Head knocking

[BuFfY]

Righty-o here is my prob....

I am a new lil pillion (for pyro :hug: ) and well.... I am always wacking my head with his... and I try really hard to hold myself back (pressing on the tank) but all I get is sore lil arms

How do I not hit his head!! He joked about attaching a pillow to the back of his helmet :o

So yeah any help would be so greatly received!

[-df-]

I have the same problem when I double with my misses, every downshift or brake...bang...her helmet hits into mine!! harmless but a pain at the same time.

I'd also love to know if there is a solution!!

[Waylander]

It's not you it's him. Tell him to be smoother on the throttle, clutch and brakes while riding.

[pyrocam]

It's not you it's him. Tell him to be smoother on the throttle, clutch and brakes while riding.

bah lies, I'm awesome.

[Waylander]

You forget, I've seen you ride. Twitchy.:whistle::beer:

[Aitch]

Get yer own bike! Problem solved......

[SixPackBack]

Rubber helmets!
His and hers featured below:buggerd:

[Mental Trousers]

Brace yourself by putting one hand on the back of the petrol tank

[Hitcher]

So yeah any help would be so greatly received!

This problem is hopefully something to do with the riding of motorcycles, or am I just way out of touch with the lifestyles of young urban professionals?

[Karma]

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES!

That and some abdominal stength and you should be able to stop your head from going forwards. Neck muscles will strengthen with time.

[Hitcher]

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES!

It's just a jump to the left, and a step to the right...

[hXc]

It's just a jump to the left, and a step to the right...
You must spread some reputation around before giving it to Hitcher again.
I used to love that song:love:

[SARGE]

It's just a jump to the left, and a step to the right...

why do i have a horrible vision of you in a black leather teddy and fright wig??...


Dammit Janet..

[hXc]

Dammit Janet..
Don't you bring my mother into this! "That's a rather tender subject. Another slice, anyone?"

[Crasherfromwayback]

bah lies, I'm awesome.

Try crotchless upshifts. Much smoother.

[slowpoke]

Just get him to wear an open face helmet BACKWARDS, then whenever he's not so smooth on the change you'll smash him in the back of the head......he'll soon wise up. Nothing like a bit of pain to focus the mind.

Failing that, give him a big head butt BEFORE you climb on the bike and tell him there's plenty more where that came from if he doesn't watch himself.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

It's not you it's him. Tell him to be smoother on the throttle, clutch and brakes while riding.

I'm with Waylander on this i find that is the only time i come into contact with pete. I can't hold on to tank as my arms are to short so i hold onto the side of the seat or petes jacket.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Rubber helmets!
His and hers featured below:buggerd:

I dont think the misses would like you putting your his & her set on here for every one to see. Must be spoocky wearing them.

[RiderInBlack]

BabyB is the one ta ask. She's one awesome pillion. BabyB rides really close to her rider when Pillioning and very rearly helmet-slaps unless ya have been very rough on the gear changes or brakes.
Trish (my new pillion) seems ta have pick it up well too. Haven't had much Helmet-slapping from her ether.
It does help if ya are smoother on ya gear changes but Pyrocam :Pokey:

[SixPackBack]

BuFfy,
Pyro's bike is pretty small and uncomfortable for both of you!...tell the tight wad to buy a more suitable perch for his flash new G/F

[babyB]

um thanks RIB

hell i dont think it is an easy one to answer as all ppl are different. i mean there are lots of things that changes from 1 rider to another, ie hight, build, positions, movements, even the way they ride etc

IMO the bigest thing is to relax, the more ridgit you are the more jurk in movement. ie your body kinda becomes a cushion to absorb the changes.... lol and sure ya are still going to slide into ya riders seat under hard brakin (if hes strong enough hell push ya back anyways):buggerd:

ya have to trust ya rider couse ya not only become i with the bike you become 1 with ya rider as well. ... use ya hands or thighs to feel ya rider prepare to shift or break (ie;your hands on their legs will feel their movement, even their shoulders) its the same in cournering...ya dont have to watch the road to know whats commin up. Ya can feel it.
.....like when ya feel empersised movement look at the road & see whats commin & sit up & support yaself ya rider dont need your weight over the front if the vechal in front has slammed on anchers, and the reverse if making a fast exit, lean into ya rider

try sittin real close nd rest ya head on ya riders shoulder, ya cant helmet slap from there. it will slightly offset the bike weight/balance but rider can adjust(just like on a light cross-wind), just stay still nd relax. if ya game do it with ya eyes closed its an easy way to learn to feel, but dont freek lol

To ya Riders: make it your challange to try shift gears without ya pillion being awear of it. Aim to stop nd start with the pillion never quite sure that you started to move or come to a stop. ie smoothness all around.

as i said i perfer to pillion close wether the rider be male, female or indifferent. and these are only my opinions and ramblings....

so i gess to answer the Q. is to say ride more & relax

lessons learned..
dont wear slippry pants on a sports bike:lol:
& dont wake up in da middle of a rim riding corner:whistle:

[ManDownUnder]

why do i have a horrible vision of you in a black leather teddy and fright wig??...


Dammit Janet..

Could be worse - imagine Helen in a black leather teddy and... I have to go now... :puke:

[Maha]

What i do to my pillion in 3 easy steps is this....

1.... strip of 5mm hardboard (about 300mm wide) splint, attached to pillions back using Duc Tape or similar, bungy cord is no good...to stretchy..
2..... shortened scaffold supports about 1m in length, attached to pillions shoulders and mine, no need for tape as they already have hooky things..
3....Tell her to enjoy the ride before we get set up, cos she cant hear me once the scaffold poles are in place...:cool:

[Macktheknife]

It's not you it's him. Tell him to be smoother on the throttle, clutch and brakes while riding.

I agree with waylander, and also with BabyB, smooth and considerate riding, coupled with learning good skills as a pillion make the trip really enjoyable for both.

[NotaGoth]

Had the same problem when I pillioned.... With braking, and gear changing I was constantly whacking my helmet against the back of the persons who I was pillioning with... Gets real embarassing.... Specially when you don't know any better... And don't know what to do to help "prevent" it happening... I'm sure it becomes annoying for the person in front too...

Thankyou babyB for the write up on that one... Definately something I'll be working on the next time I ever go pillion... All else fails... I think I'll borrow BuFfYs pillow....:2thumbsup

[thehollowmen]

ok something really stupid we found that works.

If the rider wears a light backpack with something softish in it, it cushions and can prevent head knockings.

other options include crossing an arm in frount of yourself, putting a hand on the knee, or laying sideways across the bike.

[Kendog]

Definately the smoother gear changes and braking etc, but if there are rear panic handles, hold them instead of going for the tank. They hold you more stable anyway to hold your weight off the rider who probably doesn't need the extra distraction of having boobies slammed into him and then his balls being smooched against the tank. Just my observations from years of pillioning with many different people. Oh, and relax grasshopper. Good luck.
Mrs KD.

[Crasherfromwayback]

ok something really stupid we found that works.

If the rider wears a light backpack with something softish in it, it cushions and can prevent head knockings.

other options include crossing an arm in frount of yourself, putting a hand on the knee, or laying sideways across the bike.

You can also sit backwards and admire where you've been rather than where you're going!

[Waylander]

BabyB is the one ta ask. She's one awesome pillion. BabyB rides really close to her rider when Pillioning and very rearly helmet-slaps unless ya have been very rough on the gear changes or brakes.
Trish (my new pillion) seems ta have pick it up well too. Haven't had much Helmet-slapping from her ether.
It does help if ya are smoother on ya gear changes but Pyrocam :Pokey:

Lol Trish bet she's a REAL attentive pillion now.


Buffy, I have an idea, Sunday while I'm in Auckland before heading home I'll come by and take you for a quik spin. And hopefully Pyro will pick up on smoothness lol.

[Mom]

Riding pillion is not an easy thing to do....ultimate faith in the person up front helps to keep you "at one" with the rider.....I love being on a bike....riding or pillion..

Helmet crashes happen when you experience an emergency stop!!!!!! (the head bang just adds to the adrenaline rush really):shit:

Or the rough gear change after a heap of power applied...:doh:

best thing is to trust he/she up front.......relax and as BabyB says feel what is happening on the bike, you dont have to see to know what is happening...spend more time pillion, ride a bit yourself..enjoy

[Mom]

What i do to my pillion in 3 easy steps is this....

1.... strip of 5mm hardboard (about 300mm wide) splint, attached to pillions back using Duc Tape or similar, bungy cord is no good...to stretchy..
2..... shortened scaffold supports about 1m in length, attached to pillions shoulders and mine, no need for tape as they already have hooky things..
3....Tell her to enjoy the ride before we get set up, cos she cant hear me once the scaffold poles are in place...:cool:

BTW Maha man is full of it........:love:

[Titanium]

Sounds like you (or the rider) need some love handles ... http://www.quasimoto.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=16 aka pillion grab handles.

:banana:

[Waylander]

Sounds like you (or the rider) need some love handles ... http://www.quasimoto.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=16 aka pillion grab handles.

:banana:
Those look more like they are to prevent the pillion from falling off rather than moving forward.

[Titanium]

Those look more like they are to prevent the pillion from falling off rather than moving forward.

Gives the pillion something to push on under braking .... .

The work very well.

Have been used on the Coro Loop even .....

[Korea]

Where are you looking? Middle of the helmet? How about looking over the shoulder - does that help?

As for shifting: Pre-weight the lever just a little before up-shifting, it will snap into gear effortlessly when you engage the clutch. Should be much smoother.

*Also works for clutchless shifting, but snaps into gear when you back off the throttle a fraction.

[BuFfY]

Well what I normally do is look over his shoulder... the back of the helmet isn't too interesting to look at!!

We tried the backpack on his back but it just made me feel like I was going to fall off! So I asked him to stop and we changed.

We did think that practice would be a huge help but I thought that maybe it was something that I needed to be told, rather than something I will just pick up naturally.

Oh and the me having a go at riding it.... not yet!!

Thanks heaps for all the advice :)

[R6_kid]

tell him to stop riding like a dick! part of carrying a pillion is being considerate. If he rides with you in mind it wouldnt happen. I've never had that problem except when doing wheelies/stoppies, changing gear roughly, or stopping in a hurry. Either that or get stronger arms.

[sels1]

Pyro's bike is pretty small and uncomfortable for both of you!...tell the tight wad to buy a more suitable perch for his flash new G/F

Yeah we did that and it works well. Now have that much room on the back seat I can sometimes forget she's there...:whistle:

[R6_kid]

Or wait until he has his full licence and a bike that can handle the weight of two people without needing to be thrashed.

[Ixion]

What you need are shockabsorbers, to take up the deceleration. Something large and soft, sticking out in front of you. Try larger ones.

[sunhuntin]

when i was pillion on my ex's harley, he had a top box which i would lean on. i would watch the road ahead, note when a stop was likely to happen, and put more weight on my feet, pushing back on the pegs, at the same time tightening my thighs on the seat. i do the same now as a solo rider.
cos the seat on the harley was quite long, there was a bit of room between us, which left room to avoid head bangs. think i only did that once or twice, and that was when it was pissing rain and i was freezing [id lean forwards and bury my hands in his pockets, lol.]
but when i would pillion with dad, it was head crashes all round...the gn was too weak to take both of our weight, plus dad has lost some riding ability with age...his changes arent as smooth.

[Oakie]

What you need are shockabsorbers, to take up the deceleration. Something large and soft, sticking out in front of you. Try larger ones.

Ah yes. I can vouch for that. Mrs Oakie comes with said heavy duty 'shock absorbers' as standard equipment and I must admit that I have never been thwacked in the back of my helmet by the front of her helmet, even when riding a little roughly.

[babyB]

a little off subject, But food for thought for pillions....

situation- your rider has collapsed over the tank ie heartattack/fainted.....you can still gain control of the bike.
As a pillion you can still reach the clutch & front brake leavers... therefor you can also steer the bike.
So if something goes wrong First slow the bike down, second get it steered to a safe as possable place before it falls over, becouse fall over it will. Before it falls hit the kill switch.
Pillions you are not hoples in a situation:hug:

riding couples out there, try it out/practice your rider can slump over the tank & still use his legs to stop the bike from falling while pillion practices

[scumdog]

Very, very rarely does that happen with CB and I, maybe it's cos she rides too and knows how to 'pillion'?
I dunno but don't really have a problem (maybe also Harley seats are better for preventing that sort of thing?)

[SDU]

Like some off the others said, relax, get to feel the bike & know the riding style but the rider needs to learn to be smooth as poss to help.

I spent years on the back & it wasn't a problem. I use to get called Koala by a few mates cause I would be perched close but be in moving in unison with Lemans. I use to sit on the back with my hands relaxed on my thighs & used my legs to stay on the bike. Under emergency braking or if we were hmm er blasting in what I called track mode, I still just braced & relaxed with my legs & my arms in the same position & it kept me upper body braced enough to stop my helmet whacking into his, even if he ended up freezing his balls on the tank occasionally. :D
Relax, lean with the bike & find your groove, have fun but don't try to steer/ride the bike for him. You're soon find what suits you two.
Sometimes the bikes are just a but small to be two up & are uncomfy no matter what you do.

[The Stranger]

i find that is the only time i come into contact with pete. I can't hold on to tank as my arms are to short so i hold onto the side of the seat or petes jacket.

Shit, would have thought you 2 would have had more contact, with being married and all.

Best options under braking are. Back of tank, but if your arms are too short brace against the riders thighs. This one also allows for some communication. A good charley horse conveys to the rider to slow down.

I'll leave it to you to work out what other parts to grab to convey other messages.

[The Stranger]

Well what I normally do is look over his shoulder... the back of the helmet isn't too interesting to look at!!

We tried the backpack on his back but it just made me feel like I was going to fall off! So I asked him to stop and we changed.

We did think that practice would be a huge help but I thought that maybe it was something that I needed to be told, rather than something I will just pick up naturally.

Oh and the me having a go at riding it.... not yet!!

Thanks heaps for all the advice :)


The other one is to clamp on to the rider tight with your thighs and use your stomach and back muscles to steady yourself under braking and acceleration

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Shit, would have thought you 2 would have had more contact, with being married and all.

Best options under braking are. Back of tank, but if your arms are too short brace against the riders thighs. This one also allows for some communication. A good charley horse conveys to the rider to slow down.

I'll leave it to you to work out what other parts to grab to convey other messages.

How do you do that between my gloves and his leathers but it might be fun trying.

[Waylander]

a little off subject, But food for thought for pillions....

situation- your rider has collapsed over the tank ie heartattack/fainted.....you can still gain control of the bike.
As a pillion you can still reach the clutch & front brake leavers... therefor you can also steer the bike.
So if something goes wrong First slow the bike down, second get it steered to a safe as possable place before it falls over, becouse fall over it will. Before it falls hit the kill switch.
Pillions you are not hoples in a situation:hug:

riding couples out there, try it out/practice your rider can slump over the tank & still use his legs to stop the bike from falling while pillion practices
We've already got Mark scarring new pillions, do you really have to do so as well?

[babyB]

We've already got Mark scarring new pillions, do you really have to do so as well? not trying to scare them, just a little info......ppl dont think twice about takin over a car steering wheel. but are not awear that its possible to do so on a bike

[madmatt]

I recon if you keep doing it then an option might be to stick a small strip of draft stop on the front of your hat ?? :brick: might soften the blow or at least protect your helmet :blink:

[Edbear]

who probably doesn't need the extra distraction of having boobies slammed into him





But, but, but.... Oh it's too easy!

[pyrocam]

out of all the crazy responses (like stop being a dick changing gears and slowing down) thats gotta be the best one!