Riding a Heavy Motorcycle
A Harley-Davidson® motorcycle is a massive beast of a machine. After all, it needs to pack that extra power capabilities somewhere. Heavy motorcycles can be better performing machines, but they are unique to ride. We gathered up the crucial tips for riding a heavy Harley motorcycle below. When you are ready to look at different models, visit St. Charles Harley-Davidson®. We are located near St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri.
Posture
Proper posture accomplishes a few things. It boosts your ability to stay in control of your Harley motorcycle. It improves your ability to stay balanced as you ride. It lets your Harley bike do more of the work. Finally, it helps put less strain on your muscles and joints so you can keep tearing up the street longer. Because your motorcycle is heavy, these benefits become that much more relevant!
As you ride your Harley bike, keep your shoulders back, head centered and looking straight ahead, and eyes focused on the road. Your body tends to naturally follow these three parts so make sure they stay aligned with the road. When you've been on the road for an extended period of time, it's easy to slip into poor posture. Check your alignment at different checkpoints and re-align as needed.
Beyond general posture, keep an eye out for your elbow positioning. Many people find they unintentionally tuck theirs in - try to resist this! Ideally, your elbows will be pointed out. That way, you'll have more control to take on a turn. Accentuate the lift on the elbow opposite of the turn for even more control.
One trick for taking a tight turn is adjusting your feet to your advantage. Put down the foot on the side you are turning. Then point your foot the direction you want to go. It helps facilitate ideal posture to make the turn much easier.
Staying in Control
One challenge a heavy Harley motorcycle poses is that of staying in control. The extra weight is all that much more to wrestle and fight. But the advantage is the extra weight can boost your stability. Combine this with the right riding strategies and you'll enjoy a fantastic ride.
As the old saying goes, slow is steady and steady is fast. Try to keep your ride as smooth as possible. Quick jerky movements lead to a choppy ride and can result in losing control. Ease into using your brakes, throttle, and steering. Keep motions smooth to keep yourself steady.
Another trick is to use your front brake as little as possible when you are at slower speeds. If you use your front brake at a low speed, the weight of your Harley motorcycle could make the wheel tuck and make you fall over. Focus on using your rear brake as your standard option. If you must use your front brake, do so with the rear brake also engaged.
Parking Your Harley Bike
A heavy Harley motorcycle will be a bit trickier to park. It takes up more space and requires more navigation room to get into the spot. The best approach here is finding a flat spot. Parking on a slope can cause your heavy motorcycle to lean or slide downwards. Find level ground with plenty of space to put your Harley bike in.
Before you hit the road on your performance monster, make sure it is running well. Bring your Harley bike to St. Charles Harley-Davidson® if you experience any issues. Our service department can repair it with ease. We also offer a selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Find your next dream motorcycle today! We proudly serve those in St. Louis, Columbia, and St. Peters, Missouri.