The Coro loop ride yesterday 3rd June

[ZeroIndex]

1. I'd suggest getting a pack rack, that way the pillion feels like they are sitting in the bike, rather than perched on the back ... it gives a little bit of reassurance to the rider as well.

2. try getting pillion to sit with her hands resting on her legs, rather than holding on (this will be much easier with a pack rack fitted)

3. Its all down to your riding ... easy on the throttle, even easier on the brakes .. steady and smooth. soon enough the pillion will be relaxed enough to fall asleep if they want .. .you'll be surprised how fast you can get when they are relaxed

One bit to add to number 2: If you have a grab rail at the back of the bike, get the pillion to use that... They can push forward on acceleration, and pull back under braking... they even get to lean a bit more on the corners, and they become an important factor in the enjoyment of the trip, not just a dead weight...

[TerminalAddict]

bnonn: (and zeroindex) .. take warr out for a pillion ride

You'll soon learn that a dead weight, that isn't leaning is far more preferable to a pillion that likes to lean for you

he even start fidlling with my controls on the bars

[ZeroIndex]

bnonn: (and zeroindex) .. take warr out for a pillion ride

You'll soon learn that a dead weight, that isn't leaning is far more preferable to a pillion that likes to lean for you

he even start fidlling with my controls on the bars

Sounds like what i did with Jonno... When being a pillion with Jonno, you end up hanging right off the bike, but on his DR650, we were riding through town and I got bored, so I started playing with his kill-switch... that bike does some mean backfires

Ps. I can't take Pillions... I only have one seat

[Bnonn]

TA, I had always thought (and been told by numerous riders of reasonable experience) that a pillion should keep her head inside the rider's. Ie, she should look where the rider is looking, keeping her head to the inside of his as they are in the curve. This causes her naturally to lean with the bike. You seem to be saying that a dead weight pillion is preferable? That seems to go against everything I've heard and experienced.

Sorry if I've misunderstood you. Perhaps you meant a rider who is neutral and follows your own lean, rather than one who tries to "help out" by leaning unexpectedly, or more than desired. Because I have experienced that also, and I agree that a non-neutral pillion is rather disturbing.

[TerminalAddict]

If I am carry a dead weight (lets say a 50kg bag of spuds) I can predict exactly what that weight is going to do, because it only moves when I tell it to

if I'm going fast and have a pillion, then she gets a tap on the back, which means move in close to me ... some times she even sits in the same seat as me (kind of drops her bum in to the riders seat a little bit)
that way I can move her with my shoulders etc
but generally speaking (and this includes *all* of the saturday ride) I don't move, and neither does she ... that was all counter steering, no leaning at all .. I spent the entire day sitting perpendicular to the bike

if the pillion is seated back, and leaning thier own angle then who is in control of the bike?

Should the pillion be steering the bike? or the rider?

[ZeroIndex]

TA, I had always thought (and been told by numerous riders of reasonable experience) that a pillion should keep her head inside the rider's. Ie, she should look where the rider is looking, keeping her head to the inside of his as they are in the curve. This causes her naturally to lean with the bike. You seem to be saying that a dead weight pillion is preferable? That seems to go against everything I've heard and experienced.

Sorry if I've misunderstood you. Perhaps you meant a rider who is neutral and follows your own lean, rather than one who tries to "help out" by leaning unexpectedly, or more than desired. Because I have experienced that also, and I agree that a non-neutral pillion is rather disturbing.

If I am carry a dead weight (lets say a 50kg bag of spuds) I can predict exactly what that weight is going to do, because it only moves when I tell it to

if I'm going fast and have a pillion, then she gets a tap on the back, which means move in close to me ... some times she even sits in the same seat as me (kind of drops her bum in to the riders seat a little bit)
that way I can move her with my shoulders etc
but generally speaking (and this includes *all* of the saturday ride) I don't move, and neither does she ... that was all counter steering, no leaning at all .. I spent the entire day sitting perpendicular to the bike

if the pillion is seated back, and leaning thier own angle then who is in control of the bike?

Should the pillion be steering the bike? or the rider?

Haha, with Carver, unless you don't want to make it through the corners on his GS (when he had it), you did a LOT of leaning... if you didn't hang off the bike sufficiently, you weren't making it through the corner... but I guess it's also rider training for the pillion... If they know how to ride it's very good cause they get to get better at their leaning... how Carver manages with the amount I was leaning, I don't know, cause I know exactly what you mean TA... but for some reason, the pillion leaning heavily off the bike is exactly how Carver likes taking pillions on his crazy fast riding...

[Bnonn]

K, gotcha TA. We don't disagree in that case; what you are describing is the same as my understanding of a neutral pillion. Except, with a neutral pillion, they will (as you say) move with the rider, if he chooses to move. Moving her with your shoulders, or having her keeping her head inside yours, achieves the same thing. Note that when I say the pillion's head is inside the rider's, I don't mean the pillion is leaning more. Viewed head on they are in line with each other. But, viewed from the apex of the corner, the pillion and the rider are both looking right at you.

[TerminalAddict]

Bnonn: PERFECT!!!!!!

and bling awarded

[ZeroIndex]

K, gotcha TA. We don't disagree in that case; what you are describing is the same as my understanding of a neutral pillion. Except, with a neutral pillion, they will (as you say) move with the rider, if he chooses to move. Moving her with your shoulders, or having her keeping her head inside yours, achieves the same thing. Note that when I say the pillion's head is inside the rider's, I don't mean the pillion is leaning more. Viewed head on they are in line with each other. But, viewed from the apex of the corner, the pillion and the rider are both looking right at you.

but then the pillion can't see through the corner

[Sidewinder]

he only looked good because i wernt there. lol

[Waylander]

but then the pillion can't see through the corner

read it again.

[Richard Mc F]

Harden up pussies........a rider pillion combo who have riden a lot of kms together will move out quick, my co pilot does not like the flick from side to side stuff of the coro loop pleasant.....gets motion sickness......dragging the stand and frontheader pipe on "the duck" at 120km plus is just fine though....we have practiced...have good tyres and suspension......and 25 plus years practice

[MidnightMike]

jesus..dont go on that road unless u are riding an eventure bike..its one of the worst roads in NZ.....all gravel ,and tight corners....hasnt changed in 100 yrs.

Thats where I went yesterday. And I'd have to agree with what your saying there. It took me half an hour to get all the dirt off my bike once i got back home, not to mention all my gear...

Though I must say, it was strangely fun.

how "gravel" is it? Is it thick stuff or the fine looseish dusty stuff?

When I went through i was raining so pretty much clay road = slippery as fuck.

And the corners are gravel, the thick stuff, and the odd fallen tree so its just a bitch of a road to get through without having atleast 10 'oh shit' moments.

[ZeroIndex]

Harden up pussies........a rider pillion combo who have riden a lot of kms together will move out quick, my co pilot does not like the flick from side to side stuff of the coro loop pleasant.....gets motion sickness......dragging the stand and frontheader pipe on "the duck" at 120km plus is just fine though....we have practiced...have good tyres and suspension......and 25 plus years practice

That's the stuff I'm talking about... a rider/pillion combo, not a rider + dead weight... it's a team effort

[Antipigs]

he gets my respect.. i followed him on the road between whitianga and tairua.. i will admit he was riding rather rapidly however.. WHO DOESENT!.. and further to say that in this time i didnt see his bike look out of control or unstable at all.. and from what i gather his pillion rider was enjoying the ride too.. So why not i say. If your an experienced rider like he is then get out there.. open the throttle and just have fun!