Learning Basics the Hard Way

[Bofinn]

I submitted the following story to Hog Tail Magazine and thought I'd share it here:


Learning Basics the Hard Way

Riding a Honda for 10 years and then taking the next 10 years off from riding, it was finally time to buy my first Harley. I purchased a 2006 Ultra Classic and was pretty nervous to drive it.

The dealer gave me the standard walk-thru in the parking lot. How the lights and alarm worked, how to shift the gears, and then how to start it up!

Putting it in first gear I eased out of the parking lot, turned right, and then turned onto the main highway. Amazingly it wasn’t even a mile before my natural riding instincts started flowing through my veins.

“Just like riding a bike” I thought to myself. Having 10 years of previous riding experience and attending a rider’s safety course while I was in the Navy; my confidence grew quickly that first day.

But I was soon to find out there were lessons yet to be learned. I only weigh 185 lbs. and was now riding an 860 lb. bike.

That first day I drove to my sister’s house and parked in the driveway, stopping just behind her car. After showing off my new baby it was time to drive it home.

Uh oh! The driveway sloped downhill and I couldn’t back the bike out because it was too heavy. With a car in front, and the driveway’s brick walls on either side of me, I was stuck! Luckily my brother-in-law is an ex-football player. He grabbed the back of the seat and pulled me out to the street.

Lesson #1 learned: Always back the bike in when parking on a downhill slope.

The following weekend was my son’s graduation party. With the streets full of parked cars I decided to park in the driveway next to my son’s Suzuki. It didn’t look like it was downhill at all.

An hour later, my son wanted to go on our very first ride together. I hopped on my bike and started backing it out of the driveway – a gravel driveway! I made it two steps, lost my balance, and over she went.

Luckily I was parked next to a telephone pole and the bike only fell half way over.
Everyone helped me pick up the bike, surviving with only a scratch on the windshield.

Lesson #2 learned: Always back the bike in when parking in gravel.

My driveway is uphill so I normally back the bike out of the garage and do a U-turn so I can drive down the hill.

A few weeks ago, with my girlfriend’s van parked in the driveway, I couldn’t back up as far as normal. I had to stop with the bike sideways in the drive.

For some reason I decided to complete the U-turn by using my feet and walking the bike down the hill. I turned to the right, took one step, and the weight shifted. You guessed it – dropped the bike right in my own driveway. Lesson #3: Always use the motor to do the heavy work.

So if you are a skinny guy like me riding a big big bike: Always back it in so you can let the motor do the work…

Here's a pic to prove I'm skinny (gotta love my newbie ridin' suntan!):

[HD-LUX]

Nice legs.

[Bofinn]

Yeah, the Ride for Kids gave her a college scholarship. She's a brain cancer survivor.

This was my very first organized ride I went on. 2,300 bikes raised $366,000!

[Nazzdak]

Hello-

Congratulations on your new Harley. it is a beautiful machine!

If you are really serious about improving your motor skills, may I make a few suggesstions ?

The first thing I would encourage you to do is to learn how to pick up your motorcycle, all by yourself.

It is not difficult, and once learned, you will find this to be an extremely invaluble tool, for as the old saying goes..."you never know when this will come in handy".

I trained with a 2004 Police Glide for 18 months. It weighed 748lbs. I weigh 155 on a good day, and let me tell ya, I've picked that thing up so many times that I have lost count!...so you should have NO problems with your glide.

Ok,

The first thing you should do is to find an old piece of carpet or blanket. Lay it next to the side of the bike in which you purposely intend to lay it over. I would start with the left side.

Once you have your blanket or carpet in place, you want to make sure the bike is in first gear. Take both hands and turn the handle bars as far as possible to the left, in other words, lock em up. Place your hip against the fuel tank, use your weight to stand the motor up to center of gravity, kick the kickstand up, and as gently as you can, let the motor fall over onto the carpet or blanket.

Now that the bike is layed over, you want to place your butt on the seat, side saddle like. You are going to use your legs, not your arms to get the motor back up.

Take your right hand and grab the left handle bar grip.

Take your left hand and grab anything that is firm in the rear passenger area, such as the top of the saddle bag guard.

Now, as you sit, squat perpindicular against the motorcycle, use your legs to "push" the motor back up to the center of gravity point. Once you have it up, use your right foot to bring the kick stand down, and viola, you're done.

If the bike is layed over to the right, you will want to make sure the kick stand is in place before you begin to go through the procedure detailed above.

If you would like to see a video demonstration of this, then by all means, check out this website... www.ridelikeapro.com

I strongly recommend this dvd.

good luck, God blesss, and once again, congratulations!

p..s. as for parking, we've all been there and done that. Welcome to the club!

David

[Ken R]

. . . . but can get my 800+ pound Ultra up pretty easily following the technique Harris published. Did it one time during a skills practice session.

Whoa! Ken's the man! Don't mess with Ken! He can lift an Ultra!

When they asked how, I told them to play like they're pushing a car using one's legs while sitting on the car's back bumper.
I simply sit sidesaddle on the seat, hold onto the handlebars and rear grab rail, and push with my legs (like I'm pushing a car). It'll push the motor right up . . . doesn't take any lifting at all.

[jnvultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Nazzdak

If the bike is layed over to the right, you will want to make sure the kick stand is in place before you begin to go through the procedure detailed above.

If you would like to see a video demonstration of this, then by all means, check out this website... www.ridelikeapro.com

David

Plus you should also contact Harris and have him send you the training material. I've got both and it's help me tremendously.