Hi,
I got an 06 Ultra also, when I first got the bike I had the same problem, coming from a Heritage which feels different under you and the added weight made it feel like a tank on two wheels trying to flop back & forth. Go out on Sunday to a Mall parking lot with no one there and spend hours on stop & goes at slow speed, slow turns left and right with out stopping. You will get the feel of the bike after some time on it, leave the front break off at first, using only the back, when you get comfortable stopping on the back brake, start using both. Remember the front brakehas most of the stopping power so be careful, in a slow sharp turn like trying to turn it around it will dump you (the voice of experience). Good luck, it takes time, but once you got it, it's the best. Practice, practice, practice.

 

I just had two days of uncoordinated slob itus. Could not nail the left foot down first to save my ***. Thanks for the tip on looking down. That's what I think I was doing.
Ron

 

Had a 98 Heritage..traded in for 01 Ultra...found out I felt like Artie Johnson from Laugh In..came to a stop and feel over. Seems the Ultra is very top heavy and when you get a passenger, it is even worse. After 9000 miles of falling over, I went to an 01 Heritage. Rode it for 6 years and have now gone back to 07 SE Ultra. Seems this bike is a little longer, so not quite as tippy over...and the seat position allows me to be almost flat footed. I changed to the "short shocks" with just a few hundred miles on it back in May, and have been riding fine up until last week. Noted the right shock was leaking, Dealer is trying to get a "good will" replacement as they were out of warranty after 90 days, so I put the stock shocks back on. Now, seems the front end has a tendancy to fall to the right more often when coming to a stop, throwing me off to the left and fell over now twice. Seems that just that 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch lower in the rear made the front end more stable. Waiting to hear still on the replacement shock from dealer, if not I will bite the bullit and get another set and put them back on.

Everyone is right though..you gotta keep looking forward. You have lost the ability to see the ground in front of you with the fairing now, and it is a big difference. Just have to keep practicing and working on it. Watch slowing down to a stop on a curve, like making a u turn under a freeway. Big mistake there. Always straighten up before you stop, else you will look like Artie Johnson.

Ride safe. Enjoy the ride.

DanB

 

I agree with most of the recommendations. One thing that I try to remember is to be certain in your mind where you want to stop. I sometimes have trouble if I'm in between coming to a complete stop or rolling the stop sign and haven't made a real decision.

 

I hate to admit it but I have the same problem. I think its because of the fairing. All my other bikes have never had a fairing and i was able to see everything around me. I use to pull up to a stop and come to a complete stop with my feet on the pegs and wait a few seconds before i would have to put my foot down. I can't do that on this bike, i'm all wobbly an sh#@!.[:@] Sometimes i do pretty good though.

 

whew......i thought i was the only one having this prob. ive noticed its worse when my wife rides with me. i think she might sit a bit higher on her seat which raises the center of gravity for the whole bike...thus making a smooth even stop a tee wad more difficult. when im by myself, its so much easier.

 

It is also important to remember to set yourself up for the stop in a straight line. My technique is to roll up to the stop using both brakes in a straight line, then when I put down the left leg (right still on the brake) the bike naturally leans left a little due to weight shift. You have to modify this when you stop on a crowned surface or up/downhill intersections, but the principle is the same.

But when my wife is back there, it certainly does change the dynamic. I tell her to be still when I am stopping. A couple of times she moved at the wrong time and it was all I could do to keep from falling over.[:@]

 

I went from a Low Rider and a heritage to an EGC and have the same problem. It's much higher and more top heavy. I lowered the rear and it helped. I may have the seat cut down a bit as well.

I'm getting better, but it's going to take some time to be as smooth as I was on the Heritage.

Jim

 

does anybody else have the same problem starting off from a stop light or something...i seem to kinda get a little wobbly then too??

 

This is my problem. I'm short and despite even an air suspension I can't get flat footed. When I roll up to a stop I have to reach down with my toes to put my foot down. Sometimes I forget and still reach with my heel which causes me to lean the bike slightly to the left so I can actually touch the ground. Obviously this is where my problem occurs. I can from a Hugger Sportster so not only did my Street Glide get taller it got A LOT heavier. I'm getting a lot better however especially after watching the Ride Like A Pro DVD and learning the proper friction zone technique which is completely different from what I was taught in the MSF Basic Rider class. All I can say is practice, practice, practice.