My first pillion experience...

[The Marching Onion]

Hi all, you're resident newbie here Thanks to all those who offered advice on my previous post regarding pillions.

I decided to take my daughter (21) out yesterday, a petrol head at heart and was dying to come along. She is also the smallest of the 3 family members so seemed a good place to start. Did a lot of research and I took the bike to a small car park next my house, my daughter walked there. Made sure she was kitted out in the right gear, that was very important to me. Fitted a new top box with backrests in the week, this definitely helped and a cheap comms kit I could connect my Edge to via Bluetooth so we could communicate. I would tell her I'm ready before getting on or off and keeping a check on how she was etc. We did some practice runs of her getting on and off the bike. No problems there, I was able to stablise the bike with no issues. Then did some slow speed stuff around the car park, all seemed fine.

Went off to our local J&S (its in our area of Birmingham) as a practice run, lots of traffic to deal with but got there and bought her some gloves. Then set off on a winding route via Calimoto to Caffeine and Machine in Stratford, then a little loop around the Cotswolds before ending up home.

Heres how it went.. I actually found it a lot easier than I expected. Yes it feels different, but not as difficult to manage as feared. We soon worked cornering out, I could feel through the tighter bends or roundabouts she wasn't leaning enough, so i got her to lean a little more each bend until it felt right. She anticipated acceleration points and would ask if she could shuffle on her seat when stationary. It all worked out really well. In actual fact, I think I rode better yesterday than I did on my own a few days prior. There were times where she would loosen her grip on me (she claimed she was relaxed) and I didn't even realise the she was there! I did go slow and steady when needed, opened it up a little on the dual carriageways to give us both the overall experience of different roads. She wasn't put off or scared, quite the opposite.

So a resounding success. It wasn't perfect but thats down to my riding rather than having a pillion. Next challenge is the wife. My daughter 5ft 6 and 11 stone. The wife is 6ft and 15 stone and a little more apprehensive about going than the daughter. Hopefully this experience will help the process along. No ego's here, any tips that will help this along is gratefully received.

Thanks all

 

[Poncherello]

Hi all, you're resident newbie here Thanks to all those who offered advice on my previous post regarding pillions.

I decided to take my daughter (21) out yesterday, a petrol head at heart and was dying to come along. She is also the smallest of the 3 family members so seemed a good place to start. Did a lot of research and I took the bike to a small car park next my house, my daughter walked there. Made sure she was kitted out in the right gear, that was very important to me. Fitted a new top box with backrests in the week, this definitely helped and a cheap comms kit I could connect my Edge to via Bluetooth so we could communicate. I would tell her I'm ready before getting on or off and keeping a check on how she was etc. We did some practice runs of her getting on and off the bike. No problems there, I was able to stablise the bike with no issues. Then did some slow speed stuff around the car park, all seemed fine.

Went off to our local J&S (its in our area of Birmingham) as a practice run, lots of traffic to deal with but got there and bought her some gloves. Then set off on a winding route via Calimoto to Caffeine and Machine in Stratford, then a little loop around the Cotswolds before ending up home.

Heres how it went.. I actually found it a lot easier than I expected. Yes it feels different, but not as difficult to manage as feared. We soon worked cornering out, I could feel through the tighter bends or roundabouts she wasn't leaning enough, so i got her to lean a little more each bend until it felt right. She anticipated acceleration points and would ask if she could shuffle on her seat when stationary. It all worked out really well. In actual fact, I think I rode better yesterday than I did on my own a few days prior. There were times where she would loosen her grip on me (she claimed she was relaxed) and I didn't even realise the she was there! I did go slow and steady when needed, opened it up a little on the dual carriageways to give us both the overall experience of different roads. She wasn't put off or scared, quite the opposite.

So a resounding success. It wasn't perfect but thats down to my riding rather than having a pillion. Next challenge is the wife. My daughter 5ft 6 and 11 stone. The wife is 6ft and 15 stone and a little more apprehensive about going than the daughter. Hopefully this experience will help the process along. No eo's here, any tips that will help this along is gratefully received.

Thanks all

When you’re moving at any kind of speed the same principles will apply irrespective of weight so your practice run will serve you well. Just be mindful at v low speeds/ junctions where the extra pillion weight will manifest itself as a predisposition to tip in. The advice I give to pillions is to try and keep an even amount of weight on each foot peg at all times. That tends to make it easier for them to process what is required from them and keeps the bike well balanced partic at slower speeds.

 

[Davey B]

Hats off for the way you've set out on this...very sensible. To echo the slow speed point above....you're far more likely to come unstuck at 0-5mph than you are at 50 or 60mph. Make sure your pillion knows that if they lean one way or the other, suddenly, at a standstill or low speed, it may well put you so far off balance that you end up dropping the bike.
Less noticeable on a GS than most other bikes but....using the front brake can easily unsettle the bike due to fork dive...especially if turning (just watch people on ferry decks with their feet dangling either side, using just the front brake...they'd be far better off with at least their right foot on the peg controlling speed with the rear brake....no fork dive...especially with a damp/wet metal ships deck)
Also, think of how they get off the bike and pull up to a stop, or park so that it makes it as easy as possible for them...especially if there's crowds of people about.....
But I reckon you've got this sussed.

 

[The Marching Onion]

Hats off for the way you've set out on this...very sensible. To echo the slow speed point above....you're far more likely to come unstuck at 0-5mph than you are at 50 or 60mph. Make sure your pillion knows that if they lean one way or the other, suddenly, at a standstill or low speed, it may well put you so far off balance that you end up dropping the bike.
Less noticeable on a GS than most other bikes but....using the front brake can easily unsettle the bike due to fork dive...especially if turning (just watch people on ferry decks with their feet dangling either side, using just the front brake...they'd be far better off with at least their right foot on the peg controlling speed with the rear brake....no fork dive...especially with a damp/wet metal ships deck)
Also, think of how they get off the bike and pull up to a stop, or park so that it makes it as easy as possible for them...especially if there's crowds of people about.....
But I reckon you've got this sussed.

Yes, after yesterdays experience, I can see this. Whenever we stop anywhere, I would tell her to get off before I parked or manoeuvred the bike but obviously at junctions etc, thats not possible. She was very good at sitting still. Thanks for the point about using the rear brake, that's something ill keep in mind

 

[leadfarmer]

There were times where she would loosen her grip on me (she claimed she was relaxed) and I didn't even realise the she was there!

Sounds to me like you’re doing it right When they’re relaxed and confident you’ll only feel them when you stop

Can’t really add anything that wasn’t in the original thread but it sounds like the advice you got from the collective helped so that’s good

With your wife, just carry on like you did with your daughter, slow and steady so she feels comfortable on the back, that’s all there is to it really, after that it’s just practice and familiarity

 

[littleade]

The replies above have already covered most things. I just told SWMBO to relax and just go with the bike, don't try to lean it over or stop it from leaning and that worked a treat. Communication is your friend, tell her what you're going to do before you do it and vice versa. The thing that'll catch you both out is sudden surprises and talking to each other especially if you're not used to riding 2 up will help loads until you both gain experience. Enjoy

 

[stever1]

Well done for your first attempt
The only thing I would add is, I keep the side stand down while my pillion climbs on, and always get them to climb on from my left.
That way if they pull the bike as they mount it’s got more support.

 

[Fullchat]

As others have said you've tackled it responsibly.You do have to be more focused on the environment where you are coming to a stop and putting your feet down.
You know you've achieved when suddenly you feel a clunk on the back of your helmet as they have fallen asleep

 

[chablis]

As mentioned, you've gone about the the right way.

For me, I'm sat on the bike with both feet firmly planted on the group, they can the get on from the left, their left foot steps onto the pillion foot rest and they can step through to put that right foot on the right rest. Sit down and make themselves comfortable. Yes wiggling can unsettle the bike, but some movement is to be expected.

The best way to pillion on a sports bike is arms around the the person, and when they brake, you can use your right hand on the tank to stop your self being thrown forward, after braking you just move the hand back to a gentle hold. This helps stop a clashing of bodies and helmets, smooth riding helps stop this being too much of an issue, and a more upright bike like a GS, again, less of an issue. Some people like the Buddy Belts which is a belt with handles the pillion can hold. Other people are happy enough to hold the grab rails at seat height, but that is difficult to brace yourself. It sounds like with the back rest, and you / rails, you have enough to make it all work comfortably.

The number one thing, is take it easy, drive defensively, and don't be a d1ck, there is nothing that will turn a pillion off being a pillion than if they cannot trust the person ahead of them.

Yes the bike is heavier, and depending on the bike the steering lighter, a bike may have a tendency to lift the front wheel under conditions of spirted acceleration.

Enjoy, not everyone is happy as a pillion, but lovely to do every now and then.

 

[leadfarmer]

there is nothing that will turn a pillion off being a pillion than if they cannot trust the person ahead

Very true, as long as they trust you riding 2 up is a pleasure for both of you, I prefer it to solo

I was on a road test yesterday on a GSA ASA with wifey on the back, there were 8 bikes being led by a BMW guy on an S1000XR with a pillion, we were riding around twisty roads in the Haute Loire

We were 3 bikes 2 up and 5 bikes solo, interestingly I noticed that the 3 bikes 2 up were always at the front, with the others trailing behind

I'm far from being a quick rider but we were not exactly observing the speed limits, wifey remarked that they were riding quite quickly but was perfectly happy as long as I diddn't accellerate or brake violently, she enjoyed the ride as much as I did

 

[landmarkjohn]

I ask Bernie to remain as “neutral” as possible in the bends. And to sit close to me to try and keep one mass rather than two separated masses.

We have done a few thousand KM together now and she weighs under 60 KG, more than once I have checked to make sure she is there or did I leave her at the last stop

 

[siddo]

My approach is never to take the wife.

 

[leadfarmer]

My approach is never to take the wife.

What about the girlfriend?

 

[littleade]

What about the girlfriend?

Or someone else's?