Pillion advice
Discussion
Take it slowly first ie speed and acceleration to see how she likes it and let her get use to being on the back if she has not been a pillion before.Maybe stop after a short distance and ask her how she is just to make sure she is ok and enjoying it.Then ask her if she wants to go faster or accelerate quicker etc.
Tell her to lean with you and not to try and put her feet down on the ground when you stop are the basic bits of advise.
Edit to add
As its your first time with someone on the back take it easy yourself untill you get used to how the bike handles etc especially on bends.
Tell her to lean with you and not to try and put her feet down on the ground when you stop are the basic bits of advise.
Edit to add
As its your first time with someone on the back take it easy yourself untill you get used to how the bike handles etc especially on bends.
Edited by TPS on Saturday 26th July 12:15
As above, keep it steady and smooth, read ahead and plan your braking way in advance, and remind her to lean with you. If you're going steady enough it won't spook her and she should find herself doing it without thinking. Don't be tempted to gas it up and show off, it only takes one scare to put some people off
Depending on your steed too, if its a 600 or less don't be afraid to use slightly more revs to get nearer the peak torque, it makes life easier on the bike and yourself as its less likely to bog down if you get caught out.
Depending on your steed too, if its a 600 or less don't be afraid to use slightly more revs to get nearer the peak torque, it makes life easier on the bike and yourself as its less likely to bog down if you get caught out.
Main thing perfomance wise you'll notice is the effect on braking. Not just that the extra weight means you take longer to stop, but you won't want to brake as hard with a pillion as you would solo either, so plan ahead well and leave plenty of gap to the car in front.
Depending on the bike you might want to wind the preload up a bit to cope with the extra weight (don't word it like that to her though, you might get a slap)
Make sure you tell her to keep her feet on the pegs until you tell her to get off, you really don't want her trying to get off just as you lift your foot up to knock it out of gear.
As someone said above, don't try and impress her, even pootling along like a sundy driver will feel bloody fast on the back.
If you've got a top box put it on, she won't put much weight on it but my girlfiend reckons it's quite reassuring having it behind her.
If she likes it and does a lot think about getting a rider pillion intercom. It'll make her feel a bit more involved and less likely to get bored. Top end kit like Autocom/Starcom/Intaride are expensive but very good, cheap stuff can be bought for under £50 but tend not to work too well above about 40-50mph.
Depending on the bike you might want to wind the preload up a bit to cope with the extra weight (don't word it like that to her though, you might get a slap)
Make sure you tell her to keep her feet on the pegs until you tell her to get off, you really don't want her trying to get off just as you lift your foot up to knock it out of gear.
As someone said above, don't try and impress her, even pootling along like a sundy driver will feel bloody fast on the back.
If you've got a top box put it on, she won't put much weight on it but my girlfiend reckons it's quite reassuring having it behind her.
If she likes it and does a lot think about getting a rider pillion intercom. It'll make her feel a bit more involved and less likely to get bored. Top end kit like Autocom/Starcom/Intaride are expensive but very good, cheap stuff can be bought for under £50 but tend not to work too well above about 40-50mph.
I have not taken a pillion on my latest bike, but if i need to too do them handles that are on a belt make it easier for the person to hold on.
what are people thoughts on these.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-JETSKI-PILLION-GR...
what are people thoughts on these.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-JETSKI-PILLION-GR...
I've taken a couple of pillions now and they have all commented that they feel much safer with the GIVI topbox on the back as they can simply lean up against it...
If you dont have a topbox then I advise the pillion to use one of the pillion handles to support themselves then use the other hand to hold on to my waist.
Works most of the time although took my best mate out for the first time a few months ago and half way through the ride I had to break firmly due to someone pulling out so my plums got bruised from the pillion squashing me ... THATS why I make sure they use at least one of the pillion handles... the Wife though I had lost my voice for the rest of the afternoon...
If you dont have a topbox then I advise the pillion to use one of the pillion handles to support themselves then use the other hand to hold on to my waist.
Works most of the time although took my best mate out for the first time a few months ago and half way through the ride I had to break firmly due to someone pulling out so my plums got bruised from the pillion squashing me ... THATS why I make sure they use at least one of the pillion handles... the Wife though I had lost my voice for the rest of the afternoon...
To add my 2p worth:
adjust your rear suspension or headlight, or get back before dark. The extra weight will point your dipped beam skyward and youll blind everyone heading towards you, which isnt ideal.
Make sure she only moves her position on her seat while youre stopped. An inexperienced pillion who is uncomfortable and tries to adjust her seating position, will likely weight the pegs unevenly and tip the bike.
On leaning, she doesnt need to lean at all. She just needs to stay perpendicular to the bike's horizontal plane, as if she's a top box with tits.
Dont get an intercom, your bike is the only piece and quiet you get and youll just create a back seat driver as your confidence builds!
Use your back brake more with a pillion. It allows the bike to slow down without the front diving so much.
Use LESS revs. Short shift everywhere and get used to loading the underside of your gearlever as you want to change then momentarily easing off the gas and snicking the next gear, barely disengaging the clutch. Higher revs will make the gear changes less comfortable and at most pillion speeds, 3 or 4krpm is plenty for a swift comfortable ride.
Get a system of signals agreed. There may be times when you need to gas it to get away from lights or overtake or just have some fun. I use a tap on the thigh to tell my pillion that the pace is about to pick up and to hang on. At traffic lights, my pillion knows if I have both feet on the ground and am sat up, she can relax. But as Im reading the lights, if I put my hands back on the bars and put it in gear, she needs to be ready to go. If youve filtered, you need to get away fast, not wait for her to catch up with whats going on.
Pick a route that involves the least stopping and starting. Try and stay with nice flowing A and B roads.
Dont ask before you pull your first 2 up wheelie. She will only say no.
adjust your rear suspension or headlight, or get back before dark. The extra weight will point your dipped beam skyward and youll blind everyone heading towards you, which isnt ideal.
Make sure she only moves her position on her seat while youre stopped. An inexperienced pillion who is uncomfortable and tries to adjust her seating position, will likely weight the pegs unevenly and tip the bike.
On leaning, she doesnt need to lean at all. She just needs to stay perpendicular to the bike's horizontal plane, as if she's a top box with tits.
Dont get an intercom, your bike is the only piece and quiet you get and youll just create a back seat driver as your confidence builds!
Use your back brake more with a pillion. It allows the bike to slow down without the front diving so much.
Use LESS revs. Short shift everywhere and get used to loading the underside of your gearlever as you want to change then momentarily easing off the gas and snicking the next gear, barely disengaging the clutch. Higher revs will make the gear changes less comfortable and at most pillion speeds, 3 or 4krpm is plenty for a swift comfortable ride.
Get a system of signals agreed. There may be times when you need to gas it to get away from lights or overtake or just have some fun. I use a tap on the thigh to tell my pillion that the pace is about to pick up and to hang on. At traffic lights, my pillion knows if I have both feet on the ground and am sat up, she can relax. But as Im reading the lights, if I put my hands back on the bars and put it in gear, she needs to be ready to go. If youve filtered, you need to get away fast, not wait for her to catch up with whats going on.
Pick a route that involves the least stopping and starting. Try and stay with nice flowing A and B roads.
Dont ask before you pull your first 2 up wheelie. She will only say no.
...I will receive appropriate punishment but sounds like our first ride will have to be super slick...so no pressure then...Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff