Does anyone actually like carrying a pillion passenger?
Discussion
I love taking a pillion. Sure, the dynamics of the riding change a lot with the extra weight and placement of that weight, but I just ride accordingly.
OP, perhaps the disspointment you have is you want to ride like you do when solo. You should likely put more focus on the fun and expriences you are sharing with your son, and find happiness and joy in that aspect of your shard rides together.
Some of the happiest times of my childhood were being passenger to my father on his GSXR's. One time, having had a very difficulkt time with a bad ear infection, he just took a look at me and said "shall we go out on the bike for a bit?". He knew what going out on the bikes meant to me.
edit - of course, OP, you could just not take him out
OP, perhaps the disspointment you have is you want to ride like you do when solo. You should likely put more focus on the fun and expriences you are sharing with your son, and find happiness and joy in that aspect of your shard rides together.
Some of the happiest times of my childhood were being passenger to my father on his GSXR's. One time, having had a very difficulkt time with a bad ear infection, he just took a look at me and said "shall we go out on the bike for a bit?". He knew what going out on the bikes meant to me.
edit - of course, OP, you could just not take him out
I have fond memories of going on the back of my Dad's gs500 as a teenager, I even enjoyed gong on the back of his deauville though it was less exciting.
I have taken a couple of pillions, didn't get much helmet crashing partly because I was gentler on accelerating and more cautious braking. Yes the bike feels different but I was riding differently anyway so it didn't matter. I would get a bike more suited to it if going touring.
I probably would have got a bike if my Dad hadn't but it definitely motivated me to get a licence.
I have taken a couple of pillions, didn't get much helmet crashing partly because I was gentler on accelerating and more cautious braking. Yes the bike feels different but I was riding differently anyway so it didn't matter. I would get a bike more suited to it if going touring.
I probably would have got a bike if my Dad hadn't but it definitely motivated me to get a licence.
I love it. But then I got a proper bike for it, 1290GT, my daughter is a nutter and loves wheelies, we chat away for hours on the intercom, it’s some of the best times of my life taking trips with the kids on, particularly my daughter, who is bike mad.
Take the missus out and it’s good to scare her a bit.
It depends who you have on the back, where you’re going and what to do when there.
We are off to Moto GP lemans next week2 up on a 300 cc Honda! Don’t ask! But it will be excellent!
Take the missus out and it’s good to scare her a bit.
It depends who you have on the back, where you’re going and what to do when there.
We are off to Moto GP lemans next week2 up on a 300 cc Honda! Don’t ask! But it will be excellent!
I love it too. My wife is often more keen to get out on the bike than I am recently; the only thing she likes more than being on the back of the bike is being in the sidecar!
I do think it's very much dependent on the type of bike and why you're going out. On a fast ride with mates on a sports bike I can see it wouldn't be any fun, but on a general ride to enjoy the journey to somewhere nice then it's far more appealing!
I do think it's very much dependent on the type of bike and why you're going out. On a fast ride with mates on a sports bike I can see it wouldn't be any fun, but on a general ride to enjoy the journey to somewhere nice then it's far more appealing!
I like taking a pillion, but I do have a rule of not taking anyone heavier than me. I'm only scrawny so that cuts down the possibilities. My wife and daughters all enjoy a shortish ride, and actually all prefer the pillion on my Himalayan to my BMW; it must be down to the lack of power giving them a more gentle ride.
Two attractive housewives from our close have been asking me to take them out......I may risk incurring the wrath of my wife.
Two attractive housewives from our close have been asking me to take them out......I may risk incurring the wrath of my wife.
Took my daughter for an ‘extended’ ride a couple of weeks ago.
Previously we’d stuck to maybe 5-10 miles locally, but this time did about 60 miles or so into Beds/Bucks and stopped for a pub lunch.
Really enjoyed it as I’ve kitted the MT out with a Renntec rack and Givi box with a pillion pad. We had a good chat before hand about positioning, especially her feet in clompy old MX boots.
To cap it all off, I purchase an intercom system last year so we could actually communicate property, which was superb.
We had a lovely trip and will definitely be repeating it.
Previously we’d stuck to maybe 5-10 miles locally, but this time did about 60 miles or so into Beds/Bucks and stopped for a pub lunch.
Really enjoyed it as I’ve kitted the MT out with a Renntec rack and Givi box with a pillion pad. We had a good chat before hand about positioning, especially her feet in clompy old MX boots.
To cap it all off, I purchase an intercom system last year so we could actually communicate property, which was superb.
We had a lovely trip and will definitely be repeating it.
I'm fine with it although I wouldn't say I 'like' it; although since I ride cruisers they are generally well built for two-up riding unlike some others. It's fun to take the partner out now and again when its just the two of us and I've also run her younger siblings around a few times, and my nan who is in her late 80s has been on a few times and constantly nags me about it!
Like others have said though, its a case of making sure the pillion knows what you expect of them and what your 'signs' mean in regards to geting on/off and when they can fidget to get comfortable and when they should stay as still as possible etc. - plus defintiely agree with them being similiar or less than in terms of weight as I find it a bit harder to manage when carrying someone who is heavier than I am.
As for BEING a pillion - done it once when a chap I worked with gave me a lift to the garage to pick my bike up after a set of tyres were fitted... It was NOT an experience I would like to undertake again any time soon!
Like others have said though, its a case of making sure the pillion knows what you expect of them and what your 'signs' mean in regards to geting on/off and when they can fidget to get comfortable and when they should stay as still as possible etc. - plus defintiely agree with them being similiar or less than in terms of weight as I find it a bit harder to manage when carrying someone who is heavier than I am.
As for BEING a pillion - done it once when a chap I worked with gave me a lift to the garage to pick my bike up after a set of tyres were fitted... It was NOT an experience I would like to undertake again any time soon!
Ride with my girlfriend on the back about 70% of my riding. I’m used to it and so is she so that makes it easy. I ride no different without her on the bike. If I ride with one of my daughters on there’s a bit helmet tapping but other than that it’s fine.
Guess it depends on how you ride, what you ride and who with.
Guess it depends on how you ride, what you ride and who with.
MGZTV8 said:
Drawweight said:
BOR said:
No.
It would be a huge amount of extra responsibility.
Surely no worse than carrying a passenger in a car?It would be a huge amount of extra responsibility.
What?
If you are carrying passengers in your car then it’s a responsibility. I can’t see much of a difference simply because the accident statistics make biking more dangerous.
Nobody goes out expecting to have an incident.
Drawweight said:
MGZTV8 said:
Drawweight said:
BOR said:
No.
It would be a huge amount of extra responsibility.
Surely no worse than carrying a passenger in a car?It would be a huge amount of extra responsibility.
What?
If you are carrying passengers in your car then it’s a responsibility. I can’t see much of a difference simply because the accident statistics make biking more dangerous.
Nobody goes out expecting to have an incident.
On a bike it does, because of the extra weight, pillion movement and so on so there's definitely more chance of a crash or at least a low speed drop - if you're not experienced with it at least.
Plymo said:
It's not so much that (especially as most pillions I've taken have been riders themselves) but that in a car, having a passenger doesn't really change the dynamics or make it more "risky".
On a bike it does, because of the extra weight, pillion movement and so on so there's definitely more chance of a crash or at least a low speed drop - if you're not experienced with it at least.
Maybe it’s the final point (added to the suitability of the bike as has been mentioned several times) that impacts how people view this.On a bike it does, because of the extra weight, pillion movement and so on so there's definitely more chance of a crash or at least a low speed drop - if you're not experienced with it at least.
I ride very differently when I have a pillion on. Also run the bike in a different mode with aids turned up far higher. I’m much more likely to end up on my arse when riding alone.
For me it’s the factors you can’t control that are the concern - other road users, crap on the roads or a catastrophic mechanical failure. These are all likely to be far more serious on a bike, so I need to consider this risk not just to myself, but also, much more importantly, to the sprog.
Nigel Worc's said:
I don't mind taking pillion, or riding pillion.
I did find it odd when I returned to motorcycling after the children had grown up a bit that insurance companies actually ask you if you want pillion cover.
They don't ask if you're going to carry passengers in a car.
Agree I found that odd. For anywhere near decent premium they also wants a £800 excess(!). I did find it odd when I returned to motorcycling after the children had grown up a bit that insurance companies actually ask you if you want pillion cover.
They don't ask if you're going to carry passengers in a car.
15years ago I was in a Subaru for £200 excess.
You ain't a knee down trackday type riding a SV650
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