Handling Trouble with Mama on back!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
Is it low speed handling that is the problem? One thing I learned here about the Ultra which is different from any other bike I rode - when riding two up, come to a stop using only the back brake. Of course you use both brakes to stop in general, but the last few feet just the back. For whatever reason that advice helped me.
Lowering could help and if you use good quality shocks I would think it would ride at least as well as the std Moco shocks. But, another thing that provided me with more low speed stability was a lower seating position. I swapped out my stock seat for a Mustang Supertouring (lowered me a little over an inch) and it made quite a difference.
Also, as mentioned earlier, advise your wife to be very still at lower speeds.
Other than that, it's a confidence game. Take control and make the bike go where you want it to go.
Lowering could help and if you use good quality shocks I would think it would ride at least as well as the std Moco shocks. But, another thing that provided me with more low speed stability was a lower seating position. I swapped out my stock seat for a Mustang Supertouring (lowered me a little over an inch) and it made quite a difference.
Also, as mentioned earlier, advise your wife to be very still at lower speeds.
Other than that, it's a confidence game. Take control and make the bike go where you want it to go.
Senior Rider
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver Canada
I'm afraid to ride 2 up!
I'm 5'8" and 175.
DW is MUCH larger!
My ride is an '09 FLHTC stock riding height.
I ride a lot and even with our 13 year old son who weighs maybe 110 lb. In fact, we are going to Los Angeles in August to visit family and he can ride the roller coaster at Disney land.
But I am so much more comfortable riding solo that even with him, I get nervous.
I practice the "Ride" moves regularly. Just not with her.
This is not a confessional, but even though I used to ride 2 up regularly, on smaller bikes like my beloved Norton Commando with the wife I just hate doing it now.
I hate the change in the weight distribution and the brake performance.
Here's one rider who is crazy about his wife and has the 40 year marriage to prove it, but would rather NOT pack her double.
DW is MUCH larger!
My ride is an '09 FLHTC stock riding height.
I ride a lot and even with our 13 year old son who weighs maybe 110 lb. In fact, we are going to Los Angeles in August to visit family and he can ride the roller coaster at Disney land.
But I am so much more comfortable riding solo that even with him, I get nervous.
I practice the "Ride" moves regularly. Just not with her.
This is not a confessional, but even though I used to ride 2 up regularly, on smaller bikes like my beloved Norton Commando with the wife I just hate doing it now.
I hate the change in the weight distribution and the brake performance.
Here's one rider who is crazy about his wife and has the 40 year marriage to prove it, but would rather NOT pack her double.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Central Texas
Forty years riding and have the same problems with the wife on the back. A lot has to do with more weight up high I think. I am 300 lbs and have no problems with slow speed turns and stopping and even stopping at stop signs without putting my feet down. But put her on the back and all hell breaks loose. One of my cures is roll on a lot of power in turns. But then Cops don't like that. Another is if I think she is gonna get squirrelly on me I press back and pin her to the tour pak. Just make you feel like a damn amatuer. I do think a lot has to do with the passenger looking around at stops and slow turns trying to be a back seat driver. One thing I just thought of is the old days on smaller bikes the passenger used to hug you from behind, now they sit back there with their arms crossed or giving hand signals or whatever. May have to tell her in town to start hugging me.....
Last edited by steelpony5555; Jun 17, 2012 at 01:11 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
Bought the Rivco floorboards to help with this problem. The arm rotates 360deg. and the board does also. She sits back like shes on a chopper and her feet are tilted back also. No problem with the boards touching the back of my legs. Expensive but to me worth it.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 3
From: Watauga, TX
Mean city can lower and narrow your seat. It won't help handling,but you'll be able to brace at stops easier when she's moving around.
Slow speed manuevers when she's riding drag a little more back brake than you normally do.
Slow speed manuevers when she's riding drag a little more back brake than you normally do.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 44
From: Back woods of Maine
What the passenger does affects the handling of these big rigs a lot!!! If you are having trouble only when you are riding double, she needs to know that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. My wife became a much better passenger after she took the MSF Beginner Course and got her own license. I always thought that the MSF should have a two up experienced riders course. Keep trying! It could be worth it.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 89
From: NewJersey
Like some of the other posts on here, I've got a few pounds over you, 6' 210, and the wife is a bit on the heavy side herself. Ride a '10 EGC with a 103". When the wife is on I give the bike a bit more throttle and work the clutch a little more than usual, gives me more control of the bike a slow speeds. Wife had ridden with a club in her younger years and has a lot of experience as a passenger which is a big help.
Senior Rider
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver Canada
I cheat. After having our first 4 the normal way, we became foster parents and what a joy!
Since we began we have adopted 2: a now 23 year old boy who made me a 7th time grandfather last month, and a now 13 going on 25 YO boy. We also have a 16 year old boy with horrible issues, and a 5 year old boy who is just a fantastic person. We've had over 100 kids through the house.
The Harley is my self-reward for sticking with this "madness".
Since we began we have adopted 2: a now 23 year old boy who made me a 7th time grandfather last month, and a now 13 going on 25 YO boy. We also have a 16 year old boy with horrible issues, and a 5 year old boy who is just a fantastic person. We've had over 100 kids through the house.
The Harley is my self-reward for sticking with this "madness".