Pushing these beasts around is a pain
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 34
From: Texas
Pushing these beasts around is a pain
Just acquired my 2010 Ultra Limited. Had upgraded from a 2006 Ultra. In any event, I have essentially a gravel/well crushed granite driveway. As it is I pull in head first and in the morning I push my bike out to the sidewalk and stage it there for "take off." Just before the sidewalk he gravel is thicker, so my bike sinks more. Sometimes hitting that patch without "speed" can raise the pucker factor as the bike wants to stop.
Talk about starting the day out working up a sweat. The 2010 seems a little heavier than the 2006, but I did have the passenger seat rails to hold on to when maneuvering.
I have been become more acutely aware of the challenges of moving the bike around since knee surgery about 3 months ago.
Wishing I had traded for a softtail or a superglide - but then the wife would be out of the game for that 15% of the time she rides with me.
Ahh, the challenges of getting older and being short (29 inseam).
Talk about starting the day out working up a sweat. The 2010 seems a little heavier than the 2006, but I did have the passenger seat rails to hold on to when maneuvering.
I have been become more acutely aware of the challenges of moving the bike around since knee surgery about 3 months ago.
Wishing I had traded for a softtail or a superglide - but then the wife would be out of the game for that 15% of the time she rides with me.
Ahh, the challenges of getting older and being short (29 inseam).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,618
Likes: 5,215
From: Green Country
Would one of these help you "stage" it in the garage?
http://www.harborfreight.com/low-pro...lly-95896.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/low-pro...lly-95896.html
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 4
I feel your pain, I have an 80 foot driveway (paved) but the last 10 feet has about a 7 foot rise....to make matters worse my driveway apron is in the middle of a blind curve. I have to hit the gas to get up the grade and then jam on the brakes in case a car is coming around the curve then hit the gas to clear the apron and roll into the left down hill turn. I hold my breath every day when I go to work. Ha Ha!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
Last weekend I pulled into a parking lot and thy had recently regraveled it. it was deep, and when I put the kickstand down it buried itself deep in the rocks. The entire bike sunk a inch or so and I had a heck of a time getting out of their. These bikes are heavy and hard to push around.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 108
From: Tennessee
OP you gotta' wife, eh?
Tell her to drop cleanin' your boots, clothes, etc...for a minute or two and push you out to the street. No use workin' up a sweat before going to work.
It won't take long before it just becomes SOP with 'er. Of course, there's no guarantee what you'll be eating for supper til then.
Tell her to drop cleanin' your boots, clothes, etc...for a minute or two and push you out to the street. No use workin' up a sweat before going to work.
It won't take long before it just becomes SOP with 'er. Of course, there's no guarantee what you'll be eating for supper til then.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
I have 800' of gravel drive before I hit the highway. I usually ride in the grass, much easier.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
I have a habit of getting myself jacked up basically the same way, having to try to push backwards in soft stuff, or uphill. All but impossible.
Reverse gears aren't cheap, but they are a very viable solution. I watch the swap meets myself, hoping to find a cheap used kit. No luck yet. :-(
I do use my HF jack to turn the bike around in the shed so I can ride out and across the soft grass. That's helped a lot at home, but not in the wild.
Reverse gears aren't cheap, but they are a very viable solution. I watch the swap meets myself, hoping to find a cheap used kit. No luck yet. :-(
I do use my HF jack to turn the bike around in the shed so I can ride out and across the soft grass. That's helped a lot at home, but not in the wild.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 34
From: Texas
Yeah, I can see me asking the wife, who has had two hip replacement surgeries, help me out at 5:30 in the morning. I would be living on carnation instant breakfast after that.
The dolly approach won't work - I have gravel drive, no garage.
The 2010 needs a weight loss program, I need a muscle building program and my drive way needs to be improved.
Did I previously state it is tiresome getting old and feeble at 54 (: Oh, to be wealthy or not in debt. The improvements I could make. Having a superglide for my ride to work and around town. I real cement driveway and a, "heaven forbid,
" a garage.
The dolly approach won't work - I have gravel drive, no garage.
The 2010 needs a weight loss program, I need a muscle building program and my drive way needs to be improved.
Did I previously state it is tiresome getting old and feeble at 54 (: Oh, to be wealthy or not in debt. The improvements I could make. Having a superglide for my ride to work and around town. I real cement driveway and a, "heaven forbid,
" a garage.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 35
From: Fl
The combination of short inseam, heavy bike, high seat height, and high center of gravity make pushing a real chore, I know! My solution was to lower my bike front and rear 1 1/2 inches using Progressive suspension components. I added a narrower Lepera seat with good back support, gives a nice vertical stop for your back when backing up. Much better now, the bike is still heavy (and I'm still short!) but it's much easier to back up.