Had a bad first go on the 500 today

[FeatherZ]

Went with my friend to his intoduction before his cbt, as i already had done my cbt the instructor got me on the 500 (my DAS is in 2 weeks today)....

I couldnt get the u-turns in the car park, i wasn't looking where i wanted to go, ran into the gravel at the side about 8 times, put my foot down endlessly, and just tenced myself up and just got so annoyed with myself, only made the u-turn about 1/5 goes, yet when i done my cbt it was easy.

I go out on my mito and everything is easy, im relaxed and can ride it without thought, yet today i just couldnt do it, im so annoyed and worried about my DAS now,

Yet i know what i was doing wrong yet i just couldnt do what i knew i could do!

Pass me the gun... lol

[Kawasicki]

take it easy on yourself!

Try this one thing for me, when you are doing low speed u-turns sit on the outside of the seat and push the bike down towards the inside of the corner. This exagerates the lean of the bike and it corners more easily.

just try it!

shane

[Ace-T]

Also screw your head right round to where you are going and come up with a little mantra that you yell at yourself (out loud, in head no matter, it works!) 'MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MIDDLE OF THE ROAD', it helps stop you looking at the kerb.

Keep your chin up - literally! You will get there!

Trace

[Rach81]

Ace-T said:

Also screw your head right round to where you are going and come up with a little mantra that you yell at yourself (out loud, in head no matter, it works!) 'MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MIDDLE OF THE ROAD', it helps stop you looking at the kerb.

Keep your chin up - literally! You will get there!

Trace

Act-T's mantra got me through my test, I was having a mare with U-turns, just relax and keep looking down the way.

[Hooli]

i was the same when i first rode a big bike, it just felt to heavy to do anything with. it'll be fine when you've ridden a bit & it starts to feel less strange.

[rumpelstiltskin]

Kawasicki said:

take it easy on yourself!

Try this one thing for me, when you are doing low speed u-turns sit on the outside of the seat and push the bike down towards the inside of the corner. This exagerates the lean of the bike and it corners more easily.

just try it!

shane

Or as i've said a few times on here lift up your right butt cheek like your going to break wind,automatically makes the bike turn and puts your body in the correct position!

[Venom]

Yep, the middle of the road thing worked for me too, so definitely recommended. Look at the curb and you will almost definitely hit it.

It all comes down to confidence and you'll soon get it. Head up mate

[Taita]

Give it more revs also, helps me

[Badgerboy]

I partially dropped the bike on the first day of the DAS, so I know how crap it feels.

You must work out a good system for pulling away, don't faff by checking your shoulder, looking forward, checking back, looking at the controls again etc.

Sit on bike, check down the road, look behind you, then shift your gaze to the kerb in one motion. Then give it some gas and slip the clutch all the way around without looking at the controls. If you do it all in one smooth movement and practise it, it'll become second nature. Without a proceedure, you'll look where you shouldn't, panic, and look where your going to crash. (And don't even think of grabbing the front brake, that how bikes fall over!)

Practise the proceedure. You don't even have to be on a bike to do this. I did it in bed before the 2nd day!

[sprinter885]

I'd echo BadgerBoy above. Combination of right amount of gas/clutch slip/control & just brush rear brake too. But as said above KEEP looking across the circle that you're "drawing" -NOT in front of front wheel.

"The bike goes where you're looking"

[Fire99]

i'm with everyone on the revs/clutch slip part.

Dont be afraid to be fairly heavy on the revs with lots of clutch and yeah the 'target fixation' thing works. Always look where you want to go, not at what you're doing..

I'm sure ul be fine...

[imprezappp]

Have a spliff. Worked for me.

[Riknos]

imprezappp said:

Have a spliff. Worked for me.

Yeah, nice one Tom. You're a moron to get in a car after drinking or doing any drugs, but on a bike? fking stupid.

[Don Veloci]

I get what these guys are saying. For me it was focusing on a fixed target some distance away and letting the controls happen natrually with plenty revs and relaxed top half.
For my test it was the front end of a 4x4 parked on the opposite side at probably a 100+ yards away.
If the road has a noticable camber be aware of dragging the back brake on the down slope to show you're in control. The examiner will be looking for it anyway.