Mistakes and fails are the best teachers.

 

Don't look down when you're stopping.

 

Well, I'm not really sure what wheat has to do with this, but I'll give it a shot.

There have been several threads recently about slow speed maneuvers, and how important it is to learn those skills. And, as usual, there were the usual deniers who all said some variation of: "I will never, ever have to execute a figure-8 in order to avoid an emergency situation". Well, yes and no. Unless you're running from the cops, in case you just might need to.

Here are the reasons why you need to take a riders' training class that includes low speed maneuvers:

1. Until you do, if you try to figure out what's going wrong, and why it's so hard, you're pretty much guessing.

2. Practicing is a total waste of time if you've never had a skilled rider teach you what to practice and how to practice it.

3. The biggie: Your goal is to be able to "Put your bike where you want it, when you want it, every time". That's what saves your *** in an emergency situation, the confidence to swing those bars without locking up the rear wheel, not just doing u-turns and figure-8's.

Here's why you've dropped your bike, and several of the other guys have already said it, so I apologize for piling on...

1. Situational awareness: you must be looking ahead to where you intend to stop. My last "oh ****" moment occurred when I was stopping at a stop sign, and put my left foot down directly into a pothole that was a good 6" deep. It was a frikkin' miracle I was able to haul the bike back upright. We all screw up once in a while.

2. Notice road surface, slope, etc.. If it's on a slope, plan for where you're going to come to a stop, and you should be facing directly UP the slope, even if that means you're going to come to a stop not facing directly in line with the lane. It's safer.

3. Never come to a stop with the handlebars turned to one side.

4. Never come to a stop using your front brake. If you're using both brakes like you should, then make sure you let off the front before you come to a stop.

5. That means, obviously, deny it all you want, that your right foot is going to be on the rear brake as you come to a stop. Sure, you can put both feet down after you're stopped if you want to, but if you've got both feet dangling as you come to a stop, you're going to drop the bike, eventually, more than once. It's only a matter of time and a sketchy road surface or a slope or you've got the bars turned.

Take a class taught by experts, and practice what you were taught, and how you were taught to practice.

You must practice.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

Be taller

 

Experience is a harsh teacher-first comes the test, THEN the lesson. Lots of good advice on this thread, but take a MSF Riders Course as soon as you can. (Full disclosure: I started riding in 1966, and didn't take the MSF course until 2014).

 

These are pretty basic rules. We get sloppy on other bikes, able to save it, but that is why we see a 100 pound woman rider riding an ultra everywhere with the confidence she won't drop it. She knows her lean limits.
For me, to add to this conversation, the big rule is for my passenger, "when we are slowing down or stopping, stay still! No looking around me until we are stopped and my feet are down. Riding loaded or two up, your lean angle when stopped is not as much. When you switch from a Dyna to an Ultra, your lean angle is not as forgiving. Just cause you could save the other bike does not mean you had good form. With a heavier bike, the sloppy angle off vertical will be less than you could get away with on lighter bike. But it is still sloppy riding if you have to save it from tipping just because it is lighter. Just learn the limits for your ride. No worse or better, just different.
Have I exceeded those angles? Yes, even on smaller bikes when being careless. Have I exceeded the angle on my touring, yes, when she leaned over just as we stopped to point out the motel office sign. Happens. She learned, and I remind her, slowing and stopped she stays still and behind me. Piece of pie.

 

Personal observation of a duffer:

Training / safety courses are allegedly popular yet, when you're with a group or encounter other riders by coincidence stopped at a light or intersection, how many right feet do you see remaining on the peg/board ?

One could conclude either courses aren't as well attended as you think or the lessons just don't stick with the majority of students.

 

There's also the natural human condition, known as "drift."
Happens to all of us.

 

I've ridden motorcycles for about 50 years. But this is the first really heavy bike I've had. My previous bike, a Triumph T120, had a dry weight of 493 lbs. So, my CVO Limited is a LOT heavier. I'm doing really well with slow maneuvers and regular riding. The CVO handles very well for me. It's the dead weight at full stop that's causing me problems. I can flat foot, but not with a lot of leg to spare. With a bike that's roughly half the weight of the CVO, balance at full stop isn't so much of an issue. Add 400 lbs, and suddenly it's a real serious issue. Obviously, I'm aware of the problem. I just need to develop a new set of precautions/habits for choosing where to stop, and how to keep all that weight balanced.

And, there was no damage. These were gentle layovers at a full stop with the CVO engine and saddle bag guards installed.

 

AND top-heavy. That tour pack makes a difference. I realize it's money, but I'd consider getting a quick disconnect setup, and only put it on when you're going to need it.

Yup, you can lead a horse to water...