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dumped my bike....making a U turn!

816am

816am

New member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Location
South Bay
Moto(s)
2008 ninja 250r
I can't believe it...but it happened. slowed down to make a u turn, then realized i was too wide...for some dumb reason, thought i could pull it out. why didn't i stop??? Should've stopped, but noooo as i "almost" made it (ok i didnt almost make it) the front tire hit the curb....and there i was....on my side. End result (could've been worse, i know i know)....bunch of scratches and the dreaded cracked fairing. :( But, thankfully, the blinker, mirror, peg and everything functional was good. Still, this sucks.
 
Back to MSF with you!!:p
 
Time for some parking lot practice. Make a dozen U-turns, getting tighter and tighter until you can do it at full lock. Do some U-turns to the right while you're at it.

I watched another Ninja 250 go down in the dirt after a too-wide U-turn just a few weeks ago. The rider of that bike had practiced and is now good at doing them.

New riders should spend lots of time regularly doing PLP.
 
ScottRNelson said:
Time for some parking lot practice. Make a dozen U-turns, getting tighter and tighter until you can do it at full lock. Do some U-turns to the right while you're at it.
...
New riders should spend lots of time regularly doing PLP.
Click to expand...

Nice advice! I would ad to turn your head as much as possible. This helped me when I started. Also for newbies the slow turns & U-turns are the biggest issues. (besides the turbo busa's)
 
Oh and don't be a dumbass and try to counterweight while making a U TURN on an UPHILL, for you will fall... trust me on this one. I can blame gravity all I want... err I mean you can blame gravity all you want but ultimately...we suck...errr I mean... yeah I'll just shut up now.
 
Did you do what I catch myself doing? Worrying about hitting the curb so you totally fixate on it with your head/eyes? That will steer you INTO that curb EVERYTIME. I know it sounds weird, but, even if you feel like you won't recover and can't stop in time, MAKE yourself look at your left shoulder and your bike will REALLY turn for ya.

it sounds stupid, I know, taking your eyes off the road but, I get 'target fixated' and have to MAKE myself look in the direction I want to go and it hasn't failed me yet.

Even then, Uturns are tricky, I'm still learning also!
 
wow....man, yes i was lookin riiiiight at my "target". thanks to all those who've provided helpful insight. I have been practicing those u turns in those fun parking lots and totally thought i was ready for the real thing. Guess, I got overconfident. lame!
 
Tip: Sit very close to the tank, sit up, look around the direction you want to go, pretty much as far as you can. Keep looking that way until you're facing the direction you want to be traveling. Of course you need to keep track of what your tires are going to be touching or riding over but you get the picture.

Also, blow it off. You dropped your bike. No biggie. ... really. It Sucks :( but it's just one of those things sometimes. No harm to anyone or anything except the bike so forget it.

Go practice. Parking lots can be fun. I have to make myself go there sometimes and do some good low speed stuff. Remember to go both directions. Often people can do left u turns and circles but kinda suck to the right.

Good luck!
 
I can't do the U-Turns either. They suck. I'm sorry. Scott is right though but to practice without someone coaching sucks too.
 
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