Is riding a Harley Davidson with one hand Safe?

Question

Like most guys I want to look cool (like Jesse James and Paul Teutul) and ride with just one hand, but sometimes I worry that I might hit a bump and end up stacking it with only one hand on the bars. Is it worth the risk?

Answer 1

I believe it would depend on the amount of experience that you have riding. ;)

Answer 2

...next time you are riding your "harley" at 60 miles and hour, take your right hand only and give the right hand grip one quick hard shove while your left hand is sitting in your lap. If you survive this you can decide for yourself. Just remember it is actually worse the slower you are going. If you are really cool, you won't wear a helmet when you try this.

If this is an honest question, I would say I wouldn't try it for a extended period of time, but on a heavy bike going over a highway you could take your hand of a handlegrip and get away with it most of the time. I wouldn't try it on a surface street due mainly to other traffic, and the road is usually in worse shape.

Just remember all Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda wanted to do was look cool. And they got buckshot in the face. So on second thought you should keep your hands on the bars, because you never know when a redneck might try to kill you, since you are looking so cool.

Answer 3

Ok, here's an honest answer. The faster the speed, the faster the front wheel is turning, the greater the gyroscopic effect and the harder it is to deflect the wheel right or left. The slower, the less effect. Remember playing with a top as a kid? No wait, most of you here played with Nintendos and other crap. Any way, as long as the top was spinning fast, you could push it with your finger and it stayed where it was. When it slowed down is when it started to wobble. That's gyroscopic effect.

As far as Jap bikes not tracking without hanging onto the bars, that's not true. One time on I-55 I locked the throttle on my KZ1000, scooted to the back seat, leaned against the backrest and rode without hands for 10 miles. On curves I'd apply pressure to one foot peg or the other to turn. On my ZN1300 Voyager, I set the cruise control, turn loose and it tracks straight as an arrow and bumps don't bother it. Sometimes I have to do that when I'm taking a photo of scenery or my buddies on their bikes beside me. If one handed riding is going to dump you, it'll be when you're putting around less than 25 mph. I'm not suggesting you ride one handed all day long or on gravel roads, just that once the bike is up to speed, it takes a heck of a lot to change it's course. One bit of advice, don't try to look cool. Just be yourself and let others decide if you look cool. When you try you usually come off as looking like a fool.

Answer 4

Want a honest answer?? The graveyard is full of people doing stuff that they thought would look cool. If looking cool is the only reason your using one hand .... I think I would get off the bike before it eats you. Yea, ... there are times I ride with one hand and it's for comfort. Most of the time it's on smooth rodes with less traffic. Remember your clutch is on the left handlegrip and if you need to brake suddenly and your hand's not there ...... need I say more?? Could be roadrash U.S.A. Ride because you love to ride, ... not to look cool.

Answer 5

That is up to you. I ride one handed a lot on the highway. If I see a bump I try to avoid it, or if the road is rough then it's a two-handed piece of road.

On this interstate, I ride on handed a lot actually. Throttle locks or cruise control let you rest your right hand while you steer with the left. It is really a common sense decision with the condition of the road and speed that you are riding.

Answer 6

Ultras are great motorcycles. i offered a clean one in July. to start: turn the ignition on, if he keeps the ignition locked he could desire to apply the foremost to launch it. you do not say what 300 and sixty 5 days that is, yet i'm assuming '07. So, he could desire to have the foremost fob on him while he starts off the bike, or the protection gadget will de turn on the electrical powered gadget and the bike won't initiate. If the for is greater beneficial than 10 ft or so from the bike, it won't initiate the two. besides, turn the ignition good to the 1st place ( not "get entry to") then on the suitable hand bar. beside the throttle grip, turn the top/run button to "run", he will hear the gasoline pump kick on, wait some seconds till at last it stops, then push the starter button,that's placed good beside the top/run button. The bike could desire to be the two in impartial, or the snatch could desire to be pulled in for the bike to start. I desire commencing in impartial and that i pull the snatch in out of habit. enable the bike run for some seconds to lubricate itself with oil and you're waiting to holiday. in the experience that your chum desires particular components of the handbook for now, e mail me and that i visit verify the pages he desires into the laptop and deliver them to him.

Answer 7

of course it depends on the riding conditions, but in my opinion there's nothing wrong with riding one handed on the highway, and i do it all the time. i dont do it to look cool though, and certainly not to look like those screaming posers from the disco channel. i do it cuz it's comfortable. i wouldn't recommend it in town though, or in large groups where you may have to quickly flick your bike to one side or the other to avoid cars or other riders or potholes or whatever. here's a test to help you know when it's safe to ride one-handed: if it feels stoopid it probably is. happy trails!

Answer 8

it depends on alot of factors.. road conditions, traffic, your riding skill.. I have 16" ape hangers and I switch off and on hands, left for awhile, right for awhile.. sometimes no handed..its a risk we take getting on the bike in the first place. If you have to ask the question, Id ride with 2 hands..

Answer 9

Based on your question, I'm going to assume you've never ridden a Harley.
If you had you would know that the combination of weight and balance on a Harley make them such that even if the rider fell off, the bike would keep on cruising down the road for who knows how long.
2 hands ,1 hand , none for that matter, she's not falling over unless you knock her over.

Answer 10

I ride with one hand every time I pull the coffee cup from it's holder.

If there's a bump in the road, I put the cup down.

What's the big deal?

Answer 11

I really don't think it has anything to do with being cool. I ride with one hand just to give my arms and hands a break. I don't think it is unsafe if you use some common sence.