Coming a cropper in low-speed manoeuvring isn’t just embarrassing. You don’t want a big heavy motorcycle (possibly with glowing hot exhausts) falling on you, for obvious reasons. And the cost of repairs can be eye-watering. Here’s how to keep you and your machine upright.
You can tell a lot about a rider from how they handle the bike at walking pace. Smooth, confident and in complete control is a good look. Teetering on the verge of falling over isn’t. The difference has little to do with having the innate balance of a tightrope walker. Instead, it’s about low-speed riding technique:
It’s easy to feel nervous pulling a feet-up U-turn, in first gear, on full lock, when there’s the prospect of traffic bearing down on you. So head to a closed-off car park and practice till you’re perfect.
When doing it for real, make sure the road is clear in both directions. You’ll also need to be sure that you can turn completely round within the road’s width - knowing your machine’s steering lock and turning circle is essential (they vary enormously).
U-turns on steep roads need you to adjust the bike's bank angle and your body position to compensate for the slope. Downhill turns are easier because you can get your inside foot down. But turning uphill means you need to lean up the slope, so the ground could be completely out of reach for your inside foot.
If you find you can’t get around, do it in two manoeuvres. Turn until you reach the centre-line. Stop, swing the front wheel hard left and reverse. You can then complete the turn. Because they can be seen from all directions, use hazard-warning lights (if fitted) rather than indicators.
Parking, moving your bike around at home, getting a bike into or out of a van: there are plenty of times when you need to shift a motorcycle without riding it. There are two broad ways to do it - sitting on the bike or standing alongside it.
Going forward is pretty easy - you can paddle yourself along with your feet.
Parking typically involves reversing, often down a slope. When sitting on the bike, it’s often hard too. It's easy to lose your footing on a loose surface, so look down and be ready. Lower both feet while reversing, with the engine off and the sidestand up. Use the front brake but watch out for a skid if you’re moving fast. Engage first gear when parked.
To move a bike forward, stand on either side and walk forward pushing on both handlebars. Use a finger on the front brake lever to stop. If going around a corner, you can lean the bike slightly into you if you’re on the inside.
To reverse, stand on the right. If you’re on level ground and you can trust your sidestand not to flick up, put it down. (It’ll catch the bike if it falls away from you.) With your left hand, grab the rear grab rail or carrier if there is one, or push against the seat hump. Hold the right handlebar with your right hand, covering the brake. Your left hand should do most of the pushing and balancing, while you steer with the right 'bar'.
