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64 yrs. and plan on riding another 64 yrs. Some of the responses state keeping the bike in first gear, right. Another habit that may help is using the rear brake as a counterbalance when moving from a stop. Picked this up off a LEO dvd on improved rideing.
By using the rear brake along with clutch and throttle will keep the bike upright and headed in the direction wanted. No front end wobble when starting from a stop.
57 here and been riding for 50 years, many of those two up.Tell yoa what: If she shifted her weight and caused us to tip over and then gave ME the stink-eye you can bet she'd have to beg to get back on my scoot.
W series pitch me over the bars on a bad start in '81????????????
please explain..
I was a little under the influence, the old bike had a hand operated mechanical advance and I on the other hand had a hand on the wrong control; went through a kick and the engine kicked back, had I not been so drunk I probably should have had a busted leg but I only got a sprained ankle and a few bruises. Dam thing shot me over the bars like a catapult.
'46 "W" side car hard tail, no side car, suicide shift with foot clutch and a no- brainer owner that drank and rode with a hand control mechanical advance. Ex-USA military bike.
65 here and after we went from a Heritage Softail to the Ultra, I dropped it a couple of times with the wife on board. My fault, not hers. I determined that I was using too much front brake and as you slow down you have a tendency to move the front wheel back and forth to try and stabilize the bike. Not good with the front brake - it can put you down fast. So what I do now is brake with the front brake to take off most of the speed and then finish with the rear brake. Helps stabilize the bike and you can stop almost totally balanced before you have to put both feet down.
Another alternative...............................think trike!
Seriously, I have a couple riding buddies who went that route. They still have their two wheelers, but when the wifey goes, especially on a two or three + day trip, they go on the trike. Just a thought.
I leave it in first. If stopped for a long time, like a slow traffic light of something. I shut the engine down (but leave it in first). I have never had any trouble re-starting. It is easier for me to restart than shifting from neutral to first as you have found.
I have dumped twice, both when making a very tight turn a very low speed. Both times I was able to catch it and did not go all the way down.
Rarely ride two-up. Wife has her own bike.
I will be 75 this year, been riding since 1991. Harleys are the only thing I have ever ridden.
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