Going Pillion

[PZR]

My bike is getting a winter overhaul at present and I am suffering withdrawel symptoms. A friend offered to take me out on the back of his the other day but as I was off sick I passed on the oppurtunity. It did however start me thinking and it occurs to me that except when I first learnt to ride when I was 15 I do not think I have ever gone on a bike as a pillion. This convoluted thought process brings me (yawn) to the subject.

How many of you ride as pillion? If you refuse to pillion (but expect or assume your partner will) then why won't you ride the rear. Whats your excuse other than the fact you have your own machine. Does it make you nervous going with someone who is possibly more insane than you?
Are you chicken or sensible.
Perhaps you do not like being in close proximity to another male. Ooooeeer! hold tight thweety here we go!!!
Or are you a real KIWI BLOKE, nufin' scares you eh mate you'll ride with anyone
Go on...... share your fears with Aunty PZR

[Redstar]

there are two types of pillion. Them that help,and them that hinder.
them that help are usually bikers in their own right,they read the road like the rider and apply the right amount of body steer at the right time and apply the pressure to the rear on a corner at just he right time to provide the traction for the back tyre. and allow the rider to do what they would normally do. like a counter balance sidecar rider. but then there are the hinder pillions who think they need to correct the centrifugal stupid rider by sitting upright through the corner. As they rider we are responsible for the pillion and their actions. the best policy is Koala bear. hang on to me tight and do what I do.
pillion riders skill is an underated art and anyone who can professionally ride pillion with skill deserves some credit for it.

[MikeL]

Pillion? No way will I place my life entirely in the hands of someone else (except when I fly, of course, and even then I'm ready to rush into the cockpit and take over at the first sign of incompetence). Motorcyclists? They're all mad, suicidal bastards...

[Marmoot]

I only rode pillion 5 times in my life yet. 2 of them because I crashed. Bloody Scary

[SPman]

Been on the back twice, both on RD350's, 30yrs ago.



NEVER again.! Scariest thing in my life (and that includes low level, illegal aerobatics!)



 

[Antallica]

I've had the missus on the back of my FXR, it was hell... she was pointing to things and moving around so the bike was damn unstable.

Just make youre you are helping eh

[Duke of Rogan]

I took my wife for her first ever pillion ride about a month or so ago, and she really liked it (but not the corners)
If she liked it enough then I'll have to buy a bigger bike!

unfortunatley since my little scate she isn't in a big hurry to get back on

but then its too slow with two!

[Motu]

I haven't been a pillion for many years...and when I do I don't like it - I don't like putting my crutch up against some guys arse,or having my lips inches away from his hairy neck.I have never liked to carry pillions,just too much responsability.

But when I was younger we practicaly lived on our bikes...and sometimes my license was unavailable for use.Pillions were just part of the life,I never liked to have one,but I've sure carried my share,good and bad.Without a license I would have to jump on the back of any bike that was going where I wanted to go - I've had some fun rides...some I thought were my last! We used to ride hard and it's surprising how much in tune you can get with a rider you trust...working with him to get the best out of the ride - I have some good memories there.

[Coldkiwi]

been pillion once... on the back of the ZX-6R I'm riding now and it was SCARY! I couldn't hold on to the guy in front (camp hairdresser in a tight shirt? I think not) so I was forced to use the grab handles at the back to stop myself falling forwards or back. Given that he was giving it a reasonable thrashing, staying on was no mean feat and I was only too gald when we got to greenlane to pick up his car! Lane splitting between trucks was quite terrifying and the only way I managed to not have a mental breakdown/stop to change pants was by closing my eyes and hanging on for grim death (note closing  of eyes makes one a n EXCELLENT pillion passenger because you can't lean the wrong way.. you just go with the bike like luggage!)

if I ever go pillion again it will be with someone I know who I can hold on to...very very scary (I think I'm much better with the g/f on the back though cause she quite enjoys going out riding... although she does complain when I get too excited into corners and she slides forward under brakes!)

 

[bikerboy]

When I was younger I used to ride pillion with my brother all the time. He was older and SEEMED responsible to mer at the time so it never really bothered me.

Was a pillion only once as an adult, I had no problem with it but the guy "driving" got annoyed with the constant helmet butting every time we stopped.

As for hanging on to another guy, I don't care what they think, I'm not falling off a speeding bike for the sake of anyones phobias. Besides with all that gear on it could be anything under there.

[Firefight]

Only once, never again, don't mind admitting to being scared shitless,

[Duke of Rogan]

my scariest pillion ride was on the back of my uncles KX250, in the dark, and on a farm track, and very very drunk, which made it not as scary as it was crazy.
a short time before this I was being dragged around his lawn behind his ride on lawn mower on a piece of carpet.

[Motu]

Hey,girls ride too y'know - and I've ridden pillion behind a few of them as well.When my bike broke down in Putararu going to the 1978 Cold Kiwi,I pillioned there and back on my wife's Tiger 100.

[Andrew]

The only time I'll pillion is when my old man is riding. This is cos those Mack trucks pull away from lights faster than he does. With a solid steel back bar to hold on to, on an old british bike I feel totally safe!

[bluninja]

Hmmm....pillioning

Dad's C90 in the back yard...Mick giving lifts home after judo on hi 175 (no helmet then either), Pillion on Andy's LTD 250 from Newcastle to Doncaster...arse so numb it almost slid off the back without me noticing. Other than that I haven't but then I'm so big now the bike would be in permananet wheelie mode if I sat on the back.

Given a few pillion rides (wife, neighbours 16 year old daughter....steady KK she's now 21, even my own bro) but prefer riding solo. Wouldn't mind taking pillion on a touring bike, but never owned one (yet)

TTFN