Keep dropping the damn bike!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Seems the one thing that helped me hasn't been listed ... locate a parking space / area that is flat, and is a good spot to take off from.
I can remember renting an FLHTCU and it was so top heavy that 7 degrees either way of center and the bike was beyond the point of return, often laying on it's pipes and highway bars .... it never fell over, just tipped.
I stopped in Traverse City on a Street Glide on a sloping roadway and before I could put down my left foot, on the low side of the slope, the bike was laying in the intersection on it's side and the wife scrapped the back of her legs escaping from her seat as it fell...ugh!! Life's most embarrassing moment for sure!
And being able to flat foot on the road when sitting on the bike is extremely important! I used HD 1" shorter shocks on my Tour Glide to do so.
I can remember renting an FLHTCU and it was so top heavy that 7 degrees either way of center and the bike was beyond the point of return, often laying on it's pipes and highway bars .... it never fell over, just tipped.
I stopped in Traverse City on a Street Glide on a sloping roadway and before I could put down my left foot, on the low side of the slope, the bike was laying in the intersection on it's side and the wife scrapped the back of her legs escaping from her seat as it fell...ugh!! Life's most embarrassing moment for sure!
And being able to flat foot on the road when sitting on the bike is extremely important! I used HD 1" shorter shocks on my Tour Glide to do so.
Last edited by JohnnyC; Sep 4, 2012 at 07:53 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
When parking, leave the bike so you can ride straight out. If that means you have to manhandling the bike to achieve that, both get off it so you can move the bike around from beside it. Trying to paddle round with you both sitting on the saddle, unless you are very tall and strong, is a recipe for disaster!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
It has been said in here already, but practice is key. You may need to lower the bike to a point where you can flat foot easier. You may also look into boots with a taller heel. (worked for me). I frequently put both feet down at a stop when carrying a passenger. These are big bikes and gravity will have its way with them unless you are careful.
My wife adds; in addition to putting weight on the floorboards at slow speeds, that if she feels the bike leaning at slow speeds she shifts her weight to counter balance the tip-over.
She learned many miles ago that she cannot reach the ground from the back seat to assist in preventing the bike from going over, that is a sure way to hit the ground.
Very important IMO, she needs to keep her butt still during stops. A wiggling passenger is trouble at low speeds....above 20mph, I don't care if they do the watusi.
She learned many miles ago that she cannot reach the ground from the back seat to assist in preventing the bike from going over, that is a sure way to hit the ground.
Very important IMO, she needs to keep her butt still during stops. A wiggling passenger is trouble at low speeds....above 20mph, I don't care if they do the watusi.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
Here's a little thing I do that helps get more foot on the ground when stopping. If you were to look at the cross section of the pavement you would notice that the wheel tracks are lower than the center of the lane, especially on older pavement. When coming to a stop get into the right wheel track. When you put out your left foot to the ground the center of the lane may be a couple of inches higher than where your tires are sitting giving you more stability. Sort of like riding in a slight ditch.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 910
Likes: 7
From: Shaconage
I think it's human nature for a passenger to think it's safer to adjust their weight while the bike is going slower or at a stop. Of course, that's just the opposite of what it takes to maintain control of the bike under those conditions. Make sure she understands that and practices it. I almost dropped my Ultra once when my SO thought she needed to fish her cell phone out of her pocket at a stop light. She has since learned to "freeze" during those moments.
Last edited by ZenGlide; Sep 4, 2012 at 06:24 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 532
Likes: 9
+1 for practice, practice, practice.
Look where you want to go. Front wheel straight. Always use your front brake. I never use the rear brake unless I am in an emergency stop situation.
Harleys will dive to the ground if the front wheel is turned when the front brake is applied. (as you have already learned).
Look where you want to go. Front wheel straight. Always use your front brake. I never use the rear brake unless I am in an emergency stop situation.
Harleys will dive to the ground if the front wheel is turned when the front brake is applied. (as you have already learned).
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
Similar to others here, I use both breaks to stop and just the front for the last few feet, with front wheel pointed straight ahead. My primary nemesis has been loose aggretate or sand on the road surface at intersections, which is all too common here. Have had a foot go scooting out a time or two, making for close calls. As I approach an intersection, I always pay particular attention to the surface conditions in the event that some knucklehead in a dump truck went around the corner too fast and dumped part of the load on the road.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 762
Likes: 2
From: Fort Bragg, NC Area
I can understand the older riders saying to only use the rear brake as this is how it was done way back. This is NOT the case now though. On standard roads in normal weather, the front brake is THE best brake you have. This is what I teach for the MSF and RidersEdge teaches the same thing.
