How to: Slow, tight turn

[MTBryan]

To most this may be a novice topic. But over the past few years, and especially the past few months, I've talked to a lot of riders, especially new Monster riders, that have the dreaded 'tank dent' often caused by turning a tight, slow turn, having the steering stop get the best of them, and the bike falls over.

Doooooooooh!  How embarrassing!

I was telling this to someone at the local Ducati dealership the the other day, and they suggested I post this on the Monster forum in case others can benefit from the technique. It comes from my dirt bike background and completely solves this mishap. This is what I do:

Simply get up front on the seat, and put your INSIDE leg straight out during the tight, slow turn, like you see the dirt bikers doing in a tight burmed turn. By doing so, if you are turning very slow and tight with a big lean, and you hit the steering stop, instead of the bike falling over (from the lean), you already have your leg out and can dab and catch the bike before it falls.

If you have a dirt background, you know exactly what I am talking about and it will be second nature. But less experienced street bikers may not have considered this technique before, and I'm sure they have had issues with this slow, tight turn.

Of course, this is for very slow speed, tight turns. But you aren't going to have a problem with the steering stop hitting on a faster turn and you might break your leg off during a crash. That's not good. 

Try it sometime. Do a SLOW and TIGHT turn, put your inside leg out, and you can feel how you are in a better position to catch the bike than if your foot is on the pegs.

'nuff said.

Cheers,
Bryan...

P.S. Oops, maybe I should have posted this in the 'How To' section? But it is more of a riding technique. Oh well.

[somegirl]

I like to drag the rear brake on slow speed maneuvers.

Also looking through the turn is key.

[Paegelow]

Yeah what helps me is to look at the ground as far behind me as I can, even if I'm looking way farther back than I actually want to turn.

[djomlas]

also, if you are making a tight right turn, (choosing not to put a foot down), lean to the left, and making a left turn lean to the right (this also helped my buddy pass his license test, at first he was doing the opposite until i pointed it out to him)
also, this is way easier to do on a monster than my R6, i have a feeling that this is a bicycle compared to the weight of the other bike.

[ScottRNelson]

Sticking a foot out during the turn falls in the same category as duck walking the bike around the turn in my book.

Use the rear brake for control, keep the clutch at the friction point, and give it steady throttle.  If the bike starts to fall to the inside, just feed it more power and it will straighten right up.

[MTBryan]

What ever works for you.
Personally, I ride the clutch, feather the throttle and keep a touch on the rear brake.
But many of the newbies I've spoken with have no concept of feathering the throttle during a slow turn, and riding the clutch.
Yes, it's true that many brand new bikers out there today barely have a concept of a clutch since cars have had automatic transmissions for years. I just helped a guy a few months ago that  bought a used Harley and had never even used a clutch in his life. Scary!
I was just throwing out a technique that seems to have worked for several riders I have shown in the past. And, I was asked to post on this forum by one of those riders.
Cheers,
Bryan...

[somegirl]

One thing that MSF is good at teaching is clutch control and slow, tight turns.

[DesmoTull]

Sticking a foot out during the turn falls in the same category as duck walking the bike around the turn in my book.

+1

Slow control is sooo hard to get down right.  The one tip over I had on my bike was trying to do a slow turn, and WHAM, down I went.

[semyhr]

To get a license to ride a bike we have to ride slalom throug cones that ar 3 meters from each other in a straight line. There are like 5 of them. So basically you have to go kinda slow with the steering from one side till the lock right all the way to the other side. I did it at least 100 times I think, and you cannot put your feet on the ground or touch the cones to pass the test. Damn I was happy when I did that in the exam - tough one but sure helps with balance on the bike as well as learning to give a little throttle if it starts to fall over.

PS. Main reason for falling over is using the front brakes in such situation.

[IdZer0]

also, if you are making a tight right turn, (choosing not to put a foot down), lean to the left, and making a left turn lean to the right (this also helped my buddy pass his license test, at first he was doing the opposite until i pointed it out to him)
also, this is way easier to do on a monster than my R6, i have a feeling that this is a bicycle compared to the weight of the other bike.

You mean like this:

[Cider]

Sticking a foot out during the turn falls in the same category as duck walking the bike around the turn in my book.

I always felt it was sloppy too, but apparently some national-level racers don't feel the same way (personal conversations).  I also notice that racers I see on TV drag their feet all over the place in the pits.  I keep my feet on the pegs by force of habit, but I'm not dogmatic about it any more.

[MTBryan]

Thanks to everyone that has emailed me thanking me for posting this.
For everyone else, if you don't want to look like a dirt biker, then don't do it. More experienced riders have their own way of riding. I was just offering a suggestion to newer riders stemming from the dirt world.
Bryan...

[Speeddog]

I think what a couple folks were trying to say, but IMO didn't really describe....

Lean the bike *more* than your body.
Kind of the opposite of hanging off.
Like this:



You don't need to put your foot out for it to work.

[He Man]

You know how you hang of on the iinside of the turn?

hang of on the outside and itll feel the same was as sticking your leg out. except if you do drop your bike, its going down.

I personaly wouldnt be able to keep the bike up if i stuck out the leg mentioned by the OP. Id probably break my knee. ive sacraficed the body to save my bike almost 10 times (~chromo tank). Its not something id want to do. With clip ons and sliders, make the beast with two backs it. I dont care if it goes down anymore.

[MTBryan]

I think what a couple folks were trying to say, but IMO didn't really describe....

Lean the bike *more* than your body.
Kind of the opposite of hanging off.

You don't need to put your foot out for it to work.

Yes, exactly SpeedDog. Leaning the bike sort of underneath you. And true, you don't HAVE to put your foot out. Actually, in the dirt bike world, putting out a leg not only gives you 'dab' protection, but also helps with balance.