Been practicing in parking lots for over 3 years on the Road Star. Trying to turn it tightly like the bikes on Ride Like a Pro. I am either a very slow learner or the bike is not capable of turning as tight as a Harley. I could turn my 1100 V Star tightly, but the Road Star is not showing me the love. I take 2.5 parking spaces to turn it on a good day. Either I am missing something or the bike turns wider than a HD. It is not an issue that affects my overall turning, as I can easily turn around in a one way street. Maybe it's a bit tougher to handle than a Victory or Harley. I am still practicing 180 degree turns from stop full lock and practicing figure 8's. Taking the advance course in a couple weeks and want to do well. I do enjoy the parking lot practice, but only for 5 to 15 minutes max. There is an intensity about turning the Road Star tightly that I really enjoy. On season 4 and I still feel like a rookie. Got the full lock turns from full stop working out well, and enjoy practicing that the most. What say you? Is it me or the bike geometry effects it's turning radius? Thanks for and replies. BTW, 2 seasons ago took the advanced course and did well. Instructors said I was a natural. Maybe I am expecting too much.

Hey maybe you are not aggressive enough in the turns. Like you said in you rant post your friends think you are a bit aggressive so maybe that is your "natural" style. Show those turns who's boss.

I have the same issue so maybe it is the bikes geometry. Or maybe not. I don't know anyone local who has a R* to share experiences with so I have absolutely no frame of reference to go with on this one. Everyone here either has a Sport/Touring bike or is on a Harley so I don't know.

Our bikes have a long wheelbase. That affects the radius. Also, most of those FLs you are seeing turn tight have reverse steering trees, with the pivot in front of the tubes. Different beast. Now, I pull U turns from white line to white line on 2 lane roads (about 16 feet for a typical county road down here) and as long as it does that, I'm satisfied. Never paid much attention to what dimension my full lock circles are, I just know I can do them. I DO know they are nothing compared to how tight my little SV650 will turn, but they are far different beasts. 5.5 inch shorter wheelbase, smaller diameter wheels, 25 degree steering stem, 2 inches less trail, etc. I truly fail to see the point of a full lock departure, other than to prove it CAN be done.

Throw a 21" wheel up front without raked trees and you will like full lock even less lol.

My mom's boyfriend does the Ride Like a Pro shows and is in a few of the videos. So mom sends me all the videos. I also like to hit an empty parking lot and practice their drills. I am fortunate to have many bikes at my disposal and enjoy comparing them in the "slow and tight" stuff. I am far from "riding like a pro" but a couple parking spots is not bad to get one turned around. You figure these bikes are about as long as a single parking spot is wide (almost). Of course the longer I stay in the circle the tighter they get. It is probably b/c i spend more time on a Road Star, but I don't notice a huge difference between even the shorter wheel base bikes. It is more of having the friction zone of the clutch zeroed in and knowing how much to ride the back brake then the wheelbase to me. I am sure that would change if I spent more time on a shorter bike though. It's impressive to see what those guys can do on a big bike. For now, I am just happy being able to easily turn around on a typical neighborhood street.

roadiemort wrote:
Throw a 21" wheel up front without raked trees and you will like full lock even less lol.

But if you don't lower it you gain the potential at least to go over short curbs.

The Roadstar has the same wheelbase (66.5" & same rake (32°) and trail (5.6" as the HD Softtail.
Also has 16" tires, just like the Softtail. Max ground clearance on a stock Roadstar is 5.7".

The difference you might be feeling in steering might be the bars as much as anything else.
Could also be center of balance on each bike.

I can turn my Roadstar around 180° in 2 parking spaces, stock forks, bars, tires & wheels.
I have progressive springs & 10w fork oil which gives it a tighter feel but I doubt that changes the geometry in turns.

That being said, I was surprised how well my Brother In Law's Roadking turned when I rode it.
I was expecting it to be a toboggan but I was whipping it around pretty easily.

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What helps me in making the tightest turns is not going lock-to-lock so much as making the wheels smaller. By that I mean that I counterweight by shifting my body to the side of the seat on the outside of the turn. This means the bike is leaning over and riding on the sidewalls of the tires to some extent. This makes their diameter smaller and allows for a sharper turn. Some riders slide their weight to the side, I just angle my body onto my outer hip with all the weight there.

Of course at the same time this counter lean is going on, the rider should keep the rpm's up, clutch feathered, and rear brake dragging. Keeping one's head cranked around to the DIRECTION intended, rather than on the pavement directly in front of the bike is important.

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OK KIDS, after consulting with all the PD guys , on how they do it. It helps if its a cop trainer bike who cares if you drop it.
but practice practice practice.

find a place to do it, turn up your idle so it will not stall, like 1300 rpmish. do slow circles, morphing to figure 8's. now all u have to do is use the clutch and rear brake and the bars. feather clutch in to go slower, out to pick up speed.
do it for 15 minutes each session, u may get dizzy.

if u can do this in wet uneven grass after a 6 pack, at Volusia county fairgrounds in the dark, with 16 in apes, your done. actually wide apes give leverage to muscle a turn.

practice till u get tighter and tighter. turn your shoulders and head towards the turn, but dont lean like a speed turn yet, keep your body upright to counter balance the slow lean.

keep your feet pegged, but ready. push on the outside of the bar opposite the turn. u dont have to go lock to lock, but you will get there.

but a U turn on a RS is at least a one lane deal, if there is a crown to the road, even more. the front end on a lot of HDs are different, allowing a smaller radius.

RonK wrote:
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What helps me in making the tightest turns is not going lock-to-lock so much as making the wheels smaller. By that I mean that I counterweight by shifting my body to the side of the seat on the outside of the turn. This means the bike is leaning over and riding on the sidewalls of the tires to some extent. This makes their diameter smaller and allows for a sharper turn. Some riders slide their weight to the side, I just angle my body onto my outer hip with all the weight there.

Of course at the same time this counter lean is going on, the rider should keep the rpm's up, clutch feathered, and rear brake dragging. Keeping one's head cranked around to the DIRECTION intended, rather than on the pavement directly in front of the bike is important.

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+1 A++ A technique not too many know.