Tips carrying a pillion?

[Grub]

You don't say if this is for long trips or just around town but for roadtrips you should be adjusting rear preload so that it is 35mm (check the Honda specs) with both of you on it. My '00's settings are 35mm front and back.

You'll get to know what number by just measuring it once then all the other times just grab the C-spanner in the toolkit and dial up the number. I would think your bike is on No.3 now, it might need to go to No.5

[Squiggles]

So we had a little chat, and I assured her that it was perfectly fine to just relax on the back, stay in line with the bike, ignore whatever odd upper-body movements I was using to get it around corners that day, and generally just be a sack of potatoes while looking at the scenery.

S'all good like that... until they fall asleep

[MSTRS:Me]

I use 3 styles, Race, Road and pillion.
My pillion technique in a nut shell - As you approach a corner, roll off the throttle well before, so you don't even need the brakes, your balls and pillion will thank you on that one. Roll the throttle on smoothly from the apex on. If you need to down change for the corner, leave it late as practical, so the revs will be lower at the point of gear change. Thinking faaar ahead in city traffic will see this technique working as well.
An advanced version of this technique is to come into the corner on the right line and speed to be able to roll on the throttle before the apex, this helps your suspension and thus composure of the bike, and feels sublimely smooth to do.

Gear changes - Get into second gear as soon in the rev range as your bike will allow, rev it too high and the change will be jerky. 3rd gear on up, clutchless shifts are smoothest and higher up the rev range the better(smoother).

I just tell newbies to go with the flow, point out emergency braking hold points and say nothing more really. I like pillions to have their hands lightly at my sides, the bike just seems to handle better that way, just use grab handles for braking. If the bike has no grab handles, then hands on the tank if braking forces dictate that be necessary (should be rare).

Hope this helps.

Exactly right. 'swhat I do. Still needs (needing?) practice. Do nothing extreme.
I've linked your post in RM's smoov thread too.

[Coyote]

see if she can reach the tank, so she can place her palms on the tank.

I've noticed several deep scratches appearing on my tank. I don't want to say it to my pillion as it's only a suspicion and I'd probably get hurt for saying so but I think it's her jewellery scratching, like bracelets and such, when she puts her hands down under braking. Be warned.

[McDuck]

She can reach the tank so moves her hands there sometimes when slowing down, but her biggest concern is sliding forward off into the abyss between her perched up seat and my pilot seat.

And I hear your comments about unfriendly bike for pillions

you must be real skinny.

[Nagash]

you must be real skinny.

I was gonna say.. to have room on your bike with a pillion! that'd be bliss.

Obviouslt i'm riding too small bikes..

[paturoa]

If you want to overtake, don't just gas it, they tend to not like that! Sort out a signal to your pillion, like using your left hand and tapping her knee (hard)

[Grub]

If you want to overtake, don't just gas it, they tend to not like that!

Sigh ... I miss those going to uni days when one of our group's pillions would end up with their ankles under the armpits of the rider (two-stroke power bands y'know)

[MVnut]

theres a huge gap between me and the start of the rear seat. I've tried pushing back a bit so I'm sitting further back on the seat which seemed to help. Other ideas?[/QUOTE]

Always thought it was more fun if she was in front pushing back.........oh never mind I'm just in one of my weird moods

[Jiminy]

see if she can reach the tank, so she can place her palms on the tank.

I've tried that when riding with my ex-girlfriend (I was the pillion). Because she rides a cruiser (Intruder 800 for the curious) and the tank is flat and far away from my hands, I ended up sort of squashing her. Also, every downhill braking sent me down the seat. Anyone has good advice for riding downhill?

Did anyone try to use the kind of soft handle that you find on most modern seats between the rider and the pillion positions?

Last one, if you sit nice and relax leaning back against the sissy bar, there is quite a windy gap between the rider and you. Is that a problem for the rider?

[Bikernereid]

My bloke has the same bike as you and he loves having me on the back but found it a little strange that I didn't hold on to him. He much prefers having me on the back not holding on to him as he can move more freely when riding.

Personally I do not hold on to him at all. I find it more confortable to hold on to the little leather strap at the front of the pillion seat. I use the footpegs quite a bit for when he breaks.

It is a matter of personal preference as to how you want to be a pillion and as long as she doesn't lean the wrong way and holds on she should be fine.

[HungusMaximist]

The only tip I can give yah is, only carry hot chicks... ok?

Oh yea, grab rails make a huge differece and so do pack racks.

[Padmei]

sometimes when I carry a pillion I start to think about breasts being pushed into me & can't consentate vemy mochh......

[homer]

you got the wrong bike for a lot of 2 up riding

[caseye]

The last post says it all, I've had plenty of time on the back and it can be fun long as you trust the front seater!Course that was many years ago. however the basics are and always have been the same.What Mrs Kendog said rulz!