Absolutely gutted.... failed my test on my U turn. :-<

[Andy_SW20]

As title suggests.... basically didnt get ONE minor, but put my foot down on my u turn. So gutted! Was so looking forward to getting a ZXR!

Think Ive built up a mental block on the giraffe things. Anyone got any hints?! Fast? Slow? etc etc

Andy

[Northern ANdy]

lean with constant power and use the brake for speed. I managed it on an rs125 like that.

[f17th]

I failed my first test with the U turn as well,
Was also realy gutted as was just before going on holiday so had to wait ages to rebook.

Just have another lesson or two and constantly bang out the U-turns.
Just think of it as going roun a mini roundabout, and you should be fine.

Just keep the Revs up and drag the back brake a little and the bike will go round.

What you learning on ?

[Andy_SW20]

Thanks, guys. I was learning on a CB600. Decided to rebook the test and have hired out a CB125 instead. Figured I would get my restricted licence, and the U turn should be a lot easier on a smaller and lighter bike.

Does the bike size affect the size road the examiners will use? Even so, will get in lots of practice first. Thanks, guys.

When you say lean, I presume you mean lean left so give the bike a bit of counter balance?

Andy

[Gemini]

i think the trouble is a lot of ppl pull off then start their u-turn straight away.

doin this means u will be a bit wobbly, basically i would say get moving, keep constant speed but not too fast, only use your rear brake and also try not to look at ground too much as this will move your weight in the wrong way.

i would say keep and eye on the opposite kerb but thats it.

gem

[Gemini]

i personally think the bigger bikes that they put u on r easier to ride as they r full of torque which will make slow manouvres easier

gem

[tng21]

well ive just done my cbt and i had trouble on the u turn. They say not to look at the road or the curbs, look where you want to ride, not were the bike is going, so as you turn look back up the road where you want to go.

I ballsed up loads of u turns on a xre 125 on the cbt, then they stuck me on a er500 for a quick blast up the road and i done my u turns perfects so it might not be easier on the smaller bikes

[emperorluigi]

I failed first time round on the U-turn too (common problem eh?) cos the examiner took me to the narrowest road in the area, the one road I didn't want to go to. Second time round I spent an hour before the test constantly U-turning on that same road. As others have said, wait a bit after pulling off to attempt the turn, focus on the space you want to put your bike and not on the kerb, and drag the rear brake to control speed. Also, don't be afraid to make the engine work hard. The faster the engine spins the more stable the bike will be due to the gyroscopic effect, or so my instructor told me.

Something else my instructor told me which helped a lot was to try and get the bike turned 90 degrees to the kerb before the front wheel hits the centre line of the road. That way, you can gradually speed up during the later half of the turn, which is where I was messing up. I found this gradual acceleration (by lifting off the rear brake slowly) helped me balance significantly better than when trying to hold a constant speed.

Does the bike size affect the size road the examiners will use?

Yes. I had a chat with the examiner after failing and he said had I been doing the test on a bigger bike he would have taken me to a wider road.

Sorry for the long winded post, just trying to get some useful info down

[RedexRobB]

yeah i think looking where your going to go is better advice, otherwise you end up aiming for the kerb! I just fnd if it starts to feel like its gonna fall down and you need to put your foot down, give it a bit more throttle Sounds a bit opposite but it works. Also geting going first is a good idea cos you get the momentum of the bike going.

[Caz]

i used to struggle with U turns, one bit of advice my instructor gave to me was: you fail if you put your foot down, and you fail if you drop the bike. Dont put your foot down.
Of course, I was in full bike gear, i do not advise that if you are riding in jeans!

Look where you want to go, if you look at the kerb you will get target fixation and hit it

/Caz

[Dylan]

I put my foot down on my test but still passed anyway Do your test in Suffolk, thats my advice I would say just keep the revs up with the clutch slipping back brake applied. Seems stupid to test on an illegal manoeuvre anyway.

[RedexRobB]

its illegal?

[Caz]

not as far as i am aware - its only illegal where there are no U turn signs! How else do they expect you to turn the bike around?

[tng21]

Donut it? lol

[superman]

I failed on a back wheel skid but im cool with u turns keep the 600 set off then as your turnin look at where you wana go but dont use the power just use the biting point on the clutch to take you round if you feel it goin add a touch of power it will go right but the bite chould be enough an use the rear brake if you need to but you shouldnt. worked for me every time