how useful are grab rails to a pillion ?

[colin1]

i may be taking a pillion on a regular basis and have thought about getting a grab rail.

The current method is, she puts one hand on the tank, and hold that wrist with her other hand.

So hand on tank stops her going forward, and arms round my waist stop her going off the back.

The hand on tank is definitely good, but im not quite sure if the hand gripping wrist is as strong as her holding onto me, or holding her own hands tight with arms round my waist

I used to have a grab rail on my bike but managed to break it.

Do novice pillions find a grab rail easier or harder ?

Do more experienced pillions find a grab rail easier or harder ?

Is there a better way for the pillion to hold on if I dont fit a grab rail ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Mr.Everready]

Get a set of Love Handles/Pillion pal, best thing for it. I have no grab rails on my bike at all and they work perfectly.
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[Mr.Everready]

https://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/prodimages/pillion-LUVA.jpg

etc....
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[Mr.Everready]

double tastic post
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[Dark]

Pillions Pals are good for acceleration but not good for braking as far as my missus is concerned.

In my experience grab rails have been the solution for the passengers i've taken, even first time passengers, as long as i take it easy with them at first they seem to be ok.

My 10R has no grab rail and i don't like taking pillions because of it.
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[Groove]

Been pillion a few times, grab rails at the pillions side i found to be not very supportive (such as the ones on the earlier zx6r's)

Rails at the back are fine untill the rider randomly drops in to first and gives it a fist full of throttle

Never had my arms around the rider whilst pillion, but this is how i take pillions. As long as there arms are all the way around and i can feel them, its all good. One of me mates puts his hands on the tank as mentioned, quiet a bit more comfy with heavy braking
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[getyerkneedow...]

Im an experienced pillion with a few thousand miles under my belt on the back of various friends machines over the years (god i sound old )

I prefer the grab rails located at the rear of the bike, not the ones located on each side. Rear ones allow you to brace against Hard braking and acceleration. They also feel the most natural i find, even when your mate is giving it a full hand full of beans.

Ive been pillion on a mates CBR6 whilst hes been doing stoppies, wheelies, kneee down etc, all felt natural with a rear grab rail and never once felt as though i was going to come off the bike.

[Dark]

[McGee]

Meh thank you suzuki for the little strap on the pillion seat

Useless bastards, its a waste of time, you brake they nut ya, you pull off and they nearly slip right off

And I personally hate taking pillions no matter what you tell them they dont listen.

Lean the same way as me so they go the other way
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[strag]

I use a Renntec on my Gixer, works very well and easy to put on/take off.
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carbon bling

[Kitten]

I ride pillion on my mates bike sometimes. She has a Bandit with grab rails at the back. I find that these are located too low and my arms will not comfortably reach them, so I hug her! Which is friendly and makes us look gay!

Equally on my RVF400 the pillion seat 'strap' is hardly trustworthy, but the method here is to again, hug the rider. This is problematic as when braking the pillon's hands get crushed between the riders body and the tank, due to the riding position. My conclusion here is that sports bikes are not good for pillions! My boyf won't come on the back of my RVF and tbh I can't really blame him!

So overall, whether you are 'good' friends or not, hugging is the nicest way of holding on. Plus something beautiful may blossom out of it!
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[veeeffarr]

When I'm pillion I tend to put one hand on tank and one hand on rear grab rail.

The grab rails on a ZX6R are horrendous, nearly came off at 150MPH in wind when I was holding both of them.

[Dark]

[Dark]

[Kitten]

[suzi_bandit]

There's a Renntec rack on the back of my bike that doubles up as something to grab. I've not carried many pillions but the last few times I've asked them to hold on to my waist rather than grab the rack. No matter how careful I ride and no matter how smoothly I try to change gear if the pillion isn't holding me then there seems to be lots of helmet banging going on.
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I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Dark]

[yambabe]

I don't think we ever had a bike with a grab rail during my pillion years.

I generally used to just get on and rest my hands lightly on my thighs, or if it was cold tuck them in between us. If he accelerated sharply I would hold onto his hips and if he braked sharply I'd put my hands up in between us and brace on his back.

Holding on is for sissys!

As far as actual riding is concerned, holding my hands flat in front of me resting on his back worked very well actually as if you do that you automatically lean with the rider.

I don't like going pillion since I learned to ride myself though, and he doesn't like taking me. He complains that I try to drive him........
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Kitten]

[Dark]

[Kitten]

Hugs Hugs Hugs. . . maybe I'm just a hippy!
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[Dark]

[steveh]

My strap manged to snap dont like them, especially if you dont have grab rails too as theres nothing to pick the bike up with when bumping it around.

Imo side ones look better, but the rear rails are better, But saying that i dont like my pillions using them as they feel too wobbly under breaking and acceleration, i tend to tell them to hold onto the side of my jacket if its a guy and if its a girl, wrap your arms round
not that im homophobic, it just doesnt look right with a guys arms wrapped round me, kinda takes the "cool" look out of my gear.

Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[dodsi]

The grab rails that come standard on my ZX6 are shite, if you so much as use the throttle on it you can feel the pillion move back a lot.

[G]

Arse a way back so that I'm leant over more and one hand on the tank works for me. If the rider accelerates hard I can grab their waist with my hand that's on the tank - as it does naturally if I'm thrown back.