August 2nd, 2011, 05:40 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Chris
Location: Arkansas
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): EX250J Posts: 511
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Slow U Turns
Yesterday, I took my ninjette out for a short spin around the neighborhood since she had been couped up in the garage for 2 weeks. My neighborhood has one outlet, so you can't make a circuit without making a U-turn on a cramped neighborhood street, unless you want to go out on the highway.
I find that my weakest skill at this juncture is making slow u-turns on these streets. I feel like an idiot, because out of the past 10 I've attempted, I put my foot down 2 times to keep myself from dropping my bike, obviously not a smart thing to do. Finally, I realized that I was forgetting to look where I wanted to go, and when I started doing this again, my turns tightened up considerably with no more urge to put my foot down. Problem is, I think I'm relying to much on the throttle to keep stability. Should I be applying a little throttle, while using the friction zone on my clutch to give myself a smoothe 180 degrees? |
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August 2nd, 2011, 06:16 AM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Sean
Location: Mary Esther, FL
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 1998 HD Road King Posts: A lot.
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Try shifting your weight to the outside of the turn
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August 2nd, 2011, 06:45 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Joe
Location: Hamilton, ON
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Posts: 9
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Try applying a little rear brake while controlling the trottle in the friction zone. I was taught that during the safety course and it's amazing how much it will stabilize the bike for slow maneuvers. Also, looking through the turn (which you're already doing) helps a lot as well.
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August 2nd, 2011, 06:58 AM | #4 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
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+1 on all said already...weighting the outside peg, using the rear brake to help keep you vertical, and DEFINITELY looking through the turn. I'd like to add to keep your arms as loose as possible. Tensing up never ever helps the bike with whatever task you are asking it to do. U-turns took me forever to master, but now I actually like them and think they are fun!
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August 2nd, 2011, 08:14 AM | #5 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Marc
Location: Crawfordville, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848
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Going too slow can also add to your difficulty and stability. As you keep doing this, try and speed up a tiny bit and see how it feels.
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August 2nd, 2011, 08:52 AM | #6 | |
Smoker
Name: Bob
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556
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Quote:
Why is that not a smart thing to do? Sure, in a perfect world we'd all ride like the motor officers in all those YouTube videos, but if it comes down to choosing between "feeling like an idiot because I put my foot down making a u-turn" or "I dropped my buke making a slow u-turn cause I didn't want to look like an idiot by putting my foot down" I'll go with option number 1, thank you. Yes practice so you can get better at it, but keep some perspective. I'd rather look foolish for free than be too proud to put a foot down and have to pay for new fairings. Last futzed with by Jinx250; August 4th, 2011 at 08:13 AM. |
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August 2nd, 2011, 09:29 AM | #7 | |||
n00b
Name: Jorge
Location: Perris, CA
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Blue 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 581
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Quote:
I didn't even think about this...I'm going to practice them more and start counter balancing as I do Quote:
I can do them easier in 2nd gear when I get a rolling start but for example if I'm at a stop light and have to make a left hand u-turn I won't be able to start in second so I have to start in 1st and I have a hard time controlling my throttle in that gear without lurching forward. Quote:
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August 2nd, 2011, 01:35 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Michael
Location: Belgium
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r, Fazer8 Posts: 580
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you would choose for option number 2? Must be a mistake, if not: squid
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August 2nd, 2011, 01:44 PM | #9 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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Works on my bicycle lol
Counter-weight for the win.
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August 3rd, 2011, 10:34 AM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Pete
Location: WV
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 SE GREEN 250 Posts: 37
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The slow right hand turns are definitely the hardest thing for me to do. I need practice still.
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August 4th, 2011, 08:15 AM | #11 | |
Smoker
Name: Bob
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556
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Quote:
And now I see where the confusion came form - DOH! Edited to correct that I'd choose option 1. I musta been having a senior moment. |
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August 12th, 2011, 06:35 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Aaron
Location: Gone riding.
Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 389
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You really need to crank the neck on this one, look early.
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August 14th, 2011, 10:02 AM | #13 | |
ninjette.org newbie 2,000
Name: Francis
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r Posts: 160
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Quote:
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August 14th, 2011, 01:37 PM | #14 |
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Name: rock
Location: greenville, south carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.
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I'm not gettin this weighting the outside thing
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August 14th, 2011, 01:55 PM | #15 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
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you know the feeling you get right before you panic and put down a foot when you do a slow u-turn? almost like its going to fall on its' own? that's because the center of gravity of you + the bike is too far into the turn and the horizontal component of you+the bike falling is not being canceled out by centripetal force of the bike+you making a circle. scooting one buttcheek off towards the outside turn makes the bike lean enough to make the turn, without putting the center of gravity too far inside during the turn. so it allows you to lean the bike enough, but not fall over. does that make sense?
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August 14th, 2011, 04:28 PM | #16 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
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MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Very well put!
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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August 14th, 2011, 07:21 PM | #17 |
So, where's the reverse?
Name: Anson
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.
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Throttle, clutch and drag the rear brake as needed and don't forget to turn that freaking head!
Link to original page on YouTube. |
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August 14th, 2011, 07:35 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Sica
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r Posts: 24
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^ Good tutorials
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