Riding with a pillion - aka: passenger

[NoTraffic]

Fwiw, I had a passenger join me for a spirited ride. She had previous experience riding sport bikes but had taken a break. From the moment she hopped on til the end of the ride, I could not for a second tell she was on the back of my bike (SV650s). Granted, she was probably around 100lbs but she knew how to shift her weight to help me through the corners. My bike actually felt much more planted with her on.

It was the first time I worried more about the external surroundings than my pillion.

 

[budman]

A couple rally experiences seeing two up riders.

On the '18 MidSummer Rally I hooked up with a group of young riders at the launch point. I was up there alone after spending the night with Angler Don and his wife.

One dude, sort of the leader of the pack was two up on his Dad's BMW.
He was an AFM racer as was another in his group. When we took off he spirited away and I was immediately impresses with his pace. It was fun!...

Plenty good for miles of smiles. On Hunter Liggett he picked it up more and the pegs were dancing on the pavement. Not wanting to push him... I passed him and strolled away, but not far away. At 101 he was there within a minute or so.
Fricking awesome.

On the '17 Quincy Rally we had a couple on a dual sport come out. Nice couple.. what I did not know originally was the Mrs. was blind. Them riding warmed my heart greatly. They joined us on Saturday to go to the blocked area on Orville Quincy Road and joined us in the group shot at the Dead End.

That was so cool. Close your eyes and feel the flow. Never did that as a passenger. Awesome to me that they rolled the moto together.

Hell I basically refuse to be a passenger.. scares the crap out of me!

A pic of them on the bike and at the dead end.
They are on the far left.

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

Great article and comments. I was lucky and married a gal with a true Need For Speed.
Mad

Seems your Mrs and mine were cut from the same cloth. We ride a lot two up and our pace is almost the same as when I ride single. She understands the risks, is a great passenger as she is just neutral on the bike, no lean, looks over shoulder, hangs on to the bars and what really gave her peace of mind is the top case so she can lean back on it (if two up this is a MUST). We have communicators which helps us enjoy speaking when we want but mostly she listens to music and just chills out. She has communicated to me what she in comfy with and what she is not. We tend to dial back pace from my absolute ability as it only makes sense in case of hazards in road etc etc. I also believe the bike has a lot to do with it as we ride an FJR which I refer to as the big pig...comfy all day sporty riding My daughter is even more of a speed nut....but that is another story (also a great pillion)

Great article! Only other item is several times out on rides with a group someone has went down, all ok but machine not ridable and everyone goes "who is so and so going to ride with...all turn around and look at me..."well you ride two up all the time and have the best bike for it" I always oblige but dial pace back for strangers as do not want to upset them, scare them or take the responsibility of going down with them if they get nervous and do something surprising (or stupid)

 

[CDONA]

First rides behind my dad, my "how to"
Been packing double since high school.
So many adventures, so many stupids that we got away with.
Spit fights doubled up, rolling to Berryessa.
Left with two sisters after a snipe hunt up in Green Valley highlands, the three of us rode back to town on my super hawk.
We were hanging back to see if we were missed, nope.
Chasing jack rabbits at night in open fields ringed with barbed wire, across the street from FF high.
Then there was the woman that I lit up running my fat boy in third gear, working the throttle, Silverado trail. Took all the fight out of her.
One was loving speed, screaming at me to go faster on the V-rod.
Another thought we needed to borrow a bike my buddy was selling, 750 VFR, I had it to 95 in third, I wanted to hear 14 grand, she saw the speedo and freaked. One of my big misses in life, I wanted to hear that 14 grand.
Rear blowout on my R90/6, Air base parkway overpass
Thunder storm in Yosemite.
Last girl friend didn't like wind in her face, would bury her head, eyes closed on Hwy 41's twisty bits rolling the same speed she drives in her Prious.
The best, my Tahoe friend, she kind of rides me, knee grips my hips, uses a hand on my back to prevent helmet knock, and leans aggressively. This almost bit me once, I launched with a bike lean, me upright, she leaned, too much weight moved relative to speed, almost dropped it.

 

[Maddevill]

On the '17 Quincy Rally we had a couple on a dual sport come out. Nice couple.. what I did not know originally was the Mrs. was blind. Them riding warmed my heart greatly. They joined us on Saturday to go to the blocked area on Orville Quincy Road and joined us in the group shot at the Dead End.

That was so cool. Close your eyes and feel the flow. Never did that as a passenger. Awesome to me that they rolled the moto together.

Hell I basically refuse to be a passenger.. scares the crap out of me!

A pic of them on the bike and at the dead end.
They are on the far left.

My wife and I had lunch with them that day. Really good people. I don't know if they check in here or not. They've done some pretty impressive offroad trips on that KLR. She's basically amazing.

Mad

 

[dravnx]

I got to talking with her and it turns out I worked with her dad in the early 90’s He was a well respected aircraft mechanic.

 

[rodr]

does she know you posted this picture?

Of course. She's not the bashful type....

 

[Killroy1999]

I guess I got good at riding 2-up. It's a favorite dating activity. I would just tell the lady to wear close toed shoes like boots and I would put her in a one-piece armored textile suit, helmet and gloves.

Then I would give a talk on how it works and we would start small. Fun stuff. Since my motorcycle is basally silent at a light, its easy to talk.

 

[LectricBill]

My wife rode pillion for many years, on occasional rides. I once made the mistake of buying a helmet intercom. OMG, she never shut up! After two rides or so, the dam thing just broke, I told her. Can't fix it, I told her.

Having agreed upon hand signals, taps, etc. is necessary and sufficient, IME.

 

[LectricBill]

My wife rode pillion for many years, on occasional rides. I once made the mistake of buying a helmet intercom. OMG, she never shut up! After two rides or so, the dam thing just broke, I told her. Can't fix it, I told her.

Having agreed-upon hand signals, taps, etc. is necessary and sufficient, IME.

I once gave a ride from BART to a total newbie on my electric bike. Even though I was trying to be smooth and gentle, on one of my accelerations from a stop light, I noticed his shoes swinging in an upward arc by my thighs. Dam near fell off the back, but by some miracle held on.

Since then, I've really liked the Grip-N-Ride belt that offers passengers solid hand-holds, two in the back and two closer to the front.

 

[rodr]

I guess I got good at riding 2-up. It's a favorite dating activity. I would just tell the lady to wear close toed shoes like boots and I would put her in a one-piece armored textile suit, helmet and gloves.

Then I would give a talk on how it works and we would start small. Fun stuff. Since my motorcycle is basally silent at a light, its easy to talk.

I guess you have to select your dates by size.

BTW who makes 1-piece textile suits?

 

[atoyf]

i just rode with my 9 years old son 2 days ago for the first time! He absolutely loved it and want to go for longer trips, time to shop full gear... but they grow so fast..

 

[Maddevill]

i just rode with my 9 years old son 2 days ago for the first time! He absolutely loved it and want to go for longer trips, time to shop full gear... but they grow so fast..

I take my 11 year old granddaughter on my ZX14. I have the belt with the handles. She absolutely loves it, especially going around turns. Already we have a pace that is almost up to the one I ride with the wife on the back.

On a related note: This is in reference to some women I see as passengers as well as some that ride their own bikes. Not to sound sexist, but I see a lot of women who have a top line helmet, jacket and gloves. And a pair of super thin skinny jeans with low top boots. I get it I guess. You want your ass to look good? Skin grafts aren't sexy.
Ok, rant over.

Mad

 

[doc4216]

I take my 11 year old granddaughter on my ZX14. I have the belt with the handles. She absolutely loves it, especially going around turns. Already we have a pace that is almost up to the one I ride with the wife on the back.

On a related note: This is in reference to some women I see as passengers as well as some that ride their own bikes. Not to sound sexist, but I see a lot of women who have a top line helmet, jacket and gloves. And a pair of super thin skinny jeans with low top boots. I get it I guess. You want your ass to look good? Skin grafts aren't sexy.
Ok, rant over.

Mad

You think skinny jeans are disturbing, you should see florida in the summer. Super expensive helmets, bikini or tank top, short shorts and flip flops (maybe closed toed shoes if lucky). Both genders would be dressed like this.

I was happy to see any kind of pants being worn. I just shook my head and hoped they didn't crash.

 

[Maddevill]

Once in Honolulu, I spied a very pretty girl in a bikini riding a rented scooter. Her entire left side was one huge road rash.

Mad

 

[Killroy1999]

I guess you have to select your dates by size.

BTW who makes 1-piece textile suits?

I'm only 5'6", so typically the suits are a little baggy, but work well enough. One girls was an actual motorcycle rider from Japan. She has to suck in a little.

Who makes 1-pieced textile suits. Basically no one now. I have a older Olympia Odyssey and a Joe Rocket Suit very similar. I don't think either make them, but you can find old stock on Ebay typically in odd sizes.

Areostich. I want to, but I can have 6 Olympia suits for the price of one Aerositch.

 

[Killroy1999]

The most fun 2-up date story was this:

After we are all geared up and on the bike, I ask, "are you ready to go?"

She says, "Don't you need to start it?"
Me, "No. Its electric."

coolcool

 

[Killroy1999]

Once in Honolulu, I spied a very pretty girl in a bikini riding a rented scooter. Her entire left side was one huge road rash.

Mad

 

[SVsick50]

I ride with my wife on the back every once in awhile on the SV - we don't go far, just typically to dinner or something.

We rented a Suzuki Boulevard 650 (thumper) in Maui and did the Road to Hana in shorts and t-shirts and that bike absolutely sucked for two up riding. For a cruiser - what a disappointment. We switched out to a Honda Shadow 750 and it was so...much... better. Again, shorts and t-shirts/tank tops. Rode to the beaches, and went all over the island.

In Bermuda we rented a 50cc 4 stroke scooter

The driving lanes are on the opposite side of the road from us, and the entire island is like 30 minutes from tip-to-tip. That thing was so sketch, and we had half-helmets and shorts and t-shirts/tank tops. And Vans shoes. Carrying picnic and beach stuff. She would read a map propped on my back and give me directions as we putt'ed around

If you got caught stopped on a hill with that scooter, forget it. 0-25MPH in like a minute.

I would like to get a big cruiser for her and I, something at least 750cc's and low and comfy. The SV650 is super cramped and not cool for two up. I wouldn't mind a nice cruiser with a sissy bar and bags for us.

Here's my tip: Slow the F down. My ego isn't so big I need to go fast with my wife riding passenger. We putt-putt everywhere, on all the two up riding we've ever done. Pull over when necessary. Don't push it when fatigue sets in. Chill. Most of all, relax.

It's a whole different mind set for me. Truly cruising and relaxing. I honestly think people put way too much energy into the safety of it all. Just hold back and set aside the time to get to where you need to go. I have never had a pucker moment, never felt scared or nervous, and she never has either. Even on the islands in zero riding gear. People on BARF put so much energy around safety, I honestly think it creates fear in some people. In over 20 years of riding street, track, dirt, Supermoto, etc., and before that, cruising a 3sp. Honda Passport in my teens, I crashed more during my peak of BARF'ing - professing "safety" on this forum - than just riding relaxed, confident and calm and not being on some sort of safety soapbox.

 

[Maddevill]

[QUOTE

Here's my tip: Slow the F down. My ego isn't so big I need to go fast with my wife riding passenger. We putt-putt everywhere, on all the two up riding we've ever done. Pull over when necessary. Don't push it when fatigue sets in. Chill. Most of all, relax.


Tell that to my wife. Her interest in a "Sporting" pace has led me to have some interesting conversations with the Popo.

Mad