| Author | Message | ||
     Bingman |
Hello all, a couple days ago I went to the Buell demo days here in Appleton, WI. I took the xt out by myself one day and am convinced this is the greatest bike. Well, regardless of the right side heat....what are x and xt owners doing about that by the way. Anyways, the second day I took the wife with me. Her first time riding on a bike. I explained to her that she shouldn't shift her weight suddenly and to lean with me. I guess she thought she needed to lean at a stop light and I almost dumped the bike. Have you guys some theory or way of explaining to your better halves (that aren't motorcycle informed) how to enjoy and ride with the bike safely? Jiim | ||
| Bartimus |
i live in phoenix and the temps were around110 degrees on the way to work this afternoon. i don't really notice any "extra" heat as everything is miserably hot here. I took the little air deflector off the left side, i've never felt heat from there. as for instructing the passenger, i've told them not to make any quick moved. Period. I've sat in the middle of a parking lot at a standstill, and had them move little by little so they could see firsthand how their movements effect the bikes handling. | ||
| Rwven |
Passengers should pretend they are a sack of potato(e)s! (Depending on the type of relationship you have with your wife that request could get you into trouble....  ) When you have been riding together for a while and some trust is built up there are things the passenger can do that will help in the twisties. If you have access to a Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, they will coach couples in cornering techniques. Right side heat? Hold your leg away from the frame a bit and that will pretty much eliminate it when you are moving. I bought a set of Odie's Maximum Heat Blankets for mine and installed them just last night. The heat was very much reduced on my ride into work this morning. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
read this: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25 7898 | ||
| Nevrenuf |
on the m2(click profile, see pic) it's hold on for dear life and she does what i do. on the xt like on the ultra, the back rest and the handles make it easier to be a little more flexible in your riding. she's not holding on to me so much as she would with the m2. one thing imo is it takes time for her to get familiar with what she has to do but it will come and when she figures it out she will enjoy it. the xt is a great backroad two up riding machine. they way it handles and the amount of room on it. | ||
| Ulyranger |
"the xt is a great backroad two up riding machine. they way it handles and the amount of room on it." +1 It is a great 2up bike on ANY road. OK, did not try the sack of potatoes analogy but told my wife when we started riding together to relax back there and go with the flow... As someone else stated it's a trust and comfort thing, the more you ride together the better it gets....................... ..................kinda like other couple activities.  (Message edited by Ulyranger on June 17, 2008) | ||
| Pso |
When I have a new rider I ask them "No sudden moves, if you feel a need to move around let me know and when cornering look over my shuolder that is in the corner, eg right turn look over my right shoulder" That sure does make it hard for then to counterlean against my lean angle. I use Odies blankets for the heat. Uly is also a great two up bike, just difficult for passenger sometimes to get aboard. | ||
| Dnveloman |
I agree with the "sack of potatoes." I don't ask my wife to "lean with me," but to lean with the bike. As the pilot, I reserve the right to use my body to control the bike.... She on the other hand needs to become part of the bike. Also, the uly has such a high passenger perch that she doesn't need to try to see around me all the time. My wife is such a good passenger, I sometimes forget she is there. (which is also why I don't have a comm system to date!). | ||
| Bingman |
Thanks for the responses. I think I'll have her read that advrider clip. I think she'll get used to it and there is some great advice here. I'll let her read the sack of potatoes thing too. It "clearly" gets the point across. I was amazed at how little movement she made greatly reduced my ability to control the bike. She said she was clenched up the whole time...needs to relax. Where do you put the heat blankets...on the inside of the frame? Thanks again, bingman | ||
| Rwven |
Bingman, Click the link and scroll down, it shows them installed. http://www.specialops-online.com/11401.html Ron | ||
| Bingman |
Thanks Ron, looks like it would work considerably. I also noticed that some bikes have the right side airscoop....kinda pricey though. andreajs2112..thanks for the advrider clip....good info there. Bing | ||
| Ratbuell |
I told my wife the first time she rode with me, to have her shoulders do what my shoulders were doing. Seems to work fairly well, and now that she's passed the rider course - even though she doesn't drive herself yet - she's an even better passenger. | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
have her look the direction you're turning. |
