Riding a Heavy Harley®
When you’re new to the motorcycle scene, there’s a lot to learn and it can be a little overwhelming. One skill you’ll definitely want to perfect rather quickly is how to properly ride a heavy Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. It’s not always as easy as it looks. You don’t want to head out for a ride for the first time without any practice and end up wobbling all over the road. While it can be intimidating to beginners or those who are used to a lighter frame, it’s not so bad once you get the hang of it. Plus, there are some great benefits to heavier bikes that make them easier to ride.
At Texarkana Harley-Davidson®, we know you need a little extra boost when you’re just starting out on your motorcycle so we’ve created this brief guide to help you out. If you have more questions or want to check out some of our newest models, then stop by our dealership in Texarkana, Texas near Omaha! We also proudly serve Camden, Arkansas!
Riding Posture
Posture is a key component to successfully riding a heavy bike, so make sure you’ve got a good grasp on this before hitting the road. Your posture alone changes how the bike handles and since you want to have sufficient control, you need to make sure you sit straight up and keep your eyes forward. Lifting your gaze promotes balance but it also forces you to tilt your motorcycle rather than your head and body to make turns. By sitting up straight, you’re allowing the bike to do the difficult work for you. You should straighten or extend your inner leg in the direction of turns to keep things balanced.
Another tip is to keep your elbows out for more control when turning or tight riding at slow speed. You’ll want to lift in the opposite elbow on turns for better control and point your feet in the direction you want to travel. When you’re executing a sharp turn, the first thing you’ll want to do is put down the foot on the side you’re turning, so right foot for right turns and left foot for left turns. After you point the foot in the direction you wish to go, your posture will adjust correctly.
Riding in Traffic
More of your attention will need to be on the road and your surroundings when there’s traffic involved. A heavy bike will assert itself in its own way, so the best way to keep things smooth in traffic is to remain calm and allow your bike to find where it wants to be. In order to keep things steady when traveling in traffic at lower speeds, you’ll want to focus on executing all braking, throttling, and steering with as much smooth action as you can. Any sudden turns or acceleration can cause your bike to jerk out of the smoothness you worked so hard to achieve. Not to mention, that it could cause you to swerve or lose control so make sure to calculate each move as carefully as possible.
When traveling at lower speeds, stay off your front brake because it can cause the wheel to tuck with the weight. If this happens, you’ll have a hard time to stop yourself from falling. Lean on the rear brake in a smooth, easy manner then squeeze the front brake as gently as you can until you come to a steady stop.
Parking Tips
Many riders will probably agree that parking at the end of a ride is the least fun part of the whole experience. It can be more difficult to park a heavier bike too, especially if you’re new to handling these meatier frames. Your best bet is to stick with flat, smooth ground when you park. A slight uphill camber can prevent the bike from leaning over too far, which is common with heavy motorcycles. When you pull the bike off its side stand, turn the bars fully to the right until they lock then grab the right handle with both hands, making sure you also grab the brake lever.
You’ve got a fair amount of tips under your helmet now, so you should be ready to ride! Always take the time to practice if you’re a new motorcycle owner so you can get familiar with your bike before riding it out on the road. If you’re interested in new gear or need routine maintenance, visit us at Texarkana Harley-Davidson®. Our dealership is located in Texarkana, Texas near Omaha! We also proudly serve Camden, Arkansas.