Pillion Passengers

[Toast]

OK i'm asking this on behalf of my wife.

She has recently started getting on the bike with me but unhappy going at any sort of speed. Only gone as fast as 55 before she tells me to slow down. Does anybody have an opinion on the best way to hold on at speed? Grab handle or holding on to rider?
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Live long, die old but fulfilled

[ms51ves3]

When I went pillion I always held onto my dad. It was fine up to 120mph so I would say it was a pretty safe bet

[B_A_B]

Holding onto the rider is very dangerous if the pillion is skittish at speeds.I think the best option is the grab strap between the legs or one of those belts you put round your waist with handles on.(If the pillion uses the strap make sure you brake gently or she`ll come flying into the back of you!!!)

I`ve never understood rear grab rails and theyre deffo not safe IMO.They`re good for forward momentum under braking but scary as hell to hold under acceleration.
My girls the same.....once i hit 50 i can hear her screaming in the background...LMAO.
break her in gradual ....

The perfect scenario would be to use the strap accelerating at speed...and some "side" grab rails for normal conditions and under regular braking IMO

[Keen]

[AngelGrinder]

If your'e gonna go a bit mental, advice I've been given is to get her to hold onto handle with one hand, and get her to lean to you and put her other hand through your arm and on the petrol tank.
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Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[strag]

I put a Renntec rack on my bike (K5 GSXR 1000) for my wife and she is fine when accelerating or braking hard. In my opinion it is all down to the experience and prefrence of the pillion.
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carbon bling

[thegubner]

The first time my missus got on the back I got her to hold the grab rail, she can pull on it under braking and push under acceleration, only gone to 75-80 with her on the back when its safe to do but she had no problems, she hates holding on to me as its no where near as secure or solid as holding the grab rail, I got her to hold that before anything so it seemed normal rather than her holding on to me then having to get used to putting her hands behind her, the benefits to me are that she doesn't hold on to me and does not put any pressure on during braking. The grab rail is there to be grabbed and in my opinion is the safest thing to hold on to.

Whenever I used to go pillion it was grab rail all the way.

[G]

I'd definitely go for sitting a bit further back on the seat, then a hand on the petrol tank. If the rider accelerates suddenly, not only will you get thrown back less as you are more 'in line' with the acceleration, but you grab hold of their waste naturally.

[yambabe]

Take her out more and keep to the low speeds til she gets used to it. Then you can start increasing bit by bit.............

One has to wonder where you are going and on what sort of roads to get that reaction from her though.

55 on the motorway as a pillion is a doddle, 55 if the rider is trying to get his knee down on a series of bends o roundabouts is a bit more erm, scary.......

Always preferred to hold onto the rider myself.

Of course there is always the option that she learns to ride herself, sped isn't nearly as scary when you are in control of it yourself........

Oh and G,

[Kris]

[iooi]

Sorry to say, but you got this wrong......
If done right you can't hear them when on the bike

Other than that get a rack and top box for her to rest against.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Inkognito]

I always use the grab rail when i'm a pillion and it's always worked out ok for me. If there is no gran rail i just hold the waist of whoever is riding.

One of my mates girlfriend used to grab hold of his jacket on the back. This was to let him know if he was accelerating too hard or braking too hard. If he was accelerating she would pull him back hard. If he was braking too hard she would put both hands on his back and push him forward.
I for one don't think this is a very safe way and you could easily lose control of the bike if someone is pushing/pulling you all the time.

I'm pretty sure that if you did that to me you would have a nice walk home after about 2 miles

[Toast]

Thanks for all the advice guys, she only gets nervous on the bypass, straight line it's very tempting to open the taps but she insisted on the bikemike so she tells me off. I think i'll have to invest in a top box with grab rail. Should make her feel better. We are going over the pennines tomorrow so she should get used to it a bit more hopefully.

Cheers
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Live long, die old but fulfilled

[lozzypop1]

[map]

FWIW there's always the Pillion Pal.
Worn by the rider and allows the pillion to hang on.

I got one for when the kids started riding pillion to give an extra holding on option.

They're available from some bike shops and there always seems to be a few on eBay.

Just remember to take it off in company

HTH
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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[B_A_B]

[ms51ves3]

[kitty kat]

[TheDonUK]

As said, my girlfriend does one hand on the grab rail and one around me on the tank.

She starts squeesing me if we go anything over 100mph, so thats my cue to slow down.

we have a little system whereby if she squeeses my right leg thats slowdown you are going a bit fast for my liking, if she sequeeses my left leg shes just feeling me up...

she will feel better if she has proper bike gear also....

[hmmmnz]

i never let my pillions use he grab rails,
i always make them hold on around my waste,
i feel like the pillion has too much control over the bike if they hold on to the rails, and if they are skittish and decide to lean away from a corner, or change position half way through a corner, things can get get tricky.... my girlfriend isn't allowed on the back of my bike any more because of that.
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I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Mac_Black]

I've been riding pillion since about I was aged 8 I think, about 10 years ago... and I've been on the back of a R1100 bima @ 120+mph holding on to its crap SIDE grab rails.

I find it best when on the back of my dads Triumph ST to hold onto the rear rails, use your arms to stabilise yourself so that you don't nudge the rider, but makesure not to lock your arms.
Rest your toes on the pegs as it is more comfortable for long riding and more stable than resting your heel on the pegs,
lean forwards and put your knees into the riders hips/ waist.

Don't jerk about, keep it smoothe.

[CaNsA]

FWIW matey, Tiki has one hand on the grab rail and the other around my waist. I prefer it as i know that she is still there

[Scouse]

[The Tot]

Never EVER have them holding onto the rails, which is the main reason why i've taken them off the bike now! I like them to sit as far forward as possible, unifying and centralising the mass of the occupants. I'd want them to hold around my waist - having a tiered seat makes it easier since its inclined downwards on my bike. During acceleration, ideally i'd want them to have a firemans grip (locked grip) so that they don't slide too much, using my hip or gut as a buffer. During braking, i tell them to brace against the tank with their palms and i'll let my back, their stomach do the rest. The difference is amazing. Sure, you've got to compromise on positioning, seating and other matters, but doing it this way ensures that they'll try to go with your flow as opposed to counter act. It's also good advice for them to rest their head on either one of your shoulder during braking - saves chipped lids at the end of the day, and they can hopefully understand corners from the perspective of a biker. DON'T get pillion palls, they're useless and shite and make you look gay. If you don't like the idea of getting a reacharound from a mate that's bigger than you, then simply don't have them on the back!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[southeastpete]

i prefer as a pillion to have one hand on the rail, one round the rider..
i would prefer my pillion passengers to hold round me, that way i know they arnt going off the back... maybe i should get one of those shirts, "if you can read this, the bitch fell off!"