Riding help
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 2,858
From: Oklahoma
There are times when the bike gets "walked" no matter what. I back mine into the garage, it gets "walked" backwards. Occasionally it gets walked forward for a short distance also. My Road King did something I never experienced on a bike from any other manufacturer. To keep the weight approximately equal for both feet (bike neutrally balanced) it must lean slightly to the outside of the turn. When stationary, turn the handlebars full to the right and the bike wants to fall to the right, to keep it neutral it must be leaned very slightly left. The opposite happens with the bars full left. When maneuvering too slowly for normal riding dynamics to work this counter intuitive reaction caught me off guard many times and generated some near dumps. It literally took a year for me to get used to that (slow learner perhaps).
The other thing that broke my concentration was the difference in switch location and function. I lost count of how many times I wanted a short tap of the horn and activated the left turn signal instead. That snaps your brain from watching traffic to operating the bike and it takes a while to recover.
The passenger foot boards got me also. I just put my feet a bit wider when I stopped and that took care of the problem. I have been riding solo much of the time for the last couple of years and when I have a passenger I have to re-learn the wider foot position.
I was 63 when I got my first Harley and had a lot of years of other bikes to un-learn. If I could do it, so can you. Starting with a very full dresser was a very big jump. No wonder you are a bit spooked. After years of riding the Harley I now feel rather unsteady on the old Virago when I need to ride it.
The other thing that broke my concentration was the difference in switch location and function. I lost count of how many times I wanted a short tap of the horn and activated the left turn signal instead. That snaps your brain from watching traffic to operating the bike and it takes a while to recover.
The passenger foot boards got me also. I just put my feet a bit wider when I stopped and that took care of the problem. I have been riding solo much of the time for the last couple of years and when I have a passenger I have to re-learn the wider foot position.
I was 63 when I got my first Harley and had a lot of years of other bikes to un-learn. If I could do it, so can you. Starting with a very full dresser was a very big jump. No wonder you are a bit spooked. After years of riding the Harley I now feel rather unsteady on the old Virago when I need to ride it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
#1, don't ride 2 up until you feel comfortable solo. I went from a 475lb Vulcan 750 to a 950 lb Ultra. Scared the crap out of myself skidding the rear around on panic stops, so I took the Rider's Edge Skilled Rider's Course. Very worthwhile. I also like the book Proficient Motorcycling.
I agree with getting your feet on floorboads ASAP. I only walk backwards, on treacherous surfaces, or steep tight U-Turns.
Good luck.
I agree with getting your feet on floorboads ASAP. I only walk backwards, on treacherous surfaces, or steep tight U-Turns.
Good luck.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 2
From: North Central CT
Gipper, that wasn't intended as a criticism, btw....just saying that even if you keep your feet out for balance/just in case, I doubt anyone thinks it's a good idea to "walk" the bike forward as you are taking off in gear. I don't care how anyone else rides...it is just safer to get your feet up and outta the way is all I'm saying.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,561
From: CT/FL
OK i'll call gipper and anyone else who does that out - horseshit is using your legs as outriggers when you take off or land your Harley - you are fooling yourself if you think your 10 pounds of leg/foot/boot ballast will make an 8-900 pound bike any more stable. I've even seen guys who like to drag their boot soles along when going slow - all that does is wear out your boots. You should be able to pick up your feet as soon as you let out the clutch and put them down just as the bike comes to a full stop. Everything else is just bad riding, even if you've been doing it for 40 years. Sorry but it's the truth...
OP - you are going to have to trust the bike - Harleys have the best slow speed stability of any touring bike - practice relaxing your arms, picking up your feet and looking where you are headed. The bike does the rest...
OP - you are going to have to trust the bike - Harleys have the best slow speed stability of any touring bike - practice relaxing your arms, picking up your feet and looking where you are headed. The bike does the rest...
Last edited by Joe12RK; Sep 10, 2015 at 11:10 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Warner Robins, GA
LMAO - I remember dropping the SG (was able to get out the way) the first time a rode it. I had a VStar 650 which has pegs, so when i rode the SG, i didn't put my foot down at a stop - LOL. My foot being now on floor boards felt like my foot was already on the floor - What a dumb ***! LOL. Needless to say, it took an army to get the bike upright again.
OP - ride that beast every chance you get, you will tame it soon enough.
OP - ride that beast every chance you get, you will tame it soon enough.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Gipper, that wasn't intended as a criticism, btw....just saying that even if you keep your feet out for balance/just in case, I doubt anyone thinks it's a good idea to "walk" the bike forward as you are taking off in gear. I don't care how anyone else rides...it is just safer to get your feet up and outta the way is all I'm saying.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
OK i'll call gipper and anyone else who does that out - horseshit is using your legs as outriggers when you take off or land your Harley - you are fooling yourself if you think your 10 pounds of leg/foot/boot ballast will make an 8-900 pound bike any more stable. I've even seen guys who like to drag their boot soles along when going slow - all that does is wear out your boots. You should be able to pick up your feet as soon as you let out the clutch and put them down just as the bike comes to a full stop. Everything else is just bad riding, even if you've been doing it for 40 years. Sorry but it's the truth...
OP - you are going to have to trust the bike - Harleys have the best slow speed stability of any touring bike - practice relaxing your arms, picking up your feet and looking where you are headed. The bike does the rest...
OP - you are going to have to trust the bike - Harleys have the best slow speed stability of any touring bike - practice relaxing your arms, picking up your feet and looking where you are headed. The bike does the rest...
I agree completely that in taking off, it's NOT helpful. On the contrary.
Carry on.....I'm going back to sleep. Should have stayed there to begin with...clearly.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 122
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
Well hoping to gain some help from some folks that have some time riding the bigger bikes.
I have been riding street style bikes for about 5 years now. My bike now is a yamaha V-Star. So I'm looking to upgrade to a full bagger now but ran into to some problems I could use some help with.
I rented a 14 ultra for 3 days and me and the wife headed out. Well not all I thought it would be. I found the bike very hard for me to control at lower speeds and making corners from a stop. Now the bike is heavier but I never had this problem with my smaller bike. Are there tricks to riding the bigger bikes at slower speeds?? Also the floor boards for the wife are always slapping me in the back of the legs which I think is part of my problems as I'm use to walking the bike a little when I stop and start. When I get hit in the back of the leg makes it hard to keep my balance. So I'm trying to change a style I have been doing this for a long time and that might be taking me off my game. Maybe just not enough time on the bike? Not sure how long it should take to get the hang of it. We are looking at buying a bike in the near future, but I hate to buy something and than not be able to handle it safely.
I'm a big guy so strength shouldn't be the problem. Wondering if the back floor boards can be modified to stop hitting the back of the leg. Maybe try a low model. Not sure what the advantage or dis-advantage of that model would be. I know this is very vague but looking for any help someone might be able to give me or point me in a direction to try and figure it out. Thanks for any advice anyone can throw my way. Later
Ozzy
I have been riding street style bikes for about 5 years now. My bike now is a yamaha V-Star. So I'm looking to upgrade to a full bagger now but ran into to some problems I could use some help with.
I rented a 14 ultra for 3 days and me and the wife headed out. Well not all I thought it would be. I found the bike very hard for me to control at lower speeds and making corners from a stop. Now the bike is heavier but I never had this problem with my smaller bike. Are there tricks to riding the bigger bikes at slower speeds?? Also the floor boards for the wife are always slapping me in the back of the legs which I think is part of my problems as I'm use to walking the bike a little when I stop and start. When I get hit in the back of the leg makes it hard to keep my balance. So I'm trying to change a style I have been doing this for a long time and that might be taking me off my game. Maybe just not enough time on the bike? Not sure how long it should take to get the hang of it. We are looking at buying a bike in the near future, but I hate to buy something and than not be able to handle it safely.
I'm a big guy so strength shouldn't be the problem. Wondering if the back floor boards can be modified to stop hitting the back of the leg. Maybe try a low model. Not sure what the advantage or dis-advantage of that model would be. I know this is very vague but looking for any help someone might be able to give me or point me in a direction to try and figure it out. Thanks for any advice anyone can throw my way. Later
Ozzy
Good luck.
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
I'm a pretty short rider at 5'5" (5'6" w/boots!). I've got an ultra limited low and I was impressed at how easy the bike is to handle at speed. I've always been intimidated or perhaps just overly cautious about low speed maneuvers and the ultra was a concern. I didn't want to drop the bike. I did a bunch of reading and watching (those ride like a pro videos are great) and realized even though I had be riding for 15 years, I was simply not riding correctly. All you guys have hit on the keys to success for low speed maneuvers: strike a balance between throttle, clutch, and use of the rear brake and combine that with looking where you want to go. It really works.
Just the other day I had to u-turn the bike in a small parking lot (not much wider than a 2 lane road. In the past, I would have done the duck walk of shame. But I put my new found skills to the test, and I u-turned that 900lb bike, slow as could be, in less than the width of 2 lanes. I turned my head and that bike came right around with lots of room to spare. Gained a lot of confidence that day.
Now it's all about practicing and getting comfortable. Check out the videos... well worth the time. It's amazing the turn radius of these bikes.
Just the other day I had to u-turn the bike in a small parking lot (not much wider than a 2 lane road. In the past, I would have done the duck walk of shame. But I put my new found skills to the test, and I u-turned that 900lb bike, slow as could be, in less than the width of 2 lanes. I turned my head and that bike came right around with lots of room to spare. Gained a lot of confidence that day.
Now it's all about practicing and getting comfortable. Check out the videos... well worth the time. It's amazing the turn radius of these bikes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,561
From: CT/FL
