2-up wobbles
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
RE: 2-up wobbles
I have found two things that help a lot. One is to have her lean just a little to the left as we approaching a stop. This takes away the feeling that I have to put both feet down, just my left foot so I can use both brakes as long as I want to and just touch down with the left foot. The other is that she points her feet out when we approach a stop so I don't run into her toes when attempting to put my feet down. I've gotten more comfortable with more practice too.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, Wi....Land of the Free
RE: 2-up wobbles
ORIGINAL: Akitakoi
Practice! Practice, and some more practice.
I went on a little ride yesterday, about 1,000 bikes. Most of them 2-up, saw a few dumps. It was mostly the inexperianced riders.
Keep your head straight ahead, don't look down or left or right. Air pressure in your tires can effect you too so check that.
Oh and go out and practice some more.
Practice! Practice, and some more practice.
I went on a little ride yesterday, about 1,000 bikes. Most of them 2-up, saw a few dumps. It was mostly the inexperianced riders.
Keep your head straight ahead, don't look down or left or right. Air pressure in your tires can effect you too so check that.
Oh and go out and practice some more.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 629
Likes: 3
From: Mission, Texas
RE: 2-up wobbles
Last month I did close to 1,800 miles in Mexico riding two-up in Mexico where roads are sometimes less than US grade w/o any problems. Key is practice, and at slow speeds have SO be still, drag rear brake a little if making tight turns, don't touch the front brake, if making a stop be certain about it...I mean don't slow down thinking you'll come to a stop...I try and make my stops w/o any coasting unless I'm well into a ride and know how things are handling. Same thing for taking off, don't hesitate just go w/front wheel straight. I always go into a parking area, if possible, knowing where I'm going and where I want to stop, esp. if it's unpaved. Lots of problems can come up if you enter a parking lot (or running at parking lot speed) and you start having to look around...doesn't take much to lose focus. ...but the key is just practice...btw, I've used other bikes, BMW LT, RT, etc and the Harley is a great balanced machine for riding two up. If you relocated the tour pak it will change things in a big way and it will take some time to get accustomed to the change of having a lot of weight further back than on the stock tour pak location, but after a couple of hundred miles it shouldn't matter much.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From:
RE: 2-up wobbles
ORIGINAL: Windup08
Finally got the wife to go out for a ride yesterday, she has only ridden with me a couple times, and that was mostly last fall after I first got the 08 Ultra. Over the winter I put the George Anderson tour pak relocator kit on because I wanted to be able to use my backrest and still have room for the wife without making it too uncomfortable for her. I also put the Harley adjustable floorboard brackets as the wife is short and even in the highest position she had trouble reaching them. The ride yesterday was great as long as we were moving, but toward the end I had to navigate a couple parking lots....dang, I've never felt so unstable on a bike!!!
I've watched the ride like a pro videos, and use the techniques, and have no problem when I'm alone on the bike, but with the wife on it was a whole different story....don't know if it was just the first spring ride with both of us together, or if something else is going on between me and the bike....I never lost it and put the bike down, but sure felt like it could have a couple times wihile making tighter turns into parking spaces....then with the passenger floorboard higher it takes noticeably more effort to hold the bike upright with the wife mounts and dismounts....might have to try having her get on while still on the side stand. Another factor might have been the fact that by the time we were in the parking lots I was getting cold and not as relaxed as I might have been otherwise.
Don't know what's up, but I have to find a way to get more comfortable with her on the bike while doing the slower speed stuff.
Finally got the wife to go out for a ride yesterday, she has only ridden with me a couple times, and that was mostly last fall after I first got the 08 Ultra. Over the winter I put the George Anderson tour pak relocator kit on because I wanted to be able to use my backrest and still have room for the wife without making it too uncomfortable for her. I also put the Harley adjustable floorboard brackets as the wife is short and even in the highest position she had trouble reaching them. The ride yesterday was great as long as we were moving, but toward the end I had to navigate a couple parking lots....dang, I've never felt so unstable on a bike!!!
I've watched the ride like a pro videos, and use the techniques, and have no problem when I'm alone on the bike, but with the wife on it was a whole different story....don't know if it was just the first spring ride with both of us together, or if something else is going on between me and the bike....I never lost it and put the bike down, but sure felt like it could have a couple times wihile making tighter turns into parking spaces....then with the passenger floorboard higher it takes noticeably more effort to hold the bike upright with the wife mounts and dismounts....might have to try having her get on while still on the side stand. Another factor might have been the fact that by the time we were in the parking lots I was getting cold and not as relaxed as I might have been otherwise.
Don't know what's up, but I have to find a way to get more comfortable with her on the bike while doing the slower speed stuff.
Another thing you might look at is getting your seat reworked by Mean City Cycle.
You can probably get the rider lowered an inch, and the passengers lowered 2-3 inches. With the memory foam they put in it would be even more comfortable.
It would also make it easier for your wife to reach the floorboards...more comfortable and less moving around.
And of course with both of your weight lower on the bike it will be much more stable.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: 2-up wobbles
Thanks for all the great advice....tire pressure was good, had just checked, rear shocks were set at about 24...don't use the front brake at slow speed, distraction was probably a factor as I was looking for a parking spot. I'll check my service manual on how to check the steering head....and I know I need more practice with both of us on the bike. I am planning to send my seat into Mean City, but not until after this riding season....I want to have a better idea of what I want them to do for both of us before I have it done.
Once again, thanks everyone, I appreciate all the great advice.
Once again, thanks everyone, I appreciate all the great advice.
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