Pillion Problems
Discussion
My girlfriend has been a perfect pillion for years - ever since I started riding. She has great balance and leans with the bike, watches the road, anticipates manoeuvres, etc. However she's always had crap pillion seats to sit on - Ducati Monster, various scooters, etc.
So for my first sportsbike I choose a CBR600F which has a proper pillion seat with a nice big grab rail, thinking this would make things miles better for her.
Unfortunately she's all at sea on the bigger seat... doesn't have the confidence to sit up and hold the grab rail behind, instead cuddling up to me and shoving my balls into the tank every time I brake or go downhill. And carrying her entire weight on my wrists gets tiring after a while.
Pillions here - what's the best technique to (a) support your own weight under braking whilst remaining stable, and (b) gaining confidence enough to use the nice big rear seat I've bought her
(on the last ride, I reckon we could have got 3 people on the bike).
Oddly enough she's fine leaning down a fair way through tight corners, but is scared sitting up high (as you would on the back with your back straight, holding onto the grab rail)...
I've never ridden pillion so have no idea really. And all they taught me in my bike lessons was that the pillion had to wear a helmet and shouldn't sit facing backwards
So for my first sportsbike I choose a CBR600F which has a proper pillion seat with a nice big grab rail, thinking this would make things miles better for her.
Unfortunately she's all at sea on the bigger seat... doesn't have the confidence to sit up and hold the grab rail behind, instead cuddling up to me and shoving my balls into the tank every time I brake or go downhill. And carrying her entire weight on my wrists gets tiring after a while.
Pillions here - what's the best technique to (a) support your own weight under braking whilst remaining stable, and (b) gaining confidence enough to use the nice big rear seat I've bought her
(on the last ride, I reckon we could have got 3 people on the bike).Oddly enough she's fine leaning down a fair way through tight corners, but is scared sitting up high (as you would on the back with your back straight, holding onto the grab rail)...
I've never ridden pillion so have no idea really. And all they taught me in my bike lessons was that the pillion had to wear a helmet and shouldn't sit facing backwards
cyberface said:
Seriously? Won't that just bung all her weight onto me when braking again? She's having trouble using one hand on the rear grabrail and one arm around me - the rear rail is too far back... there's no pleasing some women... 
Are you 9 stone and she 12 stone?! Grow a pair man! Took my fiance out on pillion for the first time ever last Friday. She also prefered hugging me when we were going faster than 30mph... I felt the weight under breaking and we sorted out a system where she would place one hand on the tank under braking which stoped any groinal crushing, but it was still tiring on the wrists after a while. In town she was fine sitting up holidng onto the grab rail.
hornetrider said:
cyberface said:
Seriously? Won't that just bung all her weight onto me when braking again? She's having trouble using one hand on the rear grabrail and one arm around me - the rear rail is too far back... there's no pleasing some women...
Are you 9 stone and she 12 stone?! Grow a pair man! xspencex said:
Took my fiance out on pillion for the first time ever last Friday. She also prefered hugging me when we were going faster than 30mph... I felt the weight under breaking and we sorted out a system where she would place one hand on the tank under braking which stoped any groinal crushing, but it was still tiring on the wrists after a while. In town she was fine sitting up holidng onto the grab rail.
Perfect - that sounds like just the help I needed - her arms are long enough to get round me and onto the tank without crushing my balls. 
Perhaps when she's more confident (and some of that confidence will come from my increased confidence on the bike, it's by far the fastest bike I've ridden) she'll spend more time sitting up at lower speeds. Cheeers.
I'm not sure how she is using the grab rail but the only way I felt comfortable after a fantastic spirited pillion ride on a Super Blackbird was to hold the grab rail and pull down on it, squishing myself into the seat. Like you are trying to pull the grab rail off.
I've seen some people push on it which to me seems odd.
Dave!
I've seen some people push on it which to me seems odd.
Dave!
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