You'll get it, the HD touring bikes rock at slow speeds. In fact, I won $50.00 last night at a local dealership by winning a "slow ride" competition on my Ultra!

 

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJKYjHa4NY

Once you get the hang of it, you'll find your problems with stops and starts go away.

You'll have to go to youtube to see the comments with the video to get the full explanation of the "points" in the annotations.

www.youtube.com/conedown

Harris
Denver, CO

 

Go buy a GL1800 Goldwing and learn how to turn sharp and slow on that. After you master that top heavy thing you will find the ultra classic a breeze at slow speeds. All the boys are right on here. It's all about clutch, throttle and rear brake. Also, make sure you are looking at the spot you are turning to and not down to the ground. Keep your head up and you will turn a heck of a lot easier at slow speeds.

 

Just like in the video, don't look down at your front tire. Just keep looking forward and I think you will find the stops easier. Also, don't creep to a stop, it just makes you more unstable.

 

everything posted is true. Do not use the front brake in slow speed manuvers. This is the kiss of death. Don't ask me how I know.

 

I also just recently moved up to an Ultra Classic from a Fat Bob. It just takes some getting used to. Your dealing with an 850 pound motorcycle. When I first started riding on the UC I would focus on an object in the distance. It seemed that I could keep my balance much better than when I looked at something close.

 

I have a new 2010 Ultra Classic. Had it about a month. Riding alone I felt no balance problem. Then I took the wife for a ride. 1st intersection I cane to it leaned far to the left but i was able to strain and pick it back up. Then driving up a paved small mountain road decided to turn around before the stream. Turned left and over it came. Was very slow so no damage happened other then a loose highway peg. My wife has road with me before on a Deuce and a Heritage. Never even felt a balance problem. Any suggestions.

 

I bought the "Ride Like a Pro" DVDs before I even bought my bike.

Laugh if you want, I saw these guys at the Illinois State Rally and was impressed. The excercises on the dvd helped me tremenodously. Doing the slow turn/manuever stuff was the hardest part of learning to ride a bike that weighs that much.

 

I second the response regarding Ride Like a Pro. If you follow the exercises on the DVD, which is very well done, you will have a lot more confidence in your low-speed maneuvering abilities. The price of the DVD (I recall paying something like $25 - $30) is a lot less than the potential damage in a single tipover.

 

stop looking down..... look straight ahead