When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
While practicing, cover your crash bars with heavy water hose. Just in case...
Ride safe,
Bob.
All of the above advice is great but this (quote) is a must if your going to practice. You might even put some of that clear 3m scuff guard on the bottom outside edges of your bags. Once that glide is going over your not stopping it until you hit the guard. I hated the stock hand position so I changed the bars.
I focus on keeping my elbows out on slow tight turns. The angle of the bars can push your elbow (right elbow-rt turn, left elbow-left turn) in towards your body which can throw you off.
Depending on how slow or tight the turn is, I lean my upper body opposite the lean of the bike to counterbalance.
As others have said - feather the clutch. Use the back brake only.
The SG tire won't cause you anymore trouble than the Fatboy tire.
1. Order the DVD (which you did)
2. Find aa RLAP course. Often the Houston team will come to Dallas. Well worth it.
3. Dallas HD generally has a large group of us playing in the cones and teaching at some of their big events in the empty shopping center behind the dealership.
You seem to know the proper technique and just need practice to develop self confidence. Practice by doing slow figure eights in the street in front of your house each time you ride.
Shortly after you become confident in your ability, you will drop it. Welcome to being a biker.
I have found as slower speeds, slipping the clutch and revving engine a little seems to feel more stable.. no physics expert, possible gyro effect ?, seems to work
prolly gonna get a s#$& storm for that
I'm not a physics expert either, but you are correct. You rev the engine and get that flywheel spinning, and the gyro effect is substantial...Ever see some of the cops in the slow race?
I'm not a physics expert either, but you are correct. You rev the engine and get that flywheel spinning, and the gyro effect is substantial...Ever see some of the cops in the slow race?
I learned it by watching them on YouTube..it really works..some of those guys are amazing
The biggest mistake I see people do at low speed is take their feet off the pegs too early..No better way to lose control than taking your feet off the pegs and dragging your feet.
The biggest mistake I see people do at low speed is take their feet off the pegs too early..No better way to lose control than taking your feet off the pegs and dragging your feet.
I took the Riders Edge Skilled Rider's Course last year. Really improved my slow speed handling, and panic braking. Only a one day course, too. I haven't tried the DVD's because I like an evaluator giving me feedback.
The biggest thing that improved my slow speed handling was looking about 20-30 ft ahead of me instead of 5-10 ft and do the counter-steering by feel, not looking down.
I recommend using 3/4" garden hose (the "real" black rubber hose), slit it down the middle and zip-tie it to your guards when your practicing. You will be amazed at how well it protects your guards if you drop your bike. Once you let go of the fear of dropping it and scratching it up, then you will actually not worry about it so much and you will focus more on challenging yourself to master the skills and next thing you know your dragging your floorboards when you dip the bike The RLAP 5 video is excellent, Jerry motorman Pallidino knows his stuff.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.