Handling Trouble with Mama on back!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
Two tips for you.
(1) As mentioned, Mean City can help you a bunch with the seat at a reasonable cost, call 'em. More stable if the feet are where they need to be.
(2) When you ride two up, or anytime really, wear good boots with the best gripping soles you can find. Top heavy bikes can fall over; you have got to maintain control. Wet spot on the road, a little sand, gravel, whatever, and you could slip and go down. Two up can be a pleasant experience, but be prepared for it. When you slow down or stop, take control of that bike, brake with assurance too. Ride safe!
(1) As mentioned, Mean City can help you a bunch with the seat at a reasonable cost, call 'em. More stable if the feet are where they need to be.
(2) When you ride two up, or anytime really, wear good boots with the best gripping soles you can find. Top heavy bikes can fall over; you have got to maintain control. Wet spot on the road, a little sand, gravel, whatever, and you could slip and go down. Two up can be a pleasant experience, but be prepared for it. When you slow down or stop, take control of that bike, brake with assurance too. Ride safe!
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 69
From: Northford, CT
Take an ERC, watch the Ride Like a Pro DVD. Have your wife watch the DVD, some places have ERC course for passengers. Once you are 100% comfortable at slow speeds solo then start taking your wife. Front brakes are for stopping rear is for control.
My wife has MS and does everything you should not do but we still manage to ride together most of the time. After almost 40 years together would not have it any other way. Once you get comfortable with her on the back riding becomes much more fun and you will ride more.
My wife has MS and does everything you should not do but we still manage to ride together most of the time. After almost 40 years together would not have it any other way. Once you get comfortable with her on the back riding becomes much more fun and you will ride more.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
I know this isn't what you wanna hear but here goes anyway. My wife is heavy just like me but shockingly to me she is probably the worlds best passenger. But even after 50 years of riding my knees and hip put me to the point where what you describe was a huge problem for me.
I got a trike.
I got a trike.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 145
From: Lawrenceville,GA/Rome,Italy
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".
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
Don't know if this will help, and others have said it too. My wife and I ride 2 up. When we started she wasn't too aware of the balancing aspect. She would do things like grab my arm and pull while mounting, which is fine but she did it a few times when I wasn't expecting it and almost pulled me over. Another thing, I asked her to try to sit very still when we were manouvering slowly in parking lots and gas stations. Sometimes she'd twist or bend looking for something or somebody.
So once I got her settled down back there I made a lot less zigg zaggs in parking lots correcting for her movements. lol.
So once I got her settled down back there I made a lot less zigg zaggs in parking lots correcting for her movements. lol.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Carquinez Straights - Northern CA
Not a bad thing to be.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, AZ
Got My Ultra 2 years ago and came off years of riding smaller softtails. It scared the crap out of me the first time I put the wife on the back. It will get better. many have already said it but practice with the tour pack on and her off. Also make sure that she knows the rules. We had to cover new rules with this bike right away. SHe almost knock me over the first ride because I wasn't quite ready for her to get on. She is only a buck 25 but hell if we didn't almost go right down. She always looks me in the eye and waits for the "ready" before getting on. I also had to let her know that unlike my smaller bikes she could not be moving around at low speed maneuvering.
Stopping is still a balancing act as I am only 5'8" with a 30 inseam. The back brake is your friend when she is on the back.
Whatever you do don't sell it. It will be the best bike you ever had after getting to know her!
Stopping is still a balancing act as I am only 5'8" with a 30 inseam. The back brake is your friend when she is on the back.
Whatever you do don't sell it. It will be the best bike you ever had after getting to know her!
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 143
Likes: 21
From: SE Ohio
All good advice here.For me I practice slow speed tops even when stopping for a light or stop sign,also I figured out a long time ago to let off the front brake the last few feet and finish the stop with the back brake,I do this when solo as well.It seems the front brake up sets the balance when coming to a complete stop using it,for me,also don't put foot down until I have stopped completly.Its just small things that make a big differents at slow speed 2 up and even solo.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,776
Likes: 2,252
From: wet coast BC
Think "center of gravity". where is it? when you lower the seat you lower the cg. being flatfooted when stopped is good, but it still does not make the uncomfortable feel go away when moving. riding two up for years and then I get the SG and am feeling uncomfortable especially at slow speeds. already had the sundowner and feet at stop comfortable. It quickly became obvious to me at least that the bars were the problem. My CG was forward as I had to reach and lean into the bar.
Long story short changed to W1.575 and the problem went away immediately. CG moved back closer to the wife sitting upright.
Long story short changed to W1.575 and the problem went away immediately. CG moved back closer to the wife sitting upright.