Pillion advice wanted.

**Clubbie** · 19th November 2009, 09:40

I'm about to start carrying a pillion for the first time.

I'm looking for advice both for me as a rider, and to give them in terms of a 'passenger briefing'.

I NEED to get this right, my intended passenger is the wifey and I really want to share my love of riding without terrifying her.

End goal - a happy wifey I can sneak away for the odd overnighter.

I'd very much appreciate your advice.

**MSTRS:Me** · 19th November 2009, 10:19

Having a pillion on the back means the bike will not behave as you are used to. You must compensate by...
Tell your pillion to pretend they are a sack of potatoes. You do not want them moving about on the seat or leaning counter to the bike in corners.
You need to tell them to keep their feet on the pegs - you will hold the bike up.
You must have them 'ask permission' before they get on or off. You have to be able to hold the whole lot up by yourself.
It may help your pillion to put one arm around you and the other with hand pressing against the tank. That helps them to not slide forward/back.
You must be gentle on the throttle and gentle on the brakes.

Get it right, and it is a very rewarding form of biking. And it will make you a better rider.
But get it wrong...

**p.dath** · 19th November 2009, 10:26

Have a signal if they want you to pull over (such as toilet break). Like tapping on your leg or helmet.

Have a signal for you to give them to hold on if you intend to brake or accelerate hard. Otherwise their helmet might dong your helmet, or you may frighten them.

**EgliHonda** · 19th November 2009, 10:38

As above, tell her you will tap helmets together occasionally. It's no biggy, as she won't anticipate every move, but will learn to minimise contact in time. Being gentle on throttle/brake as already mentioned will help here...

Tell her also not to freak out if the lean angle seems too much. My wifey doesn't like a particular left hander that I can really drop into (safely) on the way home. It probably feels worse on the back, than at the controls, to be fair...

Went through a similar exercise a couple of years ago with my missus, who had never been on a bike. If you are gentle and ride safe she should learn to trust you and enjoy the experience, good luck...

**jim.cox** · 19th November 2009, 10:40

I tell them to "look to the inside of corners"

It naturally starts to get the leaning right - although novices will still tend to sit rather upright

**Duke girl** · 19th November 2009, 10:53

On your 1st outing with your pillion just make it a short journey to see how things go and then if all is ok with your pillion then your remaining journey's can be as long as you want them to be.

The info you have been given so far is there for you to put into practice and like the saying goes the more practice you do the better it will become for both you and your pillion.

Goodluck and I hope you both have many enjoyable journeys together.

Enjoy.

**Gremlin** · 19th November 2009, 11:03

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...pillion+advice
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...pillion+advice
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...pillion+advice
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...pillion+advice

**vifferman** · 19th November 2009, 11:21

Thanx, Gremlin.

**Hanne** · 19th November 2009, 11:28

Also make sure you know exactly when she is hopping on and off, check with each other before she does this that you are both ready. Can make bike quite unstable if you are not expecting the extra weight on one side as she hops on!

In terms of holding on, knees are good to help with this, or her hands on your hips/ one hand round you one on grab rail. Will differ from pillion to pillion as to what they prefer

**Reckless** · 19th November 2009, 11:32

Advise her if she has to reposition herself, scratch her arse or move on the bike do it while your riding not when you stop at the lights and are trying to keep the balance! Common mistake by newbie pillions.

Oh and when its safe, talk to her make it fun and ride to a place you can have coffee she'll probably like it more than the ride the first few times!
Don't just take her for a 10 min hack around the block she will need time to relax and get used to it! The stuff you find Boring is best here.

**Clubbie** · 19th November 2009, 14:41

Hey thanks so much guys, that's a wicked amount of info in such a short time!

I really appreciate your input.... (This is not a signal to stop posting to this thread)

**PrincessBandit** · 19th November 2009, 15:14

Yes, some great advice here already. I would really advise you work on the bracing point (I use the backs of my fingers against the tank, being a little short person when on the back of a bike). Otherwise you might find yourself with some bruised bitsys from a forceful slide into the tank on sudden stopping... Hopefully you will be paying even more attention to your stops anyway so that should minimise the issue.

**sunhuntin** · 19th November 2009, 15:44

Originally Posted by Reckless

Advise her if she has to reposition herself, scratch her arse or move on the bike do it while your riding not when you stop at the lights and are trying to keep the balance! Common mistake by newbie pillions.

yep! my ex did that as i was slowing for some lights. nearly dropped the lot! needless to say, she got a strip torn off when we stopped.

another good one is tell her to keep her boots off the exhaust if theres a chance they may meet. boots will melt and can be a real bitch to clean off! best way if you have pegs is to put the toes on the peg and hold the rest of the foot up.

**Clubbie** · 19th November 2009, 16:07

So the general consensus seems to be have a hand on the tank? What's up with pillions holding on behind their backs to a grab rail? Good? Bad? Pros and cons please.