Master clutch and throttle first....rear brake comes afterwards and practice!! Can't get any better sitting on the couch.

The first time I did a hard U-turn was in an emergency incident. The truck ahead of me in an intersection, slammed his brakes to avoid a pedestrian that stepped off the curb. I was just exiting my lean through the corner at 30kph. When the empty truck went sideways, I was too close, too fast too out of balance to easily out brake it. So my eyes, head and upper body followed the gap in the oncoming traffic and I did a surprising hard u-turn into that traffic. Head on a swivel, I looked over my shoulder to where the gap would be. Countersteered and let the front wheel do its thing. Perfectly executed and dumbfounding. I never knew a bike could turn that hard, that fast. I had been told as a novice to look where I needed to be. Just a friend. Never did a riding course. Learned the lesson well. 30 years later, just before hanging up my jacket, helmet & gloves I did that car park exercise just for fun, for the first time. Only issue was my neck couldn’t turn far enough, so I swiveled at my seat and once again fast smooth turns, and circles were achieved. Loose hands on the bars looking at where I needed to be, boot resting on the rear brake, tapped just enough to move my centre of gravity forwards to where it needed to be. The time to quit riding is when the body can no longer cope with being flexible, moving in the saddle, and being hyper alert to the road ahead and behind. Pain and creaking joints make for a bad companion when riding. As does failing eyesight. Know when it is time! But cherish those memories of being soaked, frozen, pleasantly exhausted, and thrilled. -they will last you a lifetime.

After riding 45 years , yours is the clearest explanation of tight turns I have ever heard . Thank you

The best answer for nay-sayers and critics is success. You inspire me, Doodle!

I'm 66 year old bloke in UK thinking of getting 2 wheels . I found your video very informative, and just the right mix of fun but with seriousness too. Thank you very much, keep up the good work. - John

Congrats! It's nice to see someone promoting safe riding, proper bike handling skills. There are far too many channels on KZfaq that glorify dangerous behavior. Here's to wishing you continued success with your channel. Stay safe and keep smiling ❤

Been riding for decades and still learning. Love watching your evolution through training, hard work, and practice. You and the other instructors who have helped you motivate me to continue learning and improving.

You are so much more professional and skilled than you were. Thank you for encouraging us do better too. Great job!!! I tell people about your channel for great advice. You go girl!!!!

Really enjoy your videos, and I notice the improvements in editing over time. Just remember it's brake, not break. Not a big deal, but the right terminology and spelling always elevates the quality of the videos. Keep up the good work inspiring and informing!

As a 21 year old, British Male weighing 53KG and being 170cm, (5'5" roughly). I have always been told I'm too skinny for a bike, I have my MT-125 atm and I'm saving up to get a BMW F 750 GS or F 800 GS, nothing will stop me from getting it and I'm going to push myself and train to make it possible. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do, only you determine what you can and can not do. *I'm also planning a Europe tour next year on my bigger bike, nothing but myself to stop me.

what makes it difficult is trusting that you're not going to dump your precious bike in the process. most of us have memories of dropping our bicycles when we lean them over too hard at low speeds. and now we're having to almost completely turn our heads around and try to lean away from the inside of the turn at the same time. it's an awkward feeling if you haven't done it 10,000 times already.

I can't overstate how much your u-turn videos have improved my riding and sensible confidence. I've now started challenging myself by doing tight u-turn practise on uneven surfaces and slopes (especially slopes that change). You and @MotoJitsu have also inspired me to create videos about the growth of my own motorcycle skills. You're making a difference. Thank you.

Way to explain! You always do such a great job of breaking everything down simplistically.

Yes!!!! Love how you broke it down simply, excellent tips. I’ll practice on my Honda 250 (my training bike I still have). Terrified to drop my bagger but need to improve my tight u-turns.

Hi Doodle, Michael here from Northern California, and I'm a 55 year old re-entry rider who is STILL building confidence. When I was 25 I was riding like a demon, no fear, and I was GOOD, now I feel like a complete newbie with zero experience. It's SO difficult to regain my confidence with this old brain.

All good tips for uturns, and basic slow speed maneuvering. How often are you needing to uturn? been riding for 35~ years and the number of times ive needed to actually do a sharp uturn is quite small.

Hi Carolyn: Thank you for making these videos. I’ll be turning 70 next week and so I don’t ride as much as I used to. The older I get, the more I feel the need to practice these skills,especially emergency braking. I practice in school parking lots whenever I go out for a ride. Do you ever help groups of riders train on weekends like “motojitsu “? You’d be really good at it, and Cody could be there filming.🏍️

Thank you,I am 70 and trying to get back to riding after 40 years.soo helpful,you need to be an Instructor .

LOVE your mic 🤣 also love the tips and the grounded reality. getting my first (street) bike delivered soon, looking forward to similar practice sessions like you have done as i havent been on a bike since my dirtbike as a teen!

Hey Doodle. HUGE fan! I’ve been wanting to purchase a “brake free” for quite some time. Today’s the day! Used your promotion link! 10 bucks off baby!! Thanks for all you do!

Excellent tips, Doodle! Time to start working on a whole beginner's riding course and/or starting a school. You're already a great instructor!

Excellent video Doodle! I'm 76 and a retired motor officer . I learned these techniques in motor school and practiced them every day at work. I had my first ride this season last week and was shocked at how much I forgot. I appreciate your video and my first stop next ride will be to a parking lot for practice.

Keep putting these kind of videos out . Thanks for the info

You've come along way. When my wife and I started watching your videos back at the beginning (she was also new to bikes) it was more for the newbie experience. Now, I come back every so often for the technical knowledge, so we can both learn a few things, or at the very least, approach some training issue from another direction. After all, you've sought out some of the best motorcycle instructors on YT, and combine with your own training and experiences, it shows. Cheers, from Australia.

Fantastic advice Doodle! I can be guilty of using a little too much rear brake sometimes. Great video!

Always informative, Doodle!

Ms Doodle, fantastic work and sage points. I have been motorcycling 42 years and was a Safety Instructor for 8 of those teaching over 650 students. You would make a good instructor as well. Dave from East Coast of Canada

Another well produced and helpful video. Many thanks!

I just passed the motorcycle class. I used all the tricks/skills you showed us through your videos. Thank you.

G’morning Doodle. A great start to the morning, & a nice refresher after a winter of not riding.

Ty for the info. Great work. Great channel!

I have followed your channel since you were riding the T100, and I have always enjoyed the content. It's inspiring to see your progression, specially as a fellow non tall rider

Excellent video. Thank you.

Great insight! Thank you o sensei!

Exactly what I needed. Thanks!

Doodle - this is the type of Video I enjoy seeing you make - Congratulations - Ill be looking for the "Rear Brake/ Friction Zone+Throttle technique of slow speed maneuvers too ! Keep Up the Good Work !

Amazing Doodle awesome skills and great instructional content blessings

Oh Doddle - I was diligently listening to all your advice. Then your last clip - mic drop! 😂 Crushing it! Love your channel. Thanks for your content :)

Mastering slow speed tight maneuvers is huge. great vid Doodle

Sweet, great vid. Thanks dudle.

I'm not an experienced rider, but during practice for my exam looking the right way (head orientation and eyes focusing in the following obstacles, not the immediate, as you said) was an amazing improvement. Everyone needs a good instructor!! Ride safe!!

Just got back on a bike after ten years, so shaking off the rust and trying to re-establish good habits. Your channel is really helping me out, so thanks. (Also: immediately snagged a white brake-free and it's awesome.)

Thanks for your vids, just got the helmet light .. keep up the good vids

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!

Hi Doodle, the cool thing that I like about the Brake Free light is that it works even if one is not on the motorcycle. Also, burnt out taillight on your car, slap on that Brake Free light. I like your instructional response videos.

Good video and information. In MSF we teach upper body only without moving your butt because sometimes people move their butt out but lean their upper body in. Glad to see how your hard work and practice paid off. 😎🏍️

Great video Doodle, ride safe out there always😊

I used to watch you back when you were a beginner and trying all sorts of different bikes. I was in a similar situation then as well. I admit not following you for past number of years. But this video has shown me how you've matured and are doing so much more to improve your skills than I have done. Wish more new riders out there would follows this progression. So many just want the get the fastest & coolest bike they can and end up dying.

great work! its great to see Somone that is actively trying to become a better more confident rider

Thank you so much! You inspire me not to give up. I am 158 cm height, and I really want to ride an adventure bike. Most people say that i'm crazy and i have to ride only small bikes. Then I always tell them about you and Jocelyn)))

Good stuff maynard. I'm an instructor out of Cali. Love your videos along with MotoJitsu. Iron sharpens iron. Turn your head!

Thank you. This was helpful.

Great video thank you. The good instructor .

Great tips! U-turns were my biggest struggle during my riding course. Going to practice these this weekend! I bought a brake free light a few years ago. I was riding downtown in light rain , very cloudy skies and still some haze in the air. A cargo van driver pulled up to me at a traffic light and said that liight really helped me stand out in the lower visibility conditions. It have saved my life when my rear tire blew on a cross country trip during Friday rushhour. I was in the slow lane going about 55-57 with the flow of traffic in my lane on a US-36. When the rear tire blew, I didn’t recognize it at first, I thought, “I didn’t notice the road again getting rough”, then the tire started to drag and wobble a bit. THAT’s when I knew what happened and my pulse rate shot up. I said, OK, don’t slam on the brakes, keep it upright. After a however many seconds I looked down at the speedo and saw I was down to 35 MPH and thought I might survive this is I don’t get run over. Fortunately, I knew my brake free light must be going crazy from the sudden deceleration and me shaking my head back and forth to triggier it more. When got down to 20 or so I began easing over to the right side of the lane and off to the shoulder. A big 16-wheeler was behind me and passed me after I was safely on the shoulder. Glad it wasn’t a 4-wheeler. I ride with mine all the time. It lasts a full day or two in the saddle and still going strong 3 years later!

Brilliant! Watched the video thinking to do a U turn challenge myself. A lot of good tips how to learn it better. Thank you for that.

Doodle I am SOOOO proud of you! You have come a long way in a short time Lady! Great stuff! Great video! Ride SAFE and BE safe Lady! 👍👍🌹🌹

If we could all ride like the riding that was done at Pensacola Harley this weekend, none of us will have issues. It was great finally meeting you. I was the person with the service doodle!

Great info and video!!!!!!!

Good video, I will definitely try some of these tips when doing a u turn. I really like the helmet light as well.

Great tips. Especially where your looking. Cheers

So helpful, great way to start a Friday

Doodle, I've ridden for many years... longer than you've been alive. Still, I pick up some good tips from you. You make me want to practice the slow speed stuff and take a class. Good job!

I love what you do and how you do it! Huge respect for him!

Great advice,especially the keep you speed up. Sometimes it feels difficult especially if you haven't got empty space but cars or walls keeping you in, then you stiffen up and everything goes wrong😅

I rode a tone younger. I recently got back into riding now that my kids are old enough to ride. This "old dog" was taught "dragging" (putting a little rear brake while still applying a little throttle) for slow turns and it was like night and day. Of course, head (or I think "eyes") are critical too but the "dragging" technique, for me, took me to a whole new comfort level.

You really have come along way with your riding doodle . Well done

Love your videos,love your enthusiasm, heck I think I love you,my thing is emergency stopping practice,I can stop after riding in Northern Wisconsin dodging deer for 56years.

You crack me up. Thanks for all you do! Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to do a day trip with you. I'm a big fan of the Blue ridge Pky. I'm thinking about doing 5 long weekend trips this year, with my wife and maybe a week on random back roads by myself. Living in Delaware gives me plenty of directions to go for good rides, just can't go east :)

Great info.

I took the MSF Basic Rider Course this past weekend. You are exactly right about how to execute a U turn. My biggest problem is turning my head and looking up, and using the rear brake. Throttle and friction zone were pretty good. I passed the course, but I am not good at U turns, by any means. I need much more practice.

Thanks, Doodle!

I've got a Brake Free light on my helmet (plus a mount on my wife's helmet for when she rides backpack). 100% of the time I ride, I have at least 1 person ask me about saying they want one for themself or a family member. People can see the light on it even during the day! Love it.

Almost anyone can ride fast in a straight line. The best riders know that slow riding is the second hardest thing to do on a motorcycle. The most tasking thing is riding with a passenger that likes to fidget and lean when you are at low speeds or coming to a stop :) Stay safe and keep on practicing.

number one made a rly big impact for, I was practicing and i leaned my bike a good bit more than usual and all of the sudden turning go so much easier and tighter thats when i realized that counter balancing is key

Wow! Lots of great information here. I need to have more self discipline and practice more often. Fantastic advice!

"what am i doing with my life" girl! you have been helping me improve my riding and giving me confidence to ride my motorcycle that is out of my comfort zone. Keep doing what you are doing

I'm going to have to try this. I always struggle but the more you talk about it I never thought about trying to throw my bike around like a dirt bike so to speak.

Nice job, great video

I love that you still ride the SHERF bike! I am a bikes and beards (and the bearded mechanic!!) fan, too! I don't have any advice so I'll spare you my lack of credentials lol

Impressed with your dedication to learning, practicing and sharing essential riding skills👍. Practice all of us should be doing regardless of experience - though we probably don’t do☹️

That last comment and clip ... chef's kiss.

Awesome video !

I really like your channel. The tips are great!

Doodle I am a new subscriber I just watched the Bearded mechanics video on the police bike and your video on that I love your energy and I am looking forward to being a part of your adventures on here. I have faith in you and I know you will do great training with the police. You have the dedication and you put the work in which is very important.

Great notes, it’s working already.

I'm guilty of doing those! Currently doing my A licence in the UK. Great video, thank you Doodle!

You are such an awesome rider now, I can't do any of this stuff you can do now and I was better at u-turns than you when you started. Awesome job!!!

First one that is equal to the instructional quality of ANYONE!!! I love your journey and adventure and just life on a motorcycle ones though

wow very solid tips and great comments about rear brake as well, i used to think it was required as part of the u turn technique. Great to learn to use it at first and later on without

I have the same light on my helmet and I love it. I find that cars behind me tend to stay further back. I ride a 2015 Suzuki TU250X and a 1993 BMW K75. Thank you from Higganum Connecticut USA 😊.

I love the response to the "Mens' bikes" comment! LOL

I used your code for the brakefree light, I get asked a lot about it when people see me out and about and I usually give folks your code as well. I do rely on my rear brake a ton when riding slow and maneuvering, I need to watch more of Jerrys videos and find a parking lot somewhere and set up some cones I reckon.

I’m 74 and bought a 2000 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100cc 10 months ago. In the first 4 months, I dropped it 10 times. The first 5 I received some semi-serious injuries because the bike, weighing almost 600 pounds (I weighed 115 pounds), always landed on my lower legs, and one time I bumped my head receiving a mild concussion. During the second 5 times, after installing crash bars and wearing protective gear (helmet and full body armor), no injuries! I have a 19-mile ride in the woods that’s hilly and curvy, after which I do figure 8s and slalom in an empty parking lot daily. I haven’t dropped my bike in the last 6 months except in my carport yesterday when I was parking. We feed feral cats, and I was pushing a pan of cat food out of the way with my left foot, when the bike started leaning that way, that leg was already engaged and over I went; won’t do that again. My skill level’s improved tremendously, and I expect it to keep on improving. I started riding because I can’t cross-train for 4 hours every day like I used to; I only lift weights now, and I need 3 days of rest in between workouts; riding fills in that gap. I can lift for 2 hours without resting.

Another great one!!!

Watching u from the start of your KZfaq to today….I applaud u for your gains and skill set. Ret. Lieutenant (former motorcycle officer) Honolulu Police Department.

Thank you

That was a good one keep it up girl

Solid advice!! I've been a motor officer since 2009 and ride daily. Remember riding is a perishable skill if you stop training those skills diminish.

… your turns on flat ground look perfect now, this challenge of 1k-tunrs make you an expert. Now I’m looking forward to see you turning on a hill side, would make things no easier but more realistic.

The bikes and beards "SHERF" bike, lol. Love it!!