2-up wobbles
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
2-up wobbles
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.
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.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 2
From: Mid TN
RE: 2-up wobbles
I can relate. I've had my E glide a whole week and yesterday, wife and I took a 200 mile ride with a friend and his wife. I was very uncomfortable/nervous when stopping and starting. Once we were moving everything was great, felt like one person on the bike, but stops were nerve racking. I almost dumped it once, but managed to upright us. Wife didn't even realize what had happened. Any advice to make this more managable is greatly appreciated.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: SE Wisconsin
RE: 2-up wobbles
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.
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.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: 2-up wobbles
ORIGINAL: jahays32
one more reason to get the wifey her own ride.........
one more reason to get the wifey her own ride.........
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 5
From: Long Island New York
RE: 2-up wobbles
Wife knows to NOT MOVE around( unless she informs me ) waits for side stand to be DOWN before getting on OR off bike.( easier< safer) The bike will feel wobbley if the wife moves while rideing, be it slow or at speed. The rest is practice, practice practice, as was stated above.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 3
From: Central Illinois
RE: 2-up wobbles
We have seen several 2008's with steering head adjustments way loose. My Dad's bike had 6 swings. Should only have 3. Check tire pressures and steering head adjustment. It is warrantable if happens before 10k inspection. The Warranty manual says until the 1k. Have the dealer make the call. It should be corrected at the 1k or 5k, or you should check if doing your own service.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: 2-up wobbles
I told her the next time we go on a ride I want to experiment with having her lean or move forward some when in parking lots....just try to get closer to me to see if getting her weight a little more centered would make any difference. I am just concerned that using the George Anderson tourpak reloaction kit to move the tourpak back a couple inches (and the wife too) might be contributing to the unstable feeling at low speed. Actually its probably more the practice thing. We had absolutely nothing in the tourpak and not all that much in the saddlebags, so I wouldn't think her being on back would be all that much different than me alone with loaded bags and tourpak. The wife is really good about not moving around especially when at slow speed, so I don't think that had anything to do with it.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 2
From: Bucks County PA
RE: 2-up wobbles
Great advice, but the only thing that works for me is practice. Go to an empty lot and practice. Set up cones, stops, and sudden stops. Practice getting on and off. Then take the MSF course 2up! I saw a couple do that last year and wow was it impressive. I plan on doing that this season.