I'm considering a new Softail Custom. My biggest concern is getting it down my driveway. My driveway is paved, but it rises 150 feet in 700 feet with a 30%-40% grade at a curve that's more a corner. The curve itself is relatively flat, but immediately before and after it is extremely steep. Get wet leaves on the drive and I have trouble keeping the Wrangler out of the ravine. My wife has gotten stuck coming up in the Mustang. She came up in 2nd, didn't have the power to make it up, started backsliding when she downshifted and laid rubber for ten feet sliding backwards. Most delivery trucks can't make it up the drive and those that have made it up refuse to come back. Hehe, a UPS truck fell over trying to make it around the curve.

My concern is that narrow tire way out in front. The curve is sloped, but not banked. Coming down it leans to the right and curves to the right. So I have the hand brake clamped down hard while turning right on driveway sloped to the right which makes it rather wrestling the bike around the corner. That's on a sportster which is a much lighter bike, but a good deal more top heavy. The back brake is, pretty much, irrelevent since with the bike leaning to the right picking my foot up off the ground isn't a viable option.

What I don't want is a sense of dread every time I take the bike out. I feel some degree of dread in the Wrangler so it isn't going to be eliminated, but I don't want to get a new bike and feel I made a really stupid choice every time I take it out. I know I'll be able to get it up and down the drive, but I'm wondering others opinions about to what degree I'll just making life needlessly difficult for myself.

 

I've ridden my Custom through some serious twisties without a problem. I'm not talkin' about regular fun ridin' twisties. These were literally so tight and slow goin' up the mountain that I almost had to put my foot down a couple times. That's definitely the tightest I've ever had to corner a Harley. But like I said, I didn't have any problems with it. I think the bike handles pretty good for what it is. Of course it's not going to handle like a Sportster, but it does alright. I'm thinkin' that you will be the only one would truely be able to determine whether or not the bike could handle your driveway. I suggest takin' one for a test ride, and then determining if you think it could handle it. If it were me, I'd find a way to make it work!

 

Build a big shed at the bottom n get a quad to go up n down on!!

 

Really, it isn't tracking that's my concern. My concern is more wrestling the bike at a dead stop on that curve. More specifically my concern is dumping the bike once I get it to a stop. The concern in that regard is that front fork. It doesn't seem like all that big of a differance versus a lowrider, but I'm concerned it might make more of a differance than I would expect.

PS: Hehe, I have considered just renting a storage shed to park it in.

 

buy an elevator

 

I guess it really depends on your riding abilities then. I don't thinkthere would be an issue. However, if you're a new rider and your confidence and skill level aren't very high, you could have problems. Nothin' that more seat time and some practice couldn't solve, though. Everyone gets used to what they ride. The Custom will definitely feel different from the Sportster, but you'd get the hang of it.

 

+1
based on the fact your 4 wheelers have trouble its going to be an issue no matter what bike you have. Softail has a low seat so you have a fighting chance with the lower CG. Would be a Bi!ch on a sport bike.

 

If your instinct is telling you it looks dangerous, it probably is.
Good luck.

 

The bike isn't reall that heavy, IMHO. But, I don't know how big you are so it's tough to say. I've never had mine through anything as difficult as your driveway, but I've moved mine around on some weird hills, slopes trying to get around.

I would bet if you've been riding as least as long as me (2 years) and have some confidence, I'd go for it. Softails rock!

 

being a wise *** by nature, make yourself one of these and you will look foward to taking it out! I have made handeling upgrades since then...Weeeeee....

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