Advice for accommodating a Very large passenger
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,735
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
Don't think The guys a troll, if he was he went through a lot of trouble creating his persona, Facebook page etc, came here and laid it all out to get a little advice.
Some that make fun of overweight people here are just insecure themselves and resolve to cyber bullying....
Some that make fun of overweight people here are just insecure themselves and resolve to cyber bullying....
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,386
Likes: 900
From: Columbus, Ohio
Don't think The guys a troll, if he was he went through a lot of trouble creating his persona, Facebook page etc, came here and laid it all out to get a little advice.
Some that make fun of overweight people here are just insecure themselves and resolve to cyber bullying....
Some that make fun of overweight people here are just insecure themselves and resolve to cyber bullying....
Some people just enjoy being mean a$$holes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
I too gave a big gal a ride on my Deluxe, and yeah it positioned me pretty far forward. Now me, I'm 5'8" and 165lbs. She was probably double my weight. Low speed maneuvering was substantially more difficult. But the smile on her face after the ride was awesome!
Based on that, I'd agree with the others that you wanna make sure your hips are good to go and can support the weight in "parking lot" situations.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 789
Likes: 225
From: Sheboygan, WI
I would also suggest a trike, either for her or for you both to ride 2 up. Much more stable. Rent one for a day, both of you ride it (both solo & 2up). Then you will know if that is an option to consider. Good luck to both of you!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
As others have said, it's just not safe to ride with her at that weight. And honestly, it just won't be much fun either.
But congrats on your loss of more than 200 pounds. Perhaps that, and her desire to ride, can be a motivator for her to also lose some weight, and then y'all can go riding together.
Heck, she may even decide to get her own bike.
TWF!
But congrats on your loss of more than 200 pounds. Perhaps that, and her desire to ride, can be a motivator for her to also lose some weight, and then y'all can go riding together.
Heck, she may even decide to get her own bike.
TWF!
Last edited by SoCalSoftailSlim; Jul 26, 2017 at 06:51 PM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 816
Likes: 57
From: Rijssen, the Netherlands
Seriously, try a sidecar or switch to a trike..No bike is designed or constructed to transport your combined weight on the seat and buddyseat..And both the side car and the trike is more safe to ride as well with your combined weight. Respect that you lost so many pounds but still it is all together too much for a solo bike.
Last edited by Bart van der Meulen; Jul 26, 2017 at 11:15 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 424
Likes: 36
From: El Paso, TX
look into shocks other than the air shocks. I have progressive 944s on mine with the heavy duty springs, they are for 250+lbs. I am 235#. They now make a super duty spring rated for 350+lbs. My wife has been riding more with me and due to a medical condition has gone from 170 to 200 in the past year. I am thinking of moving to the super duty spring as we still bottom out here and there even after setting the proper sage. On the air shocks, when she was lighter, even at 50psi we bottomed out a lot.
As others have said, have her get on first if possible while on the jiffy stand (but will be more work for you to right the bike). Have her get off first if possible. When my wife gets on or off, I make sure the jiffy stand is down first.
Also, and this is important, when stopped or moving slow, they absolutely cannot fidget around back there.
Good luck to you and your bride! Happy riding.
As others have said, have her get on first if possible while on the jiffy stand (but will be more work for you to right the bike). Have her get off first if possible. When my wife gets on or off, I make sure the jiffy stand is down first.
Also, and this is important, when stopped or moving slow, they absolutely cannot fidget around back there.
Good luck to you and your bride! Happy riding.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 4,509
From: N.E. WA.
As others have said, you really should get a trike if you plan to keep riding 2 up. It's not just about getting on and off, it's not just about what the bike can/will handle... you need to consider what you're going to do when the pin-head in a cage cuts you off, slams the brakes in front of you, and so on, and so on. Then there's potentially unstable road surfaces, parking lots with loose gravel and so many other potentially compromising situations.
With that much weight to try and muscle around, your already compromised hip and the bike pushed to it's limits (or possibly exceeding them) you need to consider your ability to safely maneuver in an emergency situation. Riding is a dangerous past time. That's one of the reasons why it's so exciting. A trike will help to keep the bike stable and upright in many situations where you might otherwise start to go off-center and completely loose it. Imagine yourself and your lady going down and how well either of your bodies are going to handle that. With your size, age and condition... you're not going to just hop up off the bike and be picking it up, one of you is very likely to end up pinned underneath it.
Not being mean, just being realistic. Think about the potentially bad situations, so you can actually enjoy all the good ones.
And do... keep up with as much potential weight loss activity as you can. I used to make prosthetics and orthotics and the vast majority of our patients were obese, diabetics. I wouldn't wish limb loss on anyone and hate to see folks do it to themselves when it could have been avoided.
Good luck and Ride Safe
With that much weight to try and muscle around, your already compromised hip and the bike pushed to it's limits (or possibly exceeding them) you need to consider your ability to safely maneuver in an emergency situation. Riding is a dangerous past time. That's one of the reasons why it's so exciting. A trike will help to keep the bike stable and upright in many situations where you might otherwise start to go off-center and completely loose it. Imagine yourself and your lady going down and how well either of your bodies are going to handle that. With your size, age and condition... you're not going to just hop up off the bike and be picking it up, one of you is very likely to end up pinned underneath it.
Not being mean, just being realistic. Think about the potentially bad situations, so you can actually enjoy all the good ones.
And do... keep up with as much potential weight loss activity as you can. I used to make prosthetics and orthotics and the vast majority of our patients were obese, diabetics. I wouldn't wish limb loss on anyone and hate to see folks do it to themselves when it could have been avoided.
Good luck and Ride Safe
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,735
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
Once the wife gets rid of all the pounds, you will be fine.... Need to work on the leg strength though.. I sometimes struggle if I have been riding in the same position for a while then come to a stop...it can catch me by surprise...wait a little while and build strength.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
I think it took a fair amount of courage for the OP to put this out there. After all, all of us are flawed in some way and have no call to be judgmental.
I too gave a big gal a ride on my Deluxe, and yeah it positioned me pretty far forward. Now me, I'm 5'8" and 165lbs. She was probably double my weight. Low speed maneuvering was substantially more difficult. But the smile on her face after the ride was awesome!
Based on that, I'd agree with the others that you wanna make sure your hips are good to go and can support the weight in "parking lot" situations.
I too gave a big gal a ride on my Deluxe, and yeah it positioned me pretty far forward. Now me, I'm 5'8" and 165lbs. She was probably double my weight. Low speed maneuvering was substantially more difficult. But the smile on her face after the ride was awesome!
Based on that, I'd agree with the others that you wanna make sure your hips are good to go and can support the weight in "parking lot" situations.
I'm not making fun. Apologies if it appeared that way. I was giving my experience on my Sporty.
Cheers