Why is that my 2006 Heritage Classic is extremely hard to push when it is in neutral and with the clutch in, with the engine off? If it was ever to break down, I doubt I could push it off to the side of the road. Backwards or forwardss is the same. It moves, but is extremely hard.

 

Sounds like your brake is dragging.

 

How can I check for that possibility?

 

The clutch plates have the tendency to stick together when the oil is cold or the bike has sat around for a little while. It's a wet-clutch thing.

You'll find if you do the same thing with the bike right after you have ridden it a ways it will be extremely easy to push.

Brake drag would be evident by a very loud dragging sound coming from the brakes, haha. If it was really bad your rotors would be all kinds of funny colors (that would be bad). A small amount of drag is normal.

 

I've experienced a 'cold' clutch, but I can still push the thing. I'd go with checking brakes. Or even better yet, have a buddy help you and one push, the other listen for the noise. It should be pretty obvious what the metal sliding noise is coming from once you're down there.

 

I agree with the above posts. If the bike is hard to push especially after you have ridden awhile it should not be the clutch. If you can access a lift, jack it up and see if the tires spin freely. If not, ride for awhile, hopefully in a straight line, do not use your brakes much. Pull over and feel your brake rotors.. They should not be all that hot. If one is, that is the one that is dragging.

 

Check drive belt for excessive tightness, just a thought

 

Maybe you're just a little ***** and need a girly-bike? JUST KIDDING!!!

 

Posts above are correct about the wet clutch. Have you ever try starting your bike, after it sits overnight, with the transmission in gear and the clutch disengaged? The bike will lurch or jump forward a little until the clutch plates become lubricated and disengage, or after you run the bike for a while, the oil becomes thin enough or more viscous and will let things spin more easily. What's the problem anyway, just take it out of gear.

 

Guys... read the original post. I agree with the "wet clutch" drag thing, but he said it's hard to push in nuetral. The clutch has no effect when the trans is in nuetral.

So, if the OP described the problem accurately you can eliminate the clutch as a potential cause.