I traded in my Heritage softail about a month ago for a new to me 2009 ultra classic. In the time I owned the Heritage I never once set it on the ground. Today I set the ultra down as gently as possible I would add for the second time. The first time was the day I brought it home and was parking it for the first time.
This is starting to get a little embarrassing here! Am I alone in this or are there others that have had the issue multiple times?

Eleanor (That's her name) has been a little unkind to me so far. She rides like a dream but picking her fat butt up off the ground is gonna get old. Thank God for you tube and the videos I saw on how to pick up one of these bikes or she would still be laying there waiting on life alert or someone to come get her.

 

I have had an Ultra, for 4 years, 30 K. Knock on wood, I have never dropped her. I have come close at times. Usually if I hit the front brake, low speeds, front wheel turned. Make sure to use the rear brake at low speeds.

You should take an Advanced Riders course, if you haven't already. I did the first summer, I bought the bike. Needed to get a handle on stopping without skidding the rear out. Took the Riders Edge Skilled Riders Course.

Good luck.

 

I'm assuming low speed maneuvers. Many people have trouble with the extra weight until they get the hang of it's balance point. Almost anyone can ride one at speed in a straight line. You aren't having jiffy stand problems and dropping it then are you? I'm not familiar with the Heritage but there may be a slight difference as I notice my 07 seems to take more effort to get fully extended than my 85 did. Getting it fully extended is key. So exactly how is it that you find the ground?

 

The very first thing to remember on a ultra,is never come to a complete stop with the bars turned and hit the front brake.

 

Look up "motorman" ride like pro on youtube. Seems cheesy but it's good info.

 

The touring bike is more top heavy than the softail.Takes some getting used to.

 

^^^^^^^^^Second that^^^^^^^^^^


https://www.ridelikeapro.com/category/practice-guide/


Find an empty parking lot and set up a few of the exercises shown in the link above and learn to use the rear brake and friction zone. The two 24' circles set up in a figure eight is close to going to a parking lot and doing a figure 8 in 4 parking spaces, (2 back to back).


Someone once told me there are 3 types of bikers out there, those that have dropped a bike, those that will, and those that will again.


Good Luck

 

Yours might not have had the kickstand mod done to it I'm thinking?
It was a call-back thing for the moco.
I would look into it.
Give your dealer a call w/your VIN and have them look it up and see what else you need done to it that you should have had done.

 

This is what got me. That sentence above should be bold, or CAPS, or some special color to make it stand out. I too had never dropped my bike. Then the Ultra happened and I dropped it turning into a parking spot. At a Honda dealer no less. A bunch of guys with Honda shirts ran out and helped me pick it up. Embarrassing doesn't cut it.

David

 

It happens, sometimes more than once to the same bike. We all have brain farts. Practice picking it back up (use carpet on floor to protect bike) by yourself. Get that technique down pat, since you will likely have it happen to you and at the worse possible moment, and by yourself. Murphy's Law.