How to turn?

[SCExpat]

So I have maybe 30 minutes "peg time" practicing figure 8's. I took a look at a Trials Training Center beginner video and they teach that you should lean the bike way over to turn. I have been just standing up vertical and turning the bars as far as I can. I tried turning leaning the bike over and it seems to work OK for me but.....I kinda like keeping the bike vertical better. Am I developing a bad habit that will cause me problems if/when I progress?

[nwcycle]

See your PM

[motojunky]

Originally Posted by SCExpat

So I have maybe 30 minutes "peg time" practicing figure 8's. I took a look at a Trials Training Center beginner video and they teach that you should lean the bike way over to turn. I have been just standing up vertical and turning the bars as far as I can. I tried turning leaning the bike over and it seems to work OK for me but.....I kinda like keeping the bike vertical better. Am I developing a bad habit that will cause me problems if/when I progress?

Yes, you are developing a bad habit. I did the same with turning. I can turn "correctly" but I have to make a conscious effort - if I just ride naturally, I keep the bike near vertical and move my body incorrectly. Try to make the right way habit while you can.

[sanjoh]

Videos have helped me with turning, more peg time is the answer!

Now how the heck can I make it acrose the balance board I mean it's only 10' long x 10" wide!

[Mike Mc]

Total noob here, but throwing this out anyways..
From what I understand, you want to lean the bike into the turn so it would naturally turn the amount you want without handlebar input. To accomplish this you shift the weight on your pegs to get the desired lean.

So you steer with your feet.

Corrections and upbraiding concerning this theory are cheerfully welcomed...

[dmay]

How ever far you are leaning try to keep your head above the center line of the tire contact patches with the ground,this will keep you from tipping into the inside of the turn. This is one area a vintage bike will teach you better than a modern,they won't turn unless you lean them,and they fall over if your weight is too far in. A leaned over bike will take torque from the rear wheel better than just turning the front wheel,but you'll need to shift the weight back to the outside peg with it still leaned over before applying power.
If you do your turns while straight up you need good throttle and clutch control to keep from pushing the front wheel out....Now If I could just practice what I preach

[SCExpat]

I knew there was a lot more to it than just turning the wheel......but I just want to believe it could be so simple. This is almost like learning to ride all over again and I expected to ride just like a dirt bike......but it is turning (no pun intended) out to be quite different.

[lamotovita]

Originally Posted by SCExpat

I knew there was a lot more to it than just turning the wheel......but I just want to believe it could be so simple. This is almost like learning to ride all over again and I expected to ride just like a dirt bike......but it is turning (no pun intended) out to be quite different.

When I started riding Trials at 40, after having ridden motorcycles since my early teens and going all the way through a racing career, I didn't learn to ride all over again, I learned how to ride for the first time.

By the way, there's a Trial next Sunday at Hayden ID. Why don't you carpool with one, or more, of the Boise boys and come on up?

[RideAbout]

Originally Posted by lamotovita

When I started riding Trials at 40, after having ridden motorcycles since my early teens and going all the way through a racing career, I didn't learn to ride all over again, I learned how to ride for the first time.

Ditto. Amazed at how much OT taught me in a short period of time.

I had ridden/raced for 25 years in every genre of motorcycling... I thought I knew how to ride. Then I tried my hand at OT! It teachs (forces) you to learn everything about how a motorcycle reacts to the terrian and your input. This "re-learning" affected how I ride all bikes now... whether street or dirt.

I have been out of OT for almost 20 years now, but that training has stuck with me.

[Bob_M]

I got a great tip this weekend and it worked great. Try to apply pressure on the outside peg by pushing hard as you turn and hold the pressure while you lean the bike over. It feels very different from standing up and will almost force you to stay on top of the bike.

To turn left, pressure onright peg while initiating the left turn and hold the pressure on the peg, try really pushing on the peg

Try this in some figure 8s.

It worked for me this weekend in Exeter, RI on the off camber sections and there were a lot of them.

[YOUNZ]

Originally Posted by Bob_M

I got a great tip this weekend and it worked great. Try to apply pressure on the outside peg by pushing hard as you turn and hold the pressure while you lean the bike over. It feels very different from standing up and will almost force you to stay on top of the bike.

To turn left, pressure onright peg while initiating the left turn and hold the pressure on the peg, try really pushing on the peg

Try this in some figure 8s.

It worked for me this weekend in Exeter, RI on the off camber sections and there were a lot of them.

I suppose one could do the same with a Honda Gold Wing or a Harley if they where an acrobat? World class!

[Sting32]

Originally Posted by YOUNZ

I suppose one could do the same with a Honda Gold Wing or a Harley if they where an acrobat? World class!

Local Harley chapter, has events where we do a slow race. the techniques are similiar, but the fact that 99% of the riders do NOT outweigh a full dress harley davidson... However, means techniques work, but have to be modified a little since there is almost no way I can put 200lbs of my body weight on the right footpeg, to compensate for 900lbs of top heavy "HOG" headed to the ground on the left side...

But the practice does work, usually your sitting down, slipping your ass from side to side on the seat, trying to keep 900lbs as close to upright as possible so you can keep the behemoth, from overtaking your fractional of total bike and rider weight, and slamming you down to the earth. or putting your foot out to dab which means you lose.

[lineaway]

http://trialstrainingcenter.com/how-...s/basic-turns/

[darmst6829]

Originally Posted by lineaway

http://trialstrainingcenter.com/how-...s/basic-turns/

The physics of such an exaggerated turning technique escapes me and frankly it looks unnecessary.

Dave

[Sting32]

Originally Posted by darmst6829

The physics of such an exaggerated turning technique escapes me and frankly it looks unnecessary.

Dave

Dave, how long you been riding trials?

Go see some videos on youtube, you will see from time to time, even Toni Bou has to use such techniques.

Here to be more specific, unfortunately this video is on a hill, but the priciple is EXACTLY the same, you let the bike lean, you move your body around to keep the bike balanced. http://vimeo.com/6957480 this guy 2 ply, he's got a lot of nice basic information and instruction videos on Vimeo. Remember, one is the "student" in the shots, so watch carefully. he's learning how to adjust his weight to keep the bike balanced in turns, be it flat ground or hillsides.

More: http://vimeo.com/9877206

one more: http://vimeo.com/2783291