Seat height change for 2 up riding. Pillion help!

The Marching Onion

The Marching Onion

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So I’ve had the bike a few weeks and it’s the lower chassis version. Being 6ft, the sales guy set the seat to the higher position and with my limited knowledge, I just agreed.

I’ve been riding it like that over the first few weeks but ultimately I want to ride 2 up and my thought process was “I could try lowering the seat position, I might have more control when I’m stationary, helping us being 2 up”. So I changed it for a test ride and the difference is staggering. Even though it’s only lowered a small amount, the bike feels so much different and much better, being able to plant both feet flat when I need to (if I need to?). I never thought that would happen but there you go, glad I tried it.

Is my thought process correct? Is being able to plant both feet going to help when I’m fully loaded, 2 up? Is there any specific advice or nuggets of information people can pass on for riding with a pillion?

Appreciate everyone’s input 👍
 
Get an intercom so you can let her know when you're going to stop, overtake etc. She can also let you know when she's getting on/off so you're prepared to counter any changes in the balance of the bike. A 2nd pair of eyes is good for keeping you both safer too. Things like coming to a stop just need a bit more planning, but the low C of G the GS has will help.
 
At the end of the day its what you feel comfortable with that counts. Personally i like to be able to flat foot on the bike which i cannot at just under 6ft solo on a regular GSA. However two up i can which is good for me.

Riding with a pillion. Again, youll find what works for you but as a start, Like Littleade said, make sure your passenger knows to tell you when theyre getting on and off. We dont use intercoms but my wife taps me on the shoulder.
Again if were moving and she needs to move around a bit or stretch her legs she lets me know, anything that may unsettle the bike.
When we started riding two up id let her know when i was planning to overtake, just so she wasnt caught unaware. Not such an issue now as she generally knows when im going to go, if shes not asleep that is.
 
Don't be tempted to stand on pegs on rough ground/off road. If you hit a big pothole your arse slams back into her diaphragm and you get a smack round the head!
 
My tip for riding with a pillion is be smoooooooooth. Clutch, braking, acceleration. At a stop the trick is for your pillion not to be fidgety. Any other time not a problem. Don’t over think it
 
no aggressive braking let her know when you overtake etc. i found a top box as a back rest made her feel more secure. The slow speed / car park stuff is defiantly better when able to put both feet down flat
 
Flat footing helps, I’m a stumpy legged person so have a low chassis version.
Pillion mounting & dismounting has to done in unison. My missus uses my left peg to climb up from, she can’t swing her leg over the back as there’s a top box fitted.
My usual brief to new pillions (especially if they arent little ladies) is sit still. Keep shoulders parallel with the seat and relax, remind them you need to lean to steer, do not fight it. If in doubt stare at the back of riders head.
Because of top box she can rest there but advise pillions to hold bike rail with right hand and don’t let go. They can brace when accelerating and braking. Left hand on their thigh so they grab rider if need to, plus left can operate their visor.
Also a left shoulder tap means we need to slow down and any head strike is just like normal life 🤷‍♂️

Mrs can’t see as much behind me on the GSA, she’s only little, but it’s far nicer than the R1 perch I made her endure….
 
Top box. My Mrs has done three of long trips on the pillion, she’s not super keen, but humours me. She won’t go unless there’s a top box “to stop her falling off the back”. I only wheelied once, honest (and that was to avoid a dickead in a Fiesta).
 
All good advice in the posts above, especially the top box and intercom (y)

The only thing I’d add is to reiterate - take it slow and steady until she’s really comfortable on the back and it becomes second nature, then you won’t know she’s there apart from the extra weight

If you scare her she won’t want to ride pillion and you’ll both miss out on the wonderful world of 2 up touring

Mine started 30 + years ago on the back of a GSXR750 and had never been on a bike before, but I rode it like I was on black ice to start with and after a while I could just ride like she wasn’t there, I call her my pillion in a million :cool:
Popped an unintentional power wheelie a couple of weeks ago leaving a péage and she just giggled a bit and said “what was that?”
 
My wife (who loves riding pillion even in very dodgey situations) gets on like she would a horse - hand on my left shoulder , foot on her left peg and swings her leg over. I tip the bike to the right slightly as she does this which means I don't need to flat foot both feet as the suspension compresses enough to bring my left foot fully into contact with the ground as she gets on . No top box to clear as I loathe them, but usually a 30 litre soft bag.

Not right or wrong, just the way we do it. An intercom helps make sure she doesn't move before I'm ready.
 
ThreeDawg said:
My wife (who loves riding pillion even in very dodgey situations) gets on like she would a horse - hand on my left shoulder , foot on her left peg and swings her leg over. I tip the bike to the right slightly as she does this which means I don't need to flat foot both feet as the suspension compresses enough to bring my left foot fully into contact with the ground as she gets on . No top box to clear as I loathe them, but usually a 30 litre soft bag.

Not right or wrong, just the way we do it. An intercom helps make sure she doesn't move before I'm ready.
Click to expand...
My wife does same.
Mates wife gets on bike first , then moves onto rear seat.
 
Yeah, like my favourite Youtubers Chad and Rose (Two Wheels Three Sheets). Not sure the side stand on my 1100 is good enough for that malarkey, and then of course you have to pull the bike, luggage and pillion upright.:rob
 
Getting on the bike my Mrs is a short arse too so depending on where we were she would either put her left foot on the left pillion peg hold onto my left shoulder and mount it like a horse (if possible I'd pull up next to a kerb so she could get on from the path), or she'd get on 1st via the riders pegs and seat then shuffle backwards.
 
My misses has bad knees so if there’s a kerb available we’ll use that as a step too.
 
It's all been said above really...but I'd just have a good few rides and get used to it before taking a pillion, if it is a worry at all. Obviously stuff like cambers at the road edge when stopping can make those who tiptoe ordinarily, have nowhere solid to put their foot unless they lean or shift their arses off the seat. Basics matter when carrying a pillion, communication, making sure they're comfy and ready before setting off. We never ride without a top box when two up and have passenger footpeg lowers on which give her a little more leg room. We had it just right on my Africa Twin...not quite sorted on the NT1100 as yet...
 
what do you have the suspension setting set to ? Low, High or Auto ? this also affects Pillion riding ? I am 5' 10", and I have a full height GSA, with my wife on the back, I can flat foot my GSA, with Suspension set to Auto (as a guide), I used to ride with suspension set to "low", this was a bit hard, auto self levels brilliantly
 
Looks like everyone's on the same page. Good advice and consistent too.

• topbox
• intercom (Cardo!!!)
• pillion get's on like it's a horse (while you're astride, holding the moto upright)

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