2-up balance question
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
Likes: 3
From:
RE: 2-up balance question
a lot of good advice here... also remember not to turn your handlebars, keep em straight. the wobble could also be a weight distribution factor. anyone who has ever driven an overloaded pickup truck knows the front end can wander due to the weight.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2-up balance question
Both of you need more practice, my wife use to do me the same way. I learned with practice like everyone else said. She needs to do all of her wiggeling while you are ridding or when completly stopped. But she has to pay attention as to when you are prepairing to stop...then she needs to stay centered and very still. If you guys practice this together, you will notice a big difference. It's a learning experience for you both.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
RE: 2-up balance question
hmmmmm---never put much thought into it. Like Nike---"I just do it" and so does my wife. Only two-up riding I ever had problems with the wifey was on crotch rockets going around curves at high speeds (she got used to the leaning)-------------On a HOG---we just do it. Just like using both brakes---I just do it-----I don't think about looking ahead and not down---I just do it...............maybe find some roads least traveled by cars and practice-----maybe you're thinking about it too much??? All of the balancing is done by me---I think my wife just relaxes---she doesn't pick a spot to look at, doesn't look over a particular shoulder, etc.........Good luck Bro...I say to practice a little to build the wife's confidence up also.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 513
Likes: 74
From:
RE: 2-up balance question
Good stuff here. A little to add: check the road slope left to right. Keep the bike vertical with respect to the horizon (truly verical). Understand that you'll need to extend one leg more than the other to account for sideways road pitch.
I keep my head and eyes up. I check the sideways pitch and condition of footing / traction when I approach a stop, then I keep my eyes on the horizon and float the bike to a stop smoothly but decisively, using peripheral vision to place the bike where I decided to stop it upon approach.
One more tip. I always completely stop at stop signs when 2-up. I can't look left and right while stopping. This seems a little stupid when nobody's approaching from the side, but I just concentrate on one thing at a time. Stop, look, decide, look where I'm going to go, then go. Don't rush.
I keep my head and eyes up. I check the sideways pitch and condition of footing / traction when I approach a stop, then I keep my eyes on the horizon and float the bike to a stop smoothly but decisively, using peripheral vision to place the bike where I decided to stop it upon approach.
One more tip. I always completely stop at stop signs when 2-up. I can't look left and right while stopping. This seems a little stupid when nobody's approaching from the side, but I just concentrate on one thing at a time. Stop, look, decide, look where I'm going to go, then go. Don't rush.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 18
From: East Central Illinois
RE: 2-up balance question
This is funny, i too was having the same issue. I made a point to pay attention to what the GF was doing as I came to a stop. I realized that she was doing a little back seat driving and straining to see over my shoulder to where we were stopping, always over my left shoulder. I reminded her to please refrain from moving about the bus when coming to a stop. Then I bought her dinner and I was forgiven.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: 2-up balance question
ORIGINAL: airjoe
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Did I mention NO!!!!!
ORIGINAL: JBaker421
Put both feet down and use the front brake for the last few feet. 70 percent of your braking is supposed to come from the front brake anyway due to weight transfer. If you use the rear brake all the way to a stop, you obviously don't have that foot for balance if you need it.
Put both feet down and use the front brake for the last few feet. 70 percent of your braking is supposed to come from the front brake anyway due to weight transfer. If you use the rear brake all the way to a stop, you obviously don't have that foot for balance if you need it.
Did I mention NO!!!!!
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 29,598
Likes: 19
From: Oregon
RE: 2-up balance question
ORIGINAL: JBaker421
Put both feet down and use the front brake for the last few feet. 70 percent of your braking is supposed to come from the front brake anyway due to weight transfer. If you use the rear brake all the way to a stop, you obviously don't have that foot for balance if you need it.
Put both feet down and use the front brake for the last few feet. 70 percent of your braking is supposed to come from the front brake anyway due to weight transfer. If you use the rear brake all the way to a stop, you obviously don't have that foot for balance if you need it.
ORIGINAL: Mac57
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Did I mention NO!!!!!
One more no. Use both brakes when stopping and ease up on the front brake before coming to a stop. Lay off the front brake altogether the last few feet before stopping. Eyes level looking at the car ahead of you or toward the horizon, left foot down first, then the right foot down when stopped. It is true that most of your braking power is in the front brake, but at parking lot speeds and stopping favor the rear brake. I dumped my bike twice last year with my wife riding passenger. Both times was because I stopped off balance using too much front brake. About 90% of my riding is two-up with my wife. Once I figured out to ease off the front brake coming to a stop we stop perfectly stable. My wife is also a very good passenger. She knows that any movement from her can dramaticly effect the bike's handling.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Did I mention NO!!!!!
One more no. Use both brakes when stopping and ease up on the front brake before coming to a stop. Lay off the front brake altogether the last few feet before stopping. Eyes level looking at the car ahead of you or toward the horizon, left foot down first, then the right foot down when stopped. It is true that most of your braking power is in the front brake, but at parking lot speeds and stopping favor the rear brake. I dumped my bike twice last year with my wife riding passenger. Both times was because I stopped off balance using too much front brake. About 90% of my riding is two-up with my wife. Once I figured out to ease off the front brake coming to a stop we stop perfectly stable. My wife is also a very good passenger. She knows that any movement from her can dramaticly effect the bike's handling.
So, while again I agree, I will still put both feet down when I have an untrained passenger, especially if they've already shown me that they won't sit still. I'll take my chances on being smooth and careful with my front brake for the last couple of mph quicker than I will on an adult rubber neck on the back.
My thought, although not explained well, was just that last very few feet - the last couple of mph, and then assuming I'm nowhere near a panic stop.
Of course this also assumes clean dry pavement. If I have any doubt, I'll use the rear brake (which I've also had go sideways on me on slick oily areas.)
Good luck!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 231
Likes: 1
From:
RE: 2-up balance question
Sorry Gang ~ I read 50% of the Replies and didn't see the answer I was hoping for so if someone mentioned it later on down, then I 2nd that. Although my lady is a pain in the rear, I'll have to give one thing to her. She's the best Backseat Rider I've ever had on a Bike.
What I've learned from her ability to ride is this, she does absolutely nothing. When she give other ladies tips on riding, she tells them to first start out by looking up at the Sky. Don't lean - Don't do anything to assist at all. The best thing you can do is just kick back on the seat and pretend it's not moving at all.
The other two very important points here are your tires pressure and shock adjustments. Then we end by understanding the braking system. Too much of either brake (front or back) will cause problems when stopping from higher speeds.
What I've learned from her ability to ride is this, she does absolutely nothing. When she give other ladies tips on riding, she tells them to first start out by looking up at the Sky. Don't lean - Don't do anything to assist at all. The best thing you can do is just kick back on the seat and pretend it's not moving at all.
The other two very important points here are your tires pressure and shock adjustments. Then we end by understanding the braking system. Too much of either brake (front or back) will cause problems when stopping from higher speeds.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
RE: 2-up balance question
I ride two-up with my wife all the time ...
best advice I've heard is keeping your head up, don't look down ... makes a HUGE difference, like coming in for a smooth landing ...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: 2-up balance question
... the last few feet. just use rear brake