I posted this to stu because he lives near me and he’s clued up

[Stevehessleuk]

Hi stu, could I possibly message you tomorrow as I know it’s late, just need some advice on roundabouts. Got 200 miles on the bike now and it goes in on the 19th June for 600 mile service. Took bike out tonight , it was still daylight and thought I’ll just pop it across Humber bridge and down to the main roundabout for Grimsby or Scunthorpe and whipped round the roundabout back to the Humber bridge and thought Jesus I’m not turning in much so went wide to the left  there was no traffic so knew I’d be ok . Thought ok lesson learned, just trying to get more mileage on for the 1st service . Then went over Humber bridge and had to turn right to boothferry road, Hessle which is where I live and went wide again ffs  nobody about but kind of knocked my confidence. Kind of embarrassing to even ask for advice , trying to work out was I going in to fast but don’t think I was or maybe I was. It’s just done my head in , different ball game compared to a car and maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. I’ve come on so much from where I was at the beginning of cbt , just tonight knocked my confidence and I’m loving it up until tonight  does everyone go through this, just feel bit shitty. Any advice appreciated 

[Stevehessleuk]

Keep hearing in my head anyone can ride in a straight line , I’m a bit of a perfectionist and want to be the best rider I can be. Dedicated my car driving to be the best I can be , bike riding a different ball game

[Stevehessleuk]

I’m quite a proud man and opening myself to advice keeps me alive, I actually love my life . But this love I’ve found for biking has been brilliant  

[Stu]

As said in private message read up about target fixation and also counter steering. 

 

Always remember to look where you want to go and not where you don't want to go! 

 

This book may help too https://amzn.eu/d/5PhNGww

[bonio]

Yeah this is a common issue for people. Like Stu says, look where you want to go. Like, really look: turn your head and stare that piece of road out. 

 

Roundabouts are the hardest, especially going right. You need to look up and over your right shoulder to see as near as you can to the exit you want to take. And dont forget your lifesavers.

[billysugger]

This may sound odd, but check your tyre pressures. If they have dropped  you could be altering the footprint of how much rubber there is in contact with the tarmac, and this can have an effect on how the bike turns.

Not quite the same as tyre pressures, but when I collected my cbf 600 I struggled to get that to turn correctly on the roundabouts on the way home and it threw me off balance a bit. My issue was the previous owner had fitted a far too wide, (for the rim) rear tyre so it had the completely wrong profile on the tarmac. I got a correct size tyre fitted, in fact I changed both, (road pilot 4s) and it completely altered the handling and it went round roundabouts like it was meant to without me having to bully it into submission 

[ChrisBiggsUK]

I initially had difficulty on roundabouts too, indeed even so far as to have come off the bike on a roundabout while doing my CBT.  For me, what helped, was making sure I was down into the correct gear for the roundabout in plenty of time, looking well through the roundabout at where I wanted to go (whilst also keeping my eyes on other road users and doing lifesavers) and loosening up my arms.  The loosening up my arms was the big thing for me.  If anyone remembers, I was always having trouble turning right.  Kept feeling like the rear end was going to slip out from under me.  I loosened my elbow on my right side, relaxed myself, and that took away the problem.  My being too tense and overcorrecting for a perceived slippage issue was what was in fact causing said issue.  Once I relaxed, trusted the tyres and trusted my own abilities, learning curve though I may be on, everything fell in to place.

Speed, gears, vision and relaxation.  Worked for me, might just work for you too.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Some roundabouts have a bad camber that makes it much harder on 2 wheels. There are two on a route I use regularly that are tricky in the dry and horrible when it's wet. 

 

 

[Stevehessleuk]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, just read the part on tyre pressure. Looked in my manual for the bike the other day regarding tyre pressure and the book said 26 psi in the front and 32.6 psi in the rear. Then googled it and it said 33 for the front and 36 for the back. So checked the rear tyre and it was 34.5 cold and 32 on front, now these tyre pressures where set by 5 ways dealership when I picked it up. Everything was going great until last night , what do you Think regarding tyre pressure? 

[Stevehessleuk]

Forgot to say I topped the rear tyre to 36 , wondering now if I’ve caused a problem 

[Stu]

Go with what is in the manual for tyre pressures 

 

The ones on the tyre are the maximum pressure for the tyre which isn't always suitable for the type of bike 

[Stevehessleuk]

16 minutes ago, Stu said:

Go with what is in the manual for tyre pressures 

 

The ones on the tyre are the maximum pressure for the tyre which isn't always suitable for the type of bike 

I thought that and read that I should go by that, but then thought surely 5-ways would know best as they are Yamaha dealers. All the advice from you all has reset me and my journey continues

[Stevehessleuk]

Now I’m confused these are the tyres on my bike 

[Hairsy]

As has been said, really focus on looking where you're going. Specifically, visualise your line through the corner. Look at the exact bit of road that you're planning to ride and you're likely to then ride it.

 

There's likely to be a big psychological thing going on. You know you need to lean the bike to turn. You also know how to counter steer (because it's the only way to steer above walking speed). However as soon as you start to doubt yourself, the brain wants the body to be upright and then there's this internal conflict going on.

 

One tip that I'd suggest is to practice very intentional countersteering. And do it loads. When riding along in a straight line (without other drivers nearby who will think you're drunk), push each side of the handlebars to experience the way it turns you in the opposite direction. As you get comfortable, try to be a bit more positive and invoke a fairly fast swerve (but never get near grip limits doing this). Keep doing it - for minutes at a time. The purpose is to override that unconscious desire to be upright and replace it with a comfort with invoking a lean and with the effect that has. The more comfortable your subconscious becomes with that concept, the less you'll have that nervousness that you might not make the corner.

 

And, finally, it's completely normal and you will overcome it.

[Fiddlesticks]

Ignore anything the AI summary says.

It once told me the inner dimension of an oil seal was larger than the outer dimension. Then it told me a 7-digit part number which it later admitted to guessing. I mean, it had a one in ten million chance of getting it right, why not?

[Stevehessleuk]

1 hour ago, Hairsy said:

As has been said, really focus on looking where you're going. Specifically, visualise your line through the corner. Look at the exact bit of road that you're planning to ride and you're likely to then ride it.

 

There's likely to be a big psychological thing going on. You know you need to lean the bike to turn. You also know how to counter steer (because it's the only way to steer above walking speed). However as soon as you start to doubt yourself, the brain wants the body to be upright and then there's this internal conflict going on.

 

One tip that I'd suggest is to practice very intentional countersteering. And do it loads. When riding along in a straight line (without other drivers nearby who will think you're drunk), push each side of the handlebars to experience the way it turns you in the opposite direction. As you get comfortable, try to be a bit more positive and invoke a fairly fast swerve (but never get near grip limits doing this). Keep doing it - for minutes at a time. The purpose is to override that unconscious desire to be upright and replace it with a comfort with invoking a lean and with the effect that has. The more comfortable your subconscious becomes with that concept, the less you'll have that nervousness that you might not make the corner.

 

And, finally, it's completely normal and you will overcome it.

Thank you, I’ll definitely practice this

[husoi]

One way, personally the best one, to control your low speed ride is to use the rear break while maintaining the acceleration on and counter lean on the bike.

Not sure if this was mentioned up there yet

Sounds counter-intuitive but it will work wonders at low speed 

[Stevehessleuk]

I’ll take all the advice I can get on here, I want to be a great rider and more importantly safe  

[Mold]

I can't say much that hasn't been said, but practice and consistency are your best mates, one day you'll have forgotten all about this and you'll be getting on your bike like you get in your car - without giving it a second thought. You should check your tyre pressure regularly though, even after new tyres because the dealer will just inflate them and I've never had a correct pressure from them yet.

[Stevehessleuk]

Do you l think I should go to Yamaha recommendation and lower tyre pressure? Obviously at my risk

[billysugger]

You really have nothing to lose, apart from a few psi, by trying the pressures stated in your owners manual. Make sure you have a accurate pressure gauge for checking

Personally, when I pumped my tyres  up I always went for 1/2 a psi above to account for escaping air when removing the pumps' clamp from the valve ( it was a tight fit)

Edited Saturday at 12:09 by billysugger
Bloody predictive text

[Stevehessleuk]

Hi, yes I got one of these and it’s perfect. Will do tyres in morning and see how it feels tomorrow

[Stevehessleuk]

[ChrisBiggsUK]

I have similar.  Great minds, eh.  

[Stevehessleuk]

I bought it last week £25 and this week it’s £20 to be fair if I’d seen it in a shop I think I’d have happily paid £50. It’s a solid lump and doesn’t feel cheap at all, plus the bonus of power bank aswell. For £20 now it’s a absolute steal