Took a pillion for the first time today

[Old Steve]

Earier in the week I arranged a ride for today. A friend of mine said he'd love to come but his bike is in pieces having the engine rebuilt (it's done 130,000 km). "But that's OK," said he, "You can take me as a pillion."

Now I've never had a pillion on my bike before. So we take off, it's great to have an experienced rider on the pillion seat because they don't move around, they know what's happening (acceleration and braking), and they just sit upright and don't fight the corners.

We did 250 km or so, over the Kaimais, through the forest west of Tokoroa, down to Whakamaru for coffee, then along the Waikato River to SH! and across to Rotorua for lunch beside the lake, then home over the Pyes Pa Road. All with me carrying a pillion on the back! Did I say that I'd never had a pillion on my bike before?

Quietly feel quite proud of myself.

[MrKiwi]

I ride quite often with a pillion, but it mostly my wife and she has been doing it for years. I took my 16 year old daughter for ride and she fiddled, moved and changed weight all the time. When I got home I advised her that if she could not sit still that would be her last ride as pillion! An experienced pillion makes all the difference.

[Maha]

Well done Steve, can be a daunting thing at first, but having someone on the back that knows the 'pillion law' is a big help...
When I pillioned Anne for the first time (she has been around bikes since the mid 70's).. she made sure I knew very early on what it felt like when a pillion adjusts ones self in the seat behind you..
As time went on, I found myself checking the shadows on the road to see if she was still there....yip two of, carry on...

[Road kill]

It's bike,not buss.

So unless there's a root involved,,they can walk.

[nzspokes]

It's bike,not buss.

So unless there's a root involved,,they can walk.

Fair call, needed a laugh today. Cheers

[SMOKEU]

my 16 year old daughter

Pics or it didn't happen.

[GrayWolf]

Earier in the week I arranged a ride for today. A friend of mine said he'd love to come but his bike is in pieces having the engine rebuilt (it's done 130,000 km). "But that's OK," said he, "You can take me as a pillion."

Now I've never had a pillion on my bike before. So we take off, it's great to have an experienced rider on the pillion seat because they don't move around, they know what's happening (acceleration and braking), and they just sit upright and don't fight the corners.

We did 250 km or so, over the Kaimais, through the forest west of Tokoroa, down to Whakamaru for coffee, then along the Waikato River to SH! and across to Rotorua for lunch beside the lake, then home over the Pyes Pa Road. All with me carrying a pillion on the back! Did I say that I'd never had a pillion on my bike before?

Quietly feel quite proud of myself.

Good on you Steve, and a great confidence booster for pillion taking, the distance will have given you a good feel for how the bike handles/brakes 2 up.

[varminter]

The riding's no problem, it's the stopping that's the trouble. "can you pull up next to the edge, it's easier to get off", "can we stop here" on this nice steep cambered road