Ok I just want to let off some steam..... I droped my bike for the 3 time today? I can not figure out why this is happening?????(*^&*(&^^(&*^)(*%^%)(Every time I pull in to a parking lot it never fails. (So what if it is 900lbs.) ()*^&(*&(&)())()(!$####%^ Thats all just wanted to let out some steam....
Better Now....

Glad you're feeling better. I would go to an empty parking lot and practice some slo speed manuvers. I do it after taking the MSF class. Ride safe.

Pdaveatriot:

 

Oh I do practice... Its just I have a indecisive mind. Take for an example about a month ago I was pulling into a parking lot and I was trying to decide if I wanted to pull in back wards into the parking spot or just park parallel with the stripes. (There was no one in this area of the parking lot) Well as my mind could not make up its mind I decided to slow down on the hill where the parking spot is but lord and behold I decided to slow down while I was parallel with the hill... Big NO NO especially when I was starting to turn. Well I am not going to be able to hold up 900lbs like that. I guess I need to go to the gym and look like Arnold Swartsinegger!!!!! LOL.

 

You could look at lowering your seat and or shocks. Getting more "foot" on the ground really helps me. I have short legs but have no problem even when I have to put one leg down quick. Of course the arnold thing would work too. Good luck. And no more NO NO's

Pdaveatriot:

 

I have short legs also. I have never thought about lowering the bike. I don't think a seat change would help. I just put on Mustang seats and love them. How would I go about lowering the bike??? (I like the idea) Don't much care for the gym thing. I would rather be riding than spending time in the gym. Oh and don't get me wrong I LOVE my VTX1800R... I would not trade for anything Well except maybe a Gold Wing. But I would have to think on that one hard.

 

You put different rear shocks on it. Others will weigh in on the kind to buy.

 

Hi Kent,

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but I don't think the gym will help. You don't need to overpower the bike; you need to keep out of situations in which you find yourself needing to hold up the weight in an awkward position.

One caveat to the above would be in case you are actually very slight of stature and the bike is just too big for you. That is possible, but only you can answer that.

I don't mean to sound preachy (but it IS Sunday), but one needs to be so much more decisive and diligent on a bike than in a cage. You need to anticipate where you are going and what you're going to do ahead of time. To make it even more difficult, you need to be anticipating all of the stupidity around you in people and their vehicles.

Without knowing you at all, I would suggest: 1) Exploring if the big does not match your body, or if it far outmatches your driving ability, and 2) Get into a driving course. Maybe you've taken the Basic MSF or not, but you just need more time and experience.

Friend, I don't mean to offend, but dropping your bike three times in these circumstances should be a sever wake-up call for you. Put aside your pride and take a look at root-causes!

Good Luck,
J

 

I would practice some more, maybe even take most of a Saturday and engage in parking lot play at the local high school. Cut a bunch of dead tennis balls in half to use as markers, and make it a standard course.

When the actions of low-speed maneuvering become almost second nature, then you can pay more attention to the distractions that can lead to tip-overs like that.

I also recommend the DVD from Jerry Paladino, Ride Like a Pro. He's a motorcycle cop, and the video is very instructive.

Good luck. And remember, everyone one has times like that.

 

Thanks for all the advice no offense taken and thanks for the advice. I do not think the bike is too big for me. I have only been riding this bike for about 4 months and but I have been riding for 3 years. I just come from a Yamaha 650. So there is a slight difference in weight (That was a joke) I have taken the Basic MSF. Y'all are right I just need to practice more on low-speed maneuvering. And I will pick up the DVD Ride Like a Pro Thanks again... (Still not giving up on the 1800. Love the bike and the smooth ride.)

 

Good on ya!

Never give up! I have "tipped over" myself a few times, in slow speeds, mostly due to unforseeabler stuff, like a long pants leg hooked over the heel shifter, and came to a full stop, or the time when I was turning into and uphill parking slot at a local dealer, and the glue for thr grip gave way (lesson: do NOT trust the glue Kuryakyn sends with their grips...get some Renhardt Grip Glue, which is alot like the stock stuff Honda uses...)

The Video helped me immensely. That and parkling lot practice after 2 full viewings, and re-practice and re-practice...

I too will never give up the 1800. It is all I want it to be...

 

Put on some engine guard bars and some rear bags. THis way if it goe down it wil protect the tank and other expansive parts. Once you get better at the slow speed stuff you can remove them.

 

I can feel you Kent. While trying to learn my bike i layed it down in a parking lot doing start and stop manuevers. In fact it has been down 4 times all while either stopped or at very low speeds. No rhyme or reason. Practice will help and has helped me a lot. I put 11 1/2" shocks on mine which lowered it about 2". I have seen posts somewhere about a company that will shorten stock shocks for a very reasonable price. I am sending my seat to BAD X which will lower me another 2". It really helps to have both feet firmly planted on the ground. Engine guards, and bags are an excellent idea as they will not only protect your valuable mods but keeps the bike off the ground which makes it much easier to return to the riding position.

I too thought that maybe the 1800 was to much bike for me but with almost 8300 miles on now I can assure you nothing smaller will EVER do at least for me.

 

Hey there TMichael, what kind of 11 1/2 shock did you put on? And will they fit the 1800R? I do have Engine Guards on my bike. They are worth there weight in gold. Saved me a lot of $$$

 

I put the progrressives 412 I believe. It is my understanding that the only difference in the R & S models is the wheels.

 

Hi Kent

If you install the 11 or 11.5"" shocks I think you will be amazed it will lower your bike and give you much more leverage when holding her up. Check out the link. Also you can find them cheaper on other sites like Denis Kirk.

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/hd/412series/index.html


Hale

 

Hey J- Very good point about anticipating and planning.

As a new rider I have wondered if I am too obsessive about anticipating and planning.

The night before I rode my new bike to work for the first time (a couple of weeks or so ago) I tossed and turned a bit thinking about the next morning’s ride. Tried to anticipate trouble spots.

The only concern I really came up with (besides morning traffic) was the actual, final turn into the hospital parking lot and then the motorcycle parking which is fenced in… there is a speed bump much to close to the entrance and there is only a typical sized walk-through gate to ride through into the motorcycle parking (the intended entrance gate is on the opposite side opening to a raised sidewalk and curb-stop- it was the thought that counts).

Anyway, in the ABSENCE of experience and skill, I have to contribute the smooth, fluid entrance into the main lot and bike parking to anticipating and planning it out mentally. Of course, this morning as I approached the lot I saw the sprinkler system going off like Niagara Falls. Since I couldn’t see the surface of the lot until just before making the turn I ANTICIPATED and PLANNED by slowing down more than usual. As a result I was able to have the bike straight up and down by the time I hit the thin (but wide) sheet of moving water (which I ANTICIPATED being there). Probably would have been a drop otherwise.

At 5’10” I’m a bit short (though I get flat feet on both sides while sitting) and at age 43 I have had more upper body strength (and leg strength for that matter) than I currently posses. Still, I’m thinking the key to fitting into my 1800 will be a combination of skill, technique and thoughtful riding with strength playing a lesser role (until I do drop her and need to get er back up of course).

Thanks again for your (and others) insight and teaching for us new riders.

Jeff

 

I had a similar problem a few years ago too - kept dropping the bike (another one, not the VTX) and learned I was looking down on the ground as I slowed down and dropping the bike right where I was looking. I trained myself to always look up and the problem went away. Just and idea.

 

Was just reading this thread, don't know how long ago it was that you took the MSF course, but hey, it would be worth the money to take it again. Every time you drop that nice bike you are doing damage to both it and to your confidence. The MSF does wonders for boosting your confidence level. Plus, since you don't have your licensing riding on passing the MSF this time, you can relax a bit, ask more questions of the instructors and hopefully learn those things that will keep you out of the jams you're currently in.

But, in the absence of that, I wouldn't be above suggesting that at this point the 1800 could be too much bike for you at this stage. Think about retaking the MSF as a brush up. A lot of people do that just to stay sharp on the skills and to learn things they missed the first time around.

 

It does take practice balancing a bike at almost standstill speed but here's a tip for you. Be sure to keep the revs up a little more than
you might be right now. When I do a U-turn in narrow space and have to go really slow I keep the rpms up so that if I feel the bike going over just a hint I ease out on the clutch and you instantly pick up enough speed that the gyroscoping nature of the wheels will keep you upright. When watching you likely wouldn't be able to tell that I did anything other than hear the motor rev up a little. I make tight U-turns and never take a foot off the floor board. You should practice this in a straight line on a level surface. Go as slow as you can to the point of stopping and just about want to set your foot down and then with the revs up a little ease the clutch out and back in real quick and you will feel the bike firm up in it's balance. I can do this and maintain a speed that's slower than grandma with a walker going along a downhill sidewalk. I have too much invested to ever drop my bike. If for some reason it does go over I'm throwing myself under it to soften the blow.