Scared of Pillionage?

[st3v3]

Well, I'm not scared of going pillion however much I like to be ion control myself. I've done it plenty of times so now worries.

No, my issue is that my bike will very soon again be on the road.

That is all fine and great, except I've never really carried anyone pillion.
To do this is questionable given my riding style so I accept and admit i'll be lower my tone a lot on the bike and not thinking I'm the lone ranger.

My brother will pretty much take most things with a pinch of salt, he trusts me entirely and wouldn't question a decision.

There is also a girl involved, now most that I'd choose to take on the bike have an attitude that is great, they know about bikes, the risks and have done it all before. But this new lass is a tad younger and while she's semi-adventurous and would try it out I'm really scared of cocking it up not being used to pillions never mind pillions that are sweet innocent little kittens. So, when the point arises she wants to try the bike out I'm unsure what to do? If I'm really nervous i'm prone to binning it and injuring her if i show confidence and get cocky il bin it showing off. Or the middle ground is i'l be a nervous wreck and cause an incident that won't end well for either of us and although i'm not considering this option to get me laid or extend my willy I don't want her first bike experience to be hampered by some inexperienced tit and put her off, bikes are clearly quite a dominant part of my lifestyle and as we carry on as we are they'd ideally work nicely together.

What would you's do? - Given the fact nothing matters more to me in this case than her safety and well-being during the experience which I want her to enjoy as much as I do, I need advice, opinions and general help.

Cheers folks.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[temeluchus]

The day I passed my test i picked up my mate and was up and down the M32 and darting through central bristol rush hour traffic on my 125. That was the first time id ever taken a pillion.

Just take it easy-it just isnt that hard. Dont build it up in your head that its some great challenge. I wouldnt advise repeating my escapade, but go out when its quiet and have a nice run to a pub or restraunt, so you can take a break half way through.

Dont use experience as an excuse there is only one way to learn, and thats by doing. Nerves will only disappear with practice.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[warped one]

The one thing that you kust remember is that your pillion plays as much of a part (if not more) in cornering. Take it easy for the 1st 10minutes with her in that time you will feel the bike ease up into corners because she is relaxed, and hold through them as you go.
I am sure that I can vouch for most riders on here with the fact that an unhappy pasenger is an unsafe one.

I once told my ex who much she could steer the bike and even then she didn't believe me until I rode down a street of parked cars only letting her steer with just body wieght.

The point I am trying to get to is that you must first get her to trust you. After that you must trust her to follow you into a corner and hold her position until you are back out of it.

Mark
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[smegballs]

I think the only people who actually like going pillion are those that don't ride.....

If you ride and are on pillion its scary as fuck.

If you ride and are taking a pillion its a pain in the ass!

Tbh tho it really isnt a major issue.

If someone hasn't gone on a bike before I always give them a little briefing beforehand. Don't assume they know what to do....

Go over the points like they should keep their feet up on the pegs when you stop etc and "If I'm going too fast dig me in my left ribs" and "If you want me to pull over squeeze my right shoulder". Basically go over with them what you need them to do, keep the bike uprightish round corners at first and then ask them if they mind you going a bit lower etc etc.....

I've been on the back of a mate before and through an S bend he basically threw the thing on the floor either side. I almost came off seeing as I had way less points of contact than he had.

Personally I see pillions as trusting you to keep them safe when they climb on, therefore for me pillion time is uber-safe, smooth careful time.

[warped one]

My best tip is to tell them to keep thier eye just looking over your lid (depending on bike) so if it is a left corner the left eye stays atop if it's a right the right does.

That way the pillion is within your centre of mass and is in control and can also see what is coming so they know that the bike is about to tip the other way or stand up.

Along with what I said earlier I do believe that if he/she can see the road a head they are much better than just telling them to stick behind your lid.

I have never had an off with a pillion purely on the fact (which most will tell you) I can feel the way that the bike is going through easy slow corners and know if I can push tight corners.

Rememer the easy fact that it is not you who controls the bike.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[CaNsA]

I took my missus on the back of my zxr400 on day 2 of riding it, she said "its a bit quick". And i also used to take pillions on my 125 before i passed my full licence.

A few points to remember.

1. It will take a bit more throttle to move off,
2. A bit more breaking to stop,
3. Get her to squeeze you with her legs when u break and accelerate,
4. One hand on your waist, one on the grab rail,
5. If she wiggles, slap her
6. Tell her to look at the traffic ahead and she will learn when u are gonna break and accelerate.
7. Dont wheelie unless you tell her before, cos she will fall off and hurt her boobs
8 . NO she cant use her phone while on the bike.

[Alexio]

I wouldn't worry too much about cornering either, following on from what warped was saying. Yes a pillion will have a little bit of input in to the steering at lower speeds but once you're going at a reasonable speed counter-steering is still going to be the only thing steering / leaning the bike.

Yes there will be more weight and a higher centre of gravity so it will handle very differently but once you've figured it out your pillion doesn't have much reason to be a part of the steering other than to balance and hold on the best way they can for the sake of avoiding falling off for themselves.

What I'm saying is that it really is you who is controlling the bike. There's absolutely no away a person on the back could ever stop you from tipping a bike in to a corner as far as you desire to (while tipping it only as far as you can get away with, with the extra weight etc).
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[yen_powell]

If you're both nervous then have a few double whiskies before the first ride, that should relax you. That alwaysh worksh for me.

Alternatively, stick to a test ride for both of you round and round the block, so either of you can say 'don't like it' and no one has to ride or walk miles home. If that works, go a bit further next time and so on.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would say take some sucker who can ride a bike as a pillion first to get used to it. First attempt with a pillion who doesn't know what they are doing could get painful rather more easily.

Keep it smooth (and I would say that definatly means using the clutch to change gear), and be prepared for the longer braking distances / far more brake lever pressure required, strange handling and the chance the pillion will lean the wrong way on a corner, or jump around trying to look at things.

All theb est

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Pie-Roe]

[tatters]

I hate going pillion scares the crap out of me plus l,m big bastred not very good on little jap bikes with high pillion seats.


I,ve taken loads of people pillion over the years the only two things l make sure they do is lean with the bike and not to sit bolt up right and to brace them selfs with there legs/chest when l brake so they dont slam there helmet into the back of my helmet.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Handsome]

I don't mind carrying a pillion but I hate being one, I came off the back of a scrambler years ago as a kid and it put me off bikes for years, took a hell of a lot to actually get back on a bike, I tense up on the back and can't seem to relax so I only do it if absolutely necessary...

Saying that if I've got one of the lads on the back I still ride as normal, I don't make any allowances for them being there although I tone it down when the missus is on the back...

I have actually forgotten when I've had people on the back, gave a mate a lift back from a garage the once and took a really tight corner banked right over, forgot he was there until I took that corner and heard " YOOOOOOOOOOUUU CUUUUUUUUUNT " he was hanging on for grim death, and another time I took the missus to Streetbike and forgot she was there, she waited untill I'd parked up and beat the shit out of me for my riding prowess...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Tonka]

I'm afraid I don't understand why anyone would pillion I only ever did once and that was years ago and it certainly didn't inspire me to get my licence - it was dull and I could see nothing except the back of the rider, as he was much bigger than me and it was a touring bike.

First thing I did when I passed my test and got my bike was take off the pillion pegs and seat so that I would never be coerced into taking a pillion (go on just around the carpark/block ).

Thinking about it I might be tempted to go pillion with an expert on one of the tracks to see what it's like, but I still would prefer to do it myself!!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Alexio]

The only time I've ever carried a pillion it made the bike so slow I think it made it far safer

We managed a whole 20MPH up certain hills on the 125.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[st3v3]

Well, so far I've got: (and please correct me if I've got it wrong)

Have her sit tight with me so she's not flapping about everywhere.

Brief her un-boringly in the art of pillion touching so I know when she's uncomfortable and when I should behave myself.

Know my 'new limits' in braking, lights reflections, tyres, breaking etc.

Don't worry about or build up what it'll be like, taking it as it comes is the best option, it's her first time too she won't know what to be expecting so I have that bit of grace.

Take someone more forgiving first that also rides and could also offer advice on what to brush up on so it's more pleasurable for her.




Seriously cheers guys, cheers. when the time comes i'l update the thread if I remember, hoping and presuming it all goes well and nobody's hurt.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[temeluchus]

Its great having a girl pillion as having boobs pressed up against your back is awesome! YAY boobies!
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[mickie]

You will also need to teach her to get on your bike, dont know what bike it is, but depending on it, and her height, she may need to mount/dismount using the pillion pegs , so you will have to have your feet firmly planted and make sure she doesn't transfer all her weight straight across the bike.
Might be good for her to practise getting on and off a few times before going anywhere.
Need to use the back brake a lot more when stopping so she doesn't slide forward and unbalance the bike, and also consider a grippy seat cover so she doesn't feel like she is going to fly off the back if you accelerate a bit sharpish

[.....]

[tatters]

[Azonicben]

get her to lean with you, never try to put her feet down unless youve ok`d it.

If she is young and hot, dont forget to tell her safest way to hold on is the groin, stroke if comfortable, squeeze if scared :UP:
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Dr. DaveJPS]

random tip get her to wear heels (preferably boots) as this removes their fear of feet slipping off the pegs.
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[ms51ves3]

[st3v3]

Thanks Mark, maybe 'a little later in the day' eh fella?

Edited from drunkenness,

Shocking.





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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I don't ask my non biking pillions to lean, just sit there and follow the road. If they're looking at corners i.e involved in the ride it helps. My g/f and daughter are great pillions. I've never frightened them and aim to give a chauffer service. Speed limits etc.
I also use more rear brake when coming to a stop.
Also setting the suspension and pressures is best for the bike. Pain in the arse but worth it.
Just getting my daughter to brace herself against the tank when having to brake heavy (it happens)

Entering/exiting a busy carpark with pillion on board and looking wobbly isn't cool. So practise doing walking pace turns.

And one i'm working on is trying not to eff n jeff when goons act up. It stresses the pillion.


Pat
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[st3v3]

Yep, few things to take on board there, very helpful stuff.