Keep dropping the damn bike!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Use both brakes! Using the back brake for stopping is a bad bad habit that is decades out of date and should be consigned to history.
Wear good quality motorcycle boots, if you don't have them, so you get a good solid grip when you put either or both feet down.
Also ride more and more! As you get better used to riding together you will both get more experienced and relax together. An intercom helps so you can talk easily, like telling her to relax, if you find she is tensing up back there. Best of luck to you both.
Wear good quality motorcycle boots, if you don't have them, so you get a good solid grip when you put either or both feet down.
Also ride more and more! As you get better used to riding together you will both get more experienced and relax together. An intercom helps so you can talk easily, like telling her to relax, if you find she is tensing up back there. Best of luck to you both.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Trev, best not to ask! Our North American cousins have a strange thing about front brakes. My first new Harley, back in 1974, actually recommended using the rear only for 'normal' braking. That is complete and utter nonsense, as I'm sure you realise, so carry on riding properly, there's a good chap! It is only since the 70s that Harley has changed it's attitude on using brakes, but that has still to get through to all riders across the pond.
If you read your owners manual you will find it recommends riding on the RIGHT, FFS, which is plainly utter crap as far as we Brits are concerned. Harley still tells us that in my 2011 Sporty manual. That should tell you enough!
If you read your owners manual you will find it recommends riding on the RIGHT, FFS, which is plainly utter crap as far as we Brits are concerned. Harley still tells us that in my 2011 Sporty manual. That should tell you enough!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 381
Likes: 1
From: East Coast
If your passenger sits straight up, there should be little difference in stopping than when you are solo. Sounds to me, if this is happening that frequently when riding 2-up, your problem is with your passenger shifting her weight to one side before you have firm control of the bike's balance.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
These guys are right on. Look straight ahead. Look straight ahead. Keep wheel straight...
Also, practice "dragging" the rear brake and slipping the clutch the next time you go out. Then add a little power against the slipping clutch.... you will see the bike stand straight up to a stop (if you look straight ahead). This will build confidence.
Also, practice "dragging" the rear brake and slipping the clutch the next time you go out. Then add a little power against the slipping clutch.... you will see the bike stand straight up to a stop (if you look straight ahead). This will build confidence.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 591
Likes: 23
From: Statesboro, GA
Going to chime in on this since I have been in the "Ultra drop club". Dropped my '10 twice while stopping until I finally determined what was going on. Like many others, I use both brakes when stopping and just the front for that last 2 ft. bring it to a halt. Many may think this is a bad habit but it was what I learned in years of road racing.
What I found was the stock Ultra front suspension is so soft the front end would dive on that final halt with the front brake. If the forks we not completely straight or there was an unseen dip in the pavement, or anything else not just right, the forks would ****** one way or the other. Balance changes rapidly and I looked like the Laugh-In tricycle guy from the 60's!
Installing Progressive Mono-Tubes in the front forks solved that problem and it hasn't been an issue since.
Just my .02 worth!
What I found was the stock Ultra front suspension is so soft the front end would dive on that final halt with the front brake. If the forks we not completely straight or there was an unseen dip in the pavement, or anything else not just right, the forks would ****** one way or the other. Balance changes rapidly and I looked like the Laugh-In tricycle guy from the 60's!
Installing Progressive Mono-Tubes in the front forks solved that problem and it hasn't been an issue since.
Just my .02 worth!
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
As others have said - for the last few feet make sure the front is pointed straight ahead. Period. With practice you can compensate a little but if you grab that front brake as you are coming to a stop and that front wheel is not pointed straight ahead you are going to have a problem keeping it up. Also, as mentioned, pay attention to slope. I will actually point the bike down a slope even if is isn't lined up naturally with the stop, otherwise you are going to have that extra lean angle to deal with. Alternatively I will force the lean into the slope, if the stopped lean goes with the slope it can be a real pita. I dropped mine twice in the first few months, both times dealing with a slope. I pay a lot of attention to that now, especially since I no longer have a bag guard.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 12
From: North Texas
One thing to remember is that the tour pack is added top weight that worke against you. More if it is loaded.
Also, I had to tell my wife if she needed to shift her weight to get comfy, wait until we were moving. Not at a stop.
Then, do not completely stop with front wheel turned at all if you are holding the front brake.
Also, I had to tell my wife if she needed to shift her weight to get comfy, wait until we were moving. Not at a stop.
Then, do not completely stop with front wheel turned at all if you are holding the front brake.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
Leave the wife at home for a few months until you get used to the bike. My opinion is there are major differences in weight displacement between your old bike and the ultra. You may not have your confidence level where it should be yet. I had a lot of experience too when I got my Road King, but the ride was different. After about a month or 2 I found it was the easiest riding machine I have owned. You have a bit more weight up top. Incidently, my wife ain't the skinny thing she used to be .. can't tell she's even back there sometimes.
Oh yeah, always use your front brake ... always. 70% front 30% back. You have dual rotors up front ... use them.
Oh yeah, always use your front brake ... always. 70% front 30% back. You have dual rotors up front ... use them.
Last edited by cromagnon; Sep 4, 2012 at 07:17 AM.