Mr and Missus two-up?

[junkmanjoe]

Hi all.

trying to get my wife on the back..

what advice could you pass on to her, to help her on hop on the bike.

im wanting her to join me on some of our adventures, coming up next year..

JMJ

[Cary]

Number 1 for mine, DON'T take her riding when it's cold.

Did Wellytown to Alk in one hit in winter and she said NEVER AGAIN........

Paula is now a confirmed summer pillion!!

[YellowDog]

Number 1 for mine, DON'T take her riding when it's cold.

Did Wellytown to Alk in one hit in winter and she said NEVER AGAIN........

Paula is now a confirmed summer pillion!!
Spot on!

Make sure that she feels safe and comfortable for her first ride on the back.

Explain the leaning thing, but make it smooth so that she hardly notices.

If you practice clutchless shifting so that you get the engine speed 'spot on' for smooth gear changes, without banging helmets :) - it all helps.

But the big one to get her hooked is to take her shopping for stylish bike gear. If she feels that she is dressing up to go out on the bike.................

Sorted!

[LBD]

1)Make sure she is comfortable in her clothes and with her clothes...Mine wanted 2 things, to know she did not look frumpy in all that gear and sh wanted to know that she was wearing all appropriate safety/armour gear.

2)Take it easy....no hooning or agressive cornering.

3)Start with short rides....and regular numbum stops. Take time have relaxed morning, afternoon, lunch stops, For mine it is more lots of destinations rather than the journey.

[awayatc]

trying to get my wife on the back..



MMM....my wife was always getting on my back...
got rid of her...
but that was not your question was it?

[pete376403]

According to the ad at the bottom of the page, all you need is a RAM mount. Any gadget, anywhere. I'm sure they do a suitable wife mount for KTMs

[CookMySock]

I trick I have used to help pillions get to grips with cornering, is ask them to check ahead and see what corners are coming up, and simply shift their helmet slightly to one side and look down the side of my helmet. The pillion will tend to keep their eye on the corner and keep their head in this position. It is much much more comfortable and reassuring for them to be cornering in this posture, and after an hour of it, see if they still have a grin on their dial - if so, then offer to step up the pace slightly. You will both be in fun city in a short while. After a day or so, show her how to hop around on the seat and put her knee and elbow out (rest hand on thigh, poke knee and elbow out) and if you are lucky you will have a totally grinning convertee on the back. Don't go fast though.. the idea is fun, not speed, or else you might have an oopsee.

Use the same idea, but in smaller steps if she is not so keen, but the "looking down the side of your helmet" trick really helps her relax.

Steve

[crazyhorse]

Do small rides - go for coffee, or cordial, and let her feel comfortable first

The rest will come........

Happy riding:2thumbsup

[YellowDog]

Show her how much she means to you by letting her sit at the front :rofl:

[nallac]

Show her how much she means to you by letting her sit at the front :rofl:


what?...like in a little carrier basket or something????

[sels1]

As mentioned above, buy the right gear for her to wear, it gives more confidence and a better feeling of security.
Ride like a nana while you have a pillion ("your safety is my prime concern...")
untill you get told to go a bit quicker. (can take some time)
You will need somewhere for luggage. A packrack or topbox is good - not only holds the "handbag stuff" but also that extra jacket or warm top (a cold pillion wont be keen to go again) but also acts as a backrest and adds to the feeling of security (wont slip off the back)
Choose your destinations well.
Good luck.

[BMWST?]

plus one on all the comments.if the pillion keps looking where the road goes,as mentioned above it really does make the riding a team thing.She will probably need to get on by standing on the rear footpeg esp if you get a topbox.You will have to work out a system whereby you know she is about to get on the bike otherwise you both may end up in a heap on the ground.

[Flip]

plus one on all the comments.if the pillion keps looking where the road goes,as mentioned above it really does make the riding a team thing.She will probably need to get on by standing on the rear footpeg esp if you get a topbox.You will have to work out a system whereby you know she is about to get on the bike otherwise you both may end up in a heap on the ground.

Good point.

Do a short run, quietly, on a wharm day and FFS go some where nice, like a winery for lunch.

If she associates bike riding with a pleasureable experience you are most the way there. If she is expecting to get cold, be frightened and spend an hour watching your biking mates drinking beer you are stuffed.

[retro asian]

A wise mentor told me to always change gears around the same rev point.
That way she'll subconsciously know when a gear change will happen, and there's less chance of bumping helmets.

Also, a sissy bar is a very good investment for her confidence (if it works with your bike??). My missus doesn't even hold onto me...I often wonder if she's still there....

[neels]

My wife doesn't hold onto me much, unless its in windy stuff.

She gets comfy enough to nod off on the back and the only way I know is when her head falls forward and her helmet hits my back.

She's a bit of a shorty so we find it easier for her to get on while the bike is on the sidestand and then I get on after her.

I just took it easy for a while until we were both used to it, now I can pretty much ride normally & its all good.

[junkmanjoe]

thanks chaps..

we see how we get on..

she either like it or not.

JMJ

[magicfairy]

After spending many many many hours on the back of Balrogs (Jim) many bikes (GS 1150 Adv, Busa, gsx 1100...) a comfortable seat and riding position is number one.

If you are really uncomfortable nothing else matters.

Apart from that ride smooth, go interesting places, don't confuse her with too many instructions. "Relax and dont wriggle round when we are going slow, cornering or I don't have both hands on the bars"

And check fairly often with her that she is OK

[Taz]

Good luck joe. Mine used to ride everywhere with me. Then the kids came along and she had a 10 year break. Got her back on once this year so far and she enjoyed it but is not hassling me to take her out more often. Don't force it.

[Ronin]

thanks chaps..

we see how we get on..

she either like it or not.

JMJ

Get her a strap on.


ohhhhhhh, not 'that' behind you.

Move along, nothing to see here

[allycatz]

Riding fast over speed humps when your pillion needs to go 'wees' is not funny either

[denill]

Lotsa good advice there.

IMO the most important is - to ride at a slow pace. That is slower than you've ever gone before. Especially at the start of your ride. After some distance you can increase the pace a bit - but most importantly, always ride to a smooth rythym. No hard braking into corners etc............

Know what I mean? :cool:

[junkmanjoe]

okies we have a helmet for the misses.. and it fits here good..

shes keen to get on the back,, im going to add a small pack rack to bike, just give her a bit more of a safe felling she wont fall off the back..

we give it a go down to featherston for a coffee, 90% straight roads and about a hour return trip..

thanks heaps chaps and chapess

JMJ

[TomJ]

a great tip I picked up from other kbikers is to lean bike slightly away from her as she gets on. This will stand the bike upright when weight goes on the footpeg and make things feel nice and stable. Also nod when you are ready for her to get off and give double tap on her leg if you are about to overtake of give it some juice!

enjoy - the bike has become a little escape from family duties for the wife and I

:2thumbsup

[That looks like fun]

Good luck Joe :2thumbsup My wife hated being on the back so much I had to buy her a bike of her own :clap: Unfortunatly its a roady so we dont ride together much, :( oh hang on thats a bonus :lol: Wonder if she has finished cooking me sum eggs :headbang:

[Mrs Cowboyz]

Spot on!

Make sure that she feels safe and comfortable for her first ride on the back.

Explain the leaning thing, but make it smooth so that she hardly notices.

If you practice clutchless shifting so that you get the engine speed 'spot on' for smooth gear changes, without banging helmets :) - it all helps.

But the big one to get her hooked is to take her shopping for stylish bike gear. If she feels that she is dressing up to go out on the bike.................

Sorted!
couldnt agree with you more on this one being a pillion myself!

Show her how much she means to you by letting her sit at the front :rofl:
hahahaha...if only!!

a great tip I picked up from other kbikers is to lean bike slightly away from her as she gets on. This will stand the bike upright when weight goes on the footpeg and make things feel nice and stable. Also nod when you are ready for her to get off and give double tap on her leg if you are about to overtake of give it some juice!

enjoy - the bike has become a little escape from family duties for the wife and I

:2thumbsup

took me a few years to get on the back of hubby's bike...wasnt too keen at all but he managed to convince me when he got the nine...hate the pillion seat itself but have managed to rectify it with this...
156513

[junkmanjoe]

Well we had misses on the back,
ive added a pack rack to my bike, and i put my tail pack on as well, gave her some comfort knowing some thing was behind her,
she snuggled in and we where off.................
every thing went well, was on the main road, traffic was quite, and not to many corners..
her balance was good, with little room for improvement.

over all, was a good little loop ride, and Ally was happy........

:shifty: so rimutakas next i feel.....

JMJ

[neels]

Nice

Keep it up and be nice. Before you know it you'll be doing what I was on wednesday night and slapping her on the knee to warn her to hold on tight because there's a cattle stop coming up and we're going to hit it hard.

I don't know if the mp3 player for the wife is a good idea though, it's hard to tell if it's singing or screaming from the back :Punk:

[CookMySock]

:shifty: so rimutakas next i feel.....I trust you are teasing us. :blink:

Don't be tempted to squirt it for some time yet, or you will be back at square one, or worse. Just enjoy the road and pass a car or two - roll the gas on and off smoothly, just enough for her to get used to it, and regularly ask her "how was that?" If you get a gasp and a breathless reply then, well, you will need to judge that for yourself. You might want to decide right from the beginning what YOU want from it - if it's to demonstrate your finely honed caning skills then expect it to end in tears, or at least the next ride to be a little subdued if there is one.

Steve