Lost some slow speed control

[tricol]

So yesterday I decided to brave the cold and fog and take the Trident out. It was very very cold, although really nice when the sun broke through the fog. However I found myself having to make one or two u-turns, and found myself out pretty quickly! Must admit, I was a bit annoyed at myself. Both u-turns where on a fairly standard width road, single carriageway, and I fluffed them both. Foot down, and not making the turn having to push back a bit.

Now, I will say the lock on the Trident is rubbish, doesn't take much to hit the stop.

I'd like to sort this out, once the temps rise a bit. Is there anything I can do to practice myself? I know what I need to do based on my learning, so do I just find a nice car park and practice?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Basically yes, but another question to ask yourself is it actually a problem, I've been riding bikes on the road since 1983, my U turn ability is not something I've ever thought about.

[tricol]

Well yes, I did say to myself that I don't often need too. It was more the control aspect rather than the maneuver itself.

[Yorick]

[Dodgy69]

On limited lock bikes, including 21 mt09 it ain't easy but i wouldn't worry about it. Once you hit max lock it's game over and foot down, balance gone. It ain't big, clever or necessary to keep feet on pegs. Dangle a leg for security.

[Horse]

Loads of things it might be, individually or together. So, in no particular order:

Tyre pressures. If low, it will be harder.

Controls, all adjusted and working correctly?

Engine in tune? Lumpy at low revs or coming off tickover, hunting, etc.

Gear; winter clothing restricting your movement and dexterity?

Cold, will affect your abilities.

Stiff neck (from cold or gear restriction)

Have you practised slow speed, both feet up, control in a straight line first?

Are you comfortable and practiced at keeping some power on (2k revs) evenly and finding the clutch biting point - without looking at the controls or clocks?

Are you looking well ahead, where you want to go? ie Not looking at the ground.

If it starts to go 'wrong', what reaction are you prepared to do? Dab a foot, or both feet out, or grab the front brake - or keeping looking where you want to go then drive to it. If the bikes feels as if it's falling, you need more power to keep it up (ease the clutch out, release the rear brake).

Are you using (and planning to use) all of the space?

Are you counter-leaning?

Have you planned to turn tighter first, then widen the arc?

Is turning to the left or right easier for you?

[Horse]

On limited lock bikes, including 21 mt09 it ain't easy but i wouldn't worry about it. Once you hit max lock it's game over and foot down, balance gone.

Until you counter-lean (aka lean out), when the bike will turn tighter.

It ain't big, clever or necessary to keep feet on pegs. Dangle a leg for security.

Bollox

Keep them on the rests so your weight & balance is constant.

[Rockburner]

I'd like to sort this out, once the temps rise a bit. Is there anything I can do to practice myself? I know what I need to do based on my learning, so do I just find a nice car park and practice?

Yes.

(end of thread*).









* HAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH

[Dodgy69]

When you hit that lock with feet on pegs, you'd better be quick or else.

[Horse]

When you hit that lock with feet on pegs, you'd better be quick or else.

Bollox see video for plenty of full lock turns.

4:30 demonstrates how much difference counter-leaning makes.



One thing I didn't mention earlier was having a [non-]fallback plan.

Be ready to:
Look out of the turn
Get the bike upright and straight
Then stop

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That's going to end in tears.

[Horse]

I'd like to sort this out, once the temps rise a bit. Is there anything I can do to practice myself? I know what I need to do based on my learning, so do I just find a nice car park and practice?

Sorry, overlooked this bit.

Great idea

Just one thing to consider before you do: what will you practice?

Or, to use a popular expression: "what does 'good' look like?"

Until you know what you 'should' be doing, whether you work it out for yourself or someone tells/shows you, it will be hard work to achieve much improvement. "Practice makes permanent, not perfect. So practice the perfect."

[Bigyin]

I can manage decent U turns now on the big Multistrada which has fairly limited lock but only by using some of the techniques Horse popped up in both his post and with the Yank on the video. My main change was counter leaning to offset the weight and looking further round the turn than i would have done before. The bike also needs higher revs and more clutch slip as the fuelling is a little lumpy at very low revs in comparison to my Fazer 600

The biggest mistake most people make when trying a U turn is they look down instead of ahead and round which causes the bike to start to lean, once that happens its foot down to save it toppling over if you are not quick enough to "lift it" back up again using the clutch. Another is to look at the kerb, this opens the steering without you even realising it and before you know it you have to stop and push back as described by tricol in his opening post.

I got better by more practise on a nice area with room to make mistakes without consequences

[dern]

Take a look at MotoJitsu's youtube channel. I find him slightly annoying but he has some very good slow speed handling videos. I'd pick one thing to try out, find a carpark and practice that. Repeat until you're happy or are a gymkhana champion.

[Horse]

I got better by more practise on a nice area with room to make mistakes without consequences

Mental pressure is a biggie for causing grief. Kerbs is one for worry!

AAMOI one of the other useful things that BT shows (but doesn't comment on) in the video is going directly into a turn from stopped:
- lean the bike ('inside' foot down, reach slightly forward, 'outside' foot up)
- turn the bars
- look where you want to go
- revs, clutch, foot up as the bike moves forward


Re looking ahead, it's constant, progressive. As you ride, you need to be looking and choosing 'where' further on.

[Horse]

Take a look at MotoJitsu's youtube channel. I find him slightly annoying but he has some very good slow speed handling videos. I'd pick one thing to try out, find a carpark and practice that. Repeat until you're happy or are a gymkhana champion.

Does he give a progression?

That's why my original list included:
- revs and biting point
- head and eyes up
- straight line

Then onto turns. Build from wide to tighter, always having your escape route ready.

[dern]

Take a look at MotoJitsu's youtube channel. I find him slightly annoying but he has some very good slow speed handling videos. I'd pick one thing to try out, find a carpark and practice that. Repeat until you're happy or are a gymkhana champion.

Does he give a progression?

That's why my original list included:
- revs and biting point
- head and eyes up
- straight line

Then onto turns. Build from wide to tighter, always having your escape route ready.

Sorry, I don't know. I just watched this video and headed out to a local carpark until I could do figure 8s on the lock stops. I couldn't do it now but I was practicing for my IAM course. I might go out and do it again next time it was dry and it was kind of fun... just felt like a game/puzzle to me.

[Horse]

Oh, clipped this from the BT video, cos I know Yozzer will like it

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20211220_172622.jpg (78.46 KiB) Viewed 586 times

[Horse]

Oh, one other thing: shuffle slightly forwards on the seat, it gives more arm freedom.

[Skub]

Wtf was going on with those flickering lights on his bike? Very annoying for other road users,I'd imagine.