riding 2-up

[talkToTheHat]

So I finally convinced the girlfriend to let me spend all the monies on some kit for her. She has been eying up the pillion seat since I first showed up on a bike so about time. It took the thought of spending enough to get kitted on the cheap to get to a few events this summer to convinve her. I bought non cheap kit.

This far we've had a ride out to a gastropub for dinner that was somehow 30 miles out and 8 back, and made a meeting today that would otherwise have been two taxis.

She has ridden pillion loads as a teenager so appears to know how to behave. I'm pretty much clueless. Slow speed travel feels really unstable, I feel like a wobbily noob again. I've upped the preload at the rear from 3 (heavy rider and maybe luggae) to 5 (Max, pillion and luggage) and the headlamp aim appears to be about the same, and tyre pressures are as recommended. Did not like slow traffic today. Bike feels stable under braking though and I can confidently stand on the brake pedal right through braking so I'm overestimating stopping distances.

Any advice to sort our low speed travel out?

What should I do with her at petrol stations? If large service area and I can do petrol and return to retail facilities having sent her for coffee and food, but where am I supposed to send her in a standard petrol station?

We have a short tour coming up, I'm still deciding how much backroad to do in place of motorways and dual carriageways. Is there anything I need to consider that I might not have thought of?
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Ste]

[esullivan]

[arry]

Use more revs, slip the clutch a bit and use more rear brake to control speed and make the bike stable

[Musketeer]

[talkToTheHat]

Yes, adult and capable of looking after herself. Not accustomed to crazy petrol station rules. Capable of working out that milling about between cars whilst the drivers are trying to remember which side to park, and paying more attention to their overpriced meal deal sandwich than their surroundings whilst leaving.

Has zero spatial awareness and ability to judge speed, so petrol stations are probably minorly scary, whilst wandering around in a stealth-suit.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[JonE]

Just tell her to stand next to the bike and don't move if you really think she could be a danger to herself and others.

[andyscooter]

handcuff her to the grabrails
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[wr6133]

Fiddling with suspension and all that shite is a waste of time. Just ensure she doesn't wear a bra and brake hard.

[tactical_pancake]

[rubyhorse2]

just keep riding, the unusual feel of pillion soon becomes normal.

petrol stations - either get her to pay or if its a card one, just leave her on the back.

[Mudshark]

some bikes are better than others of course, and some riders, and some pillions, I've had the boss out a few times this year, she's never bothered in the past, just take things a bit slower and allow more time for pulling out stopping etc. until you (and her) get used to how the bike behaves.
as you have found low speed roundabout and slow cornering are probably the most odd feeling esp if they get fidgety.
she likes the topbox, stops her feeling like she's "going to go flying off the back", despite me riding like a pensioner on valium when she's onboard!
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R1250RS
XT660X

[Teflon-Mike]

[CaNsA]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=2783717#2783717

[Gazz]

Should you loosen the chain slightly?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

It can depend on the bike Gazz.

The bikes I've had don't mention chain adjustment with luggage/pillion but I've read on BCF that some do suggest altering the tension.

[edit] ...and because I know of CaNsA's love of pedantry....

[talkToTheHat]