Help with u turns!

[Pinapple]

P plater here, just got my TA200 a couple of weeks ago. While riding last week, I made a u turn without knowing that my tyre punctured.. the whole bike skidded and the fuel tank even got quite a huge dent in it. Compared to SSDC's CG125, this bike is a total bit*h for u turns... tried to turn the handle bars fully instead of leaning the bike for turning, but it feels like the rear tyre would skid.

1.Any tips for doing a u turn on one?

2.Should i turn the wheel full lock before a turn or should I leave the steering straight?

3. How should i lean when u turning?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[mechwira]

the fact that you're asking qn 2 shows you do not yet fully understand the bike's mechanics. it is impossible for you to make any kind of turn by keeping the steering straight. you think you're turning by 'leaning the bike' but in actual fact you are still turning the handlebar even if you don't realize it.

 

but in any case, the single most important tip in making a u-turn, or any turn for that matter, is where your eyes are looking. look ahead of your turning stage, ie, as you are about to initiate the turn, your head must already be at least 45 degrees to the right looking through the turn. when your bike is perpendicular to the road, your eyes must already be looking down the road ready to throttle. fear makes you look at all the wrong places, such as the curb. when you look at the curb, you move towards the curb.

 

other minor tips:

 

when you approach your u-turn point, purposely approach with your bike as far away from the center divider as possible, possibly even the left edge of the u-turn lane. this gives you far more space as you enter the u-turn.

 

turn as late as possible. turning early gives you less room. wait until your bike is halfway past the curb tip before you initiate the turn.

 

the amount of space you see or feel that you have has a profound effect on your mental state when you turn. the more space you see and feel that you have, the more in control you feel and behave.

 

as you enter the u-turn, keep a constant low throttle. once your bike is past the perpendicular position, increase throttle. throttling is a guaranteed way of preventing a falling over from losing balance. increasing throttle helps upright the bike from a lean.

[dreamer_toons]

My U-turn is equally poor as well. There was a number of times when I nearly hit the kerb after I had already turn into the other direction coz my eye points were totally wrong. Also, few instances of nearly losing my balance while executing the U-turn due to poor throttle control.

 

Try to look down the road while u-turning and you should be fine; see where you want to go and you will go in that direction.

 

Practise more and you should be fine.

[Paikia44]

U'll go where u look. Look at kerb will hit kerb. Look at lamppost will kiss lamppost. Look at on coming car will collide with the car. Look at the ground will sleep on the ground. Look at the direction where u wana go u'll naturally go towards it.

U turning is actually same as how u do your figure8 in circuit. Look where the next curve is and NOT right in front a meter or 2.

Count yourselves lucky that u guys managed to pass even though u still obviously can't handle a bike well. So the answer is to practice, practice, and more practice.

Don't stiff up when riding. Relax and handle the bike. After awhile when u are comfortable with riding u'll probably like riding routes with more turnings and obstacles instead of long straight (boring) roads.

[w7_lee]

I could normally feel it if my tire pressure is low.

Since you are a P Plater, make it a habit to look at your tires when walking up to your bike.

[JiaWing]

if u think ur bike is a bit*h to u-turn, next time u try u-turn with a sportbike, u will feel the diff

ya look at the direction u are going, head turn 45 deg, dun look at the kerb or lamp pole etc, u will kiss them instead

 

fear is the main issue for u-turn, very often ur eyes cant resist to look at the kerb coz u scare u will hit them

i drop my sportbike while u-turning very very long ago when i was a p plate

till now i still have abit of phobia so i always go slow but cannot too slow if not bike will drop

try to get rid of the fear and practice more will do

[nadxcat]

Hi TS, I am a fellow TA200 biker for last 5 years (n counting) and I welcome you to your first bike - phantom . Not as much words to share with you, unless you need more advice from me.

 

Lean to the turn, phantom u turn -by design - are not sharp. Don't turn n lock the steering handle when u turn. Practice more as this skill differ from school and you will get the hang of it enjoy your phantom! For me I love it )

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HaffizKimi]

Tap your rear brake while turn, might help.

[Pinapple]

Thanks bros for all the tips. Tried u turning now and although going slow, wont wobble as much anymore.

[ticks]

Due to your bike being a phantom and the rake angle is so large, u turn is not your bikes strong point. I dropped my versys 650 while u turning the first time the night I took it home. Lol. Damn sad.

Nowadays for me when I u turn, I lean to the outside of the bike so I practically drop my bike inside to negotiate the u turn.

Just practice more at some free space and you should get the hang of it. Riding is all about getting used to the bike. Every bike handles differently.. Rider must adapt to the bike. That's what makes riding interesting. Hehehe

[daz3]

Practice makes perfect, try doing u turns at night when no cars. Do it a few more times and you will be alright

[SV650]

TS, hope this helps.

 

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Edited April 19, 2015 by SV650

[Jehuty]

Its a cruiser, can't expect it to be nimble like a kup, then again nothing is as nimble in traffic vs kups and scoots. Sportsbike being bad at u-turns as well unless you lean.

[daz3]

Try not to turn to the max,you will fall easier

[bikerunner]

Its a cruiser, can't expect it to be nimble like a kup, then again nothing is as nimble in traffic vs kups and scoots. Sportsbike being bad at u-turns as well unless you lean.

 

shouldnt all turns be made by leaning the bike? unless the speed is very slow like less than 20km/h

[pufferfis]

if u look at the video...the guy is also showing what it means by countersteering....when he is turning right...his body when seated is tilted slightly to the left....it helps with the sharp turn while the handlebar turn motorcycle leaned over.....coool....

on the other hand....if u can try countersteering.....as above...when you are u turning to the right...keep your body tilted slightly to the left n also push down ur right hand slightly harder on the right handlebar n ul magically turn right....the magic of countersteering...you shld try it...fun!

 

I like sv650's video...reminds us to practice our countersteering again n again coz its faster den normal leaning techniques....regardless of cruisers or sportbikes or roadbikes.....but of coz ul scrape ur cruiser's or kup kia's foot rest more when u use the above techniques....since less clearance....

Edited July 6, 2015 by pufferfis

[BlueSoapr]

if u think ur bike is a bit*h to u-turn, next time u try u-turn with a sportbike, u will feel the diff

ya look at the direction u are going, head turn 45 deg, dun look at the kerb or lamp pole etc, u will kiss them instead

 

fear is the main issue for u-turn, very often ur eyes cant resist to look at the kerb coz u scare u will hit them

i drop my sportbike while u-turning very very long ago when i was a p plate

till now i still have abit of phobia so i always go slow but cannot too slow if not bike will drop

try to get rid of the fear and practice more will do

 

Actually, I think it's easier to uturn on a sportbike than a cruiser.