2 Up and Anxious
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,721
Likes: 372
From: Tonopah Az
When I first got my '09 UC my better half was so afraid to ride I had to be real careful how I did everything cause I didn't want to lose my best friend, and I might add that we do almost everything together. This being said it made me be to careful,and the tough time was comming to a stop. We have been riding since Oct.'08 and finally are starting to be comfortable as a team. We have the intercom plugged in all the time and communicate about everything,in fact we have a good time just shooting the bull on long rides. She has become a great riding pardner.
Santa
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 4
From: Northern Illinois
When I first got my '09 UC my better half was so afraid to ride I had to be real careful how I did everything cause I didn't want to lose my best friend, and I might add that we do almost everything together. This being said it made me be to careful,and the tough time was comming to a stop. We have been riding since Oct.'08 and finally are starting to be comfortable as a team. We have the intercom plugged in all the time and communicate about everything,in fact we have a good time just shooting the bull on long rides. She has become a great riding pardner.
Santa
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,728
Likes: 9,234
From: Snow Hill, NC
My wife has been a much better passenger since she took the MSF course and started riding her own...She still like to ride on the EG because of the comfort and music...At first i laid down some rules about mounting/dismounting...simple...if you both are clear about these first off... I now have a pretty good intercom system with the J&M CB so with the full faces on we can communicate as we do a lot of winter riding.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
SSW
All I can say is just take your time and do it. I rode Solo for most of my life. It is great having my wife with me when I ride. I love seeing the enjoyment on her face and knowing that she shares in something that not everyone can.
There was one time that she was on the back that I swore she was asleep but as it turns out she was taking pics as we rode. That's ok just warn me next time I told her.
I don't think that the Bagger Brace would correct those moves.
Tom
All I can say is just take your time and do it. I rode Solo for most of my life. It is great having my wife with me when I ride. I love seeing the enjoyment on her face and knowing that she shares in something that not everyone can.
There was one time that she was on the back that I swore she was asleep but as it turns out she was taking pics as we rode. That's ok just warn me next time I told her.
I don't think that the Bagger Brace would correct those moves.Tom
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 8
From: Roswell, NM
My wife gets on first and does nothing until I give her a signal. She is great on the road siting straight and not helping me drive. When we stop, she sits until I shut down put the stand down, and get off. Then I help her get off (don't want her scratching my paint
Anxiety is with us all. This is the woman I love and I am super alert and give myself plenty of room to react, and go slower than normal if I need to. It's a common thing. One thing I do is practice the Ride like a Pro a lot, and with her on it. This builds her confidence in my abilities to handle the bike. Ride safe!
Anxiety is with us all. This is the woman I love and I am super alert and give myself plenty of room to react, and go slower than normal if I need to. It's a common thing. One thing I do is practice the Ride like a Pro a lot, and with her on it. This builds her confidence in my abilities to handle the bike. Ride safe!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: Grays Creek, NC
My wife and I are always talking while riding. I'll always tell her my intentions before I do something whether its telling her to hold before pulling into traffic or bracing herself for a bump. I have to be prepared first before she can get on with her only being barely 5' tall, she has come close to pulling me off the bike while she's trying to get on.
My wife gets on and off without me really feeling it. My daughter sometimes tries to pull me off the bike by my shoulders when she gets lazy. It's technique. Only use your shoulders for balance, put her left foot on left floorboard and stand straight up, smoothly stepping over the seat with her right foot going to the right floorboard. All the weight is on the floorboard and her legs do the lifting, not her arms on your shoulders.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,925
Likes: 5
From:
I usually leave the kickstand down when she gets on the bike, just in case, but one time I had to back the bike up and move it before she got on. She asked if I was ready and instinctively I said yes, even though I wasn't. When she put her weight on the floorboard the bike tipped to the point that I thought for sure it was going down. Somehow I stood the bike back up (Hurting my back of course) and getting an earfull of "I thought you said you were ready". Now when I say i'm ready she always says "Are you sure?"
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
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,555
Likes: 119
From: Brockport, NY
Since my lady and I are both deaf...We always look into eachother's eyes as I give her my OK when it comes to mounting or nod my head when it comes to dismounting. We both developed "codes" in numbers as we speak fluently in sign language. This is called 'Teamwork' between rider and passenger.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Thanks guys for sharing the good info. I like the idea of putting the stand down and getting off first, then helping her off. Cuts the potential for a problem in half.
I'll search for other threads on this as well.
I'd like to continue hearing any of your comments on this subject.
Thanks for the support group. It's not always about hardware.
I'll search for other threads on this as well.
I'd like to continue hearing any of your comments on this subject.
Thanks for the support group. It's not always about hardware.