Who rides but won't go pillion? [Archive]

NighthawkNZ

14th July 2008, 20:24

i have to admit i will never go on the back, i have been riding since 1975 and been pillion about a dozen times but have to say that now i wont go on the back with anyone, dont care who it is but have no problem carrying passengers

I would if I knew the rider, and bike... but will admit I probably wouldn't enjoy and or like it as much. I know my other half simply won't get on the back... its a control thing

Mountlocal1

14th July 2008, 20:24

Never have been and never will, but at 95(ish) kg I think I'd be a heavy pillion...

I guess riding a bike you know how easily things could go wrong, and would have to put a lot of trust in the rider....

+1 ... +10kgs....:whistle:

Oakie

14th July 2008, 20:26

Only if I was stuck way out in the country. Never by choice.

Dave-

14th July 2008, 20:29

i dont even like going pillion in a cage...

sinfull

14th July 2008, 20:32

i dont even like going pillion in a cage...

+1 Would do it if it was the only way out of a siuation, but wouldn't plan it !

dwnundabkr

14th July 2008, 20:35

only if i really have to or if i know the rider very well

JimO

14th July 2008, 20:38

looks like im not the only one then

NighthawkNZ

14th July 2008, 20:40

i dont even like going pillion in a cage...

Me either... :baby:

Nagash

14th July 2008, 20:51

I've only ever been a pillion once, and granted I was quite drunk, and it was dark and on a very windy road with a rider that i'd never ridden with before, on *my* bike, but I hated every moment of it.

And I don't like being a passenger in a car either.

Loss of control and all that..

beyond

14th July 2008, 20:55

Yep, just discussing this today in fact.
I hate being a passenger anytime on anything :)

On a motorbike it would be an absolute emergency for me to get on the back with anyone else, knowing how many things can go wrong.

I have no problem pillioning others. Some of my mates I've had to pillion home after they binned their bikes in remote areas but they hated it as much as I would have and they never normally ride pillion either.

I am very careful with a pillion on board (another life etc) and have not had any incidents with pillions since getting back into motorcycling. Most of them feel completely safe with me, even the timid ones.

Gareth51

14th July 2008, 20:56

Have trouble getting legs around some petrol tanks these days and even more trouble around the rider in front of you , so unless its an emergency you wont catch me on the back

Mike748

14th July 2008, 21:07

Only if I knew the rider well and only if it was too far to walk or get a lift.

Little Miss Trouble

14th July 2008, 21:10

I've started out a a rider and always will be, but occasionally don't mind jumping on the back of the Gixxer. Heh, its the only way I'm going to be able to get to 200+ any time soon.

piston broke

14th July 2008, 21:14

i sorta trust 2,
my old man and my little bro,
can't say i feel comfortable tho

piston broke

14th July 2008, 21:18

lol.
can't get on the back with lil bro as his wifey won't lety him on a bike again after broke ankle,he has 2 kids now'time to be responsible.haha,pmsl

HungusMaximist

14th July 2008, 21:23

Only with riders I trust and know for certain that they can pillion well..

Otherwise no.

LittleAngel

14th July 2008, 21:56

I never say never but hell it wouldn't be a first choice!! And would need to be in complete dire straits first!!

I did it as a teenager a few times and hated it! :angry2:

I would trust my husband 100% but we'd be doing wheelies all the way home so don't image we are riding 2 up anytime soon :clap::rofl: (:psst: coz of our small statue! :p:)

I have yet to take a pillion - my old lady jumped literally on the back recently and scared the :shit: out of me, so in no rush!

EJK

14th July 2008, 22:03

I like being a pillion! It's the only way to get on a 250+ bike! :D

...yet

dino3310

14th July 2008, 22:06

no, it scares the fuck out of me:no:

crash harry

14th July 2008, 22:47

Not keen on being pillion, but at 6' and over 100kg I'm not really built for it... I have no trouble being passenger in a cage though - in fact it's about the only way I go in a cage these days unless I'm sober-driving someone elses.

Papa Bear

14th July 2008, 23:14

I would trust my husband 100% but we'd be doing wheelies all the way home so don't image we are riding 2 up anytime soon :clap::rofl: (:psst: coz of our small statue! :p:)

:hug: Aww she does love me....:buggerd:

Yea what she said..... Fuck that !!!

CookMySock

15th July 2008, 07:23

You are a sad bunch. It took me YEARS to relax in someone elses vehicle but now I can sit back and actually enjoy the trip - it was just a matter of deciding to do it. I have to say my mrs is a superb driver, and she is flamin ROCK SOLID on her bike. Other than she being a scared learner rider on a 250, and me being 30+ KGs heavier than her, I would ride on the back with her no question about it. I would (and do) also go on a 5 hour trip in the passenger seat with her and be perfectly relaxed at the end of it.

Try it, you'll like it.

DB

Nasty

15th July 2008, 07:58

Until recently I hated being a pillion with a passion I was sure that the rider was looking for every single bump in the road ... now I have few problems being a pillion and on my bike .. I hate pillion on Grubs bike as it is so uncomfortable .. but the 750 is great.

Mikkel

15th July 2008, 08:12

I've pillioned on occassion before I got into biking myself. When you're not used to being on a bike it's a big step out of your comfort zone - but very exciting :)

My first reservation about pillioning as a biker would be to ensure that the guy at the helm would have no ego invested in trying to impress me.
As such I'd be more inclined to pillion with a complete stranger who seems capable than a good mate with a competive mindset.

As long as the rider in charge behaves and exercises due care and attention I wouldn't be too worried. Needless to say I'd have a look at the bike first - if it's in a state of disrepair then it's a deal breaker.

Also, I'm thinking I'd generally rather go with a female at the helm than a male. Generally...

Roki_nz

15th July 2008, 08:20

i dont even like going pillion in a cage...

Neither do i. Then again my partner can't drive so that may be why

Mikkel

15th July 2008, 08:28

Neither do i. Then again my partner can't drive so that may be why

Do you let your partner drive enough to get some routine?

I've found that since I'm a more keen motorist, petrolhead and have no trouble driving for 8+ hours I have been the one doing almost all of the driving. Since I got into bikes my partner has been driving the car more than before and what a difference it makes - now I can relax and enjoy being a passenger with her.

Katman

15th July 2008, 08:32

I'm getting the distinct impression that there's a lot of motorcyclists that don't like the way other motorcyclists ride.

:msn-wink:

TOTO

15th July 2008, 08:50

I'd be pillion on someones big bike who I've ridden before with and know what to expect.

In saying that I've been a pillion 1 only.

if its a cage tho, i would love to be passenger - relax and look around - good fun espessially on a long trip.

007XX

15th July 2008, 08:54

I've only been riding my own bike for a couple of years, but in that time went back to pillioning a handful of times behind hubby....and didn't like it anymore! *sob* We both used to love it and he still does, but I catch myself trying not to act based on the road.

I resorted to hiding behind him so I can't see too much of the road, but it's hardly a satisfactory answer.

JimO

15th July 2008, 09:08

I'm getting the distinct impression that there's a lot of motorcyclists that don't like the way other motorcyclists ride.

:msn-wink:

perhaps but i know a few guys who seem to revel in the idea of scaring their passengers to death, i have a mate who thought it was funny to tow my wife at 50 mph waterskiing one day, needless to say none of my family will ever go behind his boat again (and he rides as well)

vifferman

15th July 2008, 09:27

I did many, many pillioning miles as a feckless yoof, but can't remember when I last did. I don't like it, probably because I had some bad experiences:

Sister's boyfriend tried to "crack the ton" (100mph) on our road, midday, on a Saturday, with me on the back of a T500. We managed 95...
My best friend laid down on the tank of his BSA with me on the back, doing about 75-80mph, "to give me a fright".
Same friend, cracked 95mph, on my street (but the other direction to the Titan) one night, on a Z1. Fortunately, I was really used to pillioning for him, and somehow twigged he was going to crack the throttle. I had to hang on tight, but there wasn't a huge amount of danger.

I'm usually very considerate when carrying a pillion, as I know how dangerous it is if the pillion gets a fright and lurches suddenly. (Or she's your wife, and gives you a beating for going too fast...) When I was 16 or 17, I did once see a nice bit of sand on a smooth road, and did a beautiful feet-up slide with my mate on the back, which scared the crap out of him, but that's about the only incident I can think of.

I must say, the thought of pillioning now fills me with dread. Maybe I'd make an exception for a nice female rider...

I pillioned the venerable SpankMe once. He didn't complain at all, but maybe he was being polite.

Crisis management

15th July 2008, 09:34

I'm surprised how many of you are "non-pillion" types, I trust all the people I ride with (you have to in a group ride) and would pillion with any of them, it's no different from riding on the road near them.

Pillioning is fun anyway, you get to wave to everyone, pull faces at kids and generally misbehave without having to worry about where you're going.

Whats not to like? :2thumbsup

Katman

15th July 2008, 09:40

fridayflash

15th July 2008, 10:08

ill pillion with any mates etc whom i know their riding style etc etc and actually enjoy it, in the late eighties when at high school we only had bikes
so a whole group of us would go eveywhere on them always with pillions
and it was a great way to get around. i still ride with some of those guys today and on the occasional time weve had a breakdown (vfr reg/rec!!!)
we'll go 2up.

MSTRS

15th July 2008, 10:11

I could count on one hand with fingers to spare the number of times I've been pillion. I'm nervous and tense, just can't relax. Same as being a passenger in a car. I think it is because everyone develops their own 'style' and way of doing things, and since they are very different from mine, I have trouble with the old 'brake/accelerate/avoid NOW' scenario....

fridayflash

15th July 2008, 10:28

just reminiscing about my early days of riding,there was one guy id loosely
refer to as a "mate" who youd only ever go on the back with ONCE! lol
he was an absolute psychopath..we'd go to partys and hed be popping valiums,smoking dope as well as drinking hard, then preceed to ride everywhere at full throttle,peg scraping corners,clutch slipping into
the powerband and launching into full vertical wheelstands at every possible
opportunity (intersections) true story!

his bike was a real machine...gt250x7 matt black with red frame, gt380 carbs
modded pipes,modded reed induction etc etc and most alarming of all
it sported a (too big) pair of clip'on bars packed to fit the fork legs with
rags! and people think 15yr olds are mischeif nowadays!! lol

slofox

15th July 2008, 10:45

Yup,Had to go pillion for a couple of months whilst getting the bike fixed and absolutely hated it, i think personally its because i hate the feeling of not being in control that makes me refuse to go pillion.

Ditto brother........not in control...BRRrrrrrrrrrrr!

MIXONE

15th July 2008, 11:46

Being a passenger in a car is no worries unless the driver is a dickhead however if I haven'y got the bars in my hands I'm not getting on the bike!!!

vifferman

15th July 2008, 11:53

What about pillions you've had that made the experience terrible?
I can't think of any off hand, but I can think of my favourite pillion (next to the vifferbabe, of course): my youngest son - he weighs next to nothing, and sits very still, so it's like having no pillion. #2 Son tends to steer the bike, and #1 Son seems a bit nervous. Last time I pillioned him (on the VTR1000), he was vibrating when I stopped at the lights.
"Are you cold?"
"No."
"Are you scared?"
"N-n-n-n-o..."

Swoop

15th July 2008, 12:01

weve had a breakdown (vfr reg/rec!!!)
we'll go 2up.
Bloody reg/rec units! Better than pushing the bike and then waiting for a trailer.:laugh:

Big Dave

15th July 2008, 12:03

I'd rather piss in my boots and swim.

beyond

15th July 2008, 18:25

My daughter would be the best pillion I ever had.
First time on the bike (she was 23 then) told me she wanted to go faster than anyone else had ever been on the back before.

Had to oblige but on a very safe piece of road. She was so relaxed and weighs next to nothing that it was like she wasn't there. Problem was she gets so relaxed that even after a shortish ride she falls asleep on the back.

Now that's trust :)

How the hell do you hang on in the tight stuff when you are snoozing???

McJim

15th July 2008, 18:41

Last time I sat pillion on the open road was 1984 in Tuscany wearing trainers, shorts and a T-shirt - no Helmet on an old Honda CB750 Four I think.

Cool fun in the twisties. Nearly hit a cat that ran out on the road, he had to slam on the anchors and I nearly fell off. Didn't think much of it in those days though.

Nowadays I would really have to trust the rider or be in a tight spot before accepting a lift on the back of a bike.

flame

15th July 2008, 18:53

I find it quite exilerating perched up on the back of a sports bike while the pilot thinks they're at Isle of Man, with my ass sticking up in the air, slamming my palms into the tank and slipping round like a lump of lard! ....yer right:rolleyes:, hand the reins over to me biatch!

have to say though.....wheelies as a pillion are fun!

reofix

15th July 2008, 18:57

never not ever... rather walk

Gremlin

16th July 2008, 02:44

How the hell do you hang on in the tight stuff when you are snoozing???
good flippin' question. Last pillion fell asleep on the back of my zx10, on the waihi to whangamata road :blink:

I'm another that doesn't pillion unless I have to. Partly size at 6'3, 100kg, partly trust/control. I've trusted all the riders too. First mate rode my bike, I pillioned, he said I was great, I was stiff as hell after no more than 100km. Second mate decided wheelies were the order of the day, and did one in 2nd and one in 4th on a zx10 during both of which the bike twisted sideways. Capped it off with 200kph round a corner. :shit:

Went on the back after that on short trips, he complained I was shit and stretched his chain (moan bag). Third rider gave up as I sat on the back, too heavy for him and bike.

Happy to pillion, and best pillion was Nicksta, who weighs about 5 fifths of fuck all, and even to the bike, felt like a backpack. Worst pillion was a mate who I unfortunately scared, not to mention him weighing 130+kg. (I still blame him for ruining the swingarm bearings :D). Fantastic knowledge was gained on just how long it took to haul the bike up tho.

Maki

16th July 2008, 02:52

Only did ride pillion one time, with a testosterone crazed friend of mine on a CBR600. At one stage we hit 4X the speed limit, 200kph in a 50kph zone. Spent the whole ride either accelerating hard or braking hard.

They guy did not have a licence, was not an experienced rider, had never taken a motorcycling course, hell, he didn't even own a bike, the one he was on was borrowed.

He is an adrenaline junky and he ended up losing it (not with me on it though), he couldn't make a corner and he high sided it off into some grass. The bike was a total wreck but he was able to run away, get home, get his brother (who had a licence) and his brother claimed to have been riding the bike when police arrived at the scene... The police could not figure out how it could be that the guy did not have a scratch on him when the bike had turned into a twisted piece of scrap metal!!! Mwuhahahahahaha.........

Needless to say I have never pillioned again, and won't unless my life depends on it.

I'm motarded

16th July 2008, 06:37

Hate being a pillion, but I would if I had to

Owl

16th July 2008, 07:03

perhaps but i know a few guys who seem to revel in the idea of scaring their passengers to death, i have a mate who thought it was funny to tow my wife at 50 mph waterskiing one day, needless to say none of my family will ever go behind his boat again (and he rides as well)

50mph with a plank? Barefoot no problem, though a fall will hurt.:msn-wink:

As for been a pillion, I'm not keen. The last time was on the back of twin shock XR500 and we were only travelling about 300 metres. Half of that was on the rear wheel with my feet around the riders ears.:spanking: Not happy!

awayatc

16th July 2008, 07:07

Pillion?
on a bike?
on NZ roads?
I have done it before,
and I may do it again......
But it is not my prefered mode of transport.....:nono:

swbarnett

18th July 2008, 16:40

I won't go pillion by choice.

I have done a couple of times. Once on the back of the wife's CBR1000 in the 80s. After that she won't take me pillion. I do everything wrong and throw her off balance because I'm just too scared. I just can't stand being out of control.

The only other time I rode pillion was when a complete stranger offered me a ride home what I needed to get my bike running at the road side. I was reluctant but didn't want to offend and couldn't see any other way to get the job done.

I am, however, very happy to take a pillion (although not on my current bike for obvious reasons). I once overfilled the oil reservoir on my XJ600. Unbeknownst to me the overflow was right in front of the rear tyre - made for a very slippery ride. All this with my wife on the back (>100kg).

Griffin

19th July 2008, 00:07

Went Pillion once... never again. Scared the bejeezes outta me - no control, no braking ability and I was back hugging a guy! :crazy:

Jiminy

19th July 2008, 01:51

I haven't been a pillion since I started riding, but if it wasn't for the fact that it's a lost opportunity to ride my bike, I'd certainly enjoy it. I would only do it with someone I trust, though.

Mikkel

19th July 2008, 02:00

A few of people I wouldn't hesitate to pillion with (if they would take me mind...):

El Stevo
HelenofTroy
Jim2 (James Deuce)
MSTRS
Tacoman
+ a number of people who haven't got a profile on here.

EJK

19th July 2008, 02:09

Can someone pillion me? Being a pillon is fun! :D well except when they hit you with their elbow jolting a message of "Stay still you are ruining the balance" ;).

Wait... Am I the only one who likes to be a pillion?

P.S. Hey GIJOE, can you please bring a CB900 next time when you are going to pillion me? I'm sick of 250s! I want to atleast go on a big bike as a pillion! :laugh:

19th July 2008, 07:30

*shudders*
I hate being a pillion.

CookMySock

19th July 2008, 07:32

wheelies as a pillion are fun!woah, how the hell do you do that ? I have trouble with passengers staying connected to the bike at anything over 2/3 power, let alone on the back wheel.. :whistle:

Wait... Am I the only one who likes to be a pillion?No Way! I have many fond memories of being on the back of my mates' bike in the 80's. Awesome.. tried my best to reach the bars from the pillion seat, but never could.. oh well..

DB

Okey Dokey

20th July 2008, 14:20

I'll pillion with my husband, but really prefer to ride my own bike.

That being said, he is a faster, more aggressive rider than me and I enjoy learning how much the bike is capable of doing.

I'm not keen to carry pillions, however. I just don't feel comfortable/confident with them.

glice

20th July 2008, 14:27

I dont like it very much at all, I dont even like taking people on my bike.

alanzs

20th July 2008, 18:13

I used to ride pillion as a kid and it was fun. But, over the last few decades, I don't like it at all. Since then, I have only done it in emergencies eg., tyre was flat and I needed a lift to the shop while on a ride with friends. I don't really like having pillions on my bike as well. Alone and silent is one of the appeals of riding...