Know your limits Motorcycle Safety Discuss Know your limits in the Other Topics forums; I am the proud owner of a 2005 Road King. I outfitted the bike to provide as much handling performance as possible while still retaining good touring manners. I installed ...

[woundedwarrior]

I am the proud owner of a 2005 Road King. I outfitted the bike to provide as much handling performance as possible while still retaining good touring manners. I installed full floating rotors, EBC brake pads, braided stainless lines, Progressive air shocks, dealer lowered front end with Screamin' Eagle fork oil, Corbin Young Guns saddle (even though I'm 60 years old) and Metzler tires. It corners really well. However, a week ago I discovered the bike's cornering limits. I was coming home from work on a hot July day in Northern California and I took an offramp from the freeway that exits to a nice country road. I've taken this route dozens of times before so I knew the set of tight corners very well. I have scraped the foorboards (Kuryakyn) through these turns before and recognized that distinctive sound as the bike's signal to slow down. This time, though, I must have overcooked it a bit too much as the floorboard bracket contacted the pavement and the rear tire lost traction. I put my right boot down to catch the bike (I used to ride dirt bikes) but instead of sliding it caught on the pavement and spun around, tearing the tendons in my ankle and breaking the fibula in my leg. I was going about 40mph when it happened but I was able to safely stop the bike. The result was 6 weeks with my foot in a cast, elevated at all times, then 6 more weeks on a walking cast.

The bottom line is the wife says sell the bike, and, if you want to corner fast, get a sport bike.

[shovelmike]

Wow, that broken bone is bad enough. I'm glad it wasn't any worse. I hope your wife doesn't enforce the "sell" order, tell her Shovelmike said you learned your lesson and have suffered enough already.

[JCourneyaP]

I believe most of us have hit a corner faster than we would have liked to. Mistakes happen in all parts of our lives. All we can do is learn from them.

Sometimes we luck out and other times.............

I would not even think of selling the bike. He who has not.....Cast the first stone.

[riding free]

Sell the bike?

[botzman]

You ride a bike, sh*t happens. As others here know I've had two serious wrecks in two years, a left turner and a deer. Neither avoidable. 25 years street riding and now 2-2 years. Did I consider maybe hanging it up...yup. I chose not to though. I would be miserable. My wife has hinted several times I should pack it in but knows this is my choice and my choice only. I choose to ride. Selling the bike would not be an option for me anyway. Botz

[aceharleywrench]

Sell the wife,you'll be happier in the long run!

P.S. Not to add insult to injury, but lowering the front of your bike doesn't improve the cornering characteristics,it has the opposite effect.

[seoitc]

Originally Posted by botzman

You ride a bike, sh*t happens. As others here know I've had two serious wrecks in two years, a left turner and a deer. Neither avoidable. 25 years street riding and now 2-2 years. Did I consider maybe hanging it up...yup. I chose not to though. I would be miserable. My wife has hinted several times I should pack it in but knows this is my choice and my choice only. I choose to ride. Selling the bike would not be an option for me anyway. Botz

Its important to follow the others limit and yours.
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