I hate u-turns!!!

[scratch pervert]

Just failed my test after putting my foot down on the u-turn... gutted!!

I felt like I was riding better than I did at any point on the DAS and then let myself down with dredded u-turn. Now got to wait until the middle of next month for a re-test

[petclub]

Did the same thing, however was much more confident when retested two weeks later! Good luck.

[rumpelstiltskin]

U-turn is definetly the most difficult/nerve racking bit of the test,it's that moment everything goes quiet and all eyes seem to be on you!When i was sitting my test that was all i concentrated on,i knew if i got through that i would feel confident on the rest of the test,and i did.Just take your time and just concentrate on your control of the bike and nothing else,forget the examiner is there.My test was a nightmare,my examiner kept leaving his indicators on!(A fail)so he would say turn left,i would look at him in my rear view and he was indicating right!He done this all through the test and i was starting to doubt if i had heard him right at times,he was a right pr*ck!On the last exam he put someone through he had actually come off his bike!Didn't exactly fill me with confidence,good luck with your retry,if you feel relatively confident with the rest of your test just put all your effort and concentration into the u-turn,if your getting to use the practice area at the test centre just do u-turns till your sick doing them!,good luck!

[711]

Just don't do what I did on my first bike test - I practiced them so much I got blase about it. During the actual test I was so bored of it that after I'd done my shoulder check I stared at the floor

The examiners comment was "This is Manchester, people don't drop coins on the floor!"

I passed the next one, so good luck for your retest

[F.M]

practise makes perfect...obvious but true.

[m1spw]

I had no problems with u turns on my CBT, my bike wouldn't do them on the road they had marked out in the car park area . After me trying it 3 times and not getting it round before hitting the white line that would have been the curb, my instructor tried and couldn't do it either

Good luck with your retest!

[spdpug98]

I did my DAS about 2 years ago, during the whole week I could not get the U turn right at all, every time i tried it i put my foot down. My instructor just didn't know what to do, he showed me - I practised - I put my foot down

Then the day of my test came and he said Dave you are ready, you just need to get this u-turn sorted. So off we went to practise again, we tried for about 30 minutes just up the road from the test centre and I still couldn't do it, 10 mins before the test he was getting more & more off (as was I), so he said last go then we have to get to the test centre.............I DID IT

Got to the test centre went off on the test, we went to the widest road I have ever seen he told me to do the u-turn and thank god I did it, only the second time ever!!! Now I have a sports bike which is almost impossible to do a u-turn on, but can do them now and don't understand why I couldn't

Just keep trying it will come in the end, and good luck with the re-test

>> Edited by spdpug98 on Wednesday 12th April 08:50

[speed8]

My test echoes some of the stories on here.

Did my DAS almost 2 years ago now. Could manage the u-turns on the 125 but just couldn't do them on the bandit. Foot down, up kerbs, all over the place. I would maybe get one right out of every ten or so I would try. The hour before the test my instructor asked if there was anything I wanted to practice. Obvious answer really so off we went to practise some. Managed a couple of them then mounted the kerb and fell off the bike. Went into the test thinking what the hell, if I pass fair enough, if not I'll try again next time. U-turn came along and blow me if I didn't nail it. Passed with 3 minors or something for a hesitation on an overtake and something else.

Good luck for next time

[black-k1]

I don’t know the technique that is taught for U turns as part of the DAS as I passed my test err …. a little while ago, but the best technique I have found is to do the following:

Get the revs up a bit and start slipping the clutch. Get the bike moving at a constant speed with the clutch slipping and maintain that throttle/clutch position for the duration of the turn.

Use the rear brake to adjust speed and having done your visual checks, start the turn. If you feel you are a little too fast, press the brake a little harder. If you’re a little too slow and at risk of “tipping over”, release the brake a little. Do all of your adjustments gently as you steer round the turn.

Like all techniques, this takes a little practice and you don’t want to do too many attempts at once as the clutch is getting a bit of a hard time. The advantage is that you can practice the clutch/throttle setting and brake control in a straight line until you get it right. (It won’t take long). Then you can start doing turns of different severity until you’ve got it right.

[Exige46]

Years ago when I did my test, but failed my first, partly for feet down on the U turn. I was on a TZR125 which doesn't have the smallest turning circle, and when I went back after the test, I found it was not possible to even wheel the bike round on full lock on the narrow road he had chosen. The tester was well known for being a git.

I had been practising and practising, and I could get round on full lock all the way - found the best way was to change my position on the seat by pushing myself back and sitting more upright than normal, and once on full lock using the power to push against it - no way you can overbalance on the inside.

On my retake at a different centre the road was much wider and I could have turned with yards to spare...

Cheers

[telecat]

My Son would "hop" it round if the distance was too tight. Useful Trials technique.

[bikerkeith]

BlackR1 gives a very good guide to doing u-turns. The other thing to do is look where you want to go, not at the kerb. Its all to do with target fixation; if you look at the kerb you will hit it, if you look over your shoulder to where you want to go, the bike will turn.

[bennyboysvuk]

It's amazing how much better you get at them after riding a while. The constant full lock ones are difficult, but aren't impossible! You'll do it easily. Good luck.

[scratch pervert]

Thanks for all the support and helpful tips.

I remember using a combination of some of those techniques while practising, and I know they do work, but of course when it came to the test everything I'd learnt went out the window and I balls'd it up

I can't wait to get back out there and give it another go

[ballon]

All the best people fail first time, at leat that's how I comforted myself when I failed. Supposedly straight lined a mini roundabout!

Passed two weeks later, as you will, and have never looked back! (pardon the pun)

[clarkey]

Most problems come when you dip the clutch when you think you're going too fast. NEVER do this! This technique worked for me everytime:
Relax.
With back brake on, raise revs and release clutch to biting point.
Make your observations.
Increase the revs. Rev it loads, you can't fail for this, you just sound shit (and who cares?)
Move away by releasing the back brake.
Now look were you need to go. NEVER look at the kerb, as you will hit it if you do.
Now steer where you want to go.
Adjust your speed with back brake, never with the clutch.
Revs the nuts off it, keep the clutch right on the biting point.
Give it a go. You'll sound like a granny in a car park, but it works. And it actually teaches you that you need to be driving the bike forwards to maintain balance and control. Try filtering through traffic slowly with a pillion (when you pass) without keeping the clutch out and back brake on a bit, its almost impossible.

So whatever you do, try the technique of using far more revs than you possibly need. And if you think you're going to put your foot down, give it loads more revs. If you fall off you've failed the same as putting your foot down, so whatever do don't do this.

P.S I failed first time on pretty much this. Hill start away from the centre, not enough revs, put my foot down. Next junction, did the same. What a great way to start.....

P.P.S Good luck.

[hugoagogo]

when you've learned how to do it, you can move on to this
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=74&t=236642

[Rawwr]

I tried to do a u-turn on the GSX-R once. Heh, not doing that again.

[black-k1]

I have often wondered why the U turn is part of the test. It seems to me to be very rare to see anyone actually do a U turn in tight condidtions at slow speed without "padddling" the bike backwards and forwards. (Exactly the way that would fail your test!)

[mtbr]

black-k1 said:

I have often wondered why the U turn is part of the test. It seems to me to be very rare to see anyone actually do a U turn in tight condidtions at slow speed without "padddling" the bike backwards and forwards. (Exactly the way that would fail your test!)

I asked.
It's to demonstrate the candidates balance and low speed control, the examiner wants to see that you can manoeuvre your bike safely at low speed.

The examiners I know take how well the candidate rides at low speed, in a straight line and out of tight corners, into account as well. A dab on the U turn is not an automatic fail, however if you are a bit wobbly at low speed generally that dab can be the straw that breaks the camels back!

>> Edited by mtbr on Thursday 13th April 09:18