Uneven pavement
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 95
From:
RE: Uneven pavement
Backing off the throttle and slowing down are the same, no? You don't want to slam the front wheel into a two inch piece of blacktop.
You should also lean back to take as much weight as possible off the front end. Coming off the throttle should also help do this.
My pre-Harley training was to get up off the seat. This would move the weight down on the bike and let me use my legs in addition to the bike's suspension when hitting. I think this is fine on a Harley if you can get up off the seat - it can typically be difficult if not impossible to get off the seat on a bike with forward controls.
You should also lean back to take as much weight as possible off the front end. Coming off the throttle should also help do this.
My pre-Harley training was to get up off the seat. This would move the weight down on the bike and let me use my legs in addition to the bike's suspension when hitting. I think this is fine on a Harley if you can get up off the seat - it can typically be difficult if not impossible to get off the seat on a bike with forward controls.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: Uneven pavement
ORIGINAL: hd lady
Oh yah, I forgot that area is pretty messed up too. So did ya'll miss me on the ride? We ended up getting a lot of rain a little later in the day but ya'll probably missed it.
Oh yah, I forgot that area is pretty messed up too. So did ya'll miss me on the ride? We ended up getting a lot of rain a little later in the day but ya'll probably missed it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: Uneven pavement
ORIGINAL: nine11c2
Backing off the throttle and slowing down are the same, no? You don't want to slam the front wheel into a two inch piece of blacktop.
You should also lean back to take as much weight as possible off the front end. Coming off the throttle should also help do this.
My pre-Harley training was to get up off the seat. This would move the weight down on the bike and let me use my legs in addition to the bike's suspension when hitting. I think this is fine on a Harley if you can get up off the seat - it can typically be difficult if not impossible to get off the seat on a bike with forward controls.
Backing off the throttle and slowing down are the same, no? You don't want to slam the front wheel into a two inch piece of blacktop.
You should also lean back to take as much weight as possible off the front end. Coming off the throttle should also help do this.
My pre-Harley training was to get up off the seat. This would move the weight down on the bike and let me use my legs in addition to the bike's suspension when hitting. I think this is fine on a Harley if you can get up off the seat - it can typically be difficult if not impossible to get off the seat on a bike with forward controls.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 95
From:
RE: Uneven pavement
You are right Grunt. I knew this was wrong as soon as I typed it. Accelerate - rearward weight shift, brake forward. You want to come off the throttle to slow down and keep the bike as neutral/stable as possible. My experience on big bumps, off the throttle to keep the bike as NEUTRAL as possible (very similar to when you come across sand - yes not really to put weight back) and lean back or step off seat as appropriate. You don't want to drive either wheel hard into a bump under acceleration...
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
RE: Uneven pavement
From my MSF course, we learned to blip the throttle a split second before front tire hits (road debris, edge of new road, etc) and then roll off instantly for rear tire to cross. Haven't really had a chance to do it on the road, but was great for driving over 2x4's multiple times. I believe rolling off the throttle after front tire crosses also helps prevent your back tire from kicking the debris into the air behind you.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 95
From:
RE: Uneven pavement
Thats for going over large obstacles at slow speed. Same principal that on your bicycle, you get to a tall curb, you actually step on the pedals and pull up on the handlebars to pull the front wheel up to it. It's more effective on bikes a wee bit smaller than Harley's too. Heck, you could wheelie a sport bike over a two inch bump in the pavement.
When you're going 50 on a Harley and there is a two inch bump in the road directly ahead and all the way across, you want to slow as much as you can and then let off the throttle You're not gonna get the motor to push the weight back all that much on a Harley and if you do mash the throttle hard enough to take significant weight off the front, all you're gonna do is make the bike hit at a way faster speed and be way less stable.
When you're going 50 on a Harley and there is a two inch bump in the road directly ahead and all the way across, you want to slow as much as you can and then let off the throttle You're not gonna get the motor to push the weight back all that much on a Harley and if you do mash the throttle hard enough to take significant weight off the front, all you're gonna do is make the bike hit at a way faster speed and be way less stable.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44,848
Likes: 3
From: South of Utica New York
RE: Uneven pavement
yep, close to 90 degees as possible at least 45. If you get both tires up against a pavement edge you will go down
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Way Down Texas Way
RE: Uneven pavement
Ya and don't forget to "clutch it" just a tad when you rev it up so the front end lifts in the air over the obstacle........then let off quick so the back end doesn't slam the front end down and bend the front wheel.......you don't wanna bend the front wheel do you??
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Carrabelle, Fl
RE: Uneven pavement
ORIGINAL: Silverback
From my MSF course, we learned to blip the throttle a split second before front tire hits (road debris, edge of new road, etc) and then roll off instantly for rear tire to cross. Haven't really had a chance to do it on the road, but was great for driving over 2x4's multiple times. I believe rolling off the throttle after front tire crosses also helps prevent your back tire from kicking the debris into the air behind you.
From my MSF course, we learned to blip the throttle a split second before front tire hits (road debris, edge of new road, etc) and then roll off instantly for rear tire to cross. Haven't really had a chance to do it on the road, but was great for driving over 2x4's multiple times. I believe rolling off the throttle after front tire crosses also helps prevent your back tire from kicking the debris into the air behind you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TxHarleyGuy2007
General Harley Davidson Chat
6
Aug 12, 2007 07:42 PM