Two up.

[varminter]

Tuesday arvo I had my wife on the back of the bike for the first time. Had a little potter around town, I found the trickiest thing was stopping and starting off, she found the hardest thing was getting her leg over (no comments please, and she does have a knee replacement).

Today I suggested going over to Maketu for a proper ride. Got over there, went to the cafe (very nice coffee) and said "what would you like for lunch", "aren't we going to Whakatane for fish and chips" she said. Swill the coffee, back on the bike and down the coast road to Whakatane. Out to the cafe on the wharf and stoke up on the aforementioned fish & chips (excellent) and another coffee. Back on the bike and back to Rotovegas via the lakes, should have taken the togs, it was hot as hell. Stopped at Te Ngae for shopping and nearly melted in my boots.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, coming up the Rotoma's my boot scraped the ground. Now, that's no big deal for those of you that wear the sides of your helmet off on the bends but it was a first for me.

[Pixie]

Might need to wind up the rear preload if you intend more two up riding

[blackdog]

tell wifey to put left foot on left peg, then stand up on it and swing right leg over (like mounting a horse)

just make sure u ready for it!............

[varminter]

Yup, did that and another 5 psi in the rear tire as recommended by the book. This was training for our round the East Cape trip later this month.

[FJRider]

Having a passenger does mean it is a little different ... starting and stopping. A few short rides often, will get you used to it ... but never the same as solo rides ...

The fact that there's no mention of wifey's comment ... and were fit enough to post the report (even after scraping the boot) ...means she DID enjoy the ride ...

[YellowDog]

Congrats to you on getting Mrs V to enjoy the ride.

Success!

[PrincessBandit]

Nothing like that first time having someone on the back. Well done, and you obviously did a great job as she was keen to continue instead of heading back to the safety of home at the first available opportunity!

Pillion mounting using the "step on the left peg" is fine as long as you can physically handle the loading as they get into position - I frequently do it when getting on the back of my husband's bike or other guys I sometimes ride behind. I never get my own pillions to do it as I'm terrified I'd drop the bike in the process! hehehehe, they have to manage getting their leg over from ground level.

[varminter]

Yes, Mrs V enjoyed it, even seemed a little disappointed that I didn't go home via Taneatua. She has done a fair bit of pillion riding in her former life so wasn't worried at all. Did say she was slightly concerned about the bike leaning, especially as I told her I scraped a boot. I do prefer riding solo but admit that the V-Strom appears good for two up. Which is good seeing as that's why we bought it. She would like an electrically cooled suit, I told her to wait until winter comes.

[CookMySock]

What a great day out! Thats the beginning of something really great for both of you.

When loading a pillion, put your weight on your right foot, and load them from your left side. This always just seems to work well.

When cornering, ask them to look past your helmet to the left for a left corner, rinse and repeat to the right for a right corner. This involves the pillion in the ride, gives them something to do instead of worrying about the angle of lean, keeps their center of mass inside yours during a corner, and makes it easy for them to transition to more spirited riding.

For stopping and starting, practice touching the ground with only your tip-toes and defintely do not put your feet down flat and put lots of weight on them. The wheels are for putting weight on, and the bars are used for keeping the wheels under you, so resist the temptation to hold the bike up with your feet, because as you have noticed, with a pillion that gets quite awkward.

Steve

[Mom]

Tuesday arvo I had my wife on the back of the bike for the first time.

Well done both of you! It is something really special to share as a couple. Maha and I both ride, but I love pillioning with him too.

All you need to do as the rider is make sure your feet are firmly and safely planted before your lovely lady puts weight on the left peg. So, level ground and best feet down you can do. She must alert you to the fact that she is about to step up. I usually tap Maha on the shoulder.

Step up on the peg with the left foot and bring the leg/knee to the seat first. Rest the knee on the seat and take a second movement to bring the foot over the seat down to the right peg. Taking two bites at the movement allows a much smoother pillion mount and does not place as much stress on the pillions/legs/foot/hip etc. If you really want to make things easy for your lovely lady find a curb for her to step up from That is less of a step, less stress through hips and much easier. Double if you can find a picnic table for her to stand on the seat part before she steps up to the pegs

The East Cape is divine and so yummy to ride around. We did it a couple of years ago.

[slofox]

Hmmm...my "lady friend" absolutely refuses to even get near my bike, let alone on the pillion seat. That's probably because she's a chicken farted scaredy-cat! Or it might be because she thinks I am a total lunatic on a bike. Or maybe even because she grew up on a farm and is used to riding trail bikes herself. But I reckon it's the chicken farted scaredy-cat one meself...

Never mind - this way I only have to worry about busting my own arse and not hers as well. And besides, she can't see all the stuff I have wasted money on - like heated grips, Stebel horn, TPX, Two Bros can, etc etc etc...

[EJK]

Mint story

[Sharry]

What a cool story, may you have many wonderful rides together. Being a pillion is excelent when you trust the rider.

[Tink]

Awesomely nice story.... its great when you can do stuff together! Even if ya sear yr soxx off in the heat...

[caseye]

Yes it is always nice having wifey pilioning with me, shes ridden behind me for many many years and is quite used to my riding, since she got her own bike though she leans a little more than I'd normally expect and this was a little scary for the first few turns, then I just added a bit more throttle and leaned a bit more, worked fine.
Enjoy the rides with her mate they will get better and better.