Back seat rider?

[Hanne]

It's a chicken-or-the-egg scenario: to pillion or to ride first?
What did you do/ would you recommend?
I reckon pillion. To find out why and what my reasoning has to do with winter root vegetables, check out the KiwiRider ezine...

[\m/]

The thought of riding a motorbike without being in control of it scares the shit out of me, I'd probably feel safer riding a turbo hyperbike.

[Maha]

My first time on a bike was as a pillion in the 1979.
Used to work together and he would pick me up, even on -3 mornings and take me to work on his Suzuki. Loved those times/days.
My second time on a bike was also as pillion, this time it was on a RF900 and to be honest, it was not the most enjoyable experience I had had up till that date.

Years on, would I pillion again?...only if there were no other way.
If I have a pillion, I am very considerate to that person behind in the way that ride.

[Road kill]

I rode on the back of my fathers bike a few years before getting to ride myself.

That was cool then,but I won't get on the back today,,Fuck that!

[Oakie]

Pillion? No way! Not without my brown pants anyway.

[slofox]

I don't even like pillioning in a car! ('specially if herself is driving.)

[4AGE]

I used to pillion with dad a few years ago, but now i have got my own bike, i definitely prefer being in control.

[DrunkenMistake]

Pillion? No way! Not without my brown pants anyway.

+1

I don't even like pillioning in a car! ('specially if herself is driving.)

Haha since I started riding a year and a bit ago,
I get like panic attacks sitting in Cars when im not in control haha

And as for Pillioning,
F**K THAT! The thought of it scares the absolute shit out of me

[DR650gary]

It's a chicken-or-the-egg scenario: to pillion or to ride first?
What did you do/ would you recommend?
I reckon pillion. To find out why and what my reasoning has to do with winter root vegetables, check out the KiwiRider ezine...

You need to ask?


Bars in hand FFS

[Little Miss Trouble]

I rode first, rode pillion second. Still happy to jump on the back with trusted riders.
Never had any complaints about me being a bad pillion, likewise never had any real problems with anyone I've pillioned - my favourite pillion to date is a girl who had also been riding for years.

[crystalball]

pilian on a rz350 doin 200+ at night on white line. Cars seem like they were parked.

[Hitcher]

You can't be a pillion unless you've got a willing and competent rider to sit behind who has a machine that's fit for purpose.

[Little Miss Trouble]

You can't be a pillion unless you've got a willing and competent rider to sit behind who has a machine that's fit for purpose.

Agree entirely on the competent rider part, fit for purpose however is relative, being a flexible young thing I am quite comfortable on the back of almost any sprotsbike - the only one I really didn't like was a '10 R1, seat was too slippery (queue 'wet' seat jokes)

[maggot]

I pillioned first, a hellova lot, before I started riding myself. Did it again not too long ago while between bikes, it came back like a comfortable old habit. I was even given the old sack of potatoes compliment. For me, it's habitual. Hands on the bars, you're in control, hands off, sit back and take in the ride. That being said though, it'd take a fair bit of trust for me to get on the back of somebody's bike I've not ridden with or witnessed riding before. Trust issues really.

[Gremlin]

Rode first... only pillioned 3 times I think. Being 6'3, I'm normally the rider no matter who is on the back, that, and I just prefer being in control. Like Slofox, I'm not even particulary good in the passenger seats of cars, and I don't even drive them. First time, mate said I was great, 2nd mate said I was awful... 3 had no comment... so I have no idea

On the flip side, pillions seemed to have been alright with me, most having fallen asleep at one time or another (not sure that's entirely a good thing)

edit: having read the blog, I haven't had too many issues re countering the pillion leaning into corners. Part of it would be my size, allowing me to retain control of the bike. If pillions are leaning, I simply stop the bike from leaning in, then allow it when I feel the time is right. The important part is getting the virgin pillions comfortable with being on the back. First couple of rides are simple instructions. Tap and motion if you want to stop, otherwise sit like a pack of spuds. Once they are a bit more experienced, tell them to look over your shoulder into the corner, and it gives them natural leaning...