How do you treat new pillions?

[Coldkiwi]

Shazuki raised this in another thread but I think it's interesting.

I've had to learn about bikes myself because I never knew anyone with one before I started riding. Consequently, I've been very aware of my friends and family seeing bikes as an unknown quantity and potentially scary. So when the opportunity has arisen to take someone pillion, I want to show them its not so bad and is actually a lot of fun.

How about you guys?

[Antallica]

Well I usually go normal, but I make sure the pillion let me know when they want me to slow down or whatever.

The g/f took a long time to get used to me doing the speed limit (usually 50km/h as it was all in town), so I was ending up doing like 35-40km/h. Ugh.

[bungbung]

Smooth and easy is the order of the day. Depending on the choice of hand holds for the pillion, it can be frightening thinking you're about to fall off under acceleration or braking. If you would like your virgin pillion to be happy riding on the back of a bike, be sensitive.

[Motoracer]

#1 and if they ask for it, #2

I wouldn't try #3 with anyone because I don't want to take that responsibility.

[Cajun]

i start off with #1 and once i know how they feel on the bike and there movement i slowly alittle bit towards #2, i mean go fast once they know how it feels and stuff, and give them a bit of fun, we have japanese homestays sometimes, took one of them for a ride(30 year old male) took him for about 70km ride, on a nice rural bit of road that i live on i gave him a good treat of hitting 200km/h i just hit that mark and then backed off back to 110km/h. Alot of these people have never been over 80km/h in there car.

[Slingshot]

I'm not so concerned about the pillion being scared, it's more about knowing how they will react in certain situations.
I will always tell them what to do before they get on the bike, like leaning with the bike and not moving their weight around in corners etc.

Once I'm confident that they are doing right things I'll generally push a little harder just to them a bit of a thrill.

[FROSTY]

i take it real easy. I wont take a pillion without all the protective gear on. To the point of being Anal about it - No gloves No ride --its that simple.
But I usually ride big heavy bikes that aren't too unsettled by a bit of pillion misconduct.
First few corners are taken very tentatively till I know how they'll react.

[Hitcher]

I try to ride as though I have a "virtual pillion" on all the time -- I find this helps improve my smoothness. I reckon that if you're throwing the bike around all over the road it's unlikely you have full control of it.

[vifferman]

For a start, if they've had little biking/pillioning experience before, I explain to them that the bike's meant to lean over on corners, and that they should sit as still as possible, as many newbies tend to try and lean to the outside as they don't like the bike tilting over. Secondly, I ride as smoothly and gently as possible till the pillion is used to the bike and my riding, and I'm used to them and how they respond. The worst thing you can do is ride hard, especially with a new pillion, as they may react in a way that will upset the balance of the bike. Furthermore, the bike itself handles differently with a pillion than solo, and differently with different passengers.
F'rintance - my youngest son is so slight and still it's almost like having no passenger at all. Middle son knows his way around the bike, and I was unsettled with him on the back of my last bike until I realised he was leaning into the corners. :D Once I realised this, the bike was basically on autopilot - I'd come up to a corner, he'd lean, and the bike would corner by itself. Very odd sensation...
Oldest son vibrates :lol: - at least he did the last time I pillioned him. He said he was a bit cold, but I think he was more than a bit nervous!

Wifey - she has been on my bikes maybe 5 times, but really enjoyed the 2 times on the Storm, because I rode very carefully and sedately, apart from a couple of times when I opened it up for a bit of a blat, AFTER warning her.
No surprise --> no fright --> no unexpected manoeuvres from the bike. :yes:

[Holy Roller]

First few corners are taken very tentatively till I know how they'll react.
It takes more than a few corners...
The Mrs. has been pillion for some time but when she was pregnant with our 2nd she decided to sit up in the middle of a corner :eek5: nearly ended up in the lake, one can never underestimate the reaction of the one on the back but I still :love: her.

[Zed]

Shazuki raised this in another thread but I think it's interesting.

I've had to learn about bikes myself because I never knew anyone with one before I started riding. Consequently, I've been very aware of my friends and family seeing bikes as an unknown quantity and potentially scary. So when the opportunity has arisen to take someone pillion, I want to show them its not so bad and is actually a lot of fun.

How about you guys?
I remember during college days after school I would get on the back on a mates trail bike and we would go gallivanting all round the countryside- he was a good rider and gained my full confidence as a pillion, I was quite contented to sit on the back. The only off we had was going 5kmph around a corner and sliding out in a patch of oil...we both ended up on our backsides laughing!! :lol:

I try and gain the confidence of my pillion and once I have I tend to push the bike a bit more. :ar15:


Zed

[matthewt]

#1, unless it's my brother (he gets somewhere between #2 and #3).

[riffer]

Definitely #1 for most pillions. I have, on occasion, had an experienced rider on the back and they tend to let you ride more like #2 but its never the same as on your own.

On Tuesday my wife Gini got on the back of the bike for the first time. She's as experienced pillion and a bit experienced rider (doesn't have a bike at the moment) but it was a bit disconcerting as she instinctively leaned into the corners and I found myself overcorrecting at first as it seemed the bike dropped into the corners pretty damn fast (particularly going up and down Brooklyn Hill to my parents house). Once I worked out what was happening it was easy enough to sort out.

Most pillions can handle a bit of acceleration after a while on the bike but to be honest, I find the whole bashing pillions helmet into my head a bit of a turn off. I gave the throttle a real squirt overtaking someong going through the Terrace Tunnell and she handled it okay, even though the front came up a touch. Too wet to do anything silly though...

So its nice and easy does it. If I want to thrash on the bike, I'll go alone...

[matthewt]

I took my brother on the back to the Easter Monday run a few weeks ago. Nice re-introduction for him.

1) I forgot about the extra weight on the back and accidentily poped a wheelie across the round-about by Motorcycle City. He thought I was trying to impress him so I didn't see the need to correct him.

2) 5 seconds later at the large Melling round-about a 4x4 approaches the round-about from the right with his left indicator on, cool so I start to move out and when he enters the round-about his indicator goes off. So I stop before I cross his path and get the evils from him.

3) 10 seconds later waiting at the Melling lights aiming north, the car beside me is checking out the Brutale. He must of seen my indicator on but it didn't stop him from pulling into my lane as we both turn right into SH2.

4) Then it rained for about 10 minutes on the way home from Martinbrough.

All in all a nice day.

[Motoracer]

Now that I remeber it correctly, I did try #3 on a virgin pillion once.

I was in 5th form with the SRX250. Few anoying big cu*ts from 4th form ganged up on me once and started giving me shit about how my bike looked skinny and shitty (this comming from push bike riders <_<).

I said, if they were nice, I would give them rides on the back of my bike. So they agreed. One of them jumped on the back with me, I told him to not to hang on to me cause that'd be gay, so he hung on to the bike.

:shifty:

I rode away from the rest of the dickheads then I shifted down to first, reved the bike up real high and then droped the clutch! (first intentional wheelie atempt ever in my life) The front came up real fast and then the fat cu*t fell off just as fast landing hard on his arse. :killingme

I rode off home LMAO under my helmet and just to make it that much more satisfiying, I tooted my horn as I left the gate.

They never bothered me after that.

[toads]

any pillion gets #1 with me, cos I would h8 to put anyone off bikes, mind you I couldn't scare anyone with a gn250 or the 400, they aren't exactly wheelie material anyway :scooter:

[Two Smoker]

Legend MR hehehehe:lol: I take it easy with pillions to start with and slowly increase the pace, i tell them just to tap me on the arm or stomach to say "im fucking scared now" i always get them to hold on to me, so they do what i do, unless they are expereinced with pillioning or riding...

[Posh Tourer :P]

Exactly TS. I think getting them to hold on to you is best. That way the first reaction is to hold on tighter to you, this before they sit up in the corner. Also lets you know exactly how they are feeling, whether they are happy, scared, sleeping etc.
Also gives you the chance to start at #1 and move up to #2 if you feel like you can

[SpankMe]

I've had one guy scream like a girl on the back of my old CBR600 and one girl swear she'll never ride on the back of a bike again after I took her for a ride on my SV650s. And I wasn't even going that fast, I swear. :innocent:

My old girlfriend was involved in a couple of accidents while on the back of my GB500tt and GPZ500 and it didn't stop her from getting back on the bike. Even on the last one where she lost heaps of skin on one leg. She just got back on the bike for the ride to the A&E.

[White trash]

Even though this asks about "Newbie" pillions I'll share one.

About 5 years ago before "The Peoples Hero" was a gifted Rossi wannabe, he had a new 1200 Bandit, I rode a then new fuel injected GSXR750. Ol' Johann, being the helpfull chap he is, had rooted the clutch on the Bandit trying to tow a tree from the ground for his parents at home. Hence, he found himself in the unenviable position of being in the suicide seat of the "Rubbish Truck".

For those who don't know him, Johann is a talented rider but an extremely shitty pillion. The prick will jump on the back with you and grab ya in a death grip around the shoulders! Once moving he trys to steer you in the fashion he'd like to ride. Most uncomfortable. He also has a nasty habit of scaring the shit out of pillions for a laugh when he's in control.

anyways, we get to the Whitford Brown lights by Porirua there and it's red. "Damn shame" says I.

Lights turn green and 115kg of Yo-show makes for pretty good balast. I go nice and gentle through first to lull him into a false sense of security. Grab 2nd, and wahoo, we're off. Yo gives me the time honoured bear hug and is hanging on so tight I can't get to the clutch to change gear. Smash it through to 3rd with the front wheel still well high and it just hangs for about another 500m. All this time I can't even breath!

When the front finally touches down, ol' "Take the credit" Bruns is punching the air with his fist like he did some thing special! Nice one.

Anyway, I go gentle on newbies.

[Slim]

I will always tell them what to do before they get on the bike, like leaning with the bike and not moving their weight around in corners etc.
I also discuss a signal they can use to get me to slow down or stop. And I'll frequently ask them if they're ok when we stop at intersections.



Before taking pillions you should always ask yourself how reckless would you be with someone elses life???

[k14]

Never taken a pillion. Don't know how good one would go on the cbr, the pillion seat is so high. Wouldn't rate it too highly.

[6Chris6]

Drop it on the first corner (at speed).

Nah, haven't taken one yet.
The ex sat on the back of the 250 once in the driveway but i think sittin up so high put her off a bit never would ride with me but i was on my learners so fair play.

[mangell6]

Took a friend for her first ride on a motorbike last year, she was 48! She was really nervous and I explained what she had to do as a pillion about leaning and everything. Took her over the back of UH over Wallaceville Hill to Whitemans Valley and back over Mangaroa and along SH2 to experience some 'speed' 100km and back home. She was buzzing when she hopped off and when her parents arrived did a big rave, and even rang her son in the UK about going for a ride.

The key was allowing for the newbie who was trying to do the right thing, leaning at the right moments so as not to give me moments. Not like my sister who insisted on sitting up straight every time we went around a corner!

[johno]

while on the back of my GB500tt and GPZ500 and it .[/QUOTE]

Ah yes, GPZ500, now there's a lovely memory. Pillions. Best experience I ever had was being a pillion on my own bike (Bandit 1200), my friend went for #3, wheelies the lot. The accelleration feeling as a pillion was phenomenal, I thought it was never going to stop accellerating and had to hold on for dear life. I tell you - it was fantastic, I couldn't stop laughing. But, it showed me how scary it can be on the back, a good lesson to take it easy, it's enough for most people.

[Wonko]

First time I took a pillion was about 2 months after getting the GL145. 90kg's extra on a bike that small made it interesting, but the worst bit was that Jay had been ridding bikes for the past 20+ years and leant into the courners eairlier than I did, making the bike lean. I ended up sitting upright round the courners with the bike having a mind of it's own.

Newbies and experianced riders all get the same drill before we hop on the bike(Stay on the bike, pound my chest if you want/need to stop, gloves are needed etc) I just take it a lot easier for longer with the newbies.

My ex is now talking about getting a bike after a 40 min ride.

[madandy]

I took it pretty easy for my mrs, (shazuki) obviously taking it easy was a good plan. After a day on the Corromandel loop she insisted we buy her a bike, instead of giving me the :finger:

[Two Smoker]

Scariest time being pillion was on the back of my dad's CBR1100XX, HOLY FUCK.... sitting at 110kmh drops it into second gear, and twists the throttle and hits 180kmh in a few seconds, i nearly broke my back from the acceleration as well as nearly falling off.....

[Drunken Monkey]

"Don't get on until I say so"
"Don't get off unless I say so" (they never ask what to do if they're going to fall off...)
"Tap the left shoulder for slow down, the right for speed up"
"Don't try and move your body in corners, just look over the left shoulder for left turns and right shoulder for right turns"

Usually keeps for smooth pillioning...

On another note, I used to not mind going pillion when I first got into bikes sitting on the back of my mate's old GSX-R. These days, it scares the piss out of me for the first few minutes...Anyone else get that?
"....must...grab...handlebars...not...in...control. .....unsafe...too...homophobic...to...grab...rider ...arghh!!"

[toads]

Never taken a pillion. Don't know how good one would go on the cbr, the pillion seat is so high. Wouldn't rate it too highly.


hell no they look like ejection seats!

[SPman]

Badly!......

[Lou Girardin]

No. 1, anything more got me a punch in the kidneys. She's better now though, just the odd squeal and slap upside my head.
Lou

[BigB]

I take it easy, you never know when you may end up on the back of there bike!!

I pillion the Girlfriend all the time and she's great, as it's actually her bike but she can't ride anymore.

The most interesting pillion I've have had was coldkiwi back from Tokora, he rode his old bike down, it must have been really hard for him to then get on the back a bike for the ride back to AK. The weather was shit and I was so used to having the girlfriend on the back it took a bit of getting used to. But only one scary moment and that was due to the rain.

cheers

[magnum]

be as smooth as possible so they can enjoy it without shitting themselves.

[wkid_one]

Something to remember - a new pillion has an awesome ability to bin the bike if they panic......why bother increasing the chance by riding like an idiot.

When I have a pillion on the back - it is about the only time I use the rear brake to reduce the feeling they can get of sliding up and forward.....which can be quite unnerving for them.

[phil_elvey]

Something that was really interesting a while ago. I had my two cousins who are sisters out on the farm a couple of years ago. These two are like chalk and cheese. One is a typical tomboy. Plays contact sports, not very shy etc etc. The other is a girly girl. Loves fashion, boys etc. etc. They both went for a ride on my trailbike one day. I took the tomboy one and I had to slow down cause she was a bit scared. Then I took the girly one and she loved it. I asked her after a couple of mins if she was scared at all and she said not at all. So I upped the pace a bit then asked her again, and still she wasn't scared so I rode as fast as I dare with a pillion - as fast as I would with my mates on the back.

Also, I think the younger they are better they are [at being pillions]. They don't tend to get scared as much.

[wkid_one]

This should be expanded to include the likelihood of the pillion putting out or not?

[Coldkiwi]

that would be a new thread I think!

There's definitely scope for speeding up once the pillion is happy, after all , biking is about having fun and if you have to fart around well under the speed limit the whole time, you're probably not having fun.

I get lots of satisfaction from having a new pillion on the back that gets off with a grin and wants to go out again. Most of mine ask to go out again.
I agree with the 'no gear-no lift' rule. helmet/jacket/gloves/jeans are a minimum for my pillions. Small chicks get to use my fiance's riding gear :)

[pete376403]

I took an older neighbour (late 60's early 70's) out for a ride one day.First time ever on a bike and she loved it. just riding quietly round town, and I could hear these "woo hoo!" noises from the back. She couldn't stop laughing when we got back. Made me feel good. too :2thumbsup

[Big Dog]

#1 and if they ask for it, #2

I wouldn't try #3 with anyone because I don't want to take that responsibility.
Ditto, Virgin pillions cannot be trusted to have the neccesary skills to hang on but as they get more confidence with me I trend back to my normal riding style.


Managed to touch my pillion pegs down with the preffered pillion on the back the other day, which she thinks is kind of special (especially being as we did not bin), and gives her something to spout of about. It also goes a long way to explaining why my chicken strips are so thick. With us on bourd it the pillion pegs touch before we run out of tyre. with just me the front pegsgs do the same.

[Coldkiwi]

Pillion pegs scraping!?!?! AIEEEEEEE!!! thats one scary idea when you've got a gsxr!

[Two Smoker]

AAAAAAHHHHHH pillion scraping:shit: ....... now thats a scary thought, it would be impossible on my bike :crazy:

[Big Dog]

Pillion pegs scraping!?!?! AIEEEEEEE!!! thats one scary idea when you've got a gsxr!
Yet to have the pleasure of an R :niceone:

[Grumpy]

When I was at Tech, about a hundred years ago, I dumped my bike and dislocated my shoulder.

My mate used to work at the dockyards so he offered to give me a lift into the city on his way through and deliver me home afterwards. I hated the bus so I took him up on his offer.

He scared the shit out of me. I only had one hand to hold on with since I was in a sling and he rode like a f**kin' idiot. Last time I ever rode pillion and that was probably about 24 years ago.

I would hate to think that I was responsible for scarring somebody else to the same degree so I'm especially careful with new pillions.

It doesn't take long to work out how somebody new is reacting to their experience so you can easily adjust your riding to suit.

[LB]

I can't remember the last time I took a pillion, but would certainly ride very smoothly and carefully, esp if they were first timers.

Ah, that's right, about 3 years ago I took my 84-year old Dad for a blast. He was a very nervous pillion, you could feel him tensing up - I don't think he'd ever been on a bike before. I took it pretty easy, didn't go too far, but got up to 140kph on a straight just out of Morrinsville just so he could tell the people at his "oldies group" he'd done 85MPH on a motorcycle! He's never asked for a second ride.

When I had just gotten into riding I took my cousin (male) for a ride. Being 16 and knowing it all (yeah, right!!), I decided to show off and go fast. Came up to a right hander, he got scared (he was about 13) and leaned the other way. We ended up going straight ahead. Luckily there was plenty of grass berm before the power pole that we hit - though had scrubbed some speed off by then. I wasn't too keen to take him back home to his mum and dad (my aunty and uncle)!

Also don't forget to tell your first time pillions to keep their bloody feet on the footpegs - it's amazing how much it upsets your balance at lights when they put their feet down!

I occasionally pillion with Hamish (hubby), who I trust implicitly. He's very smooth and doesn't take risks.

I would be very selective about who I chose to pillion with.

[hondav2]

Good one Linda, I remenber going down a hill on a wet night in Dunedin and the bike was 6 feet in front of me with sparks trailing behind it and me bird 6 feet behind me. She had a sore ars for a long time. Her olds must have hated me. Cheers Toddy

[loosebruce]

There's not too many things that i'm scared off out there, but binning it with a pillion, fuck that! I hardly ever take pillions for that reason, but when i do i take it easy and if they're comfortable up the pace a bit but not too much and try n keep it as smooth as possible.

Had a girl once on the back of my ol 2 fiddy going up piecock late one night, this possum made a b line for my front wheel :eek5: just missed it, anyhow the girl then hits me on the back of the helmet scearming at me that i almost killed that poor possum :bash: , go figure.

[jazbug5]

Apologies for reviving a retired and elderly thread, but was trying to be a good Little Billy and tried to find an old thread about pillions, so this is it. I guess. But what I want to know is, how common is it to see people taking pillions out without a helmet? I saw this guy riding around Taranaki street today on a GN250 (I think) with a chick on the back sans helmet or protective gear of any kind.
Am I being anal to have a problem with that..? :mellow:

[Ghost Lemur]

Apologies for reviving a retired and elderly thread, but was trying to be a good Little Billy and tried to find an old thread about pillions, so this is it. I guess. But what I want to know is, how common is it to see people taking pillions out without a helmet? I saw this guy riding around Taranaki street today on a GN250 (I think) with a chick on the back sans helmet or protective gear of any kind.
Am I being anal to have a problem with that..? :mellow:

Nothing anal about that. Highly ILLEGAL it is. And even if it wasn't it'd still be moronic. Obviously the guy wasn't too keen on the girl.

[Zapf]

Apologies for reviving a retired and elderly thread, but was trying to be a good Little Billy and tried to find an old thread about pillions, so this is it. I guess. But what I want to know is, how common is it to see people taking pillions out without a helmet? I saw this guy riding around Taranaki street today on a GN250 (I think) with a chick on the back sans helmet or protective gear of any kind.
Am I being anal to have a problem with that..? :mellow:

ermm.... if... and IF there was a off, she won't be looking very pretty. So.... so much for him looking out for her.

[gav]

Yeah, but what do you do, when you ride so smooth that your pillion dozes off? My girlfriend (now wife) would occasionally fall asleep on the back !!

[scumdog]

The 'don't get on/off without me knowing and being ready' is REAL important!

My only pillion is Mrs SD and she has her full m'bike licence so knows how to be a *'good' on the back of my scoot, so far has not been scared (even when I've been white knuckled and thinking shit-shit-shit) or caused me any alarm. :cool2:

*we'll leave the smut out o.k.?

[NC]

I don't like pillions, thats why I took the pegs off the back...


Oh sorry! I don't have any pegs. So I can't give you a ride.
And your not putting your foot on my expencive can.. Hehe

[Uncle B]

I hate being a pillion so I try to ride as smooth as I can...besides you've got two lives to think of....your self and your pillion.
Can't ride fast with a pillion cause the suspension is not set up for it and I can't be bothered to change it for a "trip around the block".
Had a mate on the back once who would lean the other way in corners....I told him for f***k sake don't change your lean half way through a corner or we'll bin it......but every time he got a fright he would dig me in the ribbs....gave me the shits.
Put yourself in there shoes and be nice to your pillion.

[Blakamin]

I don't like pillions, thats why I took the pegs off the back...


Oh sorry! I don't have any pegs. So I can't give you a ride.
And your not putting your foot on my expencive can.. Hehe

I like the way mine fold up... had my nephew want to go for a ride on the weekend..."soz, no pegs"

About 10 years ago, i had a mate that wanted to go somewhere "are you ready?" says me... "yep" he replies... off I go, just to see his feet fly passed my ears.... I pull up, and go back to where he's on the ground "you alright? I thought you said you were ready!" reply: "I was, I was just doing me jacket up, was gunna do it as we went along"....

he was fine.. and he'd been on the z9 before so knew the way it tended to accelerate...
i still laugh about this

[riffer]

Yeah, but what do you do, when you ride so smooth that your pillion dozes off? My girlfriend (now wife) would occasionally fall asleep on the back !!
Not altogether an uncommon event, believe it or not...

Just enjoy the ride, I guess. It's almost as if you don't have anyone on.

And be thankful that you're such a smooth rider. :first:

[dhunt]

Personnally riding pillion scares me (so out of control). So I'm not sure how people stand been pillions but I've never had any complaints. Also I would really hate to bin it with a pillion.

[Slipstream]

and I don't think I ever will. Being a pillion sucks when all you want to do is ride. Although if you don't have a bike, being a pillion is better than nothing.

But if I had to take a pillion, it would be because they binned their bike and needed a lift. Therefore I would be slow and sedate. So that means #1 and #2(no difference ...yet).

BTW if you own a RGV250, don't even bother with a back seat. 10mins is way to long to be pillion, sitting on a hand-width of vinyl. :eek5:

[ManDownUnder]

I try to make them feel at home - let them know that if they want me to slow down then I will.

Hell - I enjoy being on the bike and I'd like them to experience that fun too! Of course as they get better they'll relax into it and I can go at the normal pace
MDU

[vifferman]

I think I've already posted on this, but WTF...
I generally take it pretty easy, as if you don't (a) make sure the pillion knows what to do and what to expect, and (b) don't ride smoothly, you'll (c) probably end up on the tarseal. However, I occasionally get bored with riding like this, and generally finish most rides with at least one bit of hard acceleration, tight corners, or summat.
And then there was this one time, at band camp. Well, not actually at bandcamp, but giving a mate a ride, and I stopped at this intersection. While waiting there, I spied a layer of sand on the smooth asphalt, the way we were going.:sly:
so, off around the corner, wind on the throttle, and did a beautiful slide through the turn. Amazingly (perhaps I was a better rider then?), we didn't fall off, didn't high-side, no scary moments at any time. Except for my ashen-faced pal on the back :eek: :blink:
:killingme :killingme
Don't think I'll try that with Mrs FS. :no:

[Blakamin]

Tell them to buy their own bike!!!


j/k :bleh:

[The Pastor]

My mate took me for my first ride on his bike, I swear he was doing over 100 round the brendowns (lots of corners that are marked at 35kph or less) I've never been so scared in my life. I almost jumped off :S

It was all good fun. (altho i had no protective gear on like a helmet.....)

[Joni]

My mate took me for my first ride on his bike, I swear he was doing over 100 round the brendowns (lots of corners that are marked at 35kph or less) I've never been so scared in my life. I almost jumped off :S

It was all good fun. (altho i had no protective gear on like a helmet.....)

Yeah - I have a similar experience, but we were clocking umm a little more than 100, I had a helmet on and thats about it as I was not planning on riding. Family emergency meant I needed to get to a hospital asap. Now think about it, one very worried girl riding pillion on a Blackbird at over 250, no armour..... damn stupid, I could have joined my dad in that hospital bed, or worse... damn Graham, lol, but hey everyone has a "my first pillion ride" story.

[The Pastor]

I almost killed my mate when we got off his bike. Its just not cool he told me "50ks max on the straight". Its un-nerving the first time

[Joni]

I almost killed my mate when we got off his bike. Its just not cool he told me "50ks max on the straight". Its un-nerving the first time

I did not speak to Graham for quite a while - I needed to get the blood back into my body from almost dying of fright.... praying to who ever will listen @ 250km's.... not fun, I tell you.

[The Pastor]

I bet im goign to do it to my first pillion though, I guess its the circle of life

[Joni]

I bet im goign to do it to my first pillion though, I guess its the circle of life

Hmm, just make sure you have quite a few years riding experience, to back that up. Graham had been riding for 15 years when he pulled that on me, not that any amount of experience can save you @ 250km's... but hell it makes me feel better!! :eek:

[The Pastor]

Yeah im not in a hurry to ride with pillions aye, too nervous i'd kill someone, I'll wait till i havnt killed my self doing sumthing i shouldn't

[Blakamin]

what ya do is tell'em to get off after the first corner muttering about performance and how they wreck it

[The Pastor]

lol, yeah i dont think id let anyone ride pillion, apart from hot chicks. :)


i like ur siggy blakamin!

[Joni]

lol, yeah i dont think id let anyone ride pillion, apart from hot chicks. :)


i like ur siggy blakamin!

hot chicks... make sure you ridin a nice bike pal!!! Else it will look bas no matter what :crazy: :whistle:
Just kidding mate! :shifty:

[Blakamin]

hot chicks... make sure you ridin a nice bike pal!!! Else it will look bas no matter what :crazy: :whistle:
Just kidding mate! :shifty:
Yeah... get a CBR400 :whistle:



and I wanna be like Homer!

[Joni]

Yeah... get a CBR400 :whistle:



and I wanna be like Homer!

Yeah you right we ride the same bike BK, great great great minds think alike...
you lucky, lucky!!!

Mmmmmm Hondas (sounding disturbingly like homer)

[Blakamin]

Yeah you righ we ridwe the same bike BK, great great great minds think alike...
you lucky, lucky!!!

Mmmmmm Hondas (sounding disturbingly like homer)
:innocent: :innocent: :msn-wink:


mmmmm CBR400's

[The Pastor]

just saw a ad for a 91 gpx low kms "ex cond" in AUCKLAND oooh i cant wait to see her ..!!!!!


Are gpx's good all i know is that they look like ninjas

[Big Dog]

just saw a ad for a 91 gpx low kms "ex cond" in AUCKLAND oooh i cant wait to see her ..!!!!!


Are gpx's good all i know is that they look like ninjas
Loved my 89' I decided agin trading up to a newer bike it was so good, from what I hear there can be a big difference.

The 4 cyl liquid cooled, twin pipe 16 valve rocks.
The 2cyl single pipe air cooled 8 valve is only any good for under 60 commuters (kgs not years) I could not coax the one I rode over 60kms! (120kgs at the time).
There are several configs in between.

You will pay more for an 89 than a 91, this is because the cat/fuel emmisions etc robs a lot of ponies. About half.

If you buy 91 expect to replace the exhast system before you can really enjoy the open road. The 91 I test rode could only just manage 120kms.

I have never known anyone to regret one. Mindless stunters aside, and even they loved them on the open road.

I would happily pay 6 for a good 89 but would only pay 3 for a 91, but thats me.

[The Pastor]

Loved my 89' I decided agin trading up to a newer bike it was so good, from what I hear there can be a big difference.

The 4 cyl liquid cooled, twin pipe 16 valve rocks.
The 2cyl single pipe air cooled 8 valve is only any good for under 60 commuters (kgs not years) I could not coax the one I rode over 60kms! (120kgs at the time).
There are several configs in between.

You will pay more for an 89 than a 91, this is because the cat/fuel emmisions etc robs a lot of ponies. About half.

If you buy 91 expect to replace the exhast system before you can really enjoy the open road. The 91 I test rode could only just manage 120kms.

Are you saying buy changing the muffler gives Back the horsepower?





I would happily pay 6 for a good 89 but would only pay 3 for a 91, but thats me.

this one is 2.5 :)

[TwoSeven]

I dont really carry pillions - they upset the balance of the bike.

Do have a bit of a story from a long time back tho.

When I wuz one of londons finest (bike couriers) I got back to the dispatch room to find this chick waiting for me - some receptionist who had decided to turn up and ask if she could hitch a lift home on the back of the bike.

Now about 15 mins previous to this I had thrown the bike down the road after taking a corner on a patch of oil/water. So to say the fairing was slightly munted would perhaps be like saying chernobyl is in pristine condition. It had also been raining, so I was a bit dirty and scruffy as well.

So anyway she climbs on the back and I still had a couple of parcels to deliver. So off I go up the A10 drop a parcel, pick one up, nip back down to liverpool st, drop another parcel off, over to aldgate (rush hour now) drop another parcel off. Now I normally used my knees to get thru the gaps between the cars - if both my knees touch cars on either side, not enough space to get the bike thu. But for some strage reason it kept feeling like I was hitting things as the bike kept sticking in the gaps. I could still see daylight past the mirrors and they hadn't folded in - so it couldnt have been them.

After the last parcel I remembered I still had to drop the chick off out romford way (east london) who was still sitting on the back nice and quiet like. Hadnt heard a peep for about 20 mins, so figured she was ok.

Nipped up a couple of main streets and there is this one section of road that has an overbridge on it. At rush hour you only get about 3 feet on the center line and at the top I like to lift the front wheel a bit - usually you have to hit it about 80mph or so and you can stand up too. So this was a bit of fun, clipped a wing mirror on a car down the other side just before the lights but all was ok.

Got to romford about an hour later and chick was still there. But still rather silent (did I mention you can lift the front end quite well when someones on the back). I think it took the lass 15 mins before she was able to free her hands from the pillion rails and she was shaking like a leaf when she walked thru her front gate - poor lass. Never saw her again - not quite sure why :)

So I dont carry pillions any more.

[The Pastor]

Nice story mate :) nice and long I hate short posts.

[Storm]

Well done that man :first: class effort

[Two Smoker]

Generally i ease pillions into riding on the back of a bike, so start off slow, then work towards balls out.....

But when i took my mate for a ride on the CBR1100XX..... it was balls out straight away at 200kmh plus, fighting to keep the front wheel down.... got upto 240kmh a few times, and did some high speed corners, lifting the front slightly when exiting, and lifting the front in the first 2 gears...... My mate (who rides bikes) said he was fearing for his life when ever i opened the throttle lol (well it isnt exactly a slow bike)

Havnt done stoppies with pillions......... yet.....

(just a note, dont ever get on a bike with Death or MR.....)

[dhunt]

But when i took my mate for a ride on the CBR1100XX..... it was balls out straight away at 200kmh plus, fighting to keep the front wheel down.... got upto 240kmh a few times, and did some high speed corners, lifting the front slightly when exiting, and lifting the front in the first 2 gears...... My mate (who rides bikes) said he was fearing for his life when ever i opened the throttle lol (well it isnt exactly a slow bike)
It certainly is a lot scarier riding pillion than being driver. I think it is mainly a control thing, not feeling in control etc... feels perfectly fine when you are in control.

[Storm]

Have taken the missus for a couple of short rides around town, and caution and slowly are definitly words to live by :calm:

[cycosis]

I take them on a ride they never forget.if its a female i kike to scare them a little so they grip tighter,LOL.

[Big Dog]

Are you saying buy changing the muffler gives Back the horsepower?




this one is 2.5 :)
Nope I am saying there is a big differnce between a single pipe model (2 cylinders into 2 pipes into 1 vs 4cyl into four into 2). There are also several configes in between.

At the end of the day if you don't know yourself take somoen who rides like you do (or want to) and get their opinion.

[avgas]

my normal pace scares me :eek5:

[MSTRS]

It's gotta be whatever you are both comfortable with. The pillion has gotta be the weak link & a scared pillion is downright lethal. Esp if they can't figure weight changing :sweatdrop :eek5:
A few months ago I took my 75yo MiL on the 1100. She's so short that she had to be lifted on! Told her to keep her head etc in line with mine at all times. Around town & out on the open road, kept the beast on the leash, no problems. She's still dining out with her friends on the thrill of her life. :scooter:

[jonnyrr1]

honest buddy jump on, il go slow and wont speed or do wheelies....

well thats what i let them think, :msn-wink: till they are the back and we are going down the road, :argh:

then the fun begins....
nail it in first, lift the front a lil, :crybaby:
put it down click 2nd and then were off..... :cry:
then leave it till the last min before grabbing the break at the light, and feel them tense up..... its so funny...
but its all in good fun and if they didnt want to have a little scare they wouldnt get on the back....

any 1 up for a ride..... :cool2:

[moko]

On another note, I used to not mind going pillion when I first got into bikes sitting on the back of my mate's old GSX-R. These days, it scares the piss out of me for the first few minutes...Anyone else get that?
"....must...grab...handlebars...not...in...control. .....unsafe...too...homophobic...to...grab...rider ...arghh!!"

Yep,when you`re not in control always seems like bike is going too fast,rider is braking too late,leaning too far,or not enough e.t.c. and this on the back of a guy who is a very careful and safe rider.I dont like carrying pillions either as I reckon that if I hurt myself then that`s unfortunate,hurt someone else then I`d have trouble living with that.In fact here you get an insurance discount if you dont carry passengers as otherwise they load on compulsory (in Europe)cover in case of you being sued by someone you`re carrying in the even tof an accident.

[TwoSeven]

I wont generally carry a pillion, mainly because I'm not fussed if I munt myself, but i'd be gutted if I crashed and mangled someone I care about.

Having said that - I read an article in one of the bike mags that I disagreed with is was talking about teaching the pillion to lean and all that.

The pillion has more controll over the bike than the rider has.

One of the many dispatchin tricks is to jump on the back of peoples bike as a pillion and stear the bike on them by leaning and the like - sometimes you have to reach round and push the bars the right way. Its funny watching someone trying to lean into a left turn and you make the bike go right.

So in general I just tell pillions to put their arms on my waist, rest their lid on the back of my neck (stops them head butting me when I brake) and keep as inline with me as they can (so when i lean they go with me rather than trying to guess it all and upsetting the balance).

Sometimes you have to check to see if they are still there.

As you can see, this is for sports bikes, as far as I can make out for touring bikes they can sit there and bugger em :)

[Frankie]

Never took any pillions but been a pillion a few times... rather strange feeling

As one learnt... showing off will quickly be followed by pain

[Midnight 82]

:baby: Yep pays to take it easy as they dont know how to be on the back.
Its a basdard when they put there foot down on a corner thou :gob:

[bugjuice]

I took me girl on the back of the 636 for the first time on a 'big bike'. She'd been on the back a few times a few years ago on the CBR250, and that was just around the block, nothing big. Put up a post asking to borrow some gear to see if she liked it, then we could go buy some if it was a success..
Death and Draco came to my aid (big thanx guys, still!!), kitted up, and went for a cruise - or so I thought.. we went thru the town to get used to it, then out onto the open road. Death leading :wavey: Crap, time to play catch up, with an extra 50 sometin kgs on the back of a well balanced bike, on a road that I have no idea on. So got onto the twisties, and I could hear the screams and feel the squirms.. Kinda made me laugh, altho I probably shouldn't have..
Anyway, she experienced the worst of it, cos there's no way I'd be going any faster with her on the back on roads I do know.. I wasn't pushing the limit, cos that's bad enough when it's just you, but with someone else's life to be responsible for, not good.. The ride was finally over, like an unpredictable runaway rollercoaster, and she was buzzin. I told her that the ride was the extreme end, so if she wanted to get back on after that, then she's fine.. Worked out for the best I guess, deal with the extreme, then anything after that is a breeze!! :yeah:

[Eurodave]

First timers, wives etc are ALWAYS more impressed if you are smooth accelerating,gearchanging,stopping & staying around the speed limit, as opposed to trying to show off. Hint: I always tell them to look over the same shoulder as the corner ie if leaning left they look over my left shoulder, I find that this helps them lean over. Nothings worse than a pillion that wont lean!!

[Big Dog]

Nothings worse than a pillion that wont lean!!

Bet I can think of ten things worse without trying.
10 G/F who won't try it but will knock it.
9 G/F that lists your bike for sale before she asks if she can buy a new pice of furniture.
8 A male who gets wood at every corner.
7 A male who belives he is safer with his hands tucked into your belt
6 A pillion who won't wear the safety gear you forgo yourself so they can.
5 A pillion who borrows your winter jacket in arctic conditions and letds you freeze in your summer leather only to complain about being to hot at the other end.
4 a pillion who's snoring you can hear over the wind noise and leaves you wondering if you just popped a tyre.
3 A pillion who slides forward every time you do thus squashing your nuts up against the tank.
2 A pillion with a hero complex who tries to steer into corners from the back seat.
The all time number one worst pillion trick of all time is................................
1 The pillion who leans with you every corner except one, you get that under control and and adopt a riskier line than planned but one that will get you round on the right side of the road, one that means crossing a wet manhole cover and you guessed it suddenly leans over just as you strike the manhole.
:ride: :ride: :mad: :mad: :mad: :puke:

[bugjuice]

8 A male who gets wood at every corner.
lamo..
own a 636 and it never goes away :Punk:

[Coyote]

lamo..
own a 636 and it never goes away :Punk:
Gee, kinda makes you not wanna get a 636 :crazy:

How do ya piss mate?

[bugjuice]

Gee, kinda makes you not wanna get a 636 :crazy:

How do ya piss mate?
take my pants down and straight up into the wind.. or should it be out of the wind..??
anyway, I know you have to sit..

[Patch]

Took my sister for a ride to Martinborough fair (few years ago now) on a mate's RGV250. She rides well, good pillion. We came across some traffic stopped at the bottom of Rimutakas, naturally I was going way too fast to stop behind them, so shot up the side of them, downchanging as you do, gap opened, sis relaxed her grip just as I gave it a fist full and in kicked the powerband - off went sis :bye: Can't remember who was more alarmed, me or her. She was ok, slight scrape to the knee but a beer helped her nerves settle at the fair.


My mate upgraded his rgv to a CBR6 F1 not long after that and took me for a hoon . . . literally. He was damn good at wheelying, didn't matter if he had a pillion of not. He loved the Cobham Dr roundabouts, gets his knee down and all. Just wish he'd quit doin' it with me on the back . . round and round . . cheeky sod would say "oh look, 130 betcha we could do it faster . . round and round :wacko: I couldn't wait to get off the bloody thing.

[Coyote]

take my pants down and straight up into the wind.. or should it be out of the wind..??
anyway, I know you have to sit..
Didn't know how to retaliate, actually I don't think you’re worth it, so here's something random
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/gallery/albums/userpics/11418/you_restillahomo.jpg

[loosebruce]

Dont know why but people aren't that game jumping on the back with me anymore. :spudwhat:
Must be the numberplate that puts them off.

[bugjuice]

Didn't know how to retaliate, actually I don't think you’re worth it, so here's something random
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/gallery/albums/userpics/11418/you_restillahomo.jpg
lol.. :niceone:

[John]

I'd love to take a pillion but a) worried about how they would fair on the back of the zxr, Who ever they are I would make them hold me because that way they would lean with me, and if they goto sit up I can quickly adjust the bike so we dont bin.

Other than that :\ Anyone want to be pillion with me :D?

[Big Dog]

I'd love to take a pillion but a) worried about how they would fair on the back of the zxr, Who ever they are I would make them hold me because that way they would lean with me, and if they goto sit up I can quickly adjust the bike so we dont bin.

Other than that :\ Anyone want to be pillion with me :D?
Nah, I make them keep their hands on their knees (unless she is hot :devil2: ). It makes them feel more responsible for their own share of staying on.
I find guy's that put their hands on your hips try to lean before you going in to corners, call me a control freak but I like to pick my own lines :mad: .

[Gremlin]

I find guy's that put their hands on your hips try to lean before you going in to corners, call me a control freak but I like to pick my own lines :mad: .
As long as the said guys don't start stroking your thighs or blowing on your ear/neck... I don't see the problem?

:killingme :laugh: :killingme :laugh:

[Big Dog]

As long as the said guys don't start stroking your thighs or blowing on your ear/neck... I don't see the problem?

:killingme :laugh: :killingme :laugh:
So you don't mind when you are going wide into a blind corner to maximise your sightline and your pillion sudenly aims the bike at an early apex?
Or when they aim the bike at the manhole cover you were going around?
Or when they try to stand the bike up mid corner because they think you are around? :whistle:

[Gremlin]

So you don't mind when you are going wide into a blind corner to maximise your sightline and your pillion sudenly aims the bike at an early apex?
Or when they aim the bike at the manhole cover you were going around?
Or when they try to stand the bike up mid corner because they think you are around? :whistle:
I guess you have had some joyful experiences then??? :D

It was meant as a bit of a piss take (I can never be serious for very long...). Obviously when a bike weighs what it does, any dramatic movement could cause just a "tad bit of strife". Even minor movement I believe.

Can't wait to start riding... after having done the BHS the bug has bitten me hard... bike arrives Saturday... :wait: , but no intention of pillioning any time soon, not after all these "adventures" I've read about

[Big Dog]

bike arrives Saturday... :wait: , but no intention of pillioning any time soon, not after all these "adventures" I've read about
Don't get me wrong, pillions can be fun if you educate them on your prefferences before you hit unfamiliar or challenging roads.

Completely different challenge / experience.

[crazyxr250rider]

#3 always scare the f out of them
mother in law pissed her pants literatly on kx500

[crazyxr250rider]

#3 always scare the f out of them
mother in law pissed her pants literatly on kx500
i ment aunty in law?

[ducatilover]

never taken a pillion before...but the old man showed me how fast the fj1200 goes......damn...... :headbang:

[Unit]

I learned to ride on the back of a bike. My first experience was with a very skilled, but hard rider who used to scare the crap out of me, often. (especially if we'd had an argument beforehand). I both loved it (the speed, cornering lean, overtaking manouvre's etc) and hated it from the point of view of being out of control when things were pushed past MY limits (emotionally, not necessarily skills or physically). It certainly encouraged me to step onto my own bike, a Norton 850 commando. I settled back to a very leasurely speed and learned to ride. Now I like to give pillions a good ride where they feel safe but exilerated. We have lots of kids coming into pillioning ages and they get a riders lesson (on the back) with each outing. For you guys out there that want to get your ladies on their own bike, you can be teaching them how to ride with every pillion outing you do together. Pillions need to ride the bike too, and a great pillion will know when to move, and not to move, when to make room for the rider who is about to lean, when to tuck in and sit perfectly still, which shoulder to look over (or not), when to shift their weight and by how much. I love being on the back, going into a good lay over, leg slightly out, bum slightly off, tucked down peaking over the riders shoulder looking through the corner with him, to do that well as a pillion is an exciting skill to have. If you truly want to understand a pillion, be one yourself for a change. :gob:

[DMNTD]

...I love being on the back, going into a good lay over, leg slightly out, bum slightly off... :sweatdrop
Dang hun! Strangely arousing...wanna double up? :whistle:

[Pixie]

:sweatdrop
Dang hun! Strangely arousing...wanna double up? :whistle:
A swift kick in the goolies will make you double up :devil2: