The Great(ish) Pillion Post

[Slipstream]

I have been informed that my bike will be delivered to me tomorrow night :Punk:
So soon I'll finally have my own wheels again :Punk:

BUT!!

After my ride on the back of an R1 the other day, it got me thinking of all the bikes I have been pillioninganing-ning-ing on.
How many of you have never been "a back seat rider"?
Do you realise...or care...what your passenger sometimes has to go through?

I love R1's :love: Specially the 02 models....I know they aint as fast or as grunty etc as other bikes, but there's just something about them that make me go...mmmm yeah :love: So it was to my great pain to find out that they are terrible as a two up bike :( The seat was too hard and the foot pegs not so great....nothing to hang on to at the back and the tank was shaped badly to put my hands on comfortably. (But I still like the riders seat :D *phew*)

It was even worse than the back seat of the Lightning Buell....and I know it's not really a 2-up but even the RGV 250 back seat was more comfortable....
I could even say going up a steep hill, 2-up, on a B120 was less painful.

So the moral of my story? When I get my R1...I promise to never inflict this pain on anyone daring (or crazy) enough to get on the back ;) And that is how much luffs *kiss* I is gots for you!

But to go on...I think the most comfortable back bike seats have got to have been, a '98 GSXR 750, late 90's early naughties Bandit 1200, Waylander's Virago and the sexy beast that is the VRod.

Now I am well aware that cruisers and tourers are set up to be more of a 2-up style of bike but there has to be some sort of compromise....
Also I know that some riders enjoy making it a painful/scarey ride for their pillions, I was lucky enough to have a terrific rider to make the bike ride as painless as it was possible on the R1.

Has anyone else been on a bad pillion seat? Or even a good one?

[crashe]

Wohoooooooo you are finally gonna be a rider at long last.. wohooooo :yes:
(ps: The double dare still holds)

Ok I have been a pillion on the back of a cruiser :yes: it was cool.

Never on the back of a sports bike.... they kinda shit me,
when they get lent over so far.... :no:

[Bonez]

How many of you have never been "a back seat rider"?
Do you realise...or care...what your passenger sometimes has to go through?
Certainly do. As for comfort, give an ol GSX/GS750/850/1000/1100
a try.

[Slipstream]

Never on the back of a sports bike.... they kinda shit me,
when they get lent over so far.... :no:
I went up the takas on the back of a Harley and the pegs dragged on the corners and almost ditched the bike...luckily the rider was skilled :D


Wohoooooooo you are finally gonna be a rider at long last.. wohooooo :yes:
thats the plan :)


(ps: The double dare still holds)
(I never back down on a dare that I've accepted ;) )

[DingDong]

Ive been a pillion a couple of times... dont remember comfort, I just wanted to get off ASAP :mad:

My wife tells me the RF is pretty good, wide seat and all being a tourer (but it still handles OK in the twisties...)
I have no idea why the hell they put pillion seats on the R1, ZX10 etc... they're a "go and have fun" bike, putting on a pillion just takes out the FUN part. :weird:

[2_SL0]

My wife took one look at my pillion seat, laughed and walked off muttering "like F@$K" . I read between the lines that she wont be going on the back.

By the way, its proberly posted here somewhere, but, what bike u gettin?

[Slipstream]

By the way, its proberly posted here somewhere, but, what bike u gettin?

A CG125 I believe .... bit worried tho .... it was being Trashed when his big bike was busted .... hopefully it will have new tyres and clutch on arrival :o

[geoffm]

My missus complained about the GSXR750 I had (bought when I was single...) so now have the Beemer 2 wheeled sofa. I am informed that it is a huge improvement, and very cosy.
I hate being a pillion.

[dangerous]

A CG125 I believe .... bit worried tho .... it was being Trashed when his big bike was busted .... hopefully it will have new tyres and clutch on arrival :o
Ohhh cool..... hey out with the other mums at the cafes in the week and out with the lads at the bucket racing in the w/e best of both worlds :yes:

ps: tell the wee runt that had the CG to return it with a full tank too :wait:

[Slipstream]

Ohhh cool..... hey out with the other mums at the cafes in the week and out with the lads at the bucket racing in the w/e best of both worlds :yes:

wot planet are you on :laugh: mums at the cafe??? I go to Uni buddy :p

[myvice]

Had an old XJ 550 Yame, pig of a thing, comfey 2 up tho...
Pity it went round corners like it was in a storm at sea!

[dangerous]

wot planet are you on :laugh: mums at the cafe??? I go to Uni buddy :p
so do 50% of the tempory Chch KBers....... they never seem to actually be at Uni tho :whistle:

[Motu]

I lost my licence the summer I was 20,an spent that summer as a pillion on British bikes,cause that's what I was into back then - taken to this party on some guys bike....and then took a ride on another somewhere else....sometimes someone would take me home to my mothers place,it was one hell of a summer,and lookin back,it was pretty good,being free and easy because I had no choice.(didn't work that summer either) So I like being pillion on a Triumph,a flat wide comfy seat,you can work with the rider getting the best out of corners,nice bikes to pillion on or take a pillion.

My Triton of the same era wasn't so good,it wasn't really the bike for pillions,but didn't mind taking chicks on the back - I'd have to spread my legs wide around the square tank,but the seat had a hole in for the central oil tank cap,and I would drop my tackle into that.Carrying a guy was not much fun at all!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8341

[Joni]

I found the blackbird the best to be a pillion on, did a trip of over 800km's on one once...:ride: my arse and legs were twichy... but not sore like it would be on a new sports bike.

[sels1]

My pillion prefers the F650 to anything else she has been on the back of...sit up style, good pegs and a topbox to rest her back on. So long as I drive like Nana she is happy to go out for a ride. Sometimes.

[DingDong]

A CG125 I believe .... :o

:yes: , I had one of those... COOL man :Punk:

[Jackrat]

Riding on the back of #2 brothers ultra classic was like an arm chair.
Super comfortable seat, arm rests with stereo speakers,padded back rest.
I'd normaly rather catch a bus than pillion but that bike an the rider made me feel very safe an comfortable.The look on peoples faces when you cruised past at 140kms with ZZ Top blasting away was pretty cool to.
On the other hand there's bikes I'm never going to ride on the back of.
Mostly due to the people that ride them.

[Slipstream]

sit up style, good pegs and a topbox to rest her back on.

:laugh: ...... :rofl:


I'm sorry, I have a serious condition .... it's called Indagutteritis :weird:

[walk'n]

I always used to ride as a pillion, my partner has an RF and it was pretty comfortable, then came his R1. I know exactly what you are talking about! I tried a trip on the back of the R1 and it lasted all of about 20ks. I got home and after the aches subsided I started looking for my own bike.... I wonder if that was his whole idea :devil2:

[Waylander]

Lol did the couch on my bike spoil your bum Lena? I've been a pillion before, on the bike I ride now and several others, all cruisers. Sportbikes arn't desighned to be comfortable only fast so most of the little that went into comfort is for the main rider with nithing but metal, plastic and a little bit of padding.

[sels1]

:laugh: ...... :rofl:


I'm sorry, I have a serious condition .... it's called Indagutteritis :weird:


yeah.....ok....left myself open for that didnt I? :laugh:

[thehollowmen]

DL650 ... sooo much leg room. Makes us tall buggers feel good :-)

Love it. Nice and wide and padded too.

[Zed]

I have been informed that my bike will be delivered to me tomorrow night :Punk:
So soon I'll finally have my own wheels again :Punk: Excellent! I'm happy that you're finally getting on two wheels Slip! Not an R1 though huh. :weep:


Has anyone else been on a bad pillion seat? Or even a good one?I reckon I'd be uncomfortable travelling any great distance as a pillion on most sports bikes these days, especially where the pillion seat is a small 20cm thick pad which is mounted quite a bit higher than the rider. I rode pillion on a '96 ZX-6R once and vowed never to get on the back of that bike again!!

A Harley would be great, but that's not really me. Probably a Blackbird with an aftermarket Corbin seat would be close to the most comfy pillion machine, hehe. :clap:

[Ghost Lemur]

I have no idea why the hell they put pillion seats on the R1, ZX10 etc... they're a "go and have fun" bike, putting on a pillion just takes out the FUN part. :weird:

They're designed for those guys with 5'2 40KG (preferably) asian gf's. And I'm sure they have a great deal of fun. :msn-wink:

[Monsterbishi]

I've only ever been a pillion twice, first time was about 14 years ago, which was the whole motivation for me to get my licence and own bike, and the second time was about 4 years ago when the flywheel on my track car let go on the way to work one morning, and I got a ride into work with a workmate who travelled the same route.

I figure a pillion seat is like training for future riders...

[dangerous]

Being a rider for so long I find it hard being a pilion as I'm wanting to take my line, not rhe riders. As far as taking a pilion, it takes me a few k's to get used to it and re learn a differant riding style.
BTW... I'v been a pilion a few times over the last couple of years, every time I run out of gas :clap:

[Bonez]

:yes: , I had one of those... COOL man :Punk:Bought one for the steps sons to learn to ride on. Spent most of the time off roading :yes:

[surfchick]

well your dream bike may be the R1, but mine is ze super duke. was pillion on one the other day an it was sweet...pretty sweet (seats a bit hard but not too bad...) my own bike has a loverly back seat though...soft and squishey...

[surfchick]

and arrrriiiiigght to getting your nu bike!! wiheeeyyyy :devil2:

[Riff Raff]

First time I ever pillioned was back in the UK on a Harley. I didn't have any riding gear, so wore two pairs of spandex leggings, my suede boots, woollen gloves and a leather jacket. It was the middle of winter, snowing and farkin cold.
When I came to New Zealand I was pillion on an NSR250 for a while - bloody uncomfortable.
The only other bikes I have been a pillion on were a Ducati 996 (great vibrations :love: ), a triumph Sprint (very comfortable pillion ride), GSXR1000 (OK for short trips), and my own bike, the mighty SV650S which is pretty comfortable.

[NC]

ZX6R - Uncomfortable
VFR400 - Uncomfortable
TR50 - Very Uncomfortable
ZXR636 - Cumfy
ZXR250 - Uncomfortable
XJ900 - Not too bad
That's all I can remember for now :weird:

[Beemer]

I was a pillion for way too many years to remember - never thought of getting a bike myself - duh!

My brother had bikes in the 70s and he got a sweet deal, I'd polish them for him (lots of chrome in those days) in return for a ride around the block! He had a Honda 360 and then a Yamaha 650 I think. I also had boyfriends with bikes over the years (one guy's father owned a motorcycle shop, wish I'd held onto him!) so had lots of back seat rides, but I can't remember the bikes now. Since getting my own bike in 1998 I've continued to be a pillion at times, mostly on my husband's BMW R100RS, which is reasonably comfortable - my knees tend to ache after an hour or so on the back of just about anything though. A friend's FJ1300 was great. Worst bikes to pillion on? A ZX6R (I'm only 153cm but it felt like my knees were around my ears!) and a couple of Harleys that vibrated so much I thought my kidneys had come loose! I wouldn't recommend the RG150 for longer than minutes, and I certainly don't fancy trying the pillion seat on the Goose - someone described it as a bitch pad! My BMW F650CS is really comfortable on the back, the pegs are just perfect for me.

I love riding, but sometimes I love being a pillion - is that wrong? I must confess I hate being driven though, I much prefer to be driving myself!

[vifferman]

Has anyone else been on a bad pillion seat? Or even a good one?
Both. I did an awful lot of pillioneering before I got my first bike, but very little since. While I enjoyed it then, I hate being a pillion now (and I'm not too keen on being a passenger in a car either...)
I've been on the back of numerous trail bikes - some were OK, but having the pillion pegs on the swingarm wasn't too good, especially off road. Also the seats were quite small.

Some quick highlights/lowlights:
Doing numerous miles on the back of a BSA 250 Star (very comfy). Discovering that if I held on under the seat, I got a small electric shock whenver the brake light came on. Having the rider suddenly lie down on the tank at >80 mph (luckily I'd developed a sort of PillionTelepathy by then, and it didn't blow me off the back).

On the back of a Suzuki Titan 500 (good pillion seat = about 5 metres long) with my sister's boyfriend, when he was trying to crack the imperial "ton" down our street, on a busy Saturday, during the day. He 'only' managed to achieve 65 mph over the limit...

On the back of a Z900 (same rider as the BSA), when he opened it up going up our street. Luckily, the aforementioned PillionTelepathy helped again, and when he hit around 160-ish, I wasn't left lying on the road...

Pillioning on a motocross bike around a farm.

Pillioning on a farm bike around a farm.

And some highlights pillioning others:
Seeing some sand on the road when pillioning a mate on my CB175, and doing a very nice feet-up slide through it going around a corner.

Pillioning (well, one was in front) my 3 boys around the garden and neighbouring grassy bits on the XBR500RS Mutant.

Having my wife give my back a pounding for doing ~160 on my VF500 when riding around Lyttelton Harbour.

My VFR750 suddenly developing automatic self-steering around corners when my middle son was being helpful on the back.

The mixed pleasure of my second ride with my wife on the FahrtSturm: Nice having her join me for a ride, but getting my nads squished when braking because we were both wearing jeans and sliding around on the seat.:blank:
Riding a Honda Lead (I think that's supposed to be "leed", but it was more like that dense grey stuff..) two-up, and having to paddle furiously to get it moving.

Having to use some Body English to steer the FarhrtSturm with my wife on the back because the front tyre was having a rest.:whistle:

Getting a hug from the pillion when out riding. :love: