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Premium Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Indy
Posts: 828
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Does your passenger feel safe?
Hello Everyone-
My lady and I just got back from a road trip down to Gatlinburg TN. Over the last three days we logged over 900 accident free miles on our 07 FLHRC. To my pleasant surprise, Shelly told me that she felt perfectly safe the entire trip. I told her, that my job as driver felt much more like work most of the time. Mainly because the roads down south were mostly Non-flat. There were a ton of inclines, declines and crested roads. Ironically, many times, I looked back only to see her reading a book or watching a movie on her ipod when it got dark. Thus, I thought it would be helpful to share what I learned over the last few days.
First things first-
Make sure your bike is in good riding condition.
We just had a top to bottom 20k service done on our FLHRC, so I knew that we were good to go. In addition, it is best to inflate your tires up to the MAXIMUM psi. That means 40 pounds in each tire if you're riding a stock 2007 FLHRC and 20 pounds in the rear shocks. I always wash and detail my bike the night before a long road trip. Heaviest stuff should go in the saddle bags, as evenly as possible. Lighter stuff in the tour pack.
Essentials are also very important. Harley makes a set of wind breakers that you can put on your engine guard when temps are below 50 degrees. This really comes in handy if you like to put your feet up on the highway pegs and don't have an Ultra. Maps are a must. So is a small tool kit-air pressure gauges and parking puck for graveled/grassy areas. My iphone has a GPS system that came in very handy at rest stops and dinner/lunch. We would always dress in layers, and shed clothes as temps began to rise. i..e...long johns, jeans, chaps. Please keep in mind, body HEAT, begins to escape first, from the top of your head, so a winter cap in cool temps is a must. Bike cover, chain and lock are also a must. ( I purposely left my .357 Smith and Wesson at home.)
In addition, we encountered extreme variances in temp readings. As hot as 80 degrees, and as low as 45, so pack accordingly. At this time of year, I always keep three sets of gloves on my bike. Summer, mildly cold, and winters. It is very important that you think of your passenger in advance, for when it gets really cold, she will probably be unprepared. That means a set of night time googles and gloves for her, as well as something for her neck and face.
As for the ride...
1. Develop mount-dismount rituals well in advance.
I always get on the bike first, with BOTH feet firmly planted on the ground, applying the front brake for additional stability. Our bike is ALWAYS parked in first gear, so my right hand covers the clutch each and every time. Shelly, always mounts the bike from the low side of the motorcycle, and gives me a thumbs up when she's ready to go. At that point, I cover the rear brake, turn on the bike with my right hand, and start the motor. This is extremely IMPORTANT. Each and every time you start and turn off your bike, either the front, or the rear brake, should already engaged. This eliminates ANY possibility of unwanted rolling, for you never know when you will need to start or turn off the motor on an incline or a decline.
When we come to a destination, I always come to a complete stop first, with the bike in first GEAR, using both feet to support the motor, covering the front brake and clutch. At that point, she dismounts the motorcycle on the same side that she got on. Only after she dismounts, do I engage the rear brake, and then turn off the motor. If I do need to back up the bike to park it, only at that point, will I put it in neutral. Once it is parked, I immediately put the motor back in first gear. Again, this eliminates ANY possibility of rolling.
If you practice these rituals enough, they will become habitual. And believe me, these habits will come in very handy when you find yourself riding in the mountains of Tenn. That state is anything but flat.
2. At the start of each trip, once we're fully packed and loaded, I always do a few free style figure eights with my passenger before we even leave, just to get her and myself used to the idea of the bike leaning over at low speeds with all that weight.
3. Remind your passenger to sit as perfectly still as possible but that it's OK to look over your right shoulder when you're turning right, and that it's OK to look over your left shoulder when you are turning left.
4. If you are in doubt when approaching an intersection, prepare to STOP. This means that your right foot should already be FEATHERING the rear brake. Your right foot should also be feathering the rear brake EVERY time you find yourself riding at speeds of 3-5mph in Hotel/motel parking lots and/or gas stations. This applies regardless of whether or not you are riding two up or solo. A car pulling or backing out in front of you in a congested area should come as NO surprise. At speeds of 5 mph or less, the REAR BRAKE is capable of doing 100% of the work. If you find yourself duck walking the motor to and from stops, or in congested areas, then please realize that you do NOT have control of the motorcycle.
5. Once you're up to a cruising speed, remember to always keep looking FAR ahead of the motorcycle.
6. I use a general rule of thumb of two hours from start to stop. This is just about the maximum degree of pain a passenger can stand in terms of sitting still for a long period of time. Thus, as a rider, you have to know when to open up, and layback, in terms of your cruising speed.
7. It will always take longer to stop, and start with a passenger, than it will when you're riding by yourself. Remember this the next time you're thinking about pulling out ahead of a car onto the street from a dead stop, or, vice versa. In addition, it is best to maintain at least a 2 second rule of space in between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.
8. Your rear view mirrors are EXTREMELY important. Position them accordingly. You should be well aware, far in advance, when a car is pacing you, or when it is NOT safe to pass. You should always know who is directly behind you, and whether that distance is expanding or compressing.
9. Above all, keep listening to that little voice in your head. The one that says to speed up, or to slow down, to avoid this, or avoid that, to keep straight, instead of turning left or right, to stop and ask, to pass, to pull back, to veer off the beaten path etc..etc.., and you and yours will be just fine.
good luck and God Bless,
David
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