Harley handling!

**fokky** · 18th July 2011, 23:50

Originally Posted by merv

To me the impressive thing is the tightness of lock that the Harley has that is as good as a decent dirt bike from what I could see. Try and run my road bike around that course and I'd be on the ground when the damn thing hit the steering stop.

Yip they have beautiful handling.Next time you see one have a look at axis of steering head to forks,fken genius.

Its also twice as long as ya jappers

**hellokitty** · 19th July 2011, 21:09

Originally Posted by MadDuck

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I reckon we should get Mr Kitty, find us a carpark and do a video for you tube. We are just as good as that fella .....

Yes, and we could also have a blooper and out-takes video of the pink retard on the taller white Harley going out of control, falling down and having a little cry...

and the smaller hobbity one on the shorter Harley laughing

**Big Dave** · 19th July 2011, 21:30

Originally Posted by skinman

I can put mine down on roundabouts but try not to.

It's like wheelstands on a Buell. No cred involved.

**skinman** · 22nd July 2011, 19:30

yep, far to easy

**hellokitty** · 22nd July 2011, 21:21

Originally Posted by Big Dave

It's like wheelstands on a Buell. No cred involved.

I did a wheelie on a GN250 by accident - does that count?

**awa355** · 26th July 2011, 20:57

I noticed the rider was staying upright and leaning the bike under him. A bit like a dirtbike rider.
I still haven't worked out whether thats better than keeping my cruiser upright and moving my weight inside the bike centreline while tight manouvering. ( I guess the video answers that for me)
Been meaning to go down to a big carpark and get confident at tight u turns etc. I can keep my head up and looking where I want to go, just find it hard to keep the speed up.

**Spearfish** · 26th July 2011, 21:10

Originally Posted by awa355

I noticed the rider was staying upright and leaning the bike under him. A bit like a dirtbike rider.
I still haven't worked out whether thats better than keeping my cruiser upright and moving my weight inside the bike centreline while tight manouvering. ( I guess the video answers that for me)
Been meaning to go down to a big carpark and get confident at tight u turns etc. I can keep my head up and looking where I want to go, just find it hard to keep the speed up.

I'm not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but see if you can find a video called Ride Like a Pro http://www.ridelikeapro.com or do a search on youtube. Its exactly the same type of riding but actually how to do it and set up the courses for your own practice. Probably a hell of a laugh with a few mates.

Its in feet and inches though so I don't know how a metric bike will get on

**Big Dave** · 26th July 2011, 22:25

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

**awa355** · 27th July 2011, 06:52

Originally Posted by Spearfish

I'm not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but see if you can find a video called Ride Like a Pro http://www.ridelikeapro.com or do a search on youtube. Its exactly the same type of riding but actually how to do it and set up the courses for your own practice. Probably a hell of a laugh with a few mates.

Its in feet and inches though so I don't know how a metric bike will get on

Grew up with the imperial system.
Thanks for the video tip.

One of the American riding courses calls for a u turn in a 10' deep by 20' wide box for bikes upto 600cc. 10' by 24' for larger capacity bikes.

Most of the videos on tight manouvering is done , sitting up on bikes with the high wide handlebars. Wonder how/if it would be harder on a big sports bike with a lean forward style and clip on handbars?

**Spearfish** · 27th July 2011, 07:31

Originally Posted by awa355

Grew up with the imperial system.
Thanks for the video tip.

One of the American riding courses calls for a u turn in a 10' deep by 20' wide box for bikes upto 600cc. 10' by 24' for larger capacity bikes.

Most of the videos on tight manouvering is done , sitting up on bikes with the high wide handlebars. Wonder how/if it would be harder on a big sports bike with a lean forward style and clip on handbars?

I'm sure peg scraping is less comfortable lol

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th July 2011, 08:17

Originally Posted by Big Dave

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

Funnily enough I was meaning how to handle a Harley!

**Spearfish** · 27th July 2011, 09:12

Originally Posted by Big Dave

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

I think some would beg to differ.

Don't some words look strange written or typed?...differ....d....i...f...f...e...r. Then your mind wanders off in tangents...... is a differ a transmission technician who specialises?...Guy wander into a mechanics workshop and tells them he has a noise in the rear that gets louder when turning hard, the mechanic replys "no worries sir we have one of the best differs in the country"
then after another passing thought....
it that what a budding mechanic had to do to his boss to become one, beg?
sorry, carry on that was way off topic.

**Flip** · 27th July 2011, 09:55

The glides have a backwards facing triple clamp, the stearing head axle is in front of the forks, at slow speeds they don't drop into corners the way that other bikes do. They also retain heaps of felt caster without the effects of centrifugal stability on the front wheel.

It takes practice but my bike is basically very stable at slow speed. Its also heavy and has a low CoG which helps.

**Big Dave** · 27th July 2011, 11:35

Originally Posted by Spearfish

I think some would beg to differ.

That's OK - I thought I was wrong once too.

Handling is a different issue to ground clearance. There isn't much difference in handling in all large modern cruiser motorcycles. (Victory hammer excluded).

They are all pretty good until the cornering clearance is all used - or they have a back tyre so wide it starts to mess things up.

Touring Chassis Harleys and the XR1200X are actually very tidy turners and quite nimble at low speed. Low COM.