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[T-Hawk]

While I did a search on here regarding the use of Seatbelts (What, on a motorcycle!?!) the topics I found really didn't address a concern of mine.

I think everyone would agree that my new CVO Ultra Classic has got to be a whole lot more comfortable for the BSR than my Wide Glide... but, therein lies a problem.

Aside from keeping the tunes cranked up, and the more than occasional pat on the leg, checking to see if she's still back there, I have a wonderful wife that could fall asleep during a hurricane.

The short trips (under 500 miles/day) and she has no problem... but we're getting ready to head down to Texas for the Summer and I'm worried that after several hours in the saddle, she's going to get complacent and nod off.

I may need to find a means of keeping her in the saddle during that moment and really haven't come up with any sound method that doesn't require me to momentarily advert my attention from the task of handling the bike.

Seatbelts came to mind... but so too did the thought of having to put the bike down in an emergency...  being strapped onto a bike that's going down does not sound like anything I would care to do myself, nor my BSR.

Before anyone says to pull over and rest, or stretch, or do jumping jacks or something of the like... We Do!  and we do often!

It's simply that she has the uncanny ability to fall asleep whenever she's totally comfortable, regardless of the distractions.  And wow, is the Ultra comfortable!

I guess my question would be this... has anyone else had this experience, and what methods were attempted at keeping them in the saddle without physically belting them in?

I have also considered simply installing passenger arm rest... but then the ones I've looked at that were pleasing, were all adjustable for easy entry and exit.

Any thoughts... as I would like to make the trip through Canada as quickly and painless as possible (no offense), and my daily schedule includes trips upward to 600+/day.   

[sleepybare]

I have the same problem, the only way I know if my wife is asleep is when her head and helmet fall forward and hit me on the back of mine. I normally talk to here through the communication system which wakes her up...But I have no idea how to stop this behavior. She says I should take it as a complement that she trust me enough to get that comfortable while riding.....Go figure

[T-Hawk]

I have the same problem, the only way I know if my wife is asleep is when her head and helmet fall forward and hit me on the back of mine. I normally talk to here through the communication system which wakes her up...But I have no idea how to stop this behavior. She says I should take it as a complement that she trust me enough to get that comfortable while riding.....Go figure

I can appreciate that... Don't they know how unsettling it is for us though? 

[martys]

My wife has fallen asleep several times while she is my BSR.  I, like Sleepybare, also feel the thud of her helmet against the back of mine  and know that she is comfortable.  With the tourpac behind and me in front of her I never really got the feeling that she was going anywhere so I just lean back a bit more to keep her from moving, and so I can feel it if she does move.

[Keats]

I thought you could still buy those kuryakyn armrests.

They will not stop you from dozing, but I cannot see how you would fall off with them in  the way.......


bungie cords?


Has anyone had or heard of a BSR falling off due to dozing?

I certainly have not

[HD Jim]

My ex was sleeping and almost at a 90 deg angle to the bike when I saw her.  Never fell.

[wideglidejoe]

T-Hawk,

Sorry I don't have a solution for your question, but where are you going in Texas?

take care,
Joe

[Eagle Eye]

Roger that!  We joke about it, but it is something that ususally happens when we're on the freeway, long boring freeways.  So, given that, I've never worried about her falling off somehow.  Heaven fobid....   Seatbelts are definately not an option.

[T-Hawk]

Has anyone had or heard of a BSR falling off due to dozing?

I certainly have not

You know, that was probably the question I should have asked...  

I don't know that she'd actually fall off, but the thought of trying to catch her if she did start sliding off in the middle of a good curve, one side or the other, and me trying to keep her on doesn't sound like much fun.

I may just be getting a bit too worked up over this... she has nearly 150,000 miles as my BSR and has never actually fallen off.  But, on our way back from the 2010 AK State Rally in Kenai, we banged helmets on the Wide Glide pretty good during the home stretch... after completing about 500 miles of the trip and I know it wasn't the road.

On our Million Mile Monday ride (840mi) on the Ultra, in almost the same location, she fell into me just barely touching helmets and as I started talking to her on the headset, she asked me what was the matter?  I said you must have fallen asleep... she said Oh... and never put another thought into it.

Maybe that's what I need to do... Understanding that the possibility exist, but knowing that my skills and awareness of the situation are in-place, I can do what is necessary from my position in the saddle to prevent any Long Term naps...  


Maybe I should quit watching all of the "Tail of the Dragon" videos too... at least until after our trip to Texas.  

[T-Hawk]

Yeah, a Seatbelt is the farthest from my mind...  they seem to work most of the time in Cages... but I don't think the outcome would be anywhere close in a MC incident.

Joe, we're going to be heading into the Abilene area first, Dallas/Fort Worth, and up into Altus, OK to see some friends from way back.

[kiwihog]

velcro on the front of her helmet and the back of yours

[Sklywag]

I think most of us that ride long distances have the same issue.  My wife never worries about it but I do as we figured out one time she had been asleep for over 10 miles, never mover, never banged helmets.

I'm thinking a big spot of velcro on the back of her jacket & the backrest.   

[Screamin]

Bungie her to the tour pak. Buddy of mine has been doing that for his wife for years.

[T-Hawk]

Thanks Everyone... you know sometimes the easiest answer is often the best.

I'm going to see how she feels about it some more, but the Bungee Cords are sounding better and better 

Seriously, the Velcro idea also sounds good, but I really think... after reading everything I've typed, that I simply put too much thought and worry into it.

Thanks again, we'll be riding again here in a couple months, and I'll let you know how she does on our first long ride.

Take Care Everyone, and Thanks Again,
Ted

[1sharprdkg]

I just told mine to tuck and roll and I'd circle back to pick her up!