Before you ride like a COP
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2017
- This week on MCrider we look at some changes I have made to the Harley Road King to get it ready for motorcycle skills competitions.
Links to products used in this build:
Shaft collar: www.mcmaster.com/#shaft-colla...
Softbrake: softbrake.com/
Fuelpack FP3: amzn.to/2jeXZTY
Vance & Hines: amzn.to/2zx2XRU
K&N Filter: amzn.to/2hmDnIV
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Yes! Absolutely interested. Low speed handling is a complete game-changer. #RideLikeACop
I would love to see the “Ride like a cop” series Kevin! Love the Road King too btw.
Love my Road King, I've been slowly adapting it to fit tailored to me. Being a lil dude it was helpful to install a Reach seat, adjustable clutch levers, reposition the brake and clutch assemblies, etc. The more I ride it the more I feel like one with the motorcycle. Your videos are a huge help. Thanks!
Thanks for the advice on the shaft collars. I took a "ride like a pro" class last weekend and after seen this video, bought the collars and thanks God, I drop my bike like 10 times and the collars protected the bike nicely. The instructor loved the idea. Thanks once again.
Motor officers are hands down the most impressive street riders I’ve ever seen. Bar none.
They are my idols when it comes to riding skills.
MCrider - Motorcycle Training Kevin, thanks for the tip and link for the shaft collars. Excellent solution!
Beautiful bike! Nothing beats proper setup for each rider.
Thanks for the quick reply. Have a blessed day.
Beautiful bike, Kevin. Thanks for the video.
Ajustar frenos de emergencies de chevy sirverado 1500 del 1999
Very good video and tips Kevin as usual, thanks
Beautiful, bike, MC Rider.
Thank you for this channel, I really appreciate the extra tips!
Go, Navy!👍
Very nice Road King, Really like the color and Harley touring bikes in general. Keep the great videos coming.
Thanks for the video. Can't wait to see where the ride like a cop series goes.
This is very appealing as a way to heighten my enjoyment, and safety, as a motorcyclist! Great idea MCrider! Thanks and keep up the great work.
I love low speed riding. I am looking to purchase a Harley but what is a Soft Pedal you mentioned?
Great video as usual Mr Kevin, your vids are defiantly value added and I never end one with out gaining some knowledge, now I need to go and practice what you've preaching lol. By the way beautiful Road King sir.
Thank you for these tips Kevin, especially the geometry related preparations. You are so right about the rear 'soft' brake pedal adjustment. I need to do that! I bought a 2007 Road King a few years ago (on ebay Motors) after I began riding with a local 'HOG' group. I soon learned that I could keep up with them a little more comfortably on the RK than I could on my '07 FXD (Super Glide) 'starter' bike. I haven't been riding much lately but this video has given me a little 'kick in the pants'. Thanks again.
That silver color is beautiful and clean. Love your bike. Enjoy it
Amen. We even had the hydraulic clutches replaced with cable clutches with the work bikes. You got a heck of a deal on that Harley. Only 400 miles! Congrats. Good videos and keep on riding. Ride safe
Thanks for the mod tips. I've put 101K miles on my 2002 Road King and will be making some of these changes. I like the stock seat and getting it re-upholstered. Thanks for all the great riding tips! Blessings to you.
beautiful bike! yeah those saddle seats much more comfy.
Gorgeous bike!
The sitting position you are talking about is something horse people have been doing for years. The typical "Harley" position is similar to the "chair seat," in a Western or Cowboy saddle. Those doing equestrian competition (Dressage) ride with an English saddle and sit so that their shoulders, hips, and ankles are in alignment. It's more balanced
I have done the brake pedal change and the handlebar move on my Road King this summer, what a difference it made. Another modification you may be interested in is the Kuryakyn Driver Floorboard Spacer, part #7509, J&P part#246-685, they space the boards out 3/4 inch, makes a huge difference on how your footing feels. One of the best $39.99 I have spent. Good luck in the competitions and learning the skills required. Keep up the good and informative videos. KC from MO
awsome vlog !
I can't seem to find this ride like a cop Playlist. I'm just getting started and love the idea of competition.
Now that is a beautiful bike!
Not sure I want to enter any competitions (I did watch you ride one, though) but as someone who rides a Kawi Vulcan 2000, I'll watch all the "big bike" training vids you care to put out! It's a whole different ballgame, at least to me.
Softbrake makes a big difference in stopping ablility. Great product.
Definitely interested!
I'm glad you're still going to post about general street riding and road safety skills. I don't own a big bike.
+Gary Horn These are good skills on the small bike too.
Kevin, I have a BMW R12GSA. Even though our bikes are quite different in geometry, your videos have been VERY helpful to me for learning to aggressively control MY bike in low speed and tight situations. Aside from becoming much more skillful on the bike, learning this type of maneuvering adds a huge level of confidence in just about any situation you might find yourself in.
So, competition, schmompetition - LEARN TO RIDE YOUR BIKE. It will help you in every aspect of riding! Don't push TOO hard to learn this stuff, don't be dismayed by early failures. Start easy and work toward the more difficult/extreme items (full-lock turns, for me). You will eventually get there.
Thank you very much for these videos! Keep 'em coming!
Hey kevin i too just bought a 2018 road king, its incredible! Its my 10th motorcycle. Ive had 3 bmws, dealer network is why i chose hd.
Im impressed with ur choice...
A major benefit of sitting up & forward, on the tank if you will, is you are adding weight, pressure & increased traction on front tire in tight turns, circles & keyholes.
Welcome to owning a Harley. I have a 2016 Road Glide. It a great bike. I think the ride like a cop is a good series for us to look at.
Thanks for posting. I just completed my ProRider class and now have the bug to participate on my Road King.
I'm gonna start looking for a seat.
Good looking bike!
A friend of mine who is a Motorcycle Policeman showed me a picture of his Harley-Davidson FLHP and they install 1" tall spacers under the seat to raise the back of the seat up even higher for even more slow speed control.
I myself have a purchased when new 2015 FLHP Road KIng Police motorcycle in stock form. The stock raised large saddle sided seat is the best seat in the business.
riding like a cop just means highly precise and controlled lo speed manouvering, who wouldn't want to be able to do that.
I have a 2017 RK. And I agree that the most difficult thing I had to practice was low-speed handling. Laid the bike down at a stop several times. Had to learn to stay off of the front brake. I use some of those plastic sleeves for the crash bars, but the collars look like a better solution. Plan to make some. There is nothing better than practicing. The RK is a 900 lb machine, and once it starts to lean at low speeds or a stop, there is no saving it. Having good skills and confidence is the key. Practice, practice, practice!
Nice bike you bought :-) and Nice riding, keep the god work
Linda motocicleta. Um sonho real...
Would love to see a video in the ride like a cop series where an actual motor cop narrates, or talks with you on what the most critical skills they learn are.
Beautiful bike. Now - to start pouring money into it, personalizing it. :-) Me too!
TY FOR ALL that you do,,!!~~~Sir!!~~! I look fwd to watching your vids ty again ~~i learn a lot from you! Ricky Sands
I rode on the job in the 1990s on an EVO FLHTP. I was terrified at the prospect if that really tall pogo seat but once I got used to the center of gravity, I realized it was superior to any other seat.
I'm in the dfw area and would like to know where you got your windshield cut down. You videos are great!
ride to survive,,i will take advice on riding where ever i can find it,,cops always mount a bike+dismount on right side,,this works for me,,nicem/c site mcrider!!
Another good video! While I don't want to 'ride like a cop', I do want to improve my low speed skills. I think this is one area that most all motorcyclist have a problem with. And I like the idea of the shaft collar. I learn something every day!
Ditto ... same for me
Shaft collars are great! I have had them om my bike since taking a class from someone who competes, and he hooked me up.
I watched them do a skills test when I was working at SFO as an electrician. They are really, really good. I can only hope to be that good, as a total noob.
Another change you might consider is swapping the stock brake rotors for a set of floating rotors. It probably will not improve handling to any degree but it will certainly extend the life of your brake pads.
Ur right about the rear brake pedal
I have a 2017 Roadking Police. Best Bike Ever. I also had a 2006, second best.
It should be stated that "riding like a cop" doesn't mean competing. In fact, most motorcops don't compete and have never competed and don't have any desire to compete.
Competition puts a lot of stress on the rider; stress about dropping, stress about embarrassment in front of family, friends, and peers, and stress about simply not being able to do what's required.
It has been said that the stresses of competition produce the same chemicals in your body that are produced in time of emergency or fear. That's probably true. So the competition motorcops are (i believe) better prepared than others to deal with emergencies without panic.
Having said that, EVERYONE should practice low speed maneuvering. No, it's not because we need to know how to maneuver at low speeds as most think. Instead, it's that we need to know how to control our motorcycle instinctively at ALL speeds, low or high. Practicing at low speeds builds skills and confidence.
AND THINK ABOUT THIS: Low speeds are actually the ONLY way a rider can practice. For instance, it's impossible to practice avoiding a pothole or log that suddenly appears out from under the vehicle ahead at road or highway speeds! That skill must be developed at low speeds; then applied when needed at higher speeds. When I'm holding advanced classes with experienced motorcyclists, it surprised me how few riders can execute a swerve . . . even at low speeds.
Proper, instinctive control of one's motorcycle can only be practiced at low speeds, except maybe tearing through the twisties. But remember, every ride begins and ends at lower speeds, whether normal operation or in an emergency. I choose to be a rider that instinctively controls my motor in all situations . . . especially in emergency situations or when preventing an emergency situation. So I practice.
And practice is not drudgery. It's not like being forced to practice the piano for an hour every day even though I didn't have any yearning interest in it.
Heck, our practice is on a motorcycle! How can it not be fun? Join a practice group (they're free). Socialize and help each other. Spend a couple of hours a week on the motor in a parking lot with friends. Go to lunch or dinner afterwards. Become a skilled rider at all speeds by practicing at low speeds where the consequences of failure are not catastrophic. You'll be surprised at how quickly your skills, confidence, and instinctive reactions to situations improves.
+DFWKen Great words Ken, thx.
MCrider, I thought he was you. Are you sure you are not complimenting yourself? ;-)
So true Ken, mastering the slow speed maneuvers is KEY to riding with skill and confidence at any speed.
well said. While I have no desire to ever compete in a motorcycle competition, I like watching them and know that I can learn a lot from the way cops ride.
DFWKen Very well said!
I want the new Ride like a cop series. I have been doing the ride like a pro series and found it really profoundly advanced my skills and confidence. I'd like any advice to make me a better rider. So thank you!
Your Road King is a beautiful. Wonder if Mrs MC Rider might get a bit jealous? Haha.
Good tips. What are the gloves you are using in this video?
Thanks for this sir. I bought a 21 Road King Special in October this year and am currently dialing it in to fit me. I've got a couple major issues with it, the seat and the bars. The stock seat (even after having material removed from the front of it) keeps me too tall and too wide so when I stop my feet are barely touching the ground. (I'm 5'6"). The bars have been rolled back to give me a bend in my elbow but that causes my hands to angle downward.
I'll try your method of putting a police seat on it. I'm already planning on putting taller bars with heated grips on it. I practice with a group of slow speed skill riders and my goal is to use the RKS in competitions as well. Looking forward to the ride like a cop info.
Hey Kevin,
Great content in your videos. I’m wanting to start practicing my slow speed maneuvers like 20’ u turns, circles emergency stops.. I have a 2018 Softball Deluxe and would like to utilize a police seat that’s raised like yours. This is my problem as I’m not sure how to choose the correct one that will mount on the Deluxe. I would appreciate any advise on how to make the right choice. Thanks
Hi, great vids, what’s the theory behind the shaft collars and have you tested them in real life? It seems to me they would concentrate a point load on the bar.
Another excellent video Kevin! I am very interest in your Ride Like a Cop series. Let’s face it, the best riders out there are police officers. They master the art of motorcycling in adverse conditions in both slow and high speed maneuvers. I own a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic with a full sized wind screen and floor boards. I also plan on cutting down the windscreen and swapping out the stock seat. Can you tell me if the cop seat is a good choice for someone who suffers from perineum pain? Looking for decent options because that pain is a killer. Thanks in advance
Hey Kev, do you have a video where you discuss changes to your bike that affect it's handling and why? I have a classic 89 Ultra and I'm making changes to it. I like the mini lesson on handlebar placement. Any more goodies like that?
Great tips. I have a 2013 Road King that I've modified to look like a police bike. I'd love to send pictures.
Did you ever do this series on the skills?
I am not planning to compete in any of the Skills contests...nor even planning to buy / ride a Harley or other similar bike...
BUT ... because of some permanent physical injuries, I am very limited in how much 'moving around' I can do on my Sport Naked bike! SO...my movement is pretty much limited to keeping my butt on the seat, and just leaning my head and upper body to the right or left...meaning that all of the leaning is done with most of my body still on the centerline.
Not exactly a "Ride like a Cop" position, but fairly close. (smile)
I was quite surprised, 2 years ago, while riding "The Tail of the Dragon" in NC with some friends of mine, to suddenly see a Cop behind me with flashing lights on his fully loaded Harley!! My friends were pretty skillful riders on supersport bikes, and I was keeping up on my FZ1 as the "tail-gunner". We were not going at "Track Day" speeds, but we were moving pretty good! And this Officer had spotted one of the bikes without his License Plate mounted properly...and had cranked his bike from his 'discreet' spot, and started from zero, and had CAUGHT UP to us!! On his fully-loaded down Harley! No sticky Q-3 Street/track tires, no knee-dragging lean angles, no 150 RWHP acceleration, no 400 lb. alloy-frame bike, no 'racing' exhaust and Power Commander...
But a Harley that probably weighed well over 600 lbs, with radio equipment, auxillary batteries, and all of the "stuff" they load onto one of those bikes! Well...the guy he was after was directly in front of me, and I pulled off with them. The Officer was REALLY 'cool' and friendly, and we had a pleasant chat while he smoked a cig... My friend HAD his License Plate, but a screw had vibrated out, and he was afraid he would lose it, so he took it off and put it in his backpack until we could stop at a shop or hardware store. The good Officer then sent us on our way to find our 'loyal friends' that had kept going without us...
YES, that Officer rides that road 6 or 7 days a week for 8 to 10 hour shifts, during the riding season. [It is closed down for about 4 months during the Winter] And he knows every bump, off-camber curve, and every 'detail' of all 318 curves -- braking point, turn-in, radius, exit speed, etc -- but even with that knowledge, it takes some SERIOUS Skill and a bit of courage to get that kind of speed, on a road like that, on a bike like that!
I ride with a couple of local Motor Cops as good friends, and they DO Track Days at Road Atlanta and a couple of other regional tracks, "drag race" at a NHRA Certified Drag Strip, and other skills training, and are also part of the "Special Events Escort Team" for Charity rides, Funerals, Parades, and 'precision riding displays' for all kinds of local school, church, and community events. ... And to take their wives on a Saturday Ride to Brunch someplace up in the N GA mountains with good friends.
I enjoyed reading this.
ditto
Floyd Burdett g
Road kings are very nice, consider rineharts true duals. Rk have excellent low speed handling.
Kevin I’m getting into riding skills and cone work. Did you ever get a passenger seat for your road king with the police seat and if so what seat.
Hi Kevin, can you list all the info for your seat and seat hardware
could you give us the source for the "Split Collar" that you use on the Engine ands Bag Guards.
Do you have the part number for the soft brake lever?
It looks like you have a Motherwell rack on the bike. Did you have to modify the police seat plastic cover or rack to get it mounted? I recently put the police seat on my 2017 Street Glide and my rack won’t fit without either trimming the plastic cover or the rack. Thanks for any advice and thanks for the great videos 😀
Do you have a part number on the shaft collars? There are a lot of different options.
I'm very much looking forward to the series on slow speed maneuvers, which is pretty much what skills competition is, right?
Do you have the links to the shaft collars you used? I know it is 1.25 and 7/8” but which one did you use. Much appreciate your help
Please How wide are those crash bar clamps or what is the item number for that clamp? I just bought the 1 1/4 clamp but I’m not sure if its wide enough. Thank you
Can you tell me exactly what police solo seat to get that would fit my 2018 Harley deluxe? I also want to install the soft brake help.
I live in Belgium. I bought a Triumph Rocket 3R 2020. Could you make a ride instruction vidieo around this bike. Braking with Corning abs, trail braking with linked front and rear brakes etc.
Slow speed work is doable on anything from a Vespa to an HD. It really is a critical part of riding know-how. And the fun is, it's also an art: you *know* what the bike can do; it's just trying to make it do it perfectly. I do cone work on a Vulcan 900 Classic and a Versys 1000 and one can turn as tight as the other. On more powerful bikes with light flywheels like the V1000, it's worth trying the clutch feathering in 2nd gear... the friction zone seems a little more forgiving. Enjoy.
MC you mentioned you installed a softbrake. Was it a standard, +1 or +2? Looking on there website and confused.
What’s the rear brake pedal change called? I had the same feel for the rear break pedal.
Hay I'm not parking my bike just yet ,there's one more ride to do ,the Chicago toys for tots parade is comming Dec 3rd
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the US Marine Corps!! 242 years of Serving America and Defending Freedom around the World!!
Floyd Burdett Amen!
Go Home Yank.
YAY for fighting someone else's battles!
Well if you mean WW2, than agree with you 100% everything after 1945 afterwards is just shamefull for USA Corps. I as European, will never forget that Corps(Americans) gave so many lives defending Europe from a Nazis. But than again I also will never forget how they defended freedom in my own country 1999. dropping Uranium shells over our heads...
*squirell*
How important is it to be able to grip the tank with my knees?
nice job cutting the windshield down
+Noel Espiritu I took it to a place in Dallas, Bill’s Plastics. He does great work
Awesome bike Kevin! I observed that in this bike you use a mini mirror on left mirror, do you recommend this tool for use in day by day?
They are helpful to me. I actually had them on both mirrors and lost one somewhere, just have not replaced it yet.
Hey Kevin..like what u are doing...in a police motor instructor and wanted to let u know about motorcycleguards.com... factory looking accessories that are used and have been used by motor officers for years while learning slow speed skills....they can be extremely destroyed and repaired quickly and easily back to new and then left on the bike for long term professional looking protection after slow speed skills are mastered...Excellent for everyday use and for especially for women learning and riding big bikes for protection against unexpected drops....They look like a factory Harley part placed on the bike from the factory....Yes some officers use what you are speaking of but not for everyday riding or long term use because honestly the appearnace is not appeasing to a professional or good time Harley bike accessory appearnace for protection.. The accessory I'm talking abour is also for protection against unexpectedd drops experienced by us all at some point in time...Motor officers have a lot of pride with their rides.. If u wanna practice anytime and anywhere and have a professional accessory on your bike at all times to practice and maintain skills take a look....its an awesome accessory .. You are right, harley parts aren't cheap...good luck to ya!!
Thanks for the link, Jason. These guards are more pricey that Kevin's solution, but they definitely look better.
Hey Kevin, I pulled up right next to you in Lewisville last week and recognized you, but I didn't know you had that silver Harley, so I thought I was mistaken... I was sure it was you! Enjoy that monster bike!
Awesome! Next time wave me down, we’ll stop and have a soda.
This Road King is beautiful...
HELP? I have a 2004 Super Glide Custom. I have a front crash bar, but no protection for the hard bags.
If you know where I can find rear crash bars for those bags please let me know. THANK YOU!
Did YOU cut the windshield?
Wow! Bought off eBay! I know it's possible....it just scares me! lol
Just a tiny detail. Adjusting your bars as you have will not increase the leverage at all, in fact it will reduce it slightly. It will however, reduce the tillerage, providing a more direct, and I think, more natural feel. Funny thing, but I just watched a repeat on TV where some custom guys modified a Spyder to suit a midget. To reach the bars they had to extend them so far back that I really had to wonder how he would turn them sufficiently for low speed (or even road speed) manoeuvres. Maybe he'll just do 15 point turns.
what is the link to purchase the shaft collar?
You have to click on "Show More", which is just under the first few lines of text by MCrider.
Did you have to drill out the bars to get the to rotate? My Road Glide Ultra has a tab that holds the bars into position...
+Ricky McCafferty No just losses under the bars, rotate and re-tighten
What mounting hardware did you use for the seat?
+James Nimphius The spring HD mounting hardware.
Did you go ever go ahead with the "ride like a cop" videos? I cant find them.
I'd like to do these courses but have a naked sport bike, can I still participate?
Vary interested
I like your new purchase. Being a motor officer, I'm very familiar with the Harley and how it does in the courses. We used to have the Road Kings then switched to the FLHTP (faring bike). As much as I thought I would like it better, I don't. At least not as a work bike. I've had nothing but trouble since the change due most in part because of the blind spots the faring causes in the skills courses and the extra weight on the front end. Good decision moving your handle bars forward for proper riding placement. I did that too, unfortunately the faring bike doesn't allow you to move the bars that far forward. Also another good job going with the soft brake for proper rear brake pressure. I did that also. Do you have a cable or wet clutch?
Thanks Jose, it is a cable clutch. I rode a newer one with the hydraulic clutch but liked the feel of the cable better.
I enjoy seeing the skills, but have zero interest in competing in those bike "rodeos". However, I am highly interested in slow speed maneuvering/control of my bike, and I am absolutely determined to master the basics of those skills.
Hey Kevin, what is the link to the rear brake modification?
+Will To Power All the links are in the description of the video. 👍