To Wide Of A Turn

[Rookie Rider]

I think im turning to wide. Like if im in the LEFT turning lane, the light turns green i start my turn and i end up ALMOST in the far right lane. (TURNING ONTO A 3 lane road) Im not happy with this, I know i need lots more practice, but this can be dangerous. :cuss:

[geezer]

thats because your looking at the 3rd lane. the bike will always go were your looking. so if you look at the 1st lane you will end up in it. head and eyes must face where you want to me.

[cayuse]

Sounds like you are letting the bike take YOU around the corner instead of the other way around. Don't be afraid of leaning it over with authority when you need to. Find some quiet streets or empty parking lots and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE......

[cayuse]

What Geezer said :plus1:
The bike goes to where you are looking.
It's magic.

[geezer]

i call it PFM, pure flippin magic lol

[Rookie Rider]

I new you guys were gonna say that. lol, i will look into my turn better. There are lots to practice for me. Like how fast i should go on specific turns just when coming out of a turn which will detemin the lean, and how i slow down before a turn, etc. I have lots to do either way. Thanks guys!!

[Water Warrior 2]

Cut a bunch of tennis balls in half and build a parking lot course to practice on. Always look where you want to go as others have said. Target fixation can hurt or help. Looking at the 3rd lane will take you there.

[Rionna]

Hang in there Rookie Rider. I've just been riding a couple of months and when I started, I was also turning wide. But just like Geezer and WW said, practice practice. I have improved so much even on narrow turns. I don't think I really bought into the "look where you want to go" advice until I consistently started using it and realized it really works! As Geezer says it is pure flipping magic. Have fun and Be safe. :2tup:

[Rookie Rider]

I really dont have parking lots here that are empty enough, and at night theyre either locked or they have security. Im always in traffic, real riding/commuting. But i'll do my best to practice looking where i want to go. Again, thank you guys.

[Water Warrior 2]

Do you have any schools nearby with a parking lot. Usually empty after hours.

[Shiverbird]

I practiced in school parking lots, Churches, also we live in a quiet sub division with not much traffic and hubby placed buckets in the road to help with curves and weaving. Good Luck things will get better

[Rookie Rider]

I appreciate all of your help, for real !

[Way]

Cut a bunch of tennis balls in half and build a parking lot course to practice on. Always look where you want to go as others have said. Target fixation can hurt or help. Looking at the 3rd lane will take you there.


:plus1:

Buy 2 packs of 3 balls each and cut them in half. I used a hacksaw to cut the ba$tard$ in half :tongue: This will give you plenty of markers. Or if you want, get some sidewalk chalk from Walmart or some such and draw circles instead of using the tennis ball halves. Also get a cheapy tape measure so you can measure out distances.

I've never been to Queens but there must be some malls around? Supermarkets? Go very early in the morning if you can. When you're in your car look around to see if you can find any good places. I just got my endorsement and I used this link to lay out a course in an elementary school parking lot. It was plenty big enough, no one there due to school being out for summer.

http://www.idahostar.org/guide/intro.htm

Double check their measurements as far as parking space width goes because for their 10 foot width, I measured only 8 feet. I practiced about an hour every day and got real comfortable riding at very slow speeds and making sharp turns which is very important for the skill test, in Vermont anyway. Of course that's where I screwed up was the weaving through the cones part. I ran over the first one and put my foot down. I was so dang :cuss: :cuss: :mad: I went through again just to prove that I could do it. Did the second time flawlessly but still had the points taken off which I rightly deserved. It was nice of the tester to let me do it though. Made me feel better. But anyway, practice your slow speed maneuvering as outlined in the link and it will help you in your riding skills on the street. It sure helped me and I'm still a rookie too.

[Rookie Rider]

Hey thanks alot Way, i appreciate that idea(s)

[savrip]

I just finished a MSF training course and man did it do a lot of good. It made me handle my bike in two days the way I would have never learned in weeks of practice. The best part it's on their bikes so drop it and it's what your cost covers (2 guys in my class dropped, everyone passed the test). I can't recommend this highly enough to beginning riders.

[Rookie Rider]

High 5 savrip !!