Is my Rocket III Touring too heavy for me?

[Nat67]

It is a matter of confidence .
Show the ***** who's boss and
Leave the front brake alone during low speed manouvres . At slow speed the forks will dive and instantly throw you off balance .

 

[Troy]

Also make sure your tires are aired up properly. If they are low the moves like an iron pig!

 

[bruce aussie]

I learned very quickly to park smart. Tried to clutch start my Roadster down my driveway the morning the original battery died. The bike sat at the bottom of my drive until I got back from the battery shop with a new battery. These things are to heavy to push anywhere. My neighbour picked up a new Harley Street Glide last week. It is 350 kilos the same as the Rocket I think but feels much lighter. Must be a centre of gravity thing plus the Rocket motor tries to throw you on your ear if you give it a bit of a rev when your not used to it.

 

[Tripps]

Kills my bad knees to back it out of the barn, but after that I never notice the weight.

 

[Tripps]

It is a matter of confidence .
Show the ***** who's boss and
Leave the front brake alone during low speed manouvres . At slow speed the forks will dive and instantly throw you off balance .

Yeah, I learned that the hard way when I first got it.

 

[Bedifferent]

I agree with everything here. Number one is...park smart, be wary at walking speeds, avoid loose gravel when putting your foot down at a stop or backing up, use something under the side stand on hot asphalt, get a backrest as something to push against and realize where that tipping point is.

Let's face it, the rocket is a beast and if it gets beyond that point of no return, your going to have to pick it back up. If you have the bars/forks turned when you reach that point, it's going to go down. I basically had my 2013 get away from me twice while not moving. The first time while trying to push it backward while off the bike. I actually got my shoe caught under the floorboard and was trapped like a rat. I had to pull my foot out of my shoe to get away. The Second time was when I stepped down in a low spot at the end of my driveway. The stock bars did a great job of protecting the bike and keeping things from just touching the ground. They also did their job when the bike got totaled and flipped on its side.

I've watched numerous videos on how to lift a bike...I gave it a big effort once, but was unsuccessful needing help from a stranger the first time and the wife the second time. It is no small task! It can still happen, but as you ride the bike more you will get use to it and know what not to do.

 

[ThePhoinix]

as long as we're sharing stories, I had just brought my r3t home from the dealer, and at the end the lazy 180-degree turn of the driveway the **** thing just leaned over and kept going until it came to a rest on the guard rail. I felt it going over just a bit too late, and was defiantly not prepared for the weight.
I am now. ***** isn't going to just lie down on me again!
Practice and discretion will keep it from misbehaving. most of the time at least...

 

[Bedifferent]

as long as we're sharing stories, I had just brought my r3t home from the dealer, and at the end the lazy 180-degree turn of the driveway the **** thing just leaned over and kept going until it came to a rest on the guard rail. I felt it going over just a bit too late, and was defiantly not prepared for the weight.
I am now. ***** isn't going to just lie down on me again!
Practice and discretion will keep it from misbehaving. most of the time at least...

And did you pick it up yourself???

 

[Joesmoe]

So back to that Dutch site -- do they have an English translation, or do I have paste everything into Google Translate and take my chances ?

They have some pretty stuff (if they actually have it) and pretty prices to go with it.

 

[ThePhoinix]

And did you pick it up yourself???

Yea, but it required a few grunts and a specific technique. I crouched down by the downed side of the beast and leaned back into it while pushing out on the handlebar for control. Was really concerned about pushing it over onto its other side, until I remembered I could extend the stand to prevent that

I'm only 40, and I have a lot of experience and practice lifting, so it wasn't bad for me.