bagless bagger Harley Bagger Discuss bagless bagger in the Motorcycles forums; Hi guys, I guess you have never ridden on mountain roads. U turns and gravel parking lots are no problem, it is when you are on a mountain road that ...

Hi guys, I guess you have never ridden on mountain roads. U turns and gravel parking lots are no problem, it is when you are on a mountain road that is not only steep, but also has a sharp cambre and no flat spots to speak of. Maybe I am just getting too old for this sport, but I have found that when you stop your bike in a situation like this you had better have your bike on the right angle or over you go. There is no time to figure it out, it is sudden and over before you realize what is happening. I have made it a point to try and avoid these situations, but sometimes you get surprised.

[Bigincher]

Originally Posted by tommyglide

The friction zone is a great invention for slow speed maneuvers and there is about a grand total of 1 ways to get proficient with using it.

Bingo. I don't know if I'd call it an "invention"--- more like a "technique".
That "one way" is...... practice.

I also don't know what the description of a "mountain road" is exactly, but I do know that I headed up the Old Custer Motorway out of Sunbeam, Idaho--- that's just East of Stanley on Highway 75--- and headed up to the old gold mining towns of Bonanza and Custer City (ghost towns). Thinking we could reach Challis by dark, we kept going. The road quickly deteriorated from a rough dirt road, to an overgrown jeep trail about 6 feet wide. We decided to turn around while we could, but it was no easy matter. I guess growing up on a dirt bike didn't hurt......
Does that qualify as a "mountain road"?

[HDDon]

I understand that in some riding conditions you can be suprised in some situations, but I also think you are missing the point that several members are trying to make. The MSF course will prepare you for those types of situations and give you excercises to practice so that you can become proficient handling your bike with all the equipment it came with. In other articles in the forum you will find reference to "Ride Like A Pro" video, that will show riders smaller than you, handling larger bikes than your RK, doing things that you can only do with training and practice. It's not the bags that are causing the problems. It's a real thrill to take that bagger on an inside line past some squid who doesn't know what you do!!

I appreciate all the helpful info. I have actually taken the MSF course and in most situations do not have a problem with handling my bike. The mountains here in Western North Carolina can be pretty steep. I am sixty three and not the man I once was. My old legs, back and shoulders do not have the strenth as when I was a thirty year old weight lifter. I am afraid gravity has beaten me on those occasions and I do not remember any techniques from my safety course that can prepare you for coming around a corner on a single lane hard top road, suddenly running out of road, having to stop suddenly, balance your bike as you try to turn around without losing it over the side of a mountain and still maintaining your balance while you are fighting eight hundred pounds of motorcycle. Maybe I am just slow or something, but I guess the best thing for me is stay off those roads. Have a great one guys and keep the shiny side up.

[Agent Orange]

Originally Posted by ddegrasse

Hi guys, I guess you have never ridden on mountain roads. U turns and gravel parking lots are no problem, it is when you are on a mountain road that is not only steep, but also has a sharp cambre and no flat spots to speak of. Maybe I am just getting too old for this sport, but I have found that when you stop your bike in a situation like this you had better have your bike on the right angle or over you go. There is no time to figure it out, it is sudden and over before you realize what is happening. I have made it a point to try and avoid these situations, but sometimes you get surprised.

Well now, I live in Colorado just west of Denver in the Rocky Mountains and do most of my riding here in these mountains...do the Rockys count or are you talking larger mountains somewhere?? Maybe our roads arent as steep as yours,but I dont know what mountains you ride in,but I will say some of our roads are a little steep...I know when I rode up Pikes Peak last summer it seemed pretty steep but who knows..

Edited to add..I just read the above post and see you are from NC,I have never been there so I cannot compare our roads with yours.
I will say however I run into the same type of situation here where the road all of a sudden will turn to gravel.
I think when that happens you need to not stop and then try to figure how to turn around.... but instead slow way down to parking lot type speed and then just do your U turn..It works, I do it all the time.
BTW I'm an MSF instructor (Rider Coach) here in Denver and you can do this with some proper instruction and plenty of practice with the friction zone..Good luck,and Practice practice practice..

[Gas Man]

Originally Posted by Agent Orange

What would footing have to do with it?? If he's trying to do U-turns,his feet shouldn't be anywhere but on the floorboards and the brake pedal,nowhere near the ground..
Oh..and good idea with the MSF class..

I just mention footing cause if he has a good footing, then if the bike leans over a bit, he could hold it. Of coarse this would be after an already poor move but nevertheless.

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

Gee,degrasse...it seems that you and I are the only dumb clods here who've ever had to take their feet off the floor boards to manipulate our bikes in tight spots and/or loose gravel etc...

Hmmmm...I must have skipped over that part in my learner's manual.
Anybody here recall what page it was on ???

Nah, I know when I'm in grass or turning around in a gravel lot I always leave my feet out. Just in case.

Originally Posted by ddegrasse

I appreciate all the helpful info. I have actually taken the MSF course and in most situations do not have a problem with handling my bike. The mountains here in Western North Carolina can be pretty steep. I am sixty three and not the man I once was. My old legs, back and shoulders do not have the strenth as when I was a thirty year old weight lifter. I am afraid gravity has beaten me on those occasions and I do not remember any techniques from my safety course that can prepare you for coming around a corner on a single lane hard top road, suddenly running out of road, having to stop suddenly, balance your bike as you try to turn around without losing it over the side of a mountain and still maintaining your balance while you are fighting eight hundred pounds of motorcycle. Maybe I am just slow or something, but I guess the best thing for me is stay off those roads. Have a great one guys and keep the shiny side up.

"gravity has beaten me a few times" What a great outlook. Cheers to you.

[Nahanahoku]

Originally Posted by ddegrasse

Wondered if there was anyway to set my RK up to ride without bags when I desire without all the brakets left behind. Want it to look clean w/o the bags. I do a lot of back country mtn roads and have gotten myself in trouble a few times when the road ended and I was struggling to turn it around. Have dropped it twice on unexpected gravel roads, so looking for a way to lighten it up for these situations.

Check out this link nd see if it fits your needs:
Bagless Products

[Agent Orange]

Gas Man...you said..Nah, "I know when I'm in grass or turning around in a gravel lot I always leave my feet out. Just in case."

I say..Grass ,gravel, pavement,or whatever..if my bike is moving,my feet are safely on the floorboards where they belong..I don't ride with outriggers..

Hey guys, just thought I would thank you for the helpful hints and the e-glide address. Just to clarify things, I was not trying to do a u-turn. When I ran out of road I was so surprised, someone had told me the road went right over the mtn, that I just turned into a small gravel parking area. I managed to back it around and had to fight the bike going backward and turn it back onto the road at the same time. I did not have my feet on the ground, I was just not able to make the turn in time and lost my balance so quickly that it just threw me. It was lying on its side as it was a down hill slant, it had rolled past the roll bars. I was able to get it up onto the roll bars and then, thank heavens a hiker came by and helped me to right it and get it back on the stand. From there I was able to get back onto the road. I am sure that someone could have done a better job of handling it, but thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

[unclepsycho]

ddegrasse
I have run outta road a time or two... Lucky I had a friend there to help.... My buddy was out front and would go park and come back to help... Oh did I mention my road turned into a horse trail... one foot wide!!!! we had a blast trying to get out of there. Lean the bike against a tree... hike up to the next bike to help turn around.... lean that one against a tree,... then go back for the other bike... Riding with a buddy could help.
But when the conditions throw ya, well... sounds like you are on the right track. Lighen up the bike, or get a second lighter bike and keep on riding....

Suggestions of riding with your feet out like out-riggers make me laugh out loud.... Just like mentioned above...when the bike is moving... feet belong up... unless you are dong a flat tracker style turn at 60 mph or more, but on a Harley???

I'm surprised no one suggested he just slam on the front brake , pull the back tire up in the air... spin around on the front tire, and just ride back the way he came!!!!!