Gauche Rider
Guest
And watch out when stopping at junctions! Both feet down 
CBFer
Guest
What? Are you serious
only in a car park
********OFF TOPIC .............ish
Off topic it is - so I won't say anymore. Except
to explain that if I want to go around a right-hand corner I apply pressure to the right-hand bar and round I go. I don't physically "lean" the bike over - the action of pushing on the bars does that. In the context of this discussion I was just curious to know what effect, if any, a "leaning" pillion would have. In theory none, because a bike steers according to the rider's input at the bars. Maybe I should try a little experiment next time I'm out with Mrs CBFer. 
Anyway, apologies to the original poster for veering off topic. The first time I took my wife on the bike I arranged to meet her at a quiet car park, where we spent some time riding around in circles getting to know what it felt like before venturing on to the road for the first time. Worked for us.
Good luck with it.
Pondboy
Registered user
Pondgirl loves going pillion on the 1200. Says it feel so stable and secure she has no worries, unlike some of my previous bikes.
I use the lower seat setting which helps with getting both feet in a nice wide stance to keep the bike stable when she gets on and gives her a better view when on the road.
I have to say I really enjoy riding with PG on the pillion. I ride that bit slower and smoother and get to enjoy the scenery more and the rest stops a whole lot more.
PB
I use the lower seat setting which helps with getting both feet in a nice wide stance to keep the bike stable when she gets on and gives her a better view when on the road.
I have to say I really enjoy riding with PG on the pillion. I ride that bit slower and smoother and get to enjoy the scenery more and the rest stops a whole lot more.
PB
JohnnyOldBoy
Registered user
Thing I like about a pillion is giving directions in built up places I have not been before.
In France this year my pillion had a hand held TomTom which was useful for finding route and hotel. He also took some surprisingly good pictures and video while we were moving.
I recommend a backrest or topbox
In France this year my pillion had a hand held TomTom which was useful for finding route and hotel. He also took some surprisingly good pictures and video while we were moving.
I recommend a backrest or topbox
Off topic it is - so I won't say anymore. Except
Anyway, apologies to the original poster for veering off topic. The first time I took my wife on the bike I arranged to meet her at a quiet car park, where we spent some time riding around in circles getting to know what it felt like before venturing on to the road for the first time. Worked for us.
Good luck with it.
EVEN MORE OFF TOPIC
Have you ever heard of or tried "Counter Steering" ???
I'm not joking !!!
go into a left bend and apply slight pulling pressure to right bar end and the whole bike tightens up into the bend quicker!!!
How or why I don't know, but it's bloody frightening at first.
Now I always do it.
Also I use foot pressure to steer.
Back on Topic..
Barb has a signal for me to slow down, a quick dig in the ribs
Most important rule of all is
MAKE SURE SHE DON'T GET ON OR OFF TILL YOU SAY IT'S OK!!!!
CBFer
Guest
Errrr . . . . yes, thought that's what I just described - or are you being ironic?
YUP very ironic.
I'm a smart arse FFS !!!
Just thought I'd put in correct terminology
Trippy
Guest
You ride a 1200cc bike and you've never had a pillion before 
Getting on and off is as important as anything else and have a practice first. It`s been mentioned before but make sure she gets on and off the same way i.e from the left. The way on our house is left foot on the peg and swing the right leg over. Same getting off if you see what I mean.
My current squeeze got off on the opposite side to the one I was expecting with the inevitable result
. My fault because I didn`t explain before but lesson learned.
My current squeeze got off on the opposite side to the one I was expecting with the inevitable result
. My fault because I didn`t explain before but lesson learned. 
Lull her into a false sense of security for the first few miles,then nail it,and see how long you can hold her feet under your arms for.She'll love it,honestly
And don't let her stand on the pegs to get on or off,it bends the sub frame,and on sports bikes and some tourers,it can break the alloy castings holding the pegs.Foot pegs are for resting your feet on,not to use as a climbing frame.
Que long list of people saying it doesn't.ZZzzzzz
And don't let her stand on the pegs to get on or off,it bends the sub frame,and on sports bikes and some tourers,it can break the alloy castings holding the pegs.Foot pegs are for resting your feet on,not to use as a climbing frame.
Que long list of people saying it doesn't.ZZzzzzz
Johnny Davies
Registered user
A few things..
A few things not mentioned.
Sort your tyre pressures, more critical than pre-load in the first instance.
Leave the bike on the side stand when your pillion is getting on. Neat trick i found, saves looking like a knob with the bike wobbling around as the pillion gets on and curtails any embarressment around having short legs or loose surfaces under ya feet and a fully laden bike. Once on just flick the bike central and away we go.
JD
A few things not mentioned.
Sort your tyre pressures, more critical than pre-load in the first instance.
Leave the bike on the side stand when your pillion is getting on. Neat trick i found, saves looking like a knob with the bike wobbling around as the pillion gets on and curtails any embarressment around having short legs or loose surfaces under ya feet and a fully laden bike. Once on just flick the bike central and away we go.
JD
As all the above have said, but just be aware with the side stand trick. If you are on sloping ground (ie left to right) and your pillion gets on, the extra weight can be enough to push the sidestand into the ground enough to a) make it hard to get it back up, or b) push you over the opposite way!
For the winter I put a pair of Oxford wrap round heated grips on the grabrail, copied off someone else on here.
Mark
colinw
Guest
BMW or Touratech
Hi All,
I genearlly get a lot of miles in riding my newly aquired GS (400 per day is a good avereage) I do lots of IAM and Rospa Rides with associates whih tend to be shorter rides but on a weekend I just like to ride.
I am currently having to fill up every 160 miles or so and I am thinking about upgrading the tank, stopping for fuel is not a major issue, its just once your settled into the ride its nice to keep going. I thought about adding a fuel cell to the pillion seat as i always ride solo, but have now gone off this idea due to looks.
So Do I buy the TT tanks at £760 ish or do a gsa tank conversion???
any info would be good.
Thanks Colin.
Hi All,
I genearlly get a lot of miles in riding my newly aquired GS (400 per day is a good avereage) I do lots of IAM and Rospa Rides with associates whih tend to be shorter rides but on a weekend I just like to ride.
I am currently having to fill up every 160 miles or so and I am thinking about upgrading the tank, stopping for fuel is not a major issue, its just once your settled into the ride its nice to keep going. I thought about adding a fuel cell to the pillion seat as i always ride solo, but have now gone off this idea due to looks.
So Do I buy the TT tanks at £760 ish or do a gsa tank conversion???
any info would be good.
Thanks Colin.
Thought the TT tanks were about £880 ish still cheaper than the juice to put in em.Think you need to post this in a seperate thread tho matey
OHH just looked were £931.18 but now £793.49
nozza
Registered user
Take her somewhere theres big houses wi posh gardens (you might have to ride out of Tod) so she can have a gander, mine drops off after 30 mins if theres nowt to nosey at. Can be a little off putting feeling her helmet hitting you in the back.
Nozza.
so she can have a gander, mine drops off after 30 mins if theres nowt to nosey at. Can be a little off putting feeling her helmet hitting you in the back.Nozza.
Most important thing for me is how she gets on and off, I have an 06 GSA with the rear spring on full load so the bike is quite tall. She waits till I have the bike upright with both feet on the floor, she then (in one smooth motion) places left foot on left footpeg and sort of jumps and throws her right leg over the bike. The danger is, if she were to stand on the left footpeg and stay upright and then put her right leg over there would be a lot of weight to hold up (hope that makes as much sense to you as it does to me).
Have just done 340 miles round North Devon with 1 in 3 hairpin bends and loose gravel and moss on the coast road West of Lynton and had a great time with no drama's. She will love it when she's been on a few trips.
Danny
Have just done 340 miles round North Devon with 1 in 3 hairpin bends and loose gravel and moss on the coast road West of Lynton and had a great time with no drama's. She will love it when she's been on a few trips.
Danny
Gabby
Registered user
I would encourage all types of pillions
snowlife_9999
Registered user
A bike steers by movement of the bars - not leaning - so I'm a bit puzzled as to what you mean?
OK, i hope that you understand the principle of positive and negative/counter steering. Thankfully i re-read your statement before i hit the send button, as i was going to start my comment with
"OK, i don't want to sound like a jackass but. GET A CLUE."
Here is steering explained and a pratical exercise;
Slow speed (most people consider this to be very slow, eg under 10mph)= turn handle bars into corner, lean body out. eg U turn
Mid speed = lean only (this is very rare)
High speed = turn handle bar out of corner, bike will lean naturally into corner and move your body into the corner
Mid and high speed all rely on the condition that you keen you legs/knees 'clamped' to the bike. Most people don't notice that the front wheel will face out of the corner at high speeds.
race speed, slow turn into corner= knee out, move body weight into corner, allow body weight to pull bike down into corner. The handle bars will naturally turn out of corner.
race speed, fast turn into corner= knee out, move body weight, hold bike upright, turn handle bars out of corner, bike will lean down into corner.
For the demo use a scooter as they are light and you won't drop them on their side (well we hope), on second thought have a friend either side of the scooter/bike if you can.
To demonstrate high speed, race speed, get/borrow a scooter. stand over the scooter, not sitting on seat, with it upright and not holding the handle bars. Then 'hit/push' only one side of the handle bar and don't hold on. Now the scooter/bike will fall to one side. The side to which the scooter/bike falls is they way it will turn. Note at this point that the front wheel will be turning the opposite way.
Well hopefully this is now apparent to you if you had not realised it yet, OR i have correct an absolute misconception about steering a bike.
Have a good ride, that is all that counts
Cold
If she gets cold don't try the old trick of putting her coat on back to front to stop the draughts, if she fell off someone might try to put her head around the right way. Just another important health and safety warning!.
If she gets cold don't try the old trick of putting her coat on back to front to stop the draughts, if she fell off someone might try to put her head around the right way. Just another important health and safety warning!.
CBFer
Guest
I've read your post several times and I'm still not sure whether you understand the principle of countersteering.
My comment about a "bike steers by movement of the bars - not leaning" was made in the context of advice offered to the original poster about the effect a pillion leaning into a bend would have on how the bike steered. I think I could have phrased it better - I should have said a rider steers a bike by moving the bars, not by leaning. When I say "leaning" I mean what Keith Code refers to as "body steering" - a shift of body mass.
You give two examples of cornering situations in which you appear to be saying that you steer the bike by leaning (body steering):
Mid speed = lean only (this is very rare)
race speed, slow turn into corner= knee out, move body weight into corner, allow body weight to pull bike down into corner. The handle bars will naturally turn out of corner.
Hence my opening comment about not being sure whether you understand the principle of countersteering.
Perhaps you should take a look at what Keith Code has to say on the matter of people who believe that a bike can be turned by body steering (as you seem to do in the circumstances cited above):
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/no-bs-machine.php
In Twist of the Wrist II Code ask how much pressure can be applied to a set of bars while turning and describes how both Freddie Spencer and Eddie Lawson were able to bend bars. That's somewhat at odds with what you describe as the handlebars "naturally turning out of the corner".
