How to be a good pillion?

[Beemer]

...and sorry to all the angels who take pillions on a regular basis...I just haven't ever pillioned with a chick. Yet. So no sexist comments intended - merely observation. {end PC comment}

I had to laugh at that - but you'll probably find you pillion in a different way when you're on the back with a female rider, I know I do! With my husband, he likes my arms around his waist and I can rest my hands/forearms on his thighs - and of course I grip him with my thighs when he's braking. But when I'm on the back with a female, I am very careful about where I put my hands - don't want to inadvertently grab their boobies or tickle their thighs! And I tend not to sit as close as I do to my husband - feels a bit weird otherwise!

I've never taken a pillion - the RG wasn't really cut out for travelling two-up and the only person I'd probably take would be my husband, and he's usually on his own bike. If one of our bikes broke down somewhere, I'd still let him ride and I'd sit on the back even if it was my bike. I've never really had any desire to learn to take a pillion - probably because I don't consider myself a particularly experienced rider and think it's safer that way!

[Biff]

Pillions should never relax too much, it's important that they watch the road ahead and flex those stomach muscled in an attempt to avoid butting the rider, and of course falling off the back. Relaxing a bit helps absorb some of the momentum creating by accelerating and de-accelerating, but they it must be controlled in order to cater for the absorption of momentum.

One hand around the riders waist, the other palm pressed against the tank helps under heavy braking - but the bottom line is that riders must learn to adjust their riding technique when carrying pillions:

1. Brake a lot earlier than you normally would.
2. Change up the gears a lot earlier.
3. Ride smoothly - no hard acceleration/de-acceleration.

The best bikes for pillion riders are the ones with hold bard at the back of the seat, behind the pillion. The pillion can then cross their hands behind their backs while holding onto these bars, making it nearly impossible to fall off the back, even under the harshest of acceleration, and to assist with avoiding disappearing up the riders arse while under heavy braking.

[Eurygnomes]

Isn't crossing ones arms across ones back bad for ones shoulders (dear god, I hope Hitcher doesn't pull me up on my lack of apostrophising)? I know I have very dodgy shoulders at the best of times - they don't dislocate so much as overstretch - and even if I practice this at my desk it hurts after a very short time. When you add the jerking of stopping and starting, I'd be in agony. I definitely prefer the around the waist/against the tank option...personal choice though.

But yeah - I agree with the stomach muscles...I went for an hour long pillion last night and I must have been doing that, because my abs are achey today.

[FROSTY:Me]

actually I usually give first time pillions a lil speech along the lines of "trust me totally or be totally convinced you are gonna die"
Sounds weird but it seems to have the effect of making them behave in a predictable manner.
I think that is the number one most important thing a pillion can do -Be predictable. Possibly Im being arrogant but theres nothing a pillion has done that has really ever bothered me -leaning the wrong way -sat bolt upright -leaned in too early -You pick up on their way of thinking early on and ride to compensate for it.
The only time it has concerned me is when my ex wife changed her mind mid corner and sat back up -very worrying.
Mind you im currently pretty well spoiled having baby bikie as my regular pillion--he just plain reads my mind and follows what i do.

[Beemer]

I find grab bars really uncomfortable because I don't have very long arms and they always seem to be that little bit too far back or low down. Besides, there's nothing quite like snuggling up to my husband and wrapping my arms around his waist on a long ride! He will often reach up and give my hand a squeeze - and no, that's not because it has strayed...

[T.I.E]

Relax relax relax. And keep in mind --Its up to the rider to ride to suit YOUR experience level

totally agree, if your scared, then let the rider know. they need to slowly get you into it. to fast to slow what ever it is let them know. it's meant to be an experience not a roller coaster ride.
pillions should be enjoying it.
a happy pillion is great for motorcycles. its also a potentional rider in the waiting.
if you scare them first thought is " i'm never gonna get back on a bike ever again"
it that what we want?
so tell the rider what scares you. it's your life in there hands. so at least enjoy it.

[loosebruce]

God knows what you call em, but i remember seeing something that resembled a MX kidney belt that the rider wore and it had to hand grips either side for the pillion to hold onto, thought it'd be a good idea at the time, but i never really take passengers as a rule, even if it's not my fault i dont want anyone else getting hurt on my bike. So i lessen the risk and dont take em. And if i do, can you say nanabruce.
Everything else worth saying about pillioning has prolly already been said, but hope you enjoy it more with the tips given.

[Squiggles]

i tell them before they get on to hold on around my waist and to keep it that way around town. Otherwise she tends to relax and then squeezes me rather tightly when i speed up again....

[Torque]

Thanks guys.. it's nice to get both sides of the story. As we live in Raglan.. the tips about nice gentle motorway riding aren't really relevant, all rides start with a twisty roller coaster up over the deviation, which is, putting it mildly.. quite a work out. The K3 was a compact beast and being told to hold on tight was useless information as most of the ride I was trying to get away from him!! That is.. trying to avoid slamming his tender bits into the tank!
However the tip about reaching through and bracing one hand against the tank is a pearler.. kept my body close but not too close! Just hope the wrists don't give out!
In the past I've pillioned on bikes with a grab rail.. or a sissy bar.. heck one even had arm rests (yuck!) but these sports bikes are quite a different story.
Your body just seems to be in a weird position to feel in any control at all.. except when your travelling at speed in a straight line or around long smooth corners. But as you guys have said, it's up to the rider to take things a little easier, especially whilst manoeuvring about town.
Fingers crossed, with all this new knowledge, Torque will wack on the seat of the new K5 and invite me to join him sometime soon.. I'll keep you posted. Torque's partner.

[Biff]

I've never heard of crossing your hands behind you being bad for your shoulders. I've never had a any complaints from pillions that do it either. You don't have to have them there the whole time, especially when on longer, smooth journeys. But for braking, and a particularly acceleration, there's no better/safer place to put your hands IMO.

[mikey]

been pillion once.

back of trash gsxr1000.

shouldn say pillion more ballast.

i decided that if i fell off the back of bike i was bringng the scrawny cunt with me.

back to subject - how to be a good pillion,

HOLD ON, an brace ya self when breaking, could be fatal otherwise.

[vifferman]

You don't have to have them there the whole time, especially when on longer, smooth journeys. But for braking, and a particularly acceleration, there's no better/safer place to put your hands IMO.

I'd agree for braking, but having done a lot of pillioneering myself, the grab handles are generally too close to you to let you brace your self for acceleration.

You're right about not having to hold on tight the whole time - the vifferbabe doesn't hang on much, even though she's a relative newcomer to being a pillion. I think that's because I accelerate and brake as gently/progressively as I can, and because the Ventura rack on the back helps to reassure her she's not likely to fall off (even on the VTR, which had a sticker that said "Abandon hope, all ye who perch here!" )

Something that really helps is that when we're on a road with tight corners, she gets as close to me as possible, and I move forward a bit, to help centralise the mass. The rest of the time, we just sit so we're not going to get cramped.

[mstriumph]

I prefer not to pillion - but if I have to carry one I agree predictability is the biggie. I ask that they settle themselves whichever way they feel most comfortable but as closely against my back as possible. That way I can feel directly what they are doing and compensate as necessary. Then again, my bikes aren't as quick or responsive as most of the bikes here so my probs in this area are probably less?

actually I usually give first time pillions a lil speech along the lines of "trust me totally or be totally convinced you are gonna die"
Sounds weird but it seems to have the effect of making them behave in a predictable manner.
I think that is the number one most important thing a pillion can do -Be predictable. Possibly Im being arrogant but theres nothing a pillion has done that has really ever bothered me -leaning the wrong way -sat bolt upright -leaned in too early -You pick up on their way of thinking early on and ride to compensate for it.
The only time it has concerned me is when my ex wife changed her mind mid corner and sat back up -very worrying.
Mind you im currently pretty well spoiled having baby bikie as my regular pillion--he just plain reads my mind and follows what i do.