Braking two up
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 324
Likes: 3
From: Florence,Ky
Braking two up
Just picked up my first touring bike on Monday (11 Street Glide) I am still getting use to it. Took the wife out tonight for first time. Have to admit some of my stops were not so good. I rode a Softail before this bike. Riding solo I had no problems. Any tips from you veterans out there?
Last edited by harlanrider; Sep 3, 2011 at 09:00 PM. Reason: adding pic
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Do you mean slow headshake until you stop? Or maybe wobble?
I find front brake to slow down and rear brake when coming to a stop
seems to give best stops. Passenger weight and any movement in
the seat will also affect your stopping.
I have to admit I'm on my third glide since 05 and some days I still
get a little wobble before completely stopping.
Sometimes I am like $hit that was a crappy stop.
I find front brake to slow down and rear brake when coming to a stop
seems to give best stops. Passenger weight and any movement in
the seat will also affect your stopping.
I have to admit I'm on my third glide since 05 and some days I still
get a little wobble before completely stopping.
Sometimes I am like $hit that was a crappy stop.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
I had a Vulcan 750 for 6 years. Then my wife decided she wanted to ride, so I bought a 2003 FLHTCUI, without ABS. I used to make panic stops, in a nice straight line.
First time I slammed on my brakes to stop for a yellow light, I found out it is a lot easier to skid the rear out on these touring bikes. So I practice and took the Riders Edge ARC. I still am more cautious with my wife on, but it is definitely a lot more work with her on. I did ask her to wiggle when we are moving, not when we are stopping. She thought she was doing me a favor by readjusting her position when we were going slower, but I explained it was less disruptive at higher speeds.
Good luck, but I would definitely ride your bike for at least a 1,000 miles before you take your wife out on it. Good luck.
First time I slammed on my brakes to stop for a yellow light, I found out it is a lot easier to skid the rear out on these touring bikes. So I practice and took the Riders Edge ARC. I still am more cautious with my wife on, but it is definitely a lot more work with her on. I did ask her to wiggle when we are moving, not when we are stopping. She thought she was doing me a favor by readjusting her position when we were going slower, but I explained it was less disruptive at higher speeds.
Good luck, but I would definitely ride your bike for at least a 1,000 miles before you take your wife out on it. Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 107
From: Joplin, MO
+1 for the rear brake. If you stop suddenly with the front brake on these big tourers, sooner or later you are gonna drop her. All that momentum and weight has to go somewhere. As stated above, use the front to slow and the back to stop. Place your left foot forward and make contact with the pavement while braking with your right foot and you will just naturally lean a bit to the left, turning your front forks right a bit to compensate, and coming to an easy stop. Sounds complicated, but give it a try. Works great. Enjoy that new bike, you are gonna love the tourers.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
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From: Jayhawk Country
Definitely lay off the front brake. Use them both while slowing down and then only the rear for the last few feet.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 2
From: St. Paul, MN
90+% of the time I ride 2-up. My wife is much better trained now, but when we first started to ride the Ultra 2-up, I wondered why I wasn't able to come to a smooth stop like I do on my Honda Magna (we never ride 2-up on that bike). Well, she was moving and shifting her weight around when we were coming to a stop, no wonder. Once when making a U-turn on a 2 lane road she felt like we were going to tip over so she stuck her left leg out. Guess what? We tipped over! (Thank goodness for HarleyGoodies floorboard extenders!)
The center of gravity definitely feels different (higher?) on the Ultra than any of the metric cruisers I have owned.
+1 on trailing with the rear brake
+1 on engine braking
The center of gravity definitely feels different (higher?) on the Ultra than any of the metric cruisers I have owned.
+1 on trailing with the rear brake
+1 on engine braking
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
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From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I went from no bike in many years to my Road King. I too have had more trouble stopping gracefully than I did getting back used to riding again. With a passenger, it was downright squirrely. I've used my front brake more on this bike than I ever did on previous bikes. But I started getting better when I applied more pressure on the rear brake than on the front when coming to the actual stop. As long as the passenger doesn't shift any, I'm pretty smooth now. If they don't, it's a beast to keep upright. In fact, my left leg (knee and hip) are kind of sore right now from some of those weird stops. I think its just going to take more practice to get used to all the weight.