Getting out of the garage

[Foby]

I think this is in the right section
Im moving soon to a rented house where the gravel drive is sloping down to the garage. As I have a heavy Road King any ideas as to the best way to get the bike out of the garage as to reverse it uphill over gravel looks very difficult.

[BaZa ®]

..................Same as any time when you park the bike always make it easy to ride off.

You must reverse it it the garage.

It needs be sweep the gravel out the way and make a pile of it as it can be a bit doddgy to ride over let alone do a 3 point turn to reverse in the garage.

It's only been laid there it is not fixed.

[Foby]

Sometimes you just dont see the obvious - thanks Baza

[Kernow]

Originally Posted by Foby

Sometimes you just dont see the obvious - thanks Baza

Was gonna say the same, my drive is not gravel but is steep from road to garage. I always stop and reverse the bike into the garage, Fatboy is not as heavy but still a bit of a weight.
Cheers

[kiwidave]

yep just shut the motor off and paddle carefully backwards. There is no other way.

Think you got it tough? When I first got mine i had to ride it up the garden path then up a scaffolding plank laid across the six steps from the back door down into the garden.

When I made it up the steps, the wheelbase of the bike exceeded the distance from top step to rear of house. I had to do this at an angle also.

It was, for two years, frightening.

I was way too paranoid about security to leave it at the side of the house, even chained up.

The next house i bought, safe and easy H-D parking was the absolute priority for me.

[harleyshrew]

Originally Posted by Foby

I think this is in the right section
Im moving soon to a rented house where the gravel drive is sloping down to the garage. As I have a heavy Road King any ideas as to the best way to get the bike out of the garage as to reverse it uphill over gravel looks very difficult.

get a BIG Bike mover. Its a sort of platform for the rear wheel with four wheels. You that just drag the bike round then you can maneuver it so that its facing the right way. I could not do without mine as i have a very small space to get my bike so that I can ride it down the ally between the houses where I live.

Got mine from Busters (about £60) best bit of kit I have got for the bike (apart from the shed). Honestly my neighbors are in ore just how I get my bike out on the road from a very small back garden. Wish I had a nice flat huge garage/workshop/with space for a fridge/TV/and another couple of bikes but there yer go

[BaZa ®]

I still think I would rather go down a gravel/slippery slope backwards, because you would use the FRONT brake which would be your brake at the rear of the direction you are travelling like a back brake going forward.

Both feet on the ground gradually reversing into the garage no clutch as you are in neutral and MORE stable than using the front brake going down hill on gravel.

If you used the rear brake going down the slope you only have one foot on the ground.

We are talking a very slow manoeuvre here.

[robbiemac]

I've been going backwards down my drive for years now. I tend to have it in gear with the engine running and as BaZa says, use the front brake only.
Takes a wee bit of practice but it's the easiest way by far.
I have the advantage of no pebbles/gravel though.

[Foby]

Once again thanks for all your sensible input good people

[old-mo]

Just an idea,, Why not make up a reinforced platform big enough to drive the bike on, If you go to fleabay there is a guy selling packs of 4 or eight roller casters with a little lever that is a brake. put all eight stratigicley fixed to spread the weight, then if you have enough room get off, turn the bike and ready to drive out, , I made up half a dozen to move two hundred weight concrete pots in my conservatory that we bought back from abroad.
only cost about twenty quid,, Ah well just a thought.