Hey guys just wanting to get input on any tips or things to remember when riding with someone on the back. Im comfortable with my bike enough to feel I can handle this and Im actually lowering my bike a little so that my feet will be completely flat and not tip toes as they are now, so Im taking the precautions I know and I know the safest way is to not do it but I really can't resist the girl that keeps asking to ride with me so I ordered her a helmet today and need pointers before I get started. I know the biggest one is not showing off and I wont at first at least. thanks
Tips to riding two up.
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Take it around the block with her on it a couple times and tell her to lean with you. Should work out fine with practice. Also make sure her parents know you are taking her on your bike lest you will never be heard from again if her dad finds out you dumped her on the asphalt. :runaway
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Careful with how low you go. The bike will drop a inch or two with her on the back. I recomend going to a empty parking lot and do the same thing as you would do on the safety course. Do some figure eights, stops and all that stuff. Have her lean with you. She should be looking over the shoulder of the direction you are going (ie. if you are turning right, she should be looking over your right shoulder)
Have her hold on to your waist, belt or straps on your jacket....never get her to hold on to the strap on the back seat or the handle grips on the rear (if your bike has them). Tell her not to shift her weight around while you riding, the slightest movement will cause the bike to go one way or the other (not alot but if she does it in a turn, it could end badly). Also tell her to try and keep as far back as she can, i think i can speak for every guy here, when you use the brakes to stop...your balls get crushed.
Have her hold on to your waist, belt or straps on your jacket....never get her to hold on to the strap on the back seat or the handle grips on the rear (if your bike has them). Tell her not to shift her weight around while you riding, the slightest movement will cause the bike to go one way or the other (not alot but if she does it in a turn, it could end badly). Also tell her to try and keep as far back as she can, i think i can speak for every guy here, when you use the brakes to stop...your balls get crushed.
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I recommend not lowering the bike, its ok to be on your toes unless you plan to just park with your passenger and make vrroooom sounds inside the garage then sure lower it. Other than that dont sacrifice your bike's handling to support a passenger. its all the same when you get going.
mounting - have your passenger mount from the left side of your bike at all times. With your left foot firmly set, have your passenger mount smoothly using the riders left peg with her left foot and and slowly sit on the chair by "SLOWLY" swinging her right leg over the bike. If they do this too fast it may catch you off guard and end up dropping your bike.
education - educate your passenger that in order to turn, the bike leans from side to side so make they do not panic if it leans. In a lean it is better that the passenger keeps a center of gravity meaning her spine should be level with the tires at all times. Unless they are an experienced rider then their instinct will shift weight with you in a turn which is OK, educate the passenger where the pegs are and to watch out for the exhaust.
Riding - if comfort allows it, the passenger should not hold on/wrap around their arms to your waist (on sportbikes. HARLEYS OK
) they should rather hold on to your tank to allow the rider free movement
Passenger hand position on tank:
![]()
Other than that, cruise around the block so you get use to added weight and never accelerate too fast.
have fun
mounting - have your passenger mount from the left side of your bike at all times. With your left foot firmly set, have your passenger mount smoothly using the riders left peg with her left foot and and slowly sit on the chair by "SLOWLY" swinging her right leg over the bike. If they do this too fast it may catch you off guard and end up dropping your bike.
education - educate your passenger that in order to turn, the bike leans from side to side so make they do not panic if it leans. In a lean it is better that the passenger keeps a center of gravity meaning her spine should be level with the tires at all times. Unless they are an experienced rider then their instinct will shift weight with you in a turn which is OK, educate the passenger where the pegs are and to watch out for the exhaust.
Riding - if comfort allows it, the passenger should not hold on/wrap around their arms to your waist (on sportbikes. HARLEYS OK
) they should rather hold on to your tank to allow the rider free movementPassenger hand position on tank:
Other than that, cruise around the block so you get use to added weight and never accelerate too fast.
have fun
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I've seen these x-tra bars.
http://www.superstreetbike.com/hotproducts/0803_sbkp_motorcycle_accessories/photo_15.html
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Sounds like you have the right attiude for having a passenger. The last thing you want to do is scare the crap outta her and she'll never ride again.
it's an adjustment for both of you so take your time and get a good feel for the change in ride.
Develop some sort of hand signals for each other if you don't use an intercom system.
Make sure she doesn't do anything to try and help you out by putting a foot down at a stop or moving around too much while riding. It creates a lot of off balance even though the passenger doesn't think there's much movement.
it's an adjustment for both of you so take your time and get a good feel for the change in ride.
Develop some sort of hand signals for each other if you don't use an intercom system.
Make sure she doesn't do anything to try and help you out by putting a foot down at a stop or moving around too much while riding. It creates a lot of off balance even though the passenger doesn't think there's much movement.
More great advice..Ya to be honest id like to try and keep her around and scaring her off of riding will not help and ruining my bike isn't worth impressing anyone. I just enjoy the ride. Sure i get on it here and there but really I'd rather be riding for a lot of years. Having a pretty serious accident helps put things in perspective quite nice ;-)...As to the lowering....My friend has a 2006 zx10 and its lowered (not sure how much) and I feel so much more comfortable with both feet on the ground and she's only 100 lbs soaking wet so I dont know how much itll bring the bike down...Also it would help with backing the bike in and moving her around without having to get off each time..Im not 100% sold on it yet but definitely moving that way.
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Tell them to hold on and shut up.
Or in reality tell them not to lean just look where you are turning. If they are holding on to you they will lean with you. I have had people on the back leaning ever Phucking which way on their own and itis horribly annoying and dangerous.
Or in reality tell them not to lean just look where you are turning. If they are holding on to you they will lean with you. I have had people on the back leaning ever Phucking which way on their own and itis horribly annoying and dangerous.
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Oh and watch out for wheelies. The extra weight on the back lightens up the front end on acceleration. While I can say it probably looked Phucking awesome the day I blew by a bike we were "racing" at 65 mph with the wife on the back on one wheel, it kind of scared thecrap out of both of us.
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look at the picture i posted, if you look closely, the passenger is holding onto the tank
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Someone on here was talking about a chick riding with them who was counter leaning every single turn, and even went so far as to PUT HER FOOT DOWN in fuckin turns because "the bike was going to fall over" (her words apparently).
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I had a girl on that was almost that bad, she leaned the wrong way bad right off and we almost hit a curb. Gotta be careful picking up girls that havent ridden before.
Also I would have her wear some kind of jacket, scars look cool on guys but bad on girls lol and you dont need something on the tank for her to hold onto just have her put her hand up there when stopping so she doesnt completely lean on you.
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+1 My gf's really expirenced rider, so sometimes i forget shes on the back. launch a little to hard and WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEElies all day. Scares the hell outta me.
You wouldn't think adding 120 lb chick to the back of a bike would make a difference but expect huge increases in stopping distances and sluggish handling.
I never changed my suspension to adjust for the passenger though.
My g/f found it easier to ride if she held onto me with one hand and the tank with the other, mostly when stopping.
Best thing to tell them is to relax and enjoy it and not be scared to the point of stiffness.
They need to be cozy up there or you'll get tight like them.
I never changed my suspension to adjust for the passenger though.
My g/f found it easier to ride if she held onto me with one hand and the tank with the other, mostly when stopping.
Best thing to tell them is to relax and enjoy it and not be scared to the point of stiffness.
They need to be cozy up there or you'll get tight like them.
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I usually have my passengers have one hand around me and one on the tank, that way when I stop they're not putting their whole weight on me and killing my arms, they can use their one hand to hold themselves back while the other is there in case we decide to accelerate again
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My gf is 105 and drops the rear of the bike a decent amount. Take that into consideration.
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Only thing i have to add to everyone elses comments is to let her know the she doesnt have to lean hard into a curve when just cruising around the city. My GF had rode previously with a guy that rode aggressively (my favorite riding buddy) and had her so trained to lean, that when i would take a 5 mph turn she would lean so much i felt like she was trying to put her knee on the ground.
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