How do you treat new pillions?

[toads]

any pillion gets #1 with me, cos I would h8 to put anyone off bikes, mind you I couldn't scare anyone with a gn250 or the 400, they aren't exactly wheelie material anyway

[Two Smoker]

Legend MR hehehehe I take it easy with pillions to start with and slowly increase the pace, i tell them just to tap me on the arm or stomach to say "im fucking scared now" i always get them to hold on to me, so they do what i do, unless they are expereinced with pillioning or riding...

[Posh Tourer :P]

Exactly TS. I think getting them to hold on to you is best. That way the first reaction is to hold on tighter to you, this before they sit up in the corner. Also lets you know exactly how they are feeling, whether they are happy, scared, sleeping etc.
Also gives you the chance to start at #1 and move up to #2 if you feel like you can

[SpankMe]

I've had one guy scream like a girl on the back of my old CBR600 and one girl swear she'll never ride on the back of a bike again after I took her for a ride on my SV650s. And I wasn't even going that fast, I swear.

My old girlfriend was involved in a couple of accidents while on the back of my GB500tt and GPZ500 and it didn't stop her from getting back on the bike. Even on the last one where she lost heaps of skin on one leg. She just got back on the bike for the ride to the A&E.

[White trash]

Even though this asks about "Newbie" pillions I'll share one.

About 5 years ago before "The Peoples Hero" was a gifted Rossi wannabe, he had a new 1200 Bandit, I rode a then new fuel injected GSXR750. Ol' Johann, being the helpfull chap he is, had rooted the clutch on the Bandit trying to tow a tree from the ground for his parents at home. Hence, he found himself in the unenviable position of being in the suicide seat of the "Rubbish Truck".

For those who don't know him, Johann is a talented rider but an extremely shitty pillion. The prick will jump on the back with you and grab ya in a death grip around the shoulders! Once moving he trys to steer you in the fashion he'd like to ride. Most uncomfortable. He also has a nasty habit of scaring the shit out of pillions for a laugh when he's in control.

anyways, we get to the Whitford Brown lights by Porirua there and it's red. "Damn shame" says I.

Lights turn green and 115kg of Yo-show makes for pretty good balast. I go nice and gentle through first to lull him into a false sense of security. Grab 2nd, and wahoo, we're off. Yo gives me the time honoured bear hug and is hanging on so tight I can't get to the clutch to change gear. Smash it through to 3rd with the front wheel still well high and it just hangs for about another 500m. All this time I can't even breath!

When the front finally touches down, ol' "Take the credit" Bruns is punching the air with his fist like he did some thing special! Nice one.

Anyway, I go gentle on newbies.

[Slim]

I will always tell them what to do before they get on the bike, like leaning with the bike and not moving their weight around in corners etc.

I also discuss a signal they can use to get me to slow down or stop. And I'll frequently ask them if they're ok when we stop at intersections.



Before taking pillions you should always ask yourself how reckless would you be with someone elses life???

[k14]

Never taken a pillion. Don't know how good one would go on the cbr, the pillion seat is so high. Wouldn't rate it too highly.

[6Chris6]

Drop it on the first corner (at speed).

Nah, haven't taken one yet.
The ex sat on the back of the 250 once in the driveway but i think sittin up so high put her off a bit never would ride with me but i was on my learners so fair play.

[mangell6]

Took a friend for her first ride on a motorbike last year, she was 48! She was really nervous and I explained what she had to do as a pillion about leaning and everything. Took her over the back of UH over Wallaceville Hill to Whitemans Valley and back over Mangaroa and along SH2 to experience some 'speed' 100km and back home. She was buzzing when she hopped off and when her parents arrived did a big rave, and even rang her son in the UK about going for a ride.

The key was allowing for the newbie who was trying to do the right thing, leaning at the right moments so as not to give me moments. Not like my sister who insisted on sitting up straight every time we went around a corner!

[johno]

while on the back of my GB500tt and GPZ500 and it .[/QUOTE]

Ah yes, GPZ500, now there's a lovely memory. Pillions. Best experience I ever had was being a pillion on my own bike (Bandit 1200), my friend went for #3, wheelies the lot. The accelleration feeling as a pillion was phenomenal, I thought it was never going to stop accellerating and had to hold on for dear life. I tell you - it was fantastic, I couldn't stop laughing. But, it showed me how scary it can be on the back, a good lesson to take it easy, it's enough for most people.

[Wonko]

First time I took a pillion was about 2 months after getting the GL145. 90kg's extra on a bike that small made it interesting, but the worst bit was that Jay had been ridding bikes for the past 20+ years and leant into the courners eairlier than I did, making the bike lean. I ended up sitting upright round the courners with the bike having a mind of it's own.

Newbies and experianced riders all get the same drill before we hop on the bike(Stay on the bike, pound my chest if you want/need to stop, gloves are needed etc) I just take it a lot easier for longer with the newbies.

My ex is now talking about getting a bike after a 40 min ride.

[madandy]

I took it pretty easy for my mrs, (shazuki) obviously taking it easy was a good plan. After a day on the Corromandel loop she insisted we buy her a bike, instead of giving me the

[Two Smoker]

Scariest time being pillion was on the back of my dad's CBR1100XX, HOLY FUCK.... sitting at 110kmh drops it into second gear, and twists the throttle and hits 180kmh in a few seconds, i nearly broke my back from the acceleration as well as nearly falling off.....

[Drunken Monkey]

"Don't get on until I say so"
"Don't get off unless I say so" (they never ask what to do if they're going to fall off...)
"Tap the left shoulder for slow down, the right for speed up"
"Don't try and move your body in corners, just look over the left shoulder for left turns and right shoulder for right turns"

Usually keeps for smooth pillioning...

On another note, I used to not mind going pillion when I first got into bikes sitting on the back of my mate's old GSX-R. These days, it scares the piss out of me for the first few minutes...Anyone else get that?
"....must...grab...handlebars...not...in...control. .....unsafe...too...homophobic...to...grab...rider ...arghh!!"

[toads]

Never taken a pillion. Don't know how good one would go on the cbr, the pillion seat is so high. Wouldn't rate it too highly.

hell no they look like ejection seats!