| Author | Message | ||
     Bertotti |
I have seen references to how to turn. Can we discuss it a bit. I tend to put my body weight opposite of a knee dragger when doing tight slow turns. A technique a driving class taught me on a mx bike. I could darn near stand on the side of the bike and spin in circles about the length of the bikes wheel base. Ulysses is, of course, no mx'er so what turning techniques do you use to swing tight U turns or do a very slow right hand turns onto tight and very gravelly uneven roads. I have found the knee dragger technique of slung out bottoms to be rather inefficient in the very slow maneuvers, perhaps I am doing it wrong. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I slide forward and off the side and lock my knee into the front cutout. It allows me to hang onto the bike with my knee and keep the balance of the bike light. The tricky part is managing the turn to lock/clutch-throttle relationship. There is a crossover point where the margin of error becomes nil and if it's locked hard over without enough goose that it dumps. I try to practice at least a few minutes every time out to keep sharp. | ||
| Technomad |
The dirt bike technique is good at low speed on pavement. Like FB, I try to practice it at least once per ride. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It's a good method that I need to practice more. The more you can lean the bike, the quicker it will turn (try while pushing your bike around the driveway sometime). Shifting your weight to the outside of the bike lets you maintain balance while leaning the bike "too" far into the turn, which gives you the minimum turning radius. | ||
| Bertotti |
Ok so I am doing what I should at low speeds. I was thinking maybe I was missing something. I have never had a bike this big or powerful or heavy. I used to ride a friends xl600r and didn't know if I should be using the techniques with the Uly I used on it. Thanks. I see all the complaints about turning but heck it is what it is and I thought a thread about it would be time better spent then complaining about it. I can remember riding a dirt bike in a 6 foot diameter circle. I don't know if I will get that small with this bike but a U'y in a single lane would be nice. | ||
| Jim_sb |
For me it all depends...... Slow speed maneuvers - I put my inside foot up near the front axle, lean the bike over and keep my body upright - dirt bike style. Works great. Most normal riding I just sit upright in the saddle, no leaning or hanging off. If I get really motivated, to the point where pegs are scraping, I'll lock my outside knee and leg against the bike and hang off to the inside to gain a little more clearance and a greater feeling of stability at aggressive cornering speeds. I take it easy when off pavement in the corners. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Danger_dave |
I will never turn thanks. Strictly Hetro. | ||
| Dfishman |
The only way my Uly will turn in a 6' radius would be on the back wheel! | ||
| Supertoon |
Saw a video prepared by a motorcycle cop on slow speed maneuvering, very interesting. Basically rev the engine a bit and slip the clutch going into a u-turn as you control speed with the back brake. Sounds silly, but works really well. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Supertoon is on the money. Throttle,Clutch slipping and rear brake dragging is how it' done. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
For VERY slow turns..ala parking lot.. you hang your butt off the outside of the bike and look past where you want to go while slipping the clutch. For normal speed turning.. lean and and weight the way you are going. Buy the book Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch...this way you get the "TRUTH" by an expert. you will read it over and over.. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Don't need much of the rear brake with proper clutch control unless you go into it too fast. Counter-weighting is the key on the Ulysses because of the lack of steering sweep. You have to lean it more if you want to really turn it sharp. To lean it that aggressive you have to get your arse off the seat. I have long arms so it allows me to sit almost on the side of the bike to where my inside leg is resting on the seat. Granted most people are terrified by doing this, but it's all about proper balance technique. When I was doing the U-Turn box at the MSF ERC class I got far enough over to touch the left bag, but I was also only using about two thirds of the smallest box. It's also about building your comfort level and ability on the bike. As good as I am at slow or tight maneuvers, I think I suck at high speed. I always feel like I'm falling off the bike and just won't attempt corners as fast as I know I can. I really need to attend one of those road race classes, because I just am not comfortable with the feeling. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
One thing I see guys do is to lean their head the opposite way they are going..wrong.... Move your body around on the bike. Start your head toward the turn and your body should follow...an easy thing to remember.. while in the turn.. "Kiss the Mirror" get up and over toward the mirror ... with head level with the horizon, but leaning into turn. Buy the book. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I can attest to Jmhinkle's low-speed turning ability; I couldn't stay with him last year in Santa Fe! And I don't think he sucks at high speed...blows maybe. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I teach MSF classes, and I use the old "counterweight" technique as has been described. I can turn my Ulysses inside the BRC box without issues. Just have to feather the clutch, drag some rear brake, and counterweight it. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
"One thing I see guys do is to lean their head the opposite way they are going..wrong"........."with head level with the horizon, but leaning into turn" If your head is level to the horizon, isn't it actually leaning opposite of the turn? Your statements are extremely confusing Adrian. |
