Stopping
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
Find you a parking lot and practice, that Ultra is a beast and you need to understand its ins and outs or you will be picking it up off the ground. For God's sake when you are just about to stop keep your hand off the front break. That is a fall waiting to happen, I almost did it twice myself once with the Mrs on the back she was not to happy with me.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
as you gain more confidence you'll find that you'll end up stopping exactly where you want to stop and your foot absolutely plant where you want it to be when you place your foot on the ground. be sure to keep off the front brake at parking lot speeds when the front wheel is cocked against the stop. now the slow parking lot maneuvers do take practice, but if you use the front brake, at walking speed, make sure your front wheel is pretty close to straight ahead, cause it can throw you off balance and dump your bike. ride safe, get some miles on the bike, and your confidence will grow with each ride. i like the name raven for your black ultra. my black sg is buckwheat.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 5
From: Athens, GA
I think everyone nailed it on the head about keeping your eyes ahead, don't look down. I've heard it a million times...you go where you are looking. LOL And my wife would tell you "ALWAYS make sure your front wheel is straight when you DO get stopped if you don't want to fall over."
I used to have an issue with "weebling" at slow speeds in group rides with people I didn't know, my sense of balance obviously isn't the best and on my previous Ultra I tended to have to saw the bars back and forth to keep upright when moving along at intersections and other very slow spots (especially when my wife wasn't on HER bike and wanted to move around behind me just as I was stopping). With my current Ultra, I rarely feel the need to "weeble". I'm much more comfortable with the clutch and I've learned that a little use of (light) rear brake has an amazing stabilizating effect.
Like others have said, some practice time in a parking lot can have a big impact.
Have fun!
I used to have an issue with "weebling" at slow speeds in group rides with people I didn't know, my sense of balance obviously isn't the best and on my previous Ultra I tended to have to saw the bars back and forth to keep upright when moving along at intersections and other very slow spots (especially when my wife wasn't on HER bike and wanted to move around behind me just as I was stopping). With my current Ultra, I rarely feel the need to "weeble". I'm much more comfortable with the clutch and I've learned that a little use of (light) rear brake has an amazing stabilizating effect.
Like others have said, some practice time in a parking lot can have a big impact.
Have fun!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 4
From: Northern Illinois
Yes, I would say you're slowing down way sooner than you need and going so slow that your swaying the bike back and forth to maintain balance. Try slowing down a little later and give it more brake.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
It is due to the added mass of the bat wing fairing and all that is inside of it. I find that it is at its worst when I am in very slow creeping traffic like waiting in line to get in the gate at work. I hate it I have tried the looking fwd crap and it for the most part does not work for me.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
In addition to looking straight ahead and using both brakes until almost to a stop put your left foot down with the rear brake still on. The bike will always lean to the left. Don't put both feet down and try to stop with the front brake. Same goes for taking off, get your right foot up on the floorboard and feather the rear brake if you have to start off slow or make a turn fr. your starting postition. Practice slow riding feathering you rear brake and your clutch to get the feel. The Ride Like a Pro is worth the money.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 629
Likes: 3
From: Mission, Texas
If you don't have too many miles riding just don't go too slow when coming to a stop. Pick a point where you want to stop, and for lack of better description, stop at that point and don't coast to that point. After a while you'll feel like part of the bike and can roll to a stop by following the good tips offered here by others.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
Thanks for the help everyone. I do the eyes and head up deal already, so it has to be the stopping to slow, i will try stopping a little harder, im to go practice but everytime i say im going the wife wants to come along so the added weight might not be helping me much either
I'll keep plugging away until i get it!!!!
I'll keep plugging away until i get it!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Thanks for the help everyone. I do the eyes and head up deal already, so it has to be the stopping to slow, i will try stopping a little harder, im to go practice but everytime i say im going the wife wants to come along so the added weight might not be helping me much either
I'll keep plugging away until i get it!!!!
I'll keep plugging away until i get it!!!!