How To Perform A Motorcycle U-TURN!

[@Ohio_Motonaut]

New rider here. This is exactly what I was wanting to know about how to turn sharply at low speeds. Thanks for all the content.

[@ChrisV-]

Kio or rryrkrlkerarrarrla Aaaiek Em Ra Me RmR M You all areew I don’t don’t dog. W I’m going o w

[@glidearkansas]

Instead of trying to man handle a bike or counterbalance it, just use the gray area of the clutch. If you pull in the clutch, the power is removed and the bike will naturally want to lean. Don’t put your foot down. You will possibly get injured or break an ankle. If the bike starts to lean too much, just let the clutch out. The bike will stand itself back up. You just gave me a good idea for a new video. Thanks and keep practicing!

[@Motorcycle.Travels]

glide_arkansas That’s How we learn it in The Netherlands. We have to do 2 exams. One with special manoeuvres and one on the road with traffic

[@mdeerocks6792]

@@Motorcycle.Travels Same in the UK. Leg down/"counterbalancing" = no licence for you :)

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

​@@mdeerocks6792 It's one thing to not have to put a leg down, but no counterbalancing is reckless and irresponsible. Being able to counterbalance a bike at low speeds is a crucial skill. What do you do if the ground doesn't allow for you to complete the turn at speed?

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@Motorcycle.Travels What good does that do you folks? Around here we don't do that stuff and 3/4 of the fatalities and crashes have nothing to do with the operation of the motorcycle in this kind of situation. They're judgment problems and being run over by cars. The state keeps talking about changing the licensing requirements, but it's not likely to do any good as most crashes around here are single vehicle crashes in corners. Knowing how to do a u-turn without counterbalancing isn't a particularly useful skill. Especially when the pavement usually doesn't support that kind of speed anyways.

[@Paiadakine]

Chris L I agree. What if you are on gravel? Counter balance is safer.

[@MemphisMike901]

Turn the head-Friction Zone-Throttle-Rear Brake. Watch Jerry Palladino Ride Like a Pro and you can U-Turn a Goldwing in 2 parking spaces 😉

[@reallyoldfart6540]

MemphisMike seen that in MSF course in the 80's, Point Mugu, this short black guy, had Goldwing, he could barely touch ground and put everybody to shame.

[@starlapenner]

i'm sure you hear this all the the time but Thank You!! I just got my first bike, a Rebel 500 and before buying it i watched so many of your videos! Especially Nikki's playlist. I got my bike a week ago and first time in the driveway i was learning my friction zone and my husband was like "what are you doing" lol Whenever i struggle with something on the bike i come and find one of your video's and then go and implement what you teach. Being 6 hours away from the nearest MSF course, your videos have been my teacher!! Keep up the great work!

[@joeldelossantos2621]

I wish we have wide parking spaces just like what you have there for practicing.

[@jfkansas5508]

You need more rear brake to control speed. The friction zone will just keep accelerating if you don't control it with rear brake.

[@pacopetepnw3434]

JF Kansas ..Yep! measured input to the rear brake.

[@zzebowa]

I was practising this on my 125, preparing for the full test, doing tight circles, figures of 8s etc, and had my feet and the pegs scraping on the ground. It is surprising just how much you can lean a bike over!

[@JamesCampbellPPG]

Wow. Great stuff. Thank you! Always love when a creator doesn't cut a mistake during editing! Nobody is perfect and we learn from others!!!

[@KhaleelSanDiego]

Dude...thanks a million for this. I follow your instructions to a tee...well almost...am getting it at two spots...i will not put more pressure on the handlebars...

[@rvarnum]

On my Wing I use half clutch to the rear wheel to keep me up on a u-turn. It's become a habit. One time I pulled away from a gas pump and had to do a tight u-turn between two cars. My mind was elsewhere and I performed it automatically but half way through the maneuver my bike slipped into neutral (I have no idea why) but I began to go down like a sack of potatoes. I woke up from la-la land and slammed my foot down, and with all my strength was able to keep the bike up (I even had a passenger). That night my leg was SORE.

[@ruthiealmighty]

Thank you this was the most helpful video I watched. Really appreciate it.

[@scruffycavetroll7547]

Going through this now with the dyna I just got. It’s been awhile and last week my foot came downs few times. It’s a heavy bike and I’m still getting used to it and the air intake gets in the way of my right leg to put weight on that peg. I’ll get there but need more practice. Thanks for this channel.

[@danteilbello]

Thanks! So helpful!

[@markmorgan9456]

I am enjoying learning from you vids. Thank you for all the tips. Very very helpful. I practice them every time I am riding.

[@Prussianrider]

You make it look so easy.....practise, practise & more practise.

[@oakstream6041]

Wish I could practice now but we have ice snow here in Sweden. I guess I could do it in the underground garage. 🤣 Gonna be tight .

[@HiroNguy]

Practice off road! You'd be wearing padding (insulation) but the snow just makes things happen at slower speeds. When I got an Enduro bike & practiced on dirt I really learned.

[@1996axon]

I used rear brake drag while doing U turn at my driving school (they told me and its helpfull)

[@outdoor1640]

Interesting. I get the lean other side, but when Jerry Palladino does it with bike heavy bikes, he does not appear to lean quite as much of the other side, just slight lean it appears

[@teresarivera956]

So I’ve watched over and over how to turn in a parking lit while moving slow. I’ve also watched how to push on the handle bars when changing lanes on the highway. What method do I use when turning off a highway exit, turning after stopping at a light, and turning on a green light without stopping?

[@marialopez-nl7jm]

I've been riding for a month now and still nervous about u turns, I do slow put my foot down and push the bike. I'm pretty sure your video will help me a lot. Thanks

[@diesel4ever273]

In europe our riding test is actuallyg on the road, we need to do eight figures and u turns to pass

[@alexneville7644]

I'm on a harley 883 and can't get right hand U turns down. Counterweighting feels very unnatural to me. Any tips?

[@DanDanTheFireman]

Counter waiting really does feel unnatural. That's only because the Habit that you have now feels natural. We need to change the habit and change the pattern so counter waiting feels natural. For me now using counterweight is the only way I feel comfortable

[@tyronebiggums8053]

What do you mean by counterweight ? Or are you talking about . how you use your body in a turn ?

[@AlanDike]

@@tyronebiggums8053 Real late, I know.. counter balance is instead of leaning with the bike, you shift your weight and throw your weight the OPPOSITE way the bike is leaning..

[@brandonbeezernoid6509]

That was a great demo thank u!

[@nelvilla86]

Just failed my MSF skills test twice because of hitting a cone in the sharp right from stop turn and how that leads into the U Turn. I can do a left u turn if approaching it from the right side of the box at the bottom end but coming out of the right turn and having to cross over to the right and THEN straight to prepare to turn left for the u turn really messes me up. I did it perfectly practicing for one or the other but both combined is not good for me. I did the full course last weekend and failed got a second chance same day and failed. Did just the practice with everyone in a new course today and then the eval with them today and failed. Got a second chance and failed. I’m trying so HARD to stay positive. I WANT TO LEARN. I’m just really dumb with instructions honestly your use it like a shovel phrasing helps turn light bulbs on in my head. I’ve never ridden before I barely rode bicycles but I’m making progress in riding in general on nearby streets it’s just these two exercises. I keep making the same errors in both of them. I would’ve passed if it wasn’t for that. If I didn’t already have a motorcycle I’d probably have given up by now but your videos help give me some faith that if I keep trying and keep practicing then day by day I know I WILL get it. I also have awful test anxiety so knowing someone’s watching me is hugely a factor in all of this. I’ll get it one day. Thank you for the video! Very helpful

[@refleppardi4958]

Don't give up! I failed the test once so l bought a motorcycle to practice with !

[@Feverm00n]

@@refleppardi4958 I think that same outcome is in my future... I have the second class then skills test this weekend and I'm not confident. If (when) I fail, I'm still gonna start looking for a bike so I can practice.

[@julied915]

I flunked the msf course. I put my leg down constantly. I did horrible. Do I have hope?

[@brycmaximo4060]

tnx..dan..new rider here,,from manila..phil.

[@jomont4988]

Dipto the right' dip to the left. Scooping up dirt... This what i think of when i practice this. I have so far to go

[@NPurvis7622]

I first started watching moto, and then had you as well in recommended. You two are absolutely amazing, I backtracked on quite a few of your videos, and I wish you well friend, thank you for all your content.

[@AlanDike]

Dan.. 9 ft is pretty standard for parking spots.. 9x18

[@ikevini8323]

I got it the first try

[@hyrumhunt9828]

Maybe you already have this but if not you should share either a link or where you get your gear looks like you got great safety gear!

[@stuffypoo]

counter balancing on a very slow speed u turn might be ideal sometimes but it won't be for all conditions. motogymkhana riders do extremely tight u turns and don't counter balance at all. Nor do they use the clutch.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

You can always do a u-turn slowly with counterbalancing, it's the faster ones that you occasionally can't do. The only situations I can think of where you can't do them slowly are situations where you really shouldn't be doing a u-turn at all. You can definitely do them faster than this without the counterbalancing, but that doesn't get you out of knowing how to do them slowly with counterbalancing. What happens if the pavement isn't good enough for doing the Japanese style u-turns?

[@Adrenalean767]

Doing a motogymkhana type U turn is not easy as it looks and is more dangerous

[@hmmthinking4208]

They didn't even teach this in ,y learners course. Thanks!

[@jamesherrington5606]

Hey DDTF: I don’t know to message you. I’m in San Antonio and would love to have access to a Moto-Jitsu black belt for training. I imagine a sort of franchise of trainers who do different belts on different nights at $30/month. Monday first belt. Tuesday second belt, etc. I bought your first book but I’d be so totally down for what I described.

[@DanDanTheFireman]

I'm not a Motojitsu belt guy. So I'm unsure of this

[@namepassword2106]

Get your ass up off the seat, get up on the footpegs. Inside arm a little straighter out.. The bike is leaning, you are straight. With more practice you can use the front brake to help adjust lean angle and rear brake for speed. You can practice all this stuff on a bicycle which costs less in damage which is what I have my girlfriend do to get her slow speed cornering down. Also if you haven't ridden for a while, get out the bicycle and go through the braking and slow speed maneuvers for a hour as a refresher.

[@tyronebiggums8053]

I just started riding my self about 1000 miles under my belt and is it bad to start in 2 or should it be done from 1st gear every time. ?. Like Will I ruin the bikeor anything on it. By using 2nd and go ?.

[@tyronebiggums8053]

Sorry asked too soon . I kew that lol

[@rvarnum]

It's been a year so I'm sure you've gained tons of experience. Just so others can know it doesn't hurt your clutch to slip it, so starting out in 2nd is ok, especially if you're downhill. Sometimes I skip gears when I'm accelerating fast, like on a downhill ramp to an Interstate. On one ramp near my house, I make the turn in second and after accelerating I shift to fifth. I'm at 80mph in a blink (there's a little bit of a curve right at the merge point which makes it fun.)

[@goldenchild4835]

thank you

[@kennethcole02]

Nice 👍🏽

[@WashingWizard10]

You day man DanDan

[@nikcobos]

In what range of speeds or in what gear you recommend to do the u turns?

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

It depends how much space you've got, but generally you do them in first gear and slowly. Giving a speed doesn't make much sense as you shouldn't be looking at the speedometer, you should be looking more or less directly behind you.

[@jamiehood3165]

How are you supposed to practice without a bike don't you need a license to get a bike it's kind of hard to get practicing before the license test if you don't have a bike

[@sh9683]

not sure about where you live but where I live you do not need a licence to buy a bike, and I can ride and practice if i have someone with their licence following behind me. also don; t need a licence to get insurance, insurance gave me a year to get my licence.

[@davidmizen4952]

Have Dan done anything on down shifting struggling to do this very jurky when shifting down from speed

[@KPVProductions]

Yes yes im 3 years late xD you probably have learnt by now but I believe just brake first in the gear you're in until the revs are quite low and then shift down. When you shift down, don't drop the clutch and give it throttle like you would if you were moving off.

[@51Fathermo]

What boots are those?

[@247Hardworker]

I still need a football field to turn my 1200 but I'll keep trying.

[@JackalArtsmith]

Bruh ngl I've never felt the need to lean into a high speed turn above 15 mph on a cruiser you literally just lean into the turn and the bike does most of the work If you have to lean your head THAT low on a cruiser into the turn then you're riding way too fast or you're just begging to crash

[@RevBomb600]

0:47 bro, what dance is that?

[@jessiequinton9974]

omfg somebody make that a gif XD

[@oldcowbb]

i keep dropping the bike at u turn they kicked me out of the class

[@TBT13977]

I was told to never drive a bike on idle.

[@haml97]

you can watch all the videos about U turn is not going to make any difference you have to get on the bike and practice am sorry to say this