Rider as pillion

[Shade_BW]

Before I got my bike, I was pillion on my girlfriend all the time. Not a problem, it was fun.

This morning I had to get a pillion into work after dropping my bike off to get its scottoiler fitted.

Now.. it's terrible, I keep a running commentary in my head (I would never voice them) about all the things I would be doing different. Slow down, speed up, you can go there, don't go there, mind that tree...

So, how are you on the back of someone else?

Shade
Pillion no more.
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[Bendy]

Depends who they are. I'll only go on the back with people I trust implicitly and as such, try and switch off from 'rider mode'.

If I was on the back with someone I wasn't too confident about, I think I'd be terrible. And if they were bad enough, I'd bloody tell them too.

I'm generally only a pillion on my own bike which is worse in some ways (stop abusing my bike you bastard!) but can also be very educational in an 'if it can do that with 2 of us onboard, then I should be able to do it on my own' kind of way.

I've always been a terrible passenger (cars too) but I think I'm getting a bit better, though it's largely confidence in the driver/rider. G popped a wheelie with me on the back on Saturday and it didn't bother me cos I'm sure he knows what he's doing. If someone I didn't know did that, I'd probably punch them.

[Steve H]

I try very hard not to be over critical but unfortunately it just happens - although I wouldn't dream of voicing my concerns unless I thought my comments would drastically improve someone's riding ability.

I enjoy being pillion (and taking them) although I sometimes find it difficult riding alone after having a passenger on board in view of the fact that the responsibility that comes with having a pillion passenger lays heavily on my shoulders. I find that once that weight is lifted a certain degree of temptation manifesting itself in (higher) speed is apparent although I do my utmost to overcome it.
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[dainesefreak]

It's very rare that I actually go pillion. If the bike goes in for anything I'm usually given a lift in a car by my wife. On the odd occasion that I have been on the back it's a lad I ride with and is a similar rider to me, probably a bit more cautious. I've not had any problems with his riding and have tried to concentrate on helping him.

I wouldn't really consider getting on the back of a bike of someone I don't know.

[Scotty]

Everyone will ride differently, have different patterns of riding.
Others will take more risks, so will ride slower some faster.

I think its good to go pillion sometimes just to see how others ride. Also tank cam videos to learn and maybe improve my own riding abilities.

Even daft things like how other people change gear amuses me.

But then again simple things...
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[Visitor Q]

yes i loathe it too. Its like all the backseat driver-ness-ness -ness becomes all you can think off, id have slowed down here more, less lean, more rideout, etc etc.

Altho that said i have no problem with being on the back of someone who drives slowly, safely and considerately, i can think wuss all i like, but nothing else. Whereas someone trying to gun it, i was close to actually braking for someone once, then realised what i was considering. But way to much stress.
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[Nighteyes]

I love going pillion, always have. Both before I started riding my own and now.
I don't like to criticize how someone rides when I'm on the back, though I do develop favorites of who to journey with for certain things .
But at the end of the day that person has passed there test and I haven't, and they usually (all of them so far) have more experience than me so I try to use it to gain a little more of it myself.
It has made a difference to my own riding too, when I have tried (unconsciously sometimes) to pick out the better qualities of their riding and incorporate it into my own.
As for those rides out that are a little on the scary side....meh, love them too! The rush of doing something I haven't/can't myself and the laugh about it after, it's all good fun.
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[karen_moomin]

I love being pillion with Col! It's all I knew before I got my own bike, and I feel completely safe with him. There have been a few occasions where I scream, laugh, cringe and lean (ask him about his cornering on the A34, I nearly wet myself) but generally I accept that he's a lot more experienced rider than me therefore I can't really comment!

I'm definitely a bad car passenger though, very critical and can't help but shouting "brake!!!!" every now and then (and who's idea was it for me to insure Col on my car to teach him? )

[Kickstart]

Hi

I am a terrible passenger on the back of a bike, and pretty awful in a car.

Control freak.

All the best

Keith
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[Smoto Bob]

[Tarmacsurfer]

I won't go pillion any more and haven't in at least 10 years, simple as that. I get so tense/nervy that it makes the journey horrible for the rider and myself both, no matter how good a friend they are or how much I consciously respect their riding ability it all goes to pot once I'm on the back.
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[Dusty]

I don't like going pillion with anybody to be honest, even with riders I trust and respect the skills of. Not that comfortable in cars either, have those moments every now and again where I think the driver has missed something, like a car about to pull out for example and my heart skip a beat.

Going pillion I don't like because I can't really feel what the tyres are doing and while cornering I don't like the fact that I'm perched really high, makes the whole bike feel less stable to me.

To be fair most of the bikes I have been pillion on were sports bikes, which can't be the best for a pillions comfort etc, but even when I've been on less focused bikes I haven't felt comfortable. To be honest I think I find going pillion more tiring than actually riding, just because I don't seem to be able to relax. I would guess the fact that I'm not relaxed isn't going to help the bikes handling either.
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[stinkwheel]

I hate riding pillion because my mates all ride like I do when I'm by myself, a frightening and uncomfortable experience if you have nothing to hold on to.

I always radically alter my riding style when I have a pillion on (clutchless changes, braking much earlier and more gently etc.) and have had people fall asleep on the back before now.
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[hellkat]

[Ant]

I've only ever gone pillion twice, First time was for about a mile on the back of my dad on his CX650, a nice ride!

Second (and last) was on the back of Laura's scooter from walsall to birmingham and after a close incedent with a bus (My arm was rubbing on the bus ) which is probably why....

I DON'T DO PILLION!
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[saxmonster]

I will only go pillion if its an emergency, I'd rarther walk.

[dink]

Terrible pillion same as you shade. Che won't let me on the back as he says I wear the pegs down and damage his pockets I was fine before I rode myself. Have found since doing driving test I am the worlds worst back seat driver too.

Put everyone off taking me on the back ? GOOD

[Inglesina94]

I am with Nighteyes about going pillion.

Absolutely love it!!

Have to say I tend not to concentrate on what the rider does (the way he rides) and simply enjoy the freedom both the physical freedom of being out on a bike and the mental freedom of not having to concentrate and of being able to think what I want!

Also don't mind the speed at all , the rush of adrenaline, thought I have to trust the rider 110%!

Used to fall asleep quite often when riding pillion with my brother back in Italy when he had nice comfy bikes ... never done that on a sport one, yet
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[hellkat]

[Fallen Angel]

I haven't been pillion for a few years now, but when I was younger, I would jump on the back of anyone's bike, just for the sake of a shot and I've been on the back of some right loonies!!! But when you're young you're more carefree and the more maniac they drive the better it is (at the time that is) for some strange reason!!

I think I used to have a death wish when I was younger!
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[hellkat]

[Fallen Angel]

It was when I was about 13/14 I was first on the back of a bike, but I remember being about ten in a sidecar going down a really, really steep hill and thinking it was amazing!!!
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[saxmonster]

[Ste]

Quite happy to go pillion, but more so if it's someone who I know and have seen ride or take pillions before or have been pillion with them before. Do prefer to be the one in control though but as long as I trust the rider I'm okay with it. Don't really switch off when pillion always looking at stuff in the same way I would be if I was riding. Havn't been pillion with anyone and have stepped off the bike at the other end thinking that I'm never going pillion with them again . Is easier when I've seen that person riding before a fair bit so know more what to expect etc as everyone rides in different styles.

Am fairly happy going in cars as passenger, but not so much now am always basically watching everything as if I was driving and wondering if the driver has spotted something or whatever. More so when approaching a turning on the left and there is a car coming up to it but not really stopping just creeping fowards and am always just wondering if they're actually going to stop in time.

[WildGoose]

dont like pillion at all to be honest, feels to like an after thought, hanging on for dear life

granted ive never ridden on the back of a bike that has given a serious consideration to pillions in the design process but still

im a terrible back seat driver in cars now, since ive got my own vehicle, i think my dad is ready to shoot me, but he did nearly kill us both once, cos he was too busy staring at some bird wearing too few clothes on a hot day (and since then ive got worse about pointing shit out) parents...

i have little enough patience for incompetence on the road as it is, when i turn they key, the road is mine, and everyone else has to impress me to convince me they should be there, its all kinds of wrong, but i fear for being smacked off again by someone being an idiot, its easy for car drivers to be idiots, cos the consequences arent there for them

no one should be allowed on the road except me

but yeh, pillion bad
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