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Cruiser
Posts: 96
Oswego,, Illinois,USA | I tipped over my new vision tour 38 miles on it. I was doing a tight u-turn.This is a bike that will get respect from me for now on. I have been ridin for 40 years . I feel I have to learn how to ride this bike. Does anyone feel the same way? This is the hevyest bike I have owned. It sure is nice to have the tip stops. And the handles to pull it back up. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | #1 rule for really slow speed turns is to stay off the front brake. Use the rear brake and clutch to match each other with a little friction from both and it will be very stable and predictable. Even a twitch on the front brake with it leaned over will cause it to go down before you know what happened. You are not alone by any means. That was a $1,500 drop on a lot of other big bikes. Gotta love those tipover points.
Edited by SongFan 2009-11-15 7:46 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 96
Oswego,, Illinois,USA | Thanx for the reply. I will stay off front brake and clutch and back brake the slow stuff. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
| My Vision is so much easier to lean than my V92C was it took me about a month to get used to it - I didn't trust it at first. Almost put it down today doing a U turn on my father's wet lawn. Guess it is inevitable - but I'm not rushing it. In time you'll get more comfortable. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Find a friendly parking lot with plenty of room and practice your slow riding manuvers. Getting used to the Vision may take sometime, real soon you'll be very comfortable. A little rear brake, clutch, and throttle will keep you on the rubber. Good luck. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 803
Perry Hall, MD | I went from a much lighter bike (500 lbs) and found that stability at a stop or anytime I needed to provide support for the Vision was a concern - used the tip overs several times. Finally examined what I was doing, and realized what was wrong. I was placing my feet straight down whenever I needed to hold the bike up. Eliminated the problem by simply spreading my legs and angling the feet out whenever I had to support it - dah. I might suggest boots with good ankle support and soles that won't slip.
Congrats on the new ride - you'll love it. |
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New user
Posts: 4
| I've had very similar problems since getting ours.
I'm a small legged guy (29" inseam), so this thing is a monster to me.
here's what I've found:
if I have to maneuver very tightly (parking lot, etc), I come to a complete stop and walk it around (can't rear brake at this point with both feet down), feathering the clutch and front brake.
if I can do it at 10 mph or better, then I do it feet-up.
we've got over 2500 miles on ours, and the only time I used the tipover bars was with my wife on the back, I tried to ride slow (less than 5 mph) all the way up to a stop in traffic, and when I put my foot down, it slipped in sand that was on the roadway. We both jumped off, and in less than 10 seconds we had it back up and we were mounted again. Now I just plain stop if it's going to be less than 5 mph and inch it up with my feet on the ground.
of course, your mileage may vary, etc |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | live and learn; learn to live.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 600
Linwood, MI | As SongFan stated, practice in a parking lot. A lot. This bike will do some amazing things at slow speeds, but you need to have confidence in the bike and your skills to do them effectively.
The second thing I'll tell you is to take the Experienced Rider Course offered by the MSF as soon as you can. The course I took was offered at the local community college and cost a whopping $25. A bargain at twice the price. This is the biggest, heaviest bike I've ever owned and taking the course really helped me with slow-speed maneuvering.
Here's a couple of videos that show what you can do with the Vision:
Here's Radioteacher doing "The Box" at an MSF course. This is basically a figure-8 in a 24'x40' box. (I'm not 100% certain on the accuracy of the dimensions, that may require some confirmation.)
MSF Box
And here's some impressive handling by Bill Biler at Arlen Ness of Las Vegas. If you look closely you can see how flat the edges of the rear tip-overs have become from doing this a lot.
Bill Biler at AN LV |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Rebel - 2009-11-16 11:29 AM Here's Radioteacher doing "The Box" at an MSF course. This is basically a figure-8 in a 24'x40' box. (I'm not 100% certain on the accuracy of the dimensions, that may require some confirmation.) I'm an MSF instructor. The ERC box is 28x70, while the BRC box is 24x60 for practice and 20x60 for the skills test. The ERC box is bigger because of sport bikes with limited turn handlebars. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Lennox, SD | I agree these Visions are really heavy, coming from a Kawi Nomad to the Vision I really notice the weight when "walking" it around in my garage or a parking area. I do think the slow speed handling is much better than my Nomad, it will take some practice next spring when I take it out of hibernation for the season. I did put 75 miles on this weekend in the cold.
I am thinking I should have added the reverse kit.
I am cetainly enjoying the Vision so far. |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | freezeradio - 2009-11-15 4:54 PM
Thanx for the reply. I will stay off front brake and clutch and back brake the slow stuff.
Remember, the brakes are linked, so even though you are just using rear brake, you may still be using some front brake as well. As such, the Vision isn't like other bikes with "non linked" brakes when utilizing slow riding techniques. Too much rear brake in slow, tight turns and you will go down same as if you used front brake. I know from personal experience. But the tip-overs work perfectly, so don't be afraid to give it a try and practice. The Vision is admittedly heavier and more difficult in slow, tight maneuvering than most other bikes, but it is doable with practice.
Ride safe.
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | I wouldn't think the linked brakes would actuate the front brake with normal rear pedal dragging in tight turns. You generally don't need very much rear pressure to create sufficient friction for the clutch/throttle. Of course, it's not an exact science and you could get some front brake with unexpected pressure, I suppose. I forget what the manual says but I think it refers to "moderate to heavy" braking on the rear to actuate the linked front. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | freezeradio and Rebel,
The box I am riding in that video is 24 x 60. I can do the 20 x 60 box but I do not have it on video....yet. I need to take a ladder to the site so I can get a enough down angle on the shot to see the lines.
The Vision can do a 18' circle without dragging anything.
Take the ERC course with the Vision.
Watch the "Ride Like a Pro 'V'" video. At $35 it will be the best money you have ever spent to make you a safer rider. http://www.ridelikeapro.com/
If you can, take the Ride like a Pro course. I plan on doing the course in the spring of 2010.
And.....practice.
I can drag the rear brake and I do not feel the front kick in until I give it more pressure.
Ride Safe. |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | radioteacher - 2009-11-16 1:53 PM
freezeradio and Rebel,
The box I am riding in that video is 24 x 60. I can do the 20 x 60 box but I do not have it on video....yet. I need to take a ladder to the site so I can get a enough down angle on the shot to see the lines.
I definitely need more practice! Took the Ride Like A Pro course on my Vision, which definitely helped a great deal, but I still can't do what you can. But I am inspired!
Edited by Wizard523 2009-11-16 5:26 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I practice dropping the Vision in my garage. I do it 3 times in a row every month. This way I won't get scared when it starts to go over in the road. I am learning where the point of no return is. Plus, I will know how to stand it back up quickly. With the tip-over guards, nothing is damaged. |
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Tourer
Posts: 377
O'Neill, Nebraska | hgrail - 2009-11-15 7:12 PM
My Vision is so much easier to lean than my V92C was it took me about a month to get used to it - I didn't trust it at first. Almost put it down today doing a U turn on my father's wet lawn. Guess it is inevitable - but I'm not rushing it. In time you'll get more comfortable.
U turn on a wet lawn? I think we all would have dropped it...lol.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | vvt, Careful practicing the drops/pick-ups. I used to show my bike off all the time and never hesitated to end the "show and tell" with a lay-down on the tipovers and then show how easy it was to pick back up. I've probably done it over 30 times. The handlebars are mounted on vibration isolators that I eventually warped by picking the bike up so much. I had about 1/2" of play in the handlebars and couldn't figure out why. After thinking it through on what could have caused the loose play I had an "aha" moment. I now use as much force as possible on the grab rail and just use the handlebar grip for balance. I always gently laid my bike down but some guys who actually let it drop a little way (numerous times) have cracked the frame. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | As that all time great Houston Oiler coach Bum Phiilips once said "there are two kinds of Vision riders out there. Those that have dropped their bikes on the tip overs, and those who are going to......"  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 222
Barefoot Bay, FL United States | I dumped mine a while back, and it rolled PAST the tipover stops and hit the black plastic left fairing trim just left of the mirror!!!
I made the mistake of checking my air pressures from the right side, which means that I moved the bike from the right side, back and forward!! Rolling it backwards wasn't the problem, but moving it forward to line up the valve stem to get access to it was where I went wrong. The kick stand was touching the ground just enough to allow it to move back past the center so it wouldn't hold the bike up, and as soon as I let go of it....OVER SHE WENT!!!!
CAUTION....Always roll the bike from the left side so you know where the side stand is!!!
Edited by witchbiker 2009-12-05 10:08 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Don't look down! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 193
Buford, GA United States | Man, my baby is 2 years old today and has almost 24k on her. Never thought about laying her down for any reason and coming from a Nomad it did take a little while getting used to not having the windshield move with the handlebars. I am able to handle this bike better than any other bike I have owned. Slow or fast as nothing compares to the Vision and with slow turns I just feather the rear brake and get the clutch in the friction zone with my head up looking where I want to go. Looking forward to April as I am going to ride to Key West!!!
08 Black Tour Premium with Chrome!!! |
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Tipped it over