2-Up Stopping Issues
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 254
From: US
Weight has nothing to do with it. I'm 155, wife 125 and I fight this every time, solo or double. Last few feet bike wonders. I keep head up looking past car in front of me, no difference. I think in my case it's lack of upper body strength. Hitting 54 this week and I have lost a lot of strength last few yrs. I also have problems with the bike diving to the left as I come to a stop.
Last edited by CVO SG; Jun 20, 2017 at 10:09 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 320
Likes: 21
From: Central Iowa
I admittedly also have issues 2-up and coming to a stop from time to time, especially if we havent riddin 2-up for a while. Having short-leg syndrome doesnt help any either! lol
A couple self-taught tips that help me, may help you:
What I have caught myself doing is putting my left foot down too soon. I've learned to come to a nice smooth stop, use the rear brake for the last piece of the stop, keep the bars straight and put the foot down only when almost stopped then the right foot when completely stopped.
Do not turn the bars and use the front brake at the same time. Recipe for disaster.
I've also caught myself tensing up in anticipation that I'll stop too abruptly and drop the bike. I've kind of trained myself to just relax and stick with the fundamentals.
Keep eyes/head looking ahead and not down at the front wheel helps.
Plan to make a complete stop with feet down at all stop signs. For a little while there I was trying to come to a "near" stop at stop signs, look both ways and if clear go without touching down. I got accustom to doing this so much that when it wasnt clear and I had to completely stop I would fumble and put my foot down at too high of a speed which jerks the bike and starts the reaction of overcompensating by turning the bars and hitting the front brake. Now I just stop at all stop signs with feet down, all the time.
I'm sure there's more others will chime in but these are the ones I have found that I do wrong.
A couple self-taught tips that help me, may help you:
What I have caught myself doing is putting my left foot down too soon. I've learned to come to a nice smooth stop, use the rear brake for the last piece of the stop, keep the bars straight and put the foot down only when almost stopped then the right foot when completely stopped.
Do not turn the bars and use the front brake at the same time. Recipe for disaster.
I've also caught myself tensing up in anticipation that I'll stop too abruptly and drop the bike. I've kind of trained myself to just relax and stick with the fundamentals.
Keep eyes/head looking ahead and not down at the front wheel helps.
Plan to make a complete stop with feet down at all stop signs. For a little while there I was trying to come to a "near" stop at stop signs, look both ways and if clear go without touching down. I got accustom to doing this so much that when it wasnt clear and I had to completely stop I would fumble and put my foot down at too high of a speed which jerks the bike and starts the reaction of overcompensating by turning the bars and hitting the front brake. Now I just stop at all stop signs with feet down, all the time.
I'm sure there's more others will chime in but these are the ones I have found that I do wrong.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 1,075
From: Utah
G Man has a good point. Think we both get tense at times and the mental games begin. We were in Eurika Springs this weekend caught up in downtown traffic on hills. Came to a stop on a hill, wiggley, and I forgot to downshift into 1st. The start up was rough until I figured the problem. Game on- we were both tense for awhile
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Tense is not a good thing. That will throw you off balance bigger than **** in a big hurry. I ride two up a lot and being smooth and relaxed is the best advice I can give you. There is a lot more weight up high if you are not ready for it when things start to shift.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I don't see anything to get alarmed about. Ask Mrs L to relax at all times, just pretend she's an elegant sack of potatoes (other vegetables or inanimate objects are available!). That leaves us with you and much the same applies. If you tighten your arms and hands when slowing down the bars cannot move that little they need, to stay easy and give you a smooth stop.
You have plenty of miles between you, so just take some time out, ride to some local attractions, cafes or whatever you prefer, with you both practicing relaxing then chatting through any change in experience. Or you can try riding a tandem! Now THAT will give you both some encouragement to coordinate.......
Do you have an intercom?
You have plenty of miles between you, so just take some time out, ride to some local attractions, cafes or whatever you prefer, with you both practicing relaxing then chatting through any change in experience. Or you can try riding a tandem! Now THAT will give you both some encouragement to coordinate.......
Do you have an intercom?
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 40
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
Let me add if you have a backrest or the tourpak slid further back than stock and your passenger leans back this will upset your balance at low speeds. I had such a situation some time ago and as soon as I put the tourpak back up in its place problem solved.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 1,075
From: Utah
On the bike, I can feel the tension when stopping at times
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 1,075
From: Utah
And that leads to another thing. She did tell me she weights floor boards and pushes back into the Tourpack when stopping. I think this is throwing weight behind the rear axle and causing wiggle?
Last edited by LoneRiderFLH; Jun 20, 2017 at 11:46 AM.
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
No flames here. Excluding any center-of-balance issues the technique I use when coming up to a stop, solo or 2-up, is at approx 5 to 8mph I put both feet out and use the front brake to "quickly" stop. I don't "lurch" myself or passenger forward doing this, but I also do not slowly roll dozens of feet at 3mph either before coming to a stop.
I hope I explained my method well enough.
regards,
I hope I explained my method well enough.
regards,
It's frustrating because we have over 50k miles together in all conditions. We can damn near stop and balance with no feet down. But when it's time to put the left foot down, things can get wiggley to a point where I need to bend the bars right to make the bike lean left.
Gravel or dirt, still takes some pressure to slide the wheel, just don't be too aggressive; before gravel, practice on pavement to where you can back brake to the last foot before switching to the front, for loose paved stops. After a while, you do it without even thinking about it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Beary