Carried a passenger? Been one?

[FitZ6R]

I came across my spare helmet in the closet yesterday, and it got me thinking about two-up riding, so I figured I'd poll the audience. I've carried a passenger (once), been a passenger (once), and far prefer solo.

I'm particularly curious how many have carried passengers but have not had the (interesting, to say the least) experience of back seat riding.

[PhatPhizzixxer]

I was a passenger for a couple of years before getting my white FZ6r...my first bike. I have to say that riding as a passenger made me alot closer to my now-fiance. It was hella fun and was what got me interested in having my own. Also, being a passenger makes you learn alot about riding before you actually take the class & ride yourself.

Even though I have my own bike, I still beg & plead to ride pillion on my fiance's Kawasaki Concours because I just love it...love the feel, the sound, the closeness...it's all good.

[travstoll]

Originally Posted by FitZ6R

I came across my spare helmet in the closet yesterday, and it got me thinking about two-up riding, so I figured I'd poll the audience. I've carried a passenger (once), been a passenger (once), and far prefer solo.

I'm particularly curious how many have carried passengers but have not had the (interesting, to say the least) experience of back seat riding.

I was a passenger when I was a kid....however, I don't think you will find too many males who will admit to being a passenger....Cardinal rule of most bikers: "two balls per bike"

[JonKerr]

Never been a passenger but I've had my wife on the back a handful of times. Yesterday included. She loves it. I don't mind it. Obviously I setup the rear suspension for it and add a little air to the tires. Can't really let it hang out as much with her on but that's OK. I need to get her more geared up. It was a struggle just to get her to put on a helmet that actually fit her.

[MikeN02]

Rode with a passenger and I don't like to do it unless it's a must. I can't relax like usual, take turns really slow (turning the handle bars slow), and have to ease into everything slowly not to freak out the passenger.

[travstoll]

Originally Posted by MikeN02

Rode with a passenger and I don't like to do it unless it's a must. I can't relax like usual, take turns really slow (turning the handle bars slow), and have to ease into everything slowly not to freak out the passenger.

I know what you mean, and it makes a world of difference once the passenger learns how to ride and gets comfortable. A couple years ago I had a Honda CBR600F4i. I put a tank pad on there, and taught my girlfriend how to press against the tank and not me, how to take turns and work with me.....After a while she was really comfortable on the bike and it was a lot easier to ride and feel comfortable....

Give it time....passengers will get better once they learn too...

[JonKerr]

A lot depends on the passenger. The first time I took my wife, she was really nervous about leaning over. Once I got her on a couple of times, she was able to just go with it. Now she's the one telling me to go faster. She's like Rickey Bobby! I wanna go fast!!!!

Just a side note, if you're going to take someone on as a passenger who's never done it, there's a few things you need to make sure they know.

-Do not lean! Either with or against the lean of the bike. Let the rider do the leaning. All the passenger needs to do is to look through the corner. This will automatically transfer just enough weight for them to aid in cornering. If they lean into the corner, they could lean too much and cause a crash because you may not have enough countersteering input to compensate for that much weight transfer. (This of course is if you're not trying to drag knee with a passenger, which I've seen BTW.) And if they lean against the lean of the bike, that's just going to throw the whole thing off and you're sure to be on the ground.

-Always mount from the left side and only when the bike is stable and straight up. Don't let the passenger get on while the bike is on the kick stand. Same goes for getting off.

-Hold on! If she relaxes too much and/or lets go as we're rolling to a red light and the light goes green before we stop, I'm going. Almost lost her off the back like that once. I didn't know she'd let go and she slid a couple of inches. We don't have back rests to hold you on.

-Do not shift your weight around too much. Worst thing that can happen is for the passenger to suddenly start shifting around to get their butt comfortable. Could throw you into a tank slapper faster than you can think.

[MikeN02]

True, my brother kept moving around trying to get comfortable and I was freaking out with just the slightest movement he threw off my weight.

[porky45]

All good points made above. I ride with my girl and she loves it now. It took an RF1100 to convince her to ride but i guess that's a small price to pay

She has a lot of trust in me and had ridden with her dad a bit before. The first night we went out I ended up dragging my toe hard through a connecting onramp with a damn nice lean... she loved it and it's been great ever since.

I do prefer to ride solo and she knows that, but anytime we can get out on a nice day and go for a ride together then there is not reason not to! I do tense up a bit and have to think before I act (ie fast lane changes, change of speed, braking, taking off) but it's still fun.

I do find that my bike shifts a bit harder when riding too up. probably the extra load (close to 350lbs)

[joloy133]

An extra 350 lbs?