down at mid turn. Geez that was a close call! I managed to somehow keep the rubber side down (barely). It's truly amazing just how quickly the bike fallows the head and eyes! Keep your head and eyes subconsciously locked on where you want that front tire! Never look down or down you'll go!
I am sure I do not have to tell you but what you just described is 100% correct. Some bikes are easier than others My Gold Wing was easier to make U_TURNS than my Kawasaki Nomad or Yamaha Road Star. With a little practice you can do it on any bike. That was an excellent training video.
I just ride my new650cc motorcycle, which I never done before. This motorcycle is tall and very heavy. And the most struggle action that I experienced was when have to u-turn in the narrow road (5-6m) and that road is climb up
I've been riding over 40 years. Just yesterday I was looking for an address and took a wrong turn into a skinny dead end street. No problem. I saw it coming too, but too late, I couldn't stop. Now my right engine guard has a four inch bruise when I raked the curb. Wow. What an amateur. What a noob. I'm gonna be pissed off for days.
Beginner Biker here! Took the MSF course about a month ago and picking up my new bike today! This is awesome info!! Thank you!!!
Do one on parallel parking!
GREAT ADVICE KEVIN !!! WE ALL NEED TO PRACTICE THIS & SEEING HOW FAST WE CAN STOP AT CRUISE OR HIGH SPEED OFTEN !!!!!
I was forced to learn all this slow speed stuff in order to survive back in the 80's. Over here in the UK we have some really narrow streets which are frequently congested with traffic. The only way to make progress is to filter through it at a very slow speed, zig zagging around avoiding oncoming bikes and having to lift handlebars over theirs to get past them. Teaches you brake and clutch control if nothing else! I had more trouble with higher speed maneuvers.
5:13 to 5:18. I wouldn't say the body is leaning in the opposite direction so much as your body is staying..UPright while the bike leans...which is fine and works well.
People..work on doing those ab stretches xD Sincerely though Also...Remember that the more you lean the bike while doing slow speed u turns ( as in between 5 and 9 mph easily) the more weight you need to put on the foot peg opposite of the direction you're turning to properly counter balance the bike.
It's just one of those things to a reasonably extent you'll need to " feel " out depending on your bike, speed, and how far you let it lean combined with that friction zone precise control.
I went from an 800lb vtx 1800 to a 650lb 2010 honda sabre the vtx I could make any u turn easy but with the 35deg of rake on this sabre it's a whole diff animal and it's much harder any tips on a raked out bike
Never could do it. Been riding since 1975. Started practicing and about dumped my bike. Guess I just don't have the balance to learn it.
Please let me see a video using your Goldwing DCT bike. No clutch makes this a more formidable challenge. Some tips and trick using this evolving transmission would help. It is a little hairy using a very sensitive throttle by wire throttle and just a rear linked braking system. Thanks.
The u turn is the reason I failed my msf evaluation...dropped the bike
It's true even me riding for 4 years still struggle with U turns. Was riding a 150cc making U turns was easy but a week ago I moved up to a R25 that's where I start to struggle almost dropped the bike few times
they dont mention this in riding courses: DO NOT do a U Turn on a hill, or any place the pavement is sloped left or right
you will need more throttle than you think going up the hill, and the bike will speed up going down the hill
and if you blow it and need to put your foot down half way thru the turn, your foot will be waving in the air, you cant plant it, and you WILL drop the bike.
Keep going till you find level pavement, then make your U turn.
Great video as usual!
By the way, what kind of helmet/jacket holders are you using I’m your garage?
It is easier than it looks. One other thing. Shifting your weight on a cruiser with forward controls is not the same as when the pegs are underneath you. BTW - the owners manual will tell you what the turning radius is for your particular bike. Mine is 10.2 feet. So trying to turn tighter than that is impossible. Goes back to knowing your bike....
Im a learner rider. I keep trying this technique but fail miserably. How do you maintain the bike at such a low speed without stalling? And yes, my clutch is in the 'friction zone' while im doing this.
I practiced for an hour going around every cul de sac in local area and was great. Later on I went out to test a camera mount on bike(reluctantly cos I was tired). I did one short turn and dropped bike due to not thinking straight and grabbed front brake while crawling! at least the playback on camera amused my cocky son.