I've been riding Harleys for awhile....and I still don't feel 100% comfortable with my wife on the bike. Solo riding...I'll spin that bike around on a dime and my buddies are amazed. Problem is ...my wife doesn't ride much, so the very slow speed maneuvers, with her ---I'm just not 100% with them....and because, mentally, I'm not .......it translates to me being tighter, tenser, and just not relaxed. As others have said...it takes practice ----but I'd definitely practice, a lot, solo riding before you throw your wife on.

Then, I still think you have to practice two up riding (which I don't do a lot of) .....because a confident 1 up rider doesn't necessarily translate to a confident 2 up rider

 

ozzy....welcome to the forum. i have a yami road star and rode it 30000 miles before i decided to get my first harley which was 2010 ultra classic. i still have the yami it but don't ride it much....which reminds me i need to take it out for a spin....anyway, its already been said, ride a bit on your own to get used to the bike. watch some ride like a pro or other videos that demonstrate slow maneuvering and find a parking lot to practice in. take a ride like a pro class or prorider class if they give one in your area. well worth the day spent. it gets easier. I have another 38000 miles on my 2013 ultra classic limited. i just recently took a learn to ride motorcycle safety foundation course offered to vets by my local sealership. they put us on those little street 500's for the class......they were a hoot but harder to handle for me after riding the big bikes for so long. good luck and stay safe.

 

I don't have much advice other than to say I really don't like bigger bikes. Just dont. To me, if a bike becomes so cumbersome and large that it becomes a hassle...that is just not fun and I feel like I am operating a backhoe or riding in a convertible car. JMHO. But Americas are obsessed with bigger is better. Was at a multi brand dealer yesterday and the size of some of the bikes was comical huge and looked like RV;s on 2 wheels.....NO FUN. Maybe you just don't like a big bike. Many people do not. I tend to think a softail based touring bike is about the biggest and most overdone a bike can be without taking much away from the experience. I actually feel for most fun on a bike....smaller bikes in the 500lb range actually are the most fun from purely a fun day of riding perspective. Now, storage, style, nostalgia and lots of long interstate travel may be reasons to go bigger....but overall you loose a lot as things get too big and IMHO for some people, owning heavyweight is more about the bike and American obsession with bigger is better than the actual riding experience. I admit, that while have always had and ride stripped down big twin HD's for my cruising bikes....part of it is style and nostalgia. If I could not have a car and my bike was strictly a practical piece of transportstion based completely on ride ergonomics.......would be a import middleweight.