| Author | Message | ||
     Hooaah |
Any words of wisdom for a newbie at riding 2 up? All of my riding experience has been on sport bikes and up until the Uly I did not have a bike that would handle the payload of me and a family member (we are large). Adjusted the suspension by the book and took my 19 year old daughter out for a spin. Total weight about 440 lbs. We took it nice and easy but I really seemed to wallow in the corners. They did seem to smooth out when I shifted my position/weight slightly to the rear as compared to my normal riding position. My goal was no wheelies and no dropping it and we met those but I'm looking for any pointers. Thanks | ||
| Dave |
Riding 2 up really involves participation by both rider and passenger. Especially adult sized riders. It helps greatly if your passenger understands motorcycle behavior and leaning while cornering. Practice and they'll get the "feel" for the ride just like you learn to "feel" the new scoot. DAve (Message edited by dave on November 23, 2005) | ||
| Chadhargis |
Have the passenger look over your shoulder in the direction of the turn. For example...if you are turning left, they look over your left shoulder. This will encourange them to lean with the bike versus staying upright or worse yet, leaning away from the turn. Also remember, that as good as the Showa suspenders on the Uly are, they are still stock units. If you want a sure enough good 2 up bike, you'll need new fork and shock springs at a bare minimum. Relying on the preload adjuster to compensate for the extra weight isn't really what it's for. The bike should have a spring designed for the weight of the rider (and passenger if you are so inclined). From there, you can use the preload knob to tweak the setting a bit. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Don't want to cause any problems but the stock suspension is awsum for 2 up riding. There is absolutely no need to change anything other than the settings. Remember this bike was designed from the ground up as a 2 up Sport Touring machine and everthing works very well for that. Actually I find the machine absolutely surprising with 2 up riding. If I didn't know better I would say it is a better handling bike with 2 up than without. But I don't want the rest of the world to think I am nuts. I have about 2000 kms of 2 up riding on Saskatchewan roads that are famous for being very poor. The Uly takes everything Saskatchewan can give her and not once has it even bottomed out. So I don't see where you figure the machine needs anything to fix an already near perfect set up. By the way the 2 of us weigh about 370 lbs. Just do the adjustments as Buell says and you will be fine. Hey Chad maybe you should get your bike first and then recommend what people may need for special riding needs. Not trying to be smart just that I have been following your wait and I think it is getting to you buddy. Calm down and enjoy it when it gets there. (Message edited by thunderbox on November 23, 2005) (Message edited by thunderbox on November 23, 2005) | ||
| Wasions |
Here's some excellent advice: http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp Find #160 'Your First Passenger' Steve Gear up! | ||
| Thunderbox |
Great site that. Good Advice also. I am just lucky that my Lady is also an avid biker. Best of both worlds. I am going to look through the site later on thanks for the pointer. | ||
| 2_spuds |
Hooaah, I noticed the same thing when my wife jumped on for the first time, I go 210# and she is 120#.I just cranked in some more rebound and compression dampening on the rear,and added some more compression dampening on the forks and it was right back to snuff.Be sure you have your spring preload set at least to min.specs for your combined weight,and of course tire pressure up to specs.If anything this bike feels even more planted with 2 up once you get it dialed in.You may have to make some minor adjustments after the oil in the suspension warms up because it will change once warm. | ||
| Henrik |
Don't know if you changed the damping settings after dialing up the preload, but wallowing in turns is often a sign that you need more rebound damping. Give it a try. Henrik | ||
| Hooaah |
Thanks for all the good advice. The settings were all by the book and most were maxed out for the heaviest load category - although I did back them all off a bit (by the book) for the cold weather. | ||
| Opto |
I reckon the best pillion is one who sits there like a dead weight and enjoys the scenery, and doesn't move around much at all, especially when coming to a stop. If they want to tuck in when getting on the gas then that's OK, a bonus, but not required. It's not the pillion's job to control or influence the bike. Also the weight of the pillion is directly over the back wheel, so suspension adjustments are minor if any on the front end. | ||
| Court |
>>>Any words of wisdom for a newbie at riding 2 up? Yes. EVERYTHING changes on a motorcycle when you add a passenger. I'll replay my old "two aboard one" post later today. But, know that acceleration, braking, handlaing and virtually ALL the dynamics of the bike are altered. This contributes to two things. YOU, THE DRIVER, will be experiencing a new, uncharted experience. YOUR PASSENGER will be experiencing a new, uncharted experience. I alwasy suggest a couple hours in a parking lot practicing. The old, "start slow and work your way up" applies. In addition, When I do work my way up with a new passenger, I go through a maxium acceleration and maximum braking exercise. I do not want Vickie to get introduced to "what a Buell does under full throttle or maxium braking" for the first time with a truck or idiot in the picture. I want my passenger to have expereiecned and be comfy with the entire performance envelope. Coomon sense and "be careful" is good advise. You, with a pssenger, have a greatly increased responsiblity. Ride safe, lean much, smile more, Court | ||
| Chadhargis |
Guess it depends on what type of riding you do. I find that most manfacturers set their bikes up with springs for the "average" sized solo rider. Yes, you can use preload to adjust the suspension, but in doing so, you compromise suspension travel since you are "pre-compressing" the spring therefore making is shorter in the process. I am sure the Showa suspenders are top notch, but there is a VERY good reason Ohlins top end fork and shock are so darn expensive (more than the cost of the Uly if you add them together). A custom spring also makes a HUGE difference. When I took the stock SHOWA shock off my Ducati and installed a Ohlins unit with a custom spring set for my weight, it made an amazing difference. Same thing happened when I removed the stock shock off my FJR (a bike designed from the ground up for 2 up riding) and replaced it with a top of the line Wilbers unit and custom spring. The ride was both smoother and more compliant and I found that I stopped dragging parts quite as much. If you want to have a nice two up "touring" ride, the stock suspension will be more than adequate. More spirited riding with a pillion would probably push the suspension past what it's designed for. I'm not bashing the bike. Just stating a fact. Stock suspension, even on high dollar sportbikes like a Ducati 999R isn't the top shelf components. The are chosen to hit a price point. 90% of the riders out there wouldn't feel the difference between a $9000 set of the top of the line set of Ohlins RT superbike forks and the Uly stock suspenders. In answering the question, I presented a factual viewpoint based on my experience and riding style. If the suspension works for you two up, that's great. I don't ride fast with my wife on board, so it should be fine for me 2 up as well. But I'm willing to bet my 220# butt will have the stock shock worn out after 12,000 to 16,000 miles. Then I'll be ponying up for a premium unit. I really is amazing what a difference a high end shock and fork rebuild can make. | ||
| Csg_inc |
Check with the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) in your area for their Experienced Rider Course and sign up for a two up course it is the best few hours you will ever spend and you both will be better riders by the end of the day. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Well Chad if I were needing to buy shocks and springs that were as expensive as the Uly I think I would be buying something else to begin with. Most after market suspension products are way over priced and don't bring a whole lot to the ball park for the average person. I believe Buell has done their homework on the Uly suspension and for that matter all Buells have had great suspensions. To pay 10 grand for suspension UPGRADES to get 1 inch of suspension travel for 2 up riding is, IMHO, a waste of financial resources. If I were using the machine for something other than it was designed for I may do some changes. I would sooner spend the cash on enjoying an already more than capable motorcycle and do some serious serious touring with it. I have yet to be the slightest bit underwhelmed by the Uly suspension in two up mode. Hope you enjoy your ride but don't wait up at night waiting for the stock Uly suspension to degrade because you will be one tired fella. I hear what you are saying and we both agree most people do not need any suspension mods. The Uly is not a racing bike and modifying it to try and do that job would be pointless. By the way how many miles have you put on yours the last few days? Any problems. I just had the exhaust servo problem and nothing else. What are your impressions now that it has arrived? (Message edited by thunderbox on November 25, 2005) | ||
| Clayman |
thunderbox what problem did you have with the exhaust servo. mine servo motor went in the first week. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Hey Clay, I had a bad exhaust servo right out of the box. Light kept coming on, and often. I waited till my 1000 miler and reported it. Next day parts were here and it was installed. No problem since. It is going to be a non problem anyway when I get the Drummer exhaust done as it doesn't use the exhaust valve. | ||
| M2nc |
No new shocks needed! Chad what are you talking about? The bike has a load capacity in the manual and most engineers use a 125% capacity fudge factor. The Uly can handle 452# with stock suspenders. I adjusts more than just the preload all the way up when I ride two up with around 400#, I also stiffen up compression and rebound so the bike stays stiff over bumps and dips. The wallowing can cause you to loose control in certain conditions. I agree with Court about practicing away from traffic but I would not try full throttle take offs on the Uly with a passenger. The bike can wheelie easy enough with just you on it. With a passenger, the bike will stand up even easier. Even half throttle jolts in first gear will get the front end loose so be careful with the throttle. After first gear the bike doesn't want to stand up so easily. I usually short shift first and then accelerate with taller gears. I've two up with all my bikes. You just need to get use to how the bike will react to the added weight. As far as the Uly, after you get use to it, you will realize the bike as plenty of ability with a passenger. You will have learn where the bikes new limits are. The Uly is a great two-up bike. I can drag pegs with the wife on the back of the M2. I have more experience with the M2 and that is why I took it to MD for the Brag event. We rode 180 miles of Mountains roads on Thursday and we had a great time. Like everything else, you just need experience. | ||
| Clayman |
hi dave that was about the same as mine all better now. i am sure glad i heard of this site up until a week ago all i was hereing adout the exhaust upgrade for the uly was a no, even buell costomer service said they wouldnt be putting anything out and none of the other xb pro series would fit. cant wait to here the drummer on my bike. | ||
| Opto |
The Uly is the most comfortable and capable and safest 2-up bike I've ever ridden, and I really doubt that spirited 2-up riding will go anywhere near testing the limits of it's stock suspension. | ||
| Raceautobody |
now this is riding 2-up  Al | ||
| Chadhargis |
No problems with my Uly yet. And for the record...I'd never spend $10k on a set of forks. That's just crazy....unless you're getting paid to race, then it might make sense. | ||
| Dave |
They are over the yellow ...Bad on him. Only good if ya wanna get yer head removed by an offending truck, RV, trailer, etc. DAve | ||
| Chadhargis |
Looks like he's got a good sight line though. He might be able to see that there isn't any traffic coming. But I agree with you. The street is no place for knee dragging. Just too much that can go wrong out there. His passenger is one heck of a good pillion. She is hanging off the seat too! Nice booty as well!  | ||
| Thunderbox |
Chad the person on the back is a guy. His name is Rick. But if you like the back end, well you like it. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Just funning you buddy. Thought I would find out if you are watching the site. Both of them have a few bricks short of full wall. If they do that enough times it's not a matter of if but when they will have a spill. This is precisely what track days are for. Do you think he impressed any cagers with that stunt? Not helping the biker image with this behaviour. (Message edited by thunderbox on November 28, 2005) | ||
| Midnightrider |
you sure? those look like platform shoes to me... |
