carrying a pillion.

[cowboyz]

Got the little woman on the bike for the first time on Friday. I have spent the better time of a lifetime trying and finally she agreed. Had a great trip out to the beach. She was pretty well behaved on the back of the bike and it went well, but (you know there is always a but).... Once we got back into Palmytown how do you check what is behind you? On my own on the bike I can slide half off the seat and check behind me. With someone on the back I can't. Mirrors are a bit of a joke. Is there a technique useful?

[yungatart]

Umm, get her to sit backwards and then she can tell you.

[cowboyz]

In the risk of 10 characters or less....


huh?

[aff-man]

get better mirrors.... or a smaller woman.

But seriously there is no technique. Try fiddling with the mirror angles you might be able to just see passed here if you widen the range.....

[bugjuice]

or just go faster than everything else on the road, then you don't need to care about what's behind you..

[Karma]

Why do you need to see what's behind you? Didn't you see them on the way past when you overtook?

[cowboyz]

but I like my mirrors. They are bloody hopeless but look cool. For that matter I am quite fond of the woman too...

[bugjuice]

well, if you like your mirrors, point one at yourself, and the other at your missus.. makes you both happy..

[Holy Roller]

Take a physical look behind by turning your head like we did in the old days or get some bar end mirrors.

[Ixion]

or just go faster than everything else on the road, then you don't need to care about what's behind you..

Unless what's behind you has pretty flashing lights !

[oldrider]

Serious question deserves serious response. Are your mirrors adjustable or are they fixed in the stork out from the fairing. Most of them have an adjustable mirror in the end.
Without using too much force see if you can move them. Even better ask at your nearest dealer if they are adjustable.
They look as if they stick out far enough unless you are one big mother.
Good on you for being careful in introducing your most significant other to the world of biking, there is a lot of fun to be had together if you do it right.
You don't want to scare her off unnecessarily. Cheers John.

[Fatjim]

Well done, next task, get her to start riding her own bike.

Now, other solutions to your problem.

you can get spacers to move your mirrors out further, or you can get aftermarket mirrors with longer stalks quite cheaply.

[cowboyz]

Serious question deserves serious response. Are your mirrors adjustable or are they fixed in the stork out from the fairing. Most of them have an adjustable mirror in the end.
Without using too much force see if you can move them. Even better ask at your nearest dealer if they are adjustable.
They look as if they stick out far enough unless you are one big mother.
Good on you for being careful in introducing your most significant other to the world of biking, there is a lot of fun to be had together if you do it right.
You don't want to scare her off unnecessarily. Cheers John.

The mirrors do move by I just couldnt get them right. I am not a customed to using mirrors and a rule anyway. when by myself I dont use them at all. If I do want to know what is behind/beside me then I turn and look. Maybe that is why I am having so much trouble.

It was great to have her on the back of the bike. I did do the nice thing and sat on 110k all the way to the beach. I had one very minor "oh fuck it" moment where I leant into a 65k corner (nicely like) and the corner was a little bit longer than what my wife thought it should be and sat up striaght half way round it. This caused my little 600 to have a little hissy fit and twist a bit but I dont think she noticed to much. I politely asked if she would stay with me when cornering cause I don't want to fall off either. All good after that. Hoping to spend more time 2up this summer and look at getting a smaller bike for her to learn how to ride on. All good really.

[lia]

a comment from the backseat rider ...

just get her out more and let her get used to it. when she learns to trust you gets comfortable with riding you wont even know she is there.

its when your pillion feels ok to "nap" on long journeys that you know you got it sorted!

[boomer]

a comment from the backseat rider ...

just get her out more and let her get used to it. when she learns to trust you gets comfortable with riding you wont even know she is there.

its when your pillion feels ok to "nap" on long journeys that you know you got it sorted!

Is your man putting you to sleep is he?

The world is spinning too fast
I'm buying lead Nike shoes
To keep myself tethered
To the days I try to lose

My mama said to slow down
You should make your shoes
Stop dancing to the music
Of Gorillaz in a happy mood

Keep a mild groove on

Ba ba ba
Day dee bop

There you go!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!

There's a monkey in the jungle
Watching a vapour trail
Caught up in the conflict
Between his brain and his tail

And if time's elimination
Then we got nothing to lose
Please repeat the message
It's the music that we choose

Keep a mild groove on

Ba ba ba
Day dee bop

OK bring it down yeah we gonna break out
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!
Get the cool!
Get the cool shoeshine!

Ah Ah Ah Ah

Day doo de bop