| Exit | Areas of Interest | My Problems with MSF and MSG |

Making tight turns at low speeds is not easy for most people. Even experienced bikers will sometimes make three-point turns or straddle-walk their bikes rather than attempt to make a tight U-turn.

Besides how good your sense of balance is or your willingness to lean the motorcycle over and risk having it fall over, your ability to make a tight turn will also depend on your motorcycle. Factors such as wheelbase, center or gravity, weight, lean surging, and rake can affect your ability to make tight turns at low speeds.

To my knowledge, there is no perfect way to make a tight turn at low speeds that works for every rider in every situation. Even so, you may find that some of the following seven tips are helpful:

(1) Turn your head and look where you want to go. (2) Practice slipping the clutch to improve your speed control. (3) Apply light pressure to the rear brake (trail the rear brake). (4) Shift your weight to the outside of the turn (counterbalance). (5) Pull your clutch in as you start to lean the bike. (6) Use second gear instead of first gear. (7) Point your knee to the inside of the turn.

And probably more than anything else: practice, practice, and practice.

I think use of counter weight (shift body weight away from the turn) is an advanced technique and inappropriate for a newbie having trouble. I also think that 'pointing your knee into the turn' is inappropriate. The knees belong pressed against the tank, body fully on the seat - in-line with the bike lean for almost all slow speed turns.

As usual, Mr. Davis is correct. The use of counter weight, shifting your body weight away from the turn, is an advanced technique. From what I can tell, "counterweight" is the term that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is now using to replace the terms that they were using last year ("leaning out" or "counterbalance") to describe the same technique.

As for pointing your knee into a turn, I have seen this technique taught, but I agree with Mr. Davis and I very seldom use this technique at low speeds.

I have borrowed a copy of Motorcycle Rider Course Student Workbook from a friend of mine who took the course last year. It's Eighteenth Printing: January 2000, and copyrighted 1986 by Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

On page 35, section for "Tight Turns," it says:

"You will need to change your technique slightly in tight, slow turns (less than 5 mph). A motorcycle must lean to turn, but at very low speeds the motorcycle may fall when leaned. The procedure is to "counterweight." Shift your weight to the outside of the turn by placing all your weight on the outside peg and leaning your body outward. A variation is to stand slightly on the pegs and shift your body to the outside of the turn. The result is maintaining your balance while leaning your motorcycle."

On page 10 of California Motorcyle Handbook 2001(copyrighted 2001 by the Department of Motor Vehicles), it says:

"...In slow tight turns, lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight."

What are you saying here? Are you saying both MSF and DMV of California are wrong? I am confused again. Your clarification of this matter would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Julian

You say in your last post in this thread,

"As usual, Mr. Davis is correct. The use of counter weight, shifting your body weight away from the turn, is an advanced technique. From what I can tell, "counterweight" is the term that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is now using to replace the terms that they were using last year ("leaning out" or "counterbalance") to describe the same technique.

"As for pointing your knee into a turn, I have seen this technique taught, but I agree with Mr. Davis and I very seldom use this technique at low speeds."

Read my response to Mr. Davis' opinion. Why do you flip-flop so easily even when you are more likely to be right than Mr. Davis? If you cannot stand behind what you say, acting like a qualified advisor, perhaps you should refrain from giving advice hastily.

Let me make it clear that I didn't start this confusion....

Sincerely,

Julian