Pillioning. Is it discussed enough?

[GrayWolf]

Certain bikes are more appealing to lady pillions than others. A friend rode across Australia on an old Harley with the missus on the back. She got so bored that she put a golf ball into the pillion seat. Reckons it was the best holiday she has ever had but was hell on her knickers.

mine found the MT 'interesting'

[nzspokes]

Im going to be taking a pillion out for the first time soon. What is best practice for them getting on the bike? Rider first then pillion?

I would have thought thats the best way?

[neels]

Depends on the bike and the pillion really, my XJ600 it was easier for mrs to get on first and me after, ducati it works better if I get on first. The bandit has a pretty big seat so should be easy enough for a pillion to get on with the rider on, my mrs finds it easier to step up on the front peg to get a leg over.

[nzspokes]

Depends on the bike and the pillion really, my XJ600 it was easier for mrs to get on first and me after, ducati it works better if I get on first. The bandit has a pretty big seat so should be easy enough for a pillion to get on with the rider on, my mrs finds it easier to step up on the front peg to get a leg over.

The lady Im taking has had hip surgery so her on first may be better then. Do you just sit it on the side stand while she gets on?

Sorry, total newb at this.

[neels]

The lady Im taking has had hip surgery so her on first may be better then. Do you just sit it on the side stand while she gets on?

Sorry, total newb at this.

Yep, more room if you leave the bike on the sidestand and she climbs on, and maybe hang on to the handlebar to stop the bike moving around or heading highside if too much weight goes that way. Was always the way I did it on the yammy, not so keen with duc as the sidestand is mounted on the engine casing.

[nzspokes]

Yep, more room if you leave the bike on the sidestand and she climbs on, and maybe hang on to the handlebar to stop the bike moving around or heading highside if too much weight goes that way. Was always the way I did it on the yammy, not so keen with duc as the sidestand is mounted on the engine casing.

Cheers. I want her to enjoy it so want to have some idea before we start.

Guess getting a knee down and wheelies are out.

[mrchips]

Yep, more room if you leave the bike on the sidestand and she climbs on, and maybe hang on to the handlebar to stop the bike moving around or heading highside if too much weight goes that way. Was always the way I did it on the yammy, not so keen with duc as the sidestand is mounted on the engine casing.

My wifes got, ahem....... short legs so i park adjacent a kerb or something to give her a bit of height, helps with swinging her leg over the pillion seat. Failing that the above method where she climbs on & shimmy's back onto the pillion seat works a treat. Just grab the front break ! Desn't take much jiggling for the thing to roll forward off the side stand..... not a good look !

[nzspokes]

My wifes got, ahem....... short legs so i park adjacent a kerb or something to give her a bit of height, helps with swinging her leg over the pillion seat. Failing that the above method where she climbs on & shimmy's back onto the pillion seat works a treat. Just grab the front break ! Desn't take much jiggling for the thing to roll forward off the side stand..... not a good look !

Crap!! Thanks for that. Front brake will be held.

[John_H]

Squeeze with hips when braking helps.
Hold gently onto waist.
When mounting bike put one arm on your shoulder so you can brace up the bike. Once their ready to take off give a tap on the shoulder, which save all the muffled helmet communication of "Are you ready?"

[sinfull]

Crap!! Thanks for that. Front brake will be held.

Watch you don't create too much stress on the side stand, they aren't built to take much more than the bikes weight !

If yr lady has just had a hip done, whats her other one like ? If she can step up a flight of stairs, have her try stepping up on one rear peg if it aint too high and like John said a tap on the shoulder to let ya know to brace, then she just steps up on to one side and gently puts the bad hip over the seat !

[Maha]

The lady Im taking has had hip surgery so her on first may be better then. Do you just sit it on the side stand while she gets on?

Sorry, total newb at this.

Did this take place?
Was said pillion new to this also?
I would very interested to hear about the outcome.

[CookMySock]

I tell my pillions this ;

This is the handgrip behind your butt, hold on if you want to, or else put your hands on your thighs.

You don't HAVE to DO anything.

It will be nicer and more interesting for you if you do this - look at the road ahead, and for a left-hand corner move your helmet to the left and look at the oncoming road past the riders helmet - don't take your eyes off the road. If the rider moves in their seat, then leave your head and body in the same position. Rinse and repeat for right-hand corners. In windy roads, make the transition as fluid as possible with no sudden movements.

If you are having fun in the corners and would like to "get involved", then BEFORE the rider tips the bike in - for a left-hand corner, put your left knee out and lean on it with your left hand, while holding the grab bar with your other hand. Rinse and repeat for righhand corners. Never move whatsoever while the rider is mid-corner.

Please don't touch the rider while he/she is busy.

Wriggle about by all means - on a straight piece of road, never in a corner or manoeuvring at low speed (like U turns.)

If you feel uneasy, don't understand something, or get a fright, look down at your crotch and DO NOTHING.

Hand signals briefing - stop, go, left, right, slow down.

[nzspokes]

Did this take place?
Was said pillion new to this also?
I would very interested to hear about the outcome.

Not tried yet. Pillion will be new to it so Im going to ask a lady friend who has pillioned before to come with me so I can get a feel for it. But first I want some more time on the new bike to fully have the feel of it. No hurry.

Was intrested to be stopped at a pub in Mercer on the weekend watching different styles of riders getting on the back. So if you thought there was some creepy old dude checking out your women, I was just watching how they got on your bike. Honest.

[CookMySock]

erm, btw I am surprised you'd leave the sidestand down while loading a pillion - its very easy to drop the bike doing this.

What happens, particularly so with, er, larger pillions, is they climb on and flomp down, er, heavily, which suddently compresses the rear suspension down to the point where the bike is now on a substantial lean away from the kickstand, and you are putting a huge amount of force on the bars and your right foot to hold the bike upright. Pretty much at this point you are screwed unless you can hiss through your gritted teeth that they should get back off again very quickly, or you have the strength and presence of mind to lean the very heavy bike (and the pillion) further over, clear the fouled kickstand and stow it, and then return the bike upright, but frankly I do not like your chances.

I put the kickstand up, direct the pillion to the left rear of the bike, tilt the bike to the right and put all my weight on my right foot, hold the bars and the front brake, and invite them to mount the left footpeg with their left foot, and swing the right foot over in the conventional manner. Loading in this way is a total non-event. I (91kg) can even climb on the back of my 650 with my little 17 y/o daughter (55kg!) at the controls, and it is completely a non event for her. If this was done with the kickstand down, the bike would be on the ground in seconds, and there would be absolutely nothing the rider could do about it.

[nzspokes]

erm, btw I am surprised you'd leave the sidestand down while loading a pillion - its very easy to drop the bike doing this.

What happens, particularly so with, er, larger pillions, is they climb on and flomp down, er, heavily, which suddently compresses the rear suspension down to the point where the bike is now on a substantial lean away from the kickstand, and you are putting a huge amount of force on the bars and your right foot to hold the bike upright. Pretty much at this point you are screwed unless you can hiss through your gritted teeth that they should get back off again very quickly, or you have the strength and presence of mind to lean the very heavy bike (and the pillion) further over, clear the fouled kickstand and stow it, and then return the bike upright, but frankly I do not like your chances.

I put the kickstand up, direct the pillion to the left rear of the bike, tilt the bike to the right and put all my weight on my right foot, hold the bars and the front brake, and invite them to mount the left footpeg with their left foot, and swing the right foot over in the conventional manner. Loading in this way is a total non-event. I (91kg) can even climb on the back of my 650 with my little 17 y/o daughter (55kg!) at the controls, and it is completely a non event for her. If this was done with the kickstand down, the bike would be on the ground in seconds, and there would be absolutely nothing the rider could do about it.

Good info, I had thought I would leave it down. I wont now. Cheers.