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Learning to make circles

by LuciousLips*

Hi, I'm only 2 weeks learning to ride a motorcycle (a course) to pass the course I have to make 3 circles to the left, 3 to the right & 3 '8' vorm on a very small street. everytime I make the cirkels I'm afraid of going on the sidewalk so I stop everytime.
So I want to know if you have any tips for me making better circles without fear

Comments for Learning to make circles

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Nov 23, 2011

Please...
by: Anonymous

CounterWEIGHTING is a very slow speed maneuver, where the rider throws her weight in the opposite direction from the direction she is turning to make a tighter turn.

CounterSTEERING is a higher speed process and refers to the way the rider and the bike lean together in the same direction while riding through turns.
Confusing the two would be disastrous.

Nov 02, 2011

very helpful
by: Luciouslips

Hey you guys,
thanks for all the advise & tips. the counter steering & counter weight worked for me but I am still a bit scared to make the turn. Riding in the traffic and all is no problem, only 'fear' is killing me.
But I sure will practice a lot more
Thanx for all the comments

Oct 30, 2011

Practice
by: Anonymous

Follow all the advice given here, but there's no substitute for seat time. Practice, practice, practice! These are important skills to have and there's a reason they are tested. Hang in there, you'll get it!

Oct 30, 2011

turn your head and countersteer
by: ssilitonga

Hey there, you gotta turn your head and look where you are going (don't look down, or look at the road in front of you, look where you want to go), the bike will follow.

Steady throttle add a bit of speed will help as well.

Countersteering will help you lean your bike properly. When you're making your left circle press the left grip, and when you're doing the right circle, you press the right grip.

Don't forget to turn your head. Pls don't brake if your bike is not straight. You will drop it. Good luck!

Oct 19, 2011

Circles
by: Dottie

Hi Martinique, I use counter steering at slow speeds also, especially when I was learning to do the ututn. I basically use counter steering a lot when I ride at all speeds when I am cornering. At my MSF course they stressed using counter steering at all speeds and it does work. Yes I do mean counterweight on the seat to keep from tipping over, or feeling like you are going to tip over. just couldn't think of the word.To early in the morning and to lazy to go look it up. Thanks! I am just relaying what worked for me when I was trying to learn to do the uturn before I got my license. I for sure don't want to pass any incorrect info on. I am far from an expert, in fact I am just learning also and am relaying the info I got at the MSF course which was invaluable to me and then what I did to get proficient enough to pass the test. Love the interaction and wisdom here! I was terrified when I took the test for my license, it was awful. lol
Keep up the good work.

Dottie

Oct 19, 2011

Counterweight
by: Martinique

Hey! I think Dottie means counterweight, where you slide your weight to the opposite side of the bike that you're trying to turn in, so that you can remain upright even at slow speed. Try searching "counterweight" so you can get some good pointers. Just an FYI, countersteering is when you steer to the outside as you tip into a corner, something you do when cornering at higher speeds (not in a parking lot). Good luck, and always look all the way through the corner, not in front of you. You won't believe how much that helps. :)

Oct 19, 2011

Circles
by: Dottie

I know exactly what you are going through. I had to do a tight uturn to get my license. What I did was go to a parking lot and practice, practice, practice. I used counter steering which was so important but I also learned to use the friction zone on the clutch and feather the back brake at the same time . So in effect how I got the circles down was to go into the circle at a little higher RPM (but not a lot) use the friction zone in the clutch and feathering the back brake and at the same time I was counter steering with my backside (butt) sitting just a little to the opposite side of the seat that I was turning. It felt a little weird and awkward at first but I soon found out that it really worked. The friction zone, feathering of back brake and counter steering are very, very important. Check out the Capt Crash videos on utube, he explains a lot of things perfectly with a little humor which helps because I was so stressed out trying to get my license, which I might add, I got! Good luck, you will get this.

Dottie

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