Riding with a Pillion?

**placidfemme** · 11th December 2006, 15:17

Thanks all... I'm keen on the Wednesday night monitoring thingie... just need to confirm with Sam... I'll PM you tomorrow MDU about pillioning there

**cowboyz** · 11th December 2006, 15:22

I am sure you will work it out on the way but I thought I would throw 2 c in.

2 things that piss me off with pillions...

1. If they try to put there feet down at lights or stops. Especially if you are not expecting it. It throws the bike off balance especially if they put more weight on 1 side. Pillion should always keep foot on pegs.

2. Make sure you both know which side the pillion is going to dismount on. I like to have both feet on the ground and front brake on while pillion is getting on and off. Helps if you know which side they are getting off.

Apart from that its all the normal stuff. You don't put a pillion on the back to scare the crap out of them.. (well sometimes you do) so ride more conservatively than you would on your own. And the hard braking come helmet bashing gets a bit old for both of you real fast.

Best of luck. take it easy.

**ManDownUnder** · 11th December 2006, 15:34

Originally Posted by cowboyz

1. Pillion should always keep foot on pegs.

Yes

Originally Posted by cowboyz

2. Make sure you both know which side the pillion is going to dismount on.

Always from the left. Away from traffic/side with the footpath. And only when the bike is up off the side stand.

**dawnrazor** · 11th December 2006, 15:38

everything said here is valid.....but one small thing should be added....you may want to add some kinda protection to the back of YOUR helmet, 'cus I assure you you'll be head butted by your pillion a few times until she works out the signs that your braking and how to brace herself with her legs and arms....first time I took my partner on the back, she manage to take lumps outa the back of my helmet....not solely her fault either, I probably wasn't the smoothest of riders and didn't help matters....I've actually hidden the pillion seat for my bike as I don't like the responsibility of riding two up, well on a sportsbike its a bit of a mute point as the pillion don't get much to sit on.

My old guzzi was a firm favourite, but that may well have had more to do with the V-TWIN and the open lafraconi pipes....that bike could practically VIBRATE itself off its sidestand LOL

**bugjuice** · 11th December 2006, 15:48

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

that bike could practically VIBRATE itself off its sidestand LOL

must have been a hit with the chicks..

**hXc** · 11th December 2006, 15:52

I have never taken a pillion, apart from through the pits at Taupo, but a pillion should just act like a sack of potatoes.

**dawnrazor** · 11th December 2006, 16:16

Originally Posted by bugjuice

must have been a hit with the chicks..

Ah the washing machine on spin cycle had nothing on my little V50...that said a washing machine has better brakes, better handling and is probably faster....funny though it didn't seem to matter HAHAHA

**scracha** · 11th December 2006, 16:39

You'll actually find that in an emergency you can brake almost as hard with a pillion. It's just that the poor sod behind you has nothing to hold onto so they end up pushing things against petrol tanks.

Gently roll off the throttle before upshifts and then get on the gas again gently. The key is gently. That stops the headbutting.

Use more back brake than normal, especially around town as you'll find the front pogo's more than usual with the extra weight.

Umm....basically have fun.

Oh...and check your pillion isn't kicking cars that get to close or flicking the V at them like my little sister did.

**hXc** · 11th December 2006, 16:42

Originally Posted by scracha

Umm....basically have fun.

Oh...and check your pillion isn't kicking cars that get to close or flicking the V at them like my little sister did.

Contradictory, isn't it?

**Mom** · 11th December 2006, 16:57

Originally Posted by placidfemme

lol no worries about that... Sam's been pillion heaps of times... but each time with guys on bigger bikes (as in bigger than my 250) and all the guys have been bigger and physically stronger than me... and more experienced... So I'm assuming she has it down pat almost... its just my side of things (the riding) thats worrying me cause I've never done it before...

I spent a couple of years pillioning a friend between Wellsford and Warkworth, we were on a Yamaha 175. She was a bigger gal than me all round and we managed ok. As has been said here though, really be aware of stopping, it makes a huge difference being two up. Apart from that have fun together, its been 20 odd years since we commuted like that and we still laugh about some of the things that happened to us back then. Take care.

**Waylander** · 11th December 2006, 17:07

PF, did you check or change the spark plugs last time you did the oil? If not you may need to just clean or replace them to sort that sluggishness.

As for carrying pillions, Nothing I can add that others havn't said other than being smoother in everything than you normally would. Makes it much more relaxing for your pillion and that helps keep you relaxed.

**sunhuntin** · 11th December 2006, 19:18

glad that someone started a thread. lol. first time i pillioned, i went down to one of the places i work at and took the little indian guy around the forecourt. wasnt really much different, and although it was only slow speeds, i didnt notice any handling differences. kinda like having a heavy backpack strapped to the back seat [which i have all the time]

my partner is thinking of coming over from canada, and its either buy him a bike or take him as a pillion. so pillion tips are helpful.
i used to pillion with him all the time on his harley decker, and the only way i could get off was once he was off, lol. same with getting on. i tried swinging my leg over the topbox once but was terrified hed drop the bike [me not being the lightest of people, and him being the skinniest....literally flesh and bone] so since then, id get on first and slide back. only time wed smack helmets was when i wrapped myself around his back to talk to him.

**crash harry** · 11th December 2006, 21:16

Can I be the one person to point out here that taking pillions on 250s can be a bit fraught... I'm not saying don't do it, and especially to PF I have no idea how big you or Sam are, so it might be OK, but a ZXR really is a small bike so please take it easy - I'm only saying this as someone who used to ride a CBR250 and who may well weigh as much as the two of you combined (yes it looked hilarious...) Those little bikes really sag down when you put a bit (lot) of weight on them.

Go for it though, it's not really that big a deal, the first time I took a pillion neither she or I had ever ridden two-up, she'd never been on a motorbike before and had not even ridden a push bike for about 10 years... We did OK. Just go slowly until you've felt out how the bike handles, you'll be fine.

The Lee Parks book I read a while back reccomends that you tell the pillion to look over your left shoulder when turning left and look over your right shoulder when your turning right. That seems to work well with some pillions, but others get a bit over-enthusiastic about it and it seems to be better to tell them to just stay straight behind you. And get them to put their arms around your waist and brace their hands against the tank when your braking - takes a lot of weight off your arms.

Hmm - that's about all I can think of - good luck and have fun!

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 11th December 2006, 22:16

I do find a pillion a lot easier on the open road than around town...

One trick to ease you into and to get use to the extra weight is to load up your pack rack with some weighty (ensure secured tightly). Turn inward so it sits on the pillion seat... you will feel that the bike handles slightly differently and maybe a little lighter upfront... and you will notice more at slower speeds... and maybe we you acelletrate

Once use to the idea of extra weight take your friend around the block...

As said tips: Double your braking distance, slow down more for corning, Try to avoid errr quick accellerations

and heavy breaking (unless needed) else you will get a smack on the back of the head as your two helmets colide... especially untill you and the pillion are comfortable with each others riding styles etc. Remember also if you are overtaking you will need more road accellerate and complete the manouver.

Make sure the pillion leans with the you/the bike, and not fight you especially in corning... if they need to jiggle a bit to get comfortable ensure they do it on the straights not during a corning manouver. On long trips the pillion will get colder quicker

The physical size and weight of the pillion can be a issue... full stop (depending) on the size of the bike, plus your weight. Not so much an issue on the bigger bikes but mainly the smaller 250's etc.

Get some signals for quick communications... "Smack around the head... Slow frackin down..."

Final thing to rememebr is that you have someones elses life in your hands. So both of you need to relax and trust each other... and have fun.