I just purchased a 2009 Ultra a few months ago.
Went to upper NY and Vermont Riding for the last 5 days.




How do you handle my type of bike going up hill (8-12 degrees) faced withhair pin turn and a slow RV in front of you, and keep the bike from stalling thru the turn?


I can't imagine someone riding two up with a trailer in that situation without stalling.


Thank you.

 

downshift, look where you want to go (around the turn, not in front of you) and don't crowd the RV so you can take the turn at your pace...

 

Greetings, I have been riding for many years and I still learned quite a bit about safety and handling these big bikes from The Motorman. I suggest you study his techniques and practice them in empty parking areas such as your local high school on the weekends.
https://www.ridelikeapro.com/

 

The issue is I'm already in 1st gear heading into an uphill hair pin curve going so slow the rpm is around 1500 and afraid of stalling.

 

Well....give space to vehicle in front. Prb solved. And if need be, feather the clutch.

 

More seat time and learn the sweet spot of the clutch and rear brakes.

Batman

 

As they say in NASCAR, it not a matter of catching the person in front of you, it's where you catch them that matters

 

If you can't pass a slow mover that creeps uphill on corners, let him get some distance ahead of you on the downhills, so you can keep the rpm's up before you catch up to him in the slow spots. When it's been impossible to pass, I've even pulled over (when there's a safe spot like a scenic overlook) and just enjoyed the view and let the bike rest till there was a good break in traffic. I try to avoid those situations where you're either slipping the clutch or lugging the engine (slipping the clutch is cheaper in the long run, and easier to change than engine guts).

Motorcycles and cars are a bad mix on high twisties; cars can take the turns faster (but their drivers usually don't), but big bikes aren't slowed down by steep uphills like most cars and trucks. I really hate it when I come up on a slow vehicle and the one behind me snuggles right up to my tail light; best to get off the road asap when you get one of those, if his brakes fade on a hill...

If you're new to mountain riding, try to avoid taking curves fast enough you can't stop in the distance you can see ahead - and full bore braking with a Harley on a curve often ends badly. I had a couple very near misses learning that.

 

It's a wet clutch, slip it to help maintain balance, rpm and momentum. It'll take a lot to hurt it.


I'd rather use up a bit of clutch material then drop the bike, loaded, with the wife on the back, in the middle of a blind curve, with a bunch of blind RV drivers behind me.

 

Feather the clutch to keep the rev's up in this situation. Keep a good distance from the car/truck in front of you.

I also agree with "waltz4" on the Ride Like A Pro - that is great training.