2-up balance question
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
2-up balance question
Okay, folks. Sorry in advance for the length of this post.
My wife just completed the BRC 2 weeks ago, however, in the process she managed to lay the bike down during one of the exercises they were doing and injured her knee. NOW, she has been bugging me to take her for a ride on the Road King. Last night I gave in and we went to her Mom's for dinner and then back home again. During one of the several stops we had to make (stop signs, traffic lights) I lost my balance a little and she put her foot down to "help me" keep the bike up. Of course, it was the leg with the hurt knee and she wasn't too happy about it....or with me.
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
Until her knee heals up, she's gonna be riding with me.
My wife just completed the BRC 2 weeks ago, however, in the process she managed to lay the bike down during one of the exercises they were doing and injured her knee. NOW, she has been bugging me to take her for a ride on the Road King. Last night I gave in and we went to her Mom's for dinner and then back home again. During one of the several stops we had to make (stop signs, traffic lights) I lost my balance a little and she put her foot down to "help me" keep the bike up. Of course, it was the leg with the hurt knee and she wasn't too happy about it....or with me.
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
Until her knee heals up, she's gonna be riding with me.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
From: Canada
RE: 2-up balance question
I don't do much 2-up riding, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
The little 2-up riding I do do, I find my ability to keep the bike balanced correctly relies heavily on the position of the passenger. My first thought after reading your post was that her putting her foot down to "help" would actually do more harm then good. Make sure she knows to keep herself centered on the bike especially when you are coming to a stop. You can't tell when she's going to lean one way or the other, so It's going to catch you off guard and make it that much more difficult to keep the bike balanced.
Just some food for thought I guess.
Ray.
The little 2-up riding I do do, I find my ability to keep the bike balanced correctly relies heavily on the position of the passenger. My first thought after reading your post was that her putting her foot down to "help" would actually do more harm then good. Make sure she knows to keep herself centered on the bike especially when you are coming to a stop. You can't tell when she's going to lean one way or the other, so It's going to catch you off guard and make it that much more difficult to keep the bike balanced.
Just some food for thought I guess.
Ray.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,920
Likes: 6
From: Upstate New York
RE: 2-up balance question
duct tape her in the most centered, upright position!!
make sure she goes pee first and not much coffee/sugar
shes throwing you off balance every time a hunk goes by!!!
make sure she goes pee first and not much coffee/sugar
shes throwing you off balance every time a hunk goes by!!!
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2-up balance question
I would not practice with a human on the bike -certainly not one that I cared about. I do not know what the experts would say, but perhaps putting some weights in the bags and strapping some more on the passenger seat is what you want for practice.
That knee could be a real issue in the future. If she continues to have discomfort she might want to see a doctor. If she remains with pain more than several days, she would do herself well to have an mri. The knees, like the elbows and ankles, are real weak spots in the human design -and medicine is only now beginning to be successful sometimes. Note also that any real injury might not become apparent for some days or even longer. If it were me, I would be taking lukewarm baths with 12 cups Epsom Salt for 40 minutes, every other day for 3 months. I would also stay away from stairs, jogging, etc. as much as possible. So, if you have the insurance coverage, do not be lazy about this.
That knee could be a real issue in the future. If she continues to have discomfort she might want to see a doctor. If she remains with pain more than several days, she would do herself well to have an mri. The knees, like the elbows and ankles, are real weak spots in the human design -and medicine is only now beginning to be successful sometimes. Note also that any real injury might not become apparent for some days or even longer. If it were me, I would be taking lukewarm baths with 12 cups Epsom Salt for 40 minutes, every other day for 3 months. I would also stay away from stairs, jogging, etc. as much as possible. So, if you have the insurance coverage, do not be lazy about this.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 2
RE: 2-up balance question
You must have a long legged wife to be able to put her foot down as a passenger on a road king. Check your air pressures and when coming to the stop, lay off the front brake, it'll cause that to happen too. I mean for the last few feet. just use rear brake
Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: 2-up balance question
Shes causing the bike to wander with her movements. You naturally compensate for your own movements, you are not used to compensating for hers.
my take...
my take...
ORIGINAL: ckgdrums
Okay, folks. Sorry in advance for the length of this post.
My wife just completed the BRC 2 weeks ago, however, in the process she managed to lay the bike down during one of the exercises they were doing and injured her knee. NOW, she has been bugging me to take her for a ride on the Road King. Last night I gave in and we went to her Mom's for dinner and then back home again. During one of the several stops we had to make (stop signs, traffic lights) I lost my balance a little and she put her foot down to "help me" keep the bike up. Of course, it was the leg with the hurt knee and she wasn't too happy about it....or with me.
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
Until her knee heals up, she's gonna be riding with me.
Okay, folks. Sorry in advance for the length of this post.
My wife just completed the BRC 2 weeks ago, however, in the process she managed to lay the bike down during one of the exercises they were doing and injured her knee. NOW, she has been bugging me to take her for a ride on the Road King. Last night I gave in and we went to her Mom's for dinner and then back home again. During one of the several stops we had to make (stop signs, traffic lights) I lost my balance a little and she put her foot down to "help me" keep the bike up. Of course, it was the leg with the hurt knee and she wasn't too happy about it....or with me.
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
Until her knee heals up, she's gonna be riding with me.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 29,598
Likes: 19
From: Oregon
RE: 2-up balance question
I had that problem at first too.
Ask her to sit still, upright when stopping or starting or when at low speeds any time.
Stop and start with authority. Don't let the bike drag slowly to a stop. In other words, don't try to ride it at 2 mph.
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.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
RE: 2-up balance question
ORIGINAL: ckgdrums
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
Now, my question. I've noticed lately that I'm having trouble keeping the bike from wandering when rolling to a stop riding 2-up. It seems like I'm okay riding solo, but when my wife is back there the bike seems to want to wander....and it's mostly left when it does it. Is there some trick that I am missing or do I just need more practice with her on the back?
What I discovered was that I was either braking way too early and have to ride way too slow and for some reason I end up looking down and left (probably trying to see where I am going to stop) and the bike wanders to the left and has almost fallen over on several occasions. The other thing I do is brake way too late and then I have to really get on the brakes. The extra weight back there makes a tremondous difference (and my wife isn't a big woman).
What I discovered was that if I keep my head up pick a spot to look at and slow using both brakes it works, I do practice with her on the back all the time. One fo the things a wise old MSF instructor used to say about passengers was that if you are going to ride with a passenger you should be able to do all the MSF excercises with the passenger on the back.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 4
From: Logan, Ohio
RE: 2-up balance question
My wife seems to think that just because we're slow or stopped she can shift without warning.NOT!If she is staying still I have no problems.Is your wife leaning a little left when riding so as to see then leaning back as you stop as not much to see?
RE: 2-up balance question
This is my take. When she shifts to place a foot on the ground she is throwing you off balance. When I ride with the wife, one of the rules is that she keeps her feet on the pegs at all times. This eliminates that problem. Even if balance is not a concern, what if someone if coming up fast behind you at a stop and you have to take off to get out of the way? Not too easy with her feet on the ground.