Discussion
The front will feel light and vague when you first pull off, and sometimes there's a tendancy for the bars to wag a little. You soon get used to it but it does feel a little disconcerting at first. It can help to lean forward and transfer a little extra weight onto the front wheel.
If your pillion has never been on a bike before they will try to pick it up for you as you go into the first corner.... Which means you have to lay it over more and then they pull up again... That can be interesting
The ratio of rider and pilion weight to machine weight makes s huge difference. On a moped you'll wheelie everwhere. On a Goldwing you would barely notice a pillion.
If your pillion has never been on a bike before they will try to pick it up for you as you go into the first corner.... Which means you have to lay it over more and then they pull up again... That can be interesting
The ratio of rider and pilion weight to machine weight makes s huge difference. On a moped you'll wheelie everwhere. On a Goldwing you would barely notice a pillion.
Got some good advice on this on my DAS, which was to lay the law down to the pillion about leaning, getting on and off, fiddling, holding on etc. If they havent pillioned before they'll appreciate it, and I suspect if they have, they'll appreciate you demonstrating you are thinking about it.
Took my BiL out for a minihoon yesterday, and could feel him counterbalancing, even after being told not to. Also, be aware that changes in forwards velocity wil result in him moving an inch or so further than you, leading to an occasional knock of lids on braking
Took my BiL out for a minihoon yesterday, and could feel him counterbalancing, even after being told not to. Also, be aware that changes in forwards velocity wil result in him moving an inch or so further than you, leading to an occasional knock of lids on braking
Remember when taking a pillion that the extra weight will mean that braking distances will increase. Likewise, if your bike is not fitted with a grab rail, the pillion will lean on you during braking to avoid sliding forwards. This puts a lot of weight on your arms making things hard work.
The pillion also tends to get a rough ride at speed, particularly on sports bikes, as the wind blast tends to go over the riders shoulders hitting the pillion square in the chest. Hanging on in a 100mph gale can be very hard work so keep the speeds down and "sit up" as the speeds increase to take some of the wind pressure off the pillion.
Agree a signal from the pillion (I use a double squeeze of the knees) that says ‘I need to talk to you’. If you feel the pillion do this then slow down and find out what the issue is immediately.
If I’m taking a new pillion (one that’s not been on a bike before) then I ask them not to think about leaning over etc., I’ll do that. All they have to do is keep their head in line with mine.
Make sure the pillion knows when to get on and off the bike. You will find you have to have your feet firmly planted in order to avoid the pillion toppling the bike over as they get on and off.
Expect to have to sit with your "wedding tackle" pressed up against the tank.
Most bikes are pretty small and don’t give a lot of pillion space so you will have to be as far forward on the seat as possible. This is especially true if, like me, you’re a little ‘broad in the beam’ and then have hip armour in your trousers.
When you do start riding with a pillion the key is to be totally smooth and gentle. Build speed up slowly and ‘feel’ how the pillion is reacting. You also need to relax as if you are tense, they will be tense also.
Most pillions are nervous that you will ‘scare them’. I always point out that scaring them would be easy without really endangering them. The challenge is in ensuring they enjoy the ride and would want to do it again.
Hope that helps.
The pillion also tends to get a rough ride at speed, particularly on sports bikes, as the wind blast tends to go over the riders shoulders hitting the pillion square in the chest. Hanging on in a 100mph gale can be very hard work so keep the speeds down and "sit up" as the speeds increase to take some of the wind pressure off the pillion.
Agree a signal from the pillion (I use a double squeeze of the knees) that says ‘I need to talk to you’. If you feel the pillion do this then slow down and find out what the issue is immediately.
If I’m taking a new pillion (one that’s not been on a bike before) then I ask them not to think about leaning over etc., I’ll do that. All they have to do is keep their head in line with mine.
Make sure the pillion knows when to get on and off the bike. You will find you have to have your feet firmly planted in order to avoid the pillion toppling the bike over as they get on and off.
Expect to have to sit with your "wedding tackle" pressed up against the tank.
Most bikes are pretty small and don’t give a lot of pillion space so you will have to be as far forward on the seat as possible. This is especially true if, like me, you’re a little ‘broad in the beam’ and then have hip armour in your trousers. When you do start riding with a pillion the key is to be totally smooth and gentle. Build speed up slowly and ‘feel’ how the pillion is reacting. You also need to relax as if you are tense, they will be tense also.
Most pillions are nervous that you will ‘scare them’. I always point out that scaring them would be easy without really endangering them. The challenge is in ensuring they enjoy the ride and would want to do it again.
Hope that helps.
Loads of good advice here, but would stress mounting and dismounting needs to be done carefully. Most modern sports bikes pillion seats are up in the 'Gods', so when your pillion gets on they have to climb up so to speak and if you are not prepared. Brace, brace, brace is the motto. Otherwise just take it easy and after a while it becomes second nature both for you and you pillion.
Brace, brace, brace is the motto. Otherwise just take it easy and after a while it becomes second nature both for you and you pillion.One more thing in addition to what's been said:
Holding On: Few bikes are fitted with decent grab rails (why do manufacturers persist with those useless pillion seat straps?). Your Pillion should hold on to you when accelerating (both they and you need to agree on what's comfortable - hands together, a general 'hug', etc - holding on to jacket is not a good idea).
But top tip is for breaking. Ask them to turn their hands the other way and press against the fuel tank to 'brace' themselves when braking. The difference this makes in managing weight transfer makes the whole experience safer and more comfortable for everyone.
MM
Holding On: Few bikes are fitted with decent grab rails (why do manufacturers persist with those useless pillion seat straps?). Your Pillion should hold on to you when accelerating (both they and you need to agree on what's comfortable - hands together, a general 'hug', etc - holding on to jacket is not a good idea).
But top tip is for breaking. Ask them to turn their hands the other way and press against the fuel tank to 'brace' themselves when braking. The difference this makes in managing weight transfer makes the whole experience safer and more comfortable for everyone.
MM
You'll often find that pillions will sit still at higher speeds but as soon as you're tootling along at 15mph they'll start fidgeting and squirming around. Explain to them before you set off that the bike reacts very strongly to low-speed fidgeting so they shouldn't do it - better that they wait until you're stopped at lights with both feet down.
Edited to add: it can help if you ease off the front brake a fraction earlier and use a bit more back brake when stopping. Helps keep the pillion's weight off you. Not a substitute for planned gentle braking though.
Edited to add: it can help if you ease off the front brake a fraction earlier and use a bit more back brake when stopping. Helps keep the pillion's weight off you. Not a substitute for planned gentle braking though.
Edited by MrsMiggins on Tuesday 10th October 19:29
Just thought of something.....When my buddy (Kiwi_uk) took me out for my first EVER bike ride, he'd tap me on the leg. This was the sign that the throttle was about to be opened, so hang on!
Before we departed, he'd get his wife to actually show me how to get on, and off the bike. Sounds silly, but I hadn't a clue. I remember the first corner...took it at about 15-20...I thought it was all over! Also, he had to stop once to tell me to lean with him. As I was convinced we would hit the deck, I was trying to keep the bike upright by leaning away from the corner....Not a good idea, I appreciate that now.
Just a few things to be explained.....
Cheers.
Before we departed, he'd get his wife to actually show me how to get on, and off the bike. Sounds silly, but I hadn't a clue. I remember the first corner...took it at about 15-20...I thought it was all over! Also, he had to stop once to tell me to lean with him. As I was convinced we would hit the deck, I was trying to keep the bike upright by leaning away from the corner....Not a good idea, I appreciate that now.
Just a few things to be explained.....
Cheers.
SOme really good advice has been offered up hear so far so I really can't add any more except I would reenforce the following points: Just relax, take things slowly. I always brief my pillion before I take them out if it's the first time with me regardless if they've pillioned before. Work out little signals between you. I always take the view that I'm riding the bike for my pillion so he/she can enjoy a ride. Taking off at 100 miles an hour and breaking on a dime defeats the purpose although there are pillions out there that enjoy that sort of thing.
Lots of good advice above, I'd just like to highlight the point about front end vagueness. The first time I tried taking a pillion I just had a 250cc and the pillion was rather large.
I was a bit nervous about the whole thing, and decided the best plan was to get some speed quickly to avoid low speed wobbles.
I cannot tell you enough just how bad
an idea that is!! Too much clutch from standstill with a porker pillion equals INSTANT tank slapper 
Needless to say, after 30 yards of tyre warming weaving we hit the deck like a sack of spuds. 
The next time I tried a pillion was on a VF750. A more delicate take off resulted in front end lightness, but the rest of it was a piece of cake on such a heavy stable bike. This was despite my mentally challenged pillion trying to sit bolt upright the more I leaned the bike over for corners
I was a bit nervous about the whole thing, and decided the best plan was to get some speed quickly to avoid low speed wobbles.
I cannot tell you enough just how bad
an idea that is!! Too much clutch from standstill with a porker pillion equals INSTANT tank slapper Needless to say, after 30 yards of tyre warming weaving we hit the deck like a sack of spuds. The next time I tried a pillion was on a VF750. A more delicate take off resulted in front end lightness, but the rest of it was a piece of cake on such a heavy stable bike. This was despite my mentally challenged pillion trying to sit bolt upright the more I leaned the bike over for corners
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