Riding 2-up for the first time...
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 808
Likes: 1
From: so.jersey
you may want to ride by your self for a while .before taking a passenger .from a sporty to a touring bike takes some gettin used to.go .slow and tight manuvers are tricky.make sure when the wifey mounts up every time to tell you so you don"t end up with any surprises like knocked over .you will enjoy a big bike as much if not more than your previous ride .read all the responses i know i didn't cover everything
be safe ride the hell out of her
be safe ride the hell out of her
Novice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: bradenton, FL
Go all the way to an Ultra
This may not seem to be the cheapest idea, but consider stepping all the way up to an Ultra. It isn't really all that much more, and it offers a LOT to your wife when you ride.
I bought an '07 EG standard, adding a tourpack and radio. (This was replacing a VTX1300.)
My wife said she liked it, but somehow, she didn't ride with me very often.
It was too cold, or it was rainy, or ...
I figured out that part of the problem is the fact that it is BORING sittting on the back. I priced adding the intercom, and found that it was going to give me a stroke.
I talked trade for an Ultra, and first decided that that was too much also.
My very smart wife said "How many more bikes are you going to buy? Get it. It's only money." (Love that woman.)
So I traded an 8-month old EG for a new '08 Ultra, and sat carefully for a few weeks. (I think it cost me about 9K OTD.)
Now, she rides with me all the time. We go on chapter rides almost every week, and ride on our own as well. I kind of think that she would not be riding much (and so neither would I), if I hadn't gotten the extra goodies that give her a way to be involved.
We've ridden this bike more in 6 months than we did the previous 2 bikes in 3 YEARS.
Luckily, she isn't a back seat driver. She IS a Rider no, though, or at least a happy passenger.
I bought an '07 EG standard, adding a tourpack and radio. (This was replacing a VTX1300.)
My wife said she liked it, but somehow, she didn't ride with me very often.
It was too cold, or it was rainy, or ...
I figured out that part of the problem is the fact that it is BORING sittting on the back. I priced adding the intercom, and found that it was going to give me a stroke.
I talked trade for an Ultra, and first decided that that was too much also.
My very smart wife said "How many more bikes are you going to buy? Get it. It's only money." (Love that woman.)
So I traded an 8-month old EG for a new '08 Ultra, and sat carefully for a few weeks. (I think it cost me about 9K OTD.)
Now, she rides with me all the time. We go on chapter rides almost every week, and ride on our own as well. I kind of think that she would not be riding much (and so neither would I), if I hadn't gotten the extra goodies that give her a way to be involved.
We've ridden this bike more in 6 months than we did the previous 2 bikes in 3 YEARS.Luckily, she isn't a back seat driver. She IS a Rider no, though, or at least a happy passenger.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Here is what worked for me. Others may have differing experiences.
PRACTICE.
After you become throughly comfortable with the bike, go to a parking lot and practice. Do lots of stops and starts. Do them until they become second nature. Do lots of slow turns and more stops and starts. Get used to the feel of her on the back. Teach her that if the bike starts to topple over at slow speed to step OFF and AWAY from the bike and not get pinned under it. If you feel up to it, practice it on a lawn. After you have become comfortable on flat land, practice on a hill, incline or slope. Work on Friction Zone Riding and rear brake drag. Exaggerate your head turns and eye placement as it will help you maintain slow speed control.
Learn to use both brakes to slow down with the bars STRAIGHT, then transition over to the rear brake only for the full stop. Of course if you need to, use both brakes (and you WILL because it is already drilled into you), but for smooth everyday stopping work on transitioning over to the rear brake as you come to that complete stop. This will lessen the sudden forward pitch of the bike along with all the weight shift. If that weight shift happens with the bars turned, or on a hill, or slight slope, or turn, you increase the risk of toppling over. Practice the complete stop and putting the left foot down, then the right. If you drop both feet at the same time while slowing, you give up the right brake. And in an effort to stop the bike from rolling those last few feet, sometimes folks get a little too grabby with that front brake and that leads to the weight shift and possibly toppling over.
PRACTICE.
Hope this helps.
Mark
PRACTICE.
After you become throughly comfortable with the bike, go to a parking lot and practice. Do lots of stops and starts. Do them until they become second nature. Do lots of slow turns and more stops and starts. Get used to the feel of her on the back. Teach her that if the bike starts to topple over at slow speed to step OFF and AWAY from the bike and not get pinned under it. If you feel up to it, practice it on a lawn. After you have become comfortable on flat land, practice on a hill, incline or slope. Work on Friction Zone Riding and rear brake drag. Exaggerate your head turns and eye placement as it will help you maintain slow speed control.
Learn to use both brakes to slow down with the bars STRAIGHT, then transition over to the rear brake only for the full stop. Of course if you need to, use both brakes (and you WILL because it is already drilled into you), but for smooth everyday stopping work on transitioning over to the rear brake as you come to that complete stop. This will lessen the sudden forward pitch of the bike along with all the weight shift. If that weight shift happens with the bars turned, or on a hill, or slight slope, or turn, you increase the risk of toppling over. Practice the complete stop and putting the left foot down, then the right. If you drop both feet at the same time while slowing, you give up the right brake. And in an effort to stop the bike from rolling those last few feet, sometimes folks get a little too grabby with that front brake and that leads to the weight shift and possibly toppling over.
PRACTICE.
Hope this helps.
Mark
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
+1 on Ride like a Pro. We bought that video before our bike arrived. After watching the video a couple times we decidied I should ride the first thousand miles solo. We've put a thousand miles on together now and I can hardly tell she's back there. Also let me say that parking lot time is huge; both solo and the with your passenger aboard. Cruising along in 5th gear at 50 mph is a piece of cake, it's the slow speeds that require a little practice.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
I went from a 04 Sportster to a 08 Ultra. Wife wouldn't ride on the Sporty, wasn't comfortable at all. Back in June, she said go get a bigger bike. I took her with me, she sat on a Ultra, and immediately pulled out her checkbook.
She rides ALL the time now, because she is comfortable on the Ultra. She even is the first one on a warm weekend day to wake up, and immediately say "where can we go today on the bike?" Get the Ultra.
Anyways, it takes some getting used to. It handles much differently than a Sporty. The Sporty is top heavy...but the Ultra is overall heavy. However, I can do a 180 on the road much easier with the Ultra than I could with the Sporty. Go figure. It's all balance, and the Ultra is very well balanced. It just takes time getting used to it.
Ride for a few hundred miles solo on it. Then take her on some short nearly straight rides until you get used to the weight of the bike, you, and her. Find a road with some easy curves, and get the feel for the bike as you lean with the additional weight.
Anyways, drop me a PM if you'd like some more tips or want to chat. I was in the same boat as you 9 months ago, and we've already got nearly 9,000 miles on the Ultra since June.
She rides ALL the time now, because she is comfortable on the Ultra. She even is the first one on a warm weekend day to wake up, and immediately say "where can we go today on the bike?" Get the Ultra.
Anyways, it takes some getting used to. It handles much differently than a Sporty. The Sporty is top heavy...but the Ultra is overall heavy. However, I can do a 180 on the road much easier with the Ultra than I could with the Sporty. Go figure. It's all balance, and the Ultra is very well balanced. It just takes time getting used to it.
Ride for a few hundred miles solo on it. Then take her on some short nearly straight rides until you get used to the weight of the bike, you, and her. Find a road with some easy curves, and get the feel for the bike as you lean with the additional weight.
Anyways, drop me a PM if you'd like some more tips or want to chat. I was in the same boat as you 9 months ago, and we've already got nearly 9,000 miles on the Ultra since June.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 929
Likes: 1
From: Central CA
JP,
Thought #1: do NOT scare her! If you want to share your riding with her, wait until you gain her trust and confidence before you try any hot *******.
Thought #2: you have another person now that you are responsible for. Do not lose concentration or take your eyes off the road to talk with her until you are very comfortable with her being back there.
Thought #3: this is not something you will get the hang of overnight. Practice with her on easy roads. Don't go off on the twisties until you BOTH are comfortable with it.
Thought #4: if you mess up on any of the previous rules, it could screw up yours or her riding for the rest of your lives.
Start slow, be patient. Talk it through with her about techniques like getting on and off the bike, how to handle stoplights/signs, curves, emergency braking (which you need to practice with her once you guys get good), everything and anything.
Take it slow. This could be the start of something really beautiful!
Thought #1: do NOT scare her! If you want to share your riding with her, wait until you gain her trust and confidence before you try any hot *******.
Thought #2: you have another person now that you are responsible for. Do not lose concentration or take your eyes off the road to talk with her until you are very comfortable with her being back there.
Thought #3: this is not something you will get the hang of overnight. Practice with her on easy roads. Don't go off on the twisties until you BOTH are comfortable with it.
Thought #4: if you mess up on any of the previous rules, it could screw up yours or her riding for the rest of your lives.
Start slow, be patient. Talk it through with her about techniques like getting on and off the bike, how to handle stoplights/signs, curves, emergency braking (which you need to practice with her once you guys get good), everything and anything.
Take it slow. This could be the start of something really beautiful!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
The most obvious things are extra weight which will affect handling & stopping distances. The experience of the passenger also plays a part. A good passenger will be still and relaxed and move with you, not against you. They should never put their feet down while on the bike.
When mounting and dismounting, you need to develop a routine. Never mount or dismount until you give the OK. If your passenger tries to get on or off the bike when your not ready, things can go bad real quick.
I like to straddle the bike with sidestand up and a handfull of front brake. I then give my wife the OK and she places her left foot on the passenger footrest and left hand on my left shoulder, steps up and between me and the backrest. This has worked great for us.
Some folks will let the passenger get on first while the bike is parked. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.
Good luck!
When mounting and dismounting, you need to develop a routine. Never mount or dismount until you give the OK. If your passenger tries to get on or off the bike when your not ready, things can go bad real quick.
I like to straddle the bike with sidestand up and a handfull of front brake. I then give my wife the OK and she places her left foot on the passenger footrest and left hand on my left shoulder, steps up and between me and the backrest. This has worked great for us.
Some folks will let the passenger get on first while the bike is parked. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.
Good luck!
Great info above!
Two up is all about the passenger knowing what to do when and a routine that is always the same. She needs your ok before getting on or off. Work out a code. My wife always asks, "ready?" before she mounts and waits for an "OK" from me before she gets off. Your passneger needs to know to sit still when starting, stopping, and stopped. Keep her feet on the pegs at all times. She can move around all she wants when your at speed. You'll know she's moving but you want fall over.
I went from a softail to a Road King and am still amazed at how much heavier it is. Make sure you are comfortable with that before taking her for a ride.
Nothing better than taking the wife for weekend away on the bike. Just remember to make sure you spare no expense in making her comfortable on the bike. It's been quoted here many times...."If momma's not happy, you're not gonna be happy." She'll make sure of that!!
Last edited by EdwardK; Jan 27, 2009 at 09:31 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 832
Likes: 1
From: Bagram, Afghanistan
I've found that when dealing with a new passenger it helps to explain the leaning part like this...as they don't always understand what I mean
:
They should respond to curves/leaning like a sack of potatoes sitting on the back of the bike! A sack of potatoes neither fights the riders lean nor helps it...it just goes with the flow.
If the passenger fights your lean you end up needing more lean to make the curve....or you don't make it at all.
If the passenger "HELPS" you in the curves you can end up with too much lean and unable to control it...then you go down.
If the passenger acts like a sack of potatoes then you are in full control of the curve and lean angle and can respond with appropriate inputs. All is good.
Someone told me this a ways back when I was having trouble explaining it to a passenger on a ride and I've used that ever since. Somehow they get it then.
:They should respond to curves/leaning like a sack of potatoes sitting on the back of the bike! A sack of potatoes neither fights the riders lean nor helps it...it just goes with the flow.
If the passenger fights your lean you end up needing more lean to make the curve....or you don't make it at all.
If the passenger "HELPS" you in the curves you can end up with too much lean and unable to control it...then you go down.
If the passenger acts like a sack of potatoes then you are in full control of the curve and lean angle and can respond with appropriate inputs. All is good.
Someone told me this a ways back when I was having trouble explaining it to a passenger on a ride and I've used that ever since. Somehow they get it then.
Last edited by 09StreetGlider; Jan 27, 2009 at 09:54 PM.