Pillioning. Is it discussed enough?

**Latte** · 15th April 2012, 22:07

Took the mrs for a ride today and i'd like a bit of advice. Doing some liberal overtaking she complained of helmet buffeting once we hit 106-107 (might have the 0 in thevwrong place there) so wondering what can be done about that. And she liked it enough that we're thinking of heading away somewhere for an overnighter for our anniversary. Any ideas for a nice place to go for a b and b, nice scenery etc for her and some reasonably fun roads for me? From auckland roughly an easy half/full day ride.

**PrincessBandit** · 15th April 2012, 22:10

As been said, a good pillion should hardly be noticeable. When on the back of anyones bike I imagine being glued to their back - hands on their waist and my elbows tucked in against my sides usually works well for me. When I have anyone on the back of my bike my main thing is to ensure they're not a squirmer. My son used to also put his hands on my shoulders, which I hated as it felt like he was pushing me down into the saddle. As the rider it is up to me to ensure I don't scare the shit out of my pillion, and all accelerating and braking is eased into considerably more. (Even for a girlie it can be painful being shoved into your petrol tank...)

**cowboyz** · 15th April 2012, 22:19

Originally Posted by Latte

Took the mrs for a ride today and i'd like a bit of advice. Doing some liberal overtaking she complained of helmet buffeting once we hit 106-107 (might have the 0 in thevwrong place there) so wondering what can be done about that. And she liked it enough that we're thinking of heading away somewhere for an overnighter for our anniversary. Any ideas for a nice place to go for a b and b, nice scenery etc for her and some reasonably fun roads for me? From auckland roughly an easy half/full day ride.

advice.. dont do 106-107

you can get passt traffic just easy at slower speeds. Depending on your bike remember the pillion is pirched up in mi air and doesnt have bars to hold on to.

make it a scarey ride and before long you will be complaining that Mrs doesnt want to spend time with you on the bike

**Latte** · 15th April 2012, 23:01

Originally Posted by cowboyz

advice.. dont do 106-107

you can get passt traffic just easy at slower speeds. Depending on your bike remember the pillion is pirched up in mi air and doesnt have bars to hold on to.

make it a scarey ride and before long you will be complaining that Mrs doesnt want to spend time with you on the bike

Yeah you're right, just interested why it affected her and not me. She wasn't phased by the speed itself, just the buffeting.

Cheers though

**cowboyz** · 15th April 2012, 23:12

Originally Posted by Latte

Yeah you're right, just interested why it affected her and not me. She wasn't phased by the speed itself, just the buffeting.

Cheers though

sit upright at 150+ and see exactly how much you get knocked around.. it might surprise you.

**sinfull** · 15th April 2012, 23:46

Originally Posted by Latte

Yeah you're right, just interested why it affected her and not me. She wasn't phased by the speed itself, just the buffeting.

Cheers though

It's just the effect of the wind going around your helmet, tell her to try ducking her head down towards yours and have a little faith at them speeds !

Oh and take her for a night at the Whangamomona hotel ! They say on a still night you can hear the banjos

**bittertwistedcute** · 19th April 2012, 12:10

I was a long time pillion, have only been riding for a few years and now I pillion my daughter, who is the same height as me.

As a pillion we had "codes" tapping one leg meant pay attention (I am about to move, you are riding like a drunk man etc)
Tapping on both legs meant I need to talk to you, then we could do little hand signals for coffee, pull over now etc
I have always held on lower hip, one hand on tank if going downhill in twisties.
When sleeping I would tuck my hands under my thighs and doze off

Now that I have a pillion (what a bloody swift learning curve) we have been through

"Don't look around, ever, look over my shoulder a little or look at my back. If we are going left look over my left shoulder, right/right. Don't get on or off until you have tapped my shoulder AND I have nodded. Don't wriggle wriggle until you have tapped my leg AND I have nodded. If you need to stop soon tap both legs, if it is urgent just keep tapping"
"Don't move if we are going slow at all"
"Don't turn around and wave to your friends on the bus at the lights, mum will fall off and push you under the bike so it doesn't get scratched alright"

**GrayWolf** · 19th April 2012, 21:10

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

Yep, you know you're doing it right when they can't stay awake!

you are talking about pillion??

just checking

**GrayWolf** · 19th April 2012, 21:27

I have always talked through what to expect with a new pillion
and as many of us old buggers find out, a lot of women tried it once as a teenager and got harry hoon scare the shit out of them.
My partner had never been on anything other than a pushbike, and fell off that so stopped riding.
I take the view a good pillion is 'made' by the rider's teaching and input.. I know Mtrs and I strongly disagreed on this before.
I will explain to them how cornering a bike works, what i expect and they need to do on the back when cornering.. I do not hold with, sack of spuds teaching... my missus was glad to know what to expect and how to react/behave.
I wont take a newbie or a was scared off it straight out onto the highway... they are a learner, so I treat them as such... Partner was quickly at ease enough to go over the 'taka's at 'speed' and out on wednesday rides with the local KBer's on the 'rapa back roads.

**Flip** · 19th April 2012, 21:55

IMHO it depends on the bike a lot. Two up on a sports bike does not look very comfortable. I had a girlfriend who had a VFR400 back when they were the ducks nuts and I did not like going on the back at all. Two up on the Hog is not a problem, I just put an extra 5psi in the rear suspension and its all fine.

This was taken on a advanced riding course at Ruapuna. She who must be obeyed had no problems at all.

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**Andy67** · 22nd April 2012, 11:20

Some excellent advice in this thread. I would just like to add that forward observation and planning are even more important when pillion ing given added stresses on the bikes brakes and suspension especially combined with downhill runs into tight stuff.

Here's a vid of me taking a friend out for her first ride. Her enjoyment was the most important part. I stuck to the speed limit, kept smooth and maintained a position on the road that would allo me to look through comers and avoid oncoming traffic etc. pillions don't enjoy close encounters.

Maybe there's some thing useful, hope so.

http://dpil8pjd18z0e.cloudfront.net/...1A74639FC6DCAD

Cheers

Andy

**Geeen** · 22nd April 2012, 12:19

Originally Posted by Andy67

Some excellent advice in this post. I would just like to add that forward observation and planning are even more important when pillion ing given added stresses on the bikes brakes and suspension especially combined with downhill runs into tight stuff.

Here's a vid of me taking a friend out for her first ride. Her enjoyment was the most important part. I stuck to the speed limit, kept smooth and maintained a position on the road that would allo me to look through comers and avoid oncoming traffic etc. pillions don't enjoy close encounters.

Maybe there's some thing useful, hope so.

http://dpil8pjd18z0e.cloudfront.net/...1A74639FC6DCAD

Cheers

Andy

What road s that? It looks tantalisingly familiar....