[xlr82nil8]

I thought it might be an idea to have a thread about riding with a pillion.
Basically to talk about the do's, don'ts, tips, tricks, and any interesting stories

The first thing is to make sure your pillion knows exactly what to do:
- they only get on/off the bike when you tell them
- they should hold onto something firmly at all times (grab rail or rider)
- they should keep their feet on the pillion pegs at all times
- they should not try to control the bike in any way (using their weight etc.)
- they should lean effortlessly with the bike (not try to sit bolt upright as you corner; or hang off like Rossi on the corners)
- let them know that it's your bike and your rules - if they don't like the rules - they don't get on
- have some hand signals for (I want to stop, I want a piss, slow down, cops about, etc.)
- proper gear - it's your (and their) choice what to wear (helmet by law), but inform them of the dangers of not having proper gear.

Things you as rider should do before getting on the bike:
- communicate everything above to the pillion
- adjust your suspension as appropriate
- adjust your tyre pressures as appropriate

Things you as rider should know:
- get astride the bike and have the bike steadied before letting the pillion on
- your bike will handle differently - the centre of gravity has moved backwards and upwards
- the bike will be a lot more sensitive to your inputs at low speeds (wibble-wobble)
- the bikes acceleration is decreased (more spacetime needed for overtaking)
- the bikes braking is decresed (more spacetime required for stopping)
- the bike will dive forward a lot more when using the front brake
- brake well in advance with a greater bias to the rear brake
- provisional riders are not permitted to carry pillions

These are all in addition to your own normal POWDER checks, gear and apparel checks.

Feel free to dis/agree, clarify, add your own advice etc.

Alift

[klu]

KaosTheory, on Jun 23 2010, 04:23 PM, said:

You know those nature program on Nat Geo? Where the Gazelle is quietly drinking from the river and then BAM! a croc appears and latches onto it with incredible force? Thats what I felt when Karl managed to grab my right shoulder with a free hand. He managed to pull himself back up and wrapped his arms around me so tight, I couldn't steer properly. "Let go!" I yelled, I got back a muffled no. "LET GO!" I roared again, another muffled no and the sound of a man close to tears. "LET F*CKING GO I CAN'T F*CKING STEER!!" at this point Karl sticks his head over my shoulder to see us headed straight for a crash barrier, he lets go completely and I lash the bike onto its side in order to make the left turn

[Hellraiser]

Darkcloud, on Jun 23 2010, 04:26 PM, said:

Maybe a few high speed 'wobbles' when she moves about could sort that sh!t out

She'll love ya forever if you do that mate!! Ah tough love....has to be done sometimes, much as it pains us.

[KTRIC]

She's just not getting on it again, simple as.

Thought it was funny when she came home the other day with new gear and I said "looks great, all you need is a bike now"

[oakers]

Hellraiser, on Jun 23 2010, 04:20 PM, said:

Yeah, for sure. Although....she doesn't any more!!!! Now I have a second bike!! Hehehehehehe

Brave words dude!

On topic: I had to have the fidget conversation with Snooze and thankfully she's fine now. I think I may have used a line like "do that in the wrong situation and you kill us both!" to help things along.

This post has been edited by oakers: 24 June 2010 - 08:13 AM

[binxeo]

Hellraiser, on Jun 23 2010, 03:38 PM, said:

I have to say, I don't have a problem with Binx when she's on the back. She's a fantastic pillion. Leans when I do and doesn't move around. Unless we're on aa long sweeper or a roundabout when she puts her hand out and drags it on the road...

Thanks hun!!

klu, on Jun 23 2010, 03:45 PM, said:

Probably helps that she has a bike herself.

I only got a bike in March-ish, I was pillion long before I could ride my own bike...but it does help.

As for shifting and moving on the back of the bike, it is VERY hard not too...especially on the 9, because it has a ridiculously uncomfortable pillion seat, but knowing how the slightest movement at the wrong time could end in disaster or serious injury I just put up with the discomfort and stay still, until I can tap himself on the shoulder and tell him he has to pull in. My left knee is wonky and has a terrible habit of popping out from behind the my knee cap when I'm on the bike, the only way to fix it is to straighten my leg but if we are on serious twisties I can't so I just put up with it. Being a little bit uncomfortable goes with the territory of being a pillion, sometimes it's fine other times I practically need to be lifted off the bike because I am so stiff, but moving around is not an option...I don't want to be the reason we end up skidding down the road and smashing ourselves up. So KTRIC tell your missus to stop moving...and get cross with her...you could both end up seriously hurt if she keep wriggling on the back!

[KTRIC]

binxeo, on Jun 24 2010, 10:19 AM, said:

So KTRIC tell your missus to stop moving...and get cross with her...you could both end up seriously hurt if she keep wriggling on the back!

Not my missus thankfully, just a friend. If she was it would be easier to break the news she's not coming with me anymore.

[junker87g]

I'll be taking people on the back of the hornet once I get my full test, had someone who weighed twice as much as me on the back for a short run, fook me that messed up the handling

[klu]

junker87g, on Jun 24 2010, 11:33 AM, said:

I'll be taking people on the back of the hornet once I get my full test, had someone who weighed twice as much as me on the back for a short run, fook me that messed up the handling

Great for wheelies though

[junker87g]

klu, on Jun 24 2010, 11:34 AM, said:

Great for wheelies though

Haha, to quote my friend, ''ah yeah, I've been on the back of my uncles scooter in Hong Kong, it's easy'' I shift into second and a hand grabs my shoulder for dear life


Wait 'til I get the 600

[Hellraiser]

junker87g, on Jun 24 2010, 11:37 AM, said:

Wait 'til I get the 600

I think EVERYONE is in trouble the day that happens!!!

[junker87g]

Hellraiser, on Jun 24 2010, 11:45 AM, said:

I think EVERYONE is in trouble the day that happens!!!

Shouldn't be too long, August maybe, bit of work to do to the 250 before I sell it.

[Hellraiser]

junker87g, on Jun 24 2010, 11:49 AM, said:

Shouldn't be too long, August maybe, bit of work to do to the 250 before I sell it.

Good stuff mate, looking forward to it.

[Fr Dougal]

With a pillion aboard, at motorway speeds + on the TDM with standard screen, my head seems to get a lot of buffeting from side to side, which I don't get without a pillion. Anyone else get his? Reason?

EDIT: I guess a touring screen will fix this, but just wondering why it happens with pillion but not solo...

@Kelpie, I'll be in touch re the touring screen.

This post has been edited by Fr Dougal: 24 June 2010 - 11:27 AM

[junker87g]

Fr Dougal, on Jun 24 2010, 12:25 PM, said:

With a pillion aboard, at motorway speeds + on the TDM with standard screen, my head seems to get a lot of buffeting from side to side, which I don't get without a pillion. Anyone else get his? Reason?

EDIT: I guess a touring screen will fix this, but just wondering why it happens with pillion but not solo...

@Kelpie, I'll be in touch re the touring screen.

She's smacking you to tell you to slow down?

[CBR 46]

I got this all the time when I had the touring screen on the VFR. Changed back to the standard screen and it seems to have gone away.

Now that I think about it, it really only became noticeable with the young lad on the back because he's taller than me, but not with the missus who's smaller...so maybe it's a combination of the air hitting your head then having to go over the head of the person on the back? Some scientist here will have the answer no doubt.

Also, when I had the touring screen on the wind on the Arklow bypass, at that part where you're up high on a bridge overlooking where the timber place was and the sea to your right, used to pull me all over the road but it's not as bad since I went back to standard.

Once on the M6 in England when on the blade I was lifted up by the wind and dropped down in the next lane in front of a truck at about 70mph....bicycle clips time. Turns out there was the tail end of a hurricane, wouldn't like to be on the bike in a full hurricane.

[klu]

.

This post has been edited by klu: 06 July 2010 - 08:14 PM

[PurpleC]

The only time I hated being pillion was driving to Bantry on the back of my sisters Gilera My a55 was numb for two days afer and the there was no grab rail,just a leather strap on the seat She told me to rest my hands on the tank which helped, we crashed on her Aprilia rs125 with me on the back a few years ago, she was goin too fast and rounded a corner straight into road works, to be fair there were no warning signs but she was goin too fast, It was pretty scary her bike was destroyed and we were lucky to come away with a few scratches. Course I knew she had too much speed but couldn't really warn her and it had nothin to do with me of course, I'm a pretty good pillion

If I'm with my bro on the 12r he looks after me so well, he won't take anyone else onboard. Was just out on it and I was thinking how confident you need to be to take someone on the back, I'm not sure if I could do it especially while cornering so fair play to those who do it!

This post has been edited by steffanie: 24 July 2010 - 05:21 PM