Pillion carrying -new experience and thoughts.

[Smooth]

I've only carried a pillion twice. The first time I took it very easy, although yesterday I did 60-odd miles and I rode a bit more 'positively' and it was interesting.

I always blip on the down-shift and try to keep it smooth, which was fine with a pillion.
Upshifting, I often do clutch-less or just a quick snatch on the lever, which is fine solo, but being head-butted by my pillion highlighted a lack of smoothness in my technique (and the TDM tractor gearbox?).
Off the gas, squeezing the clutch, shifting and then feeding the clutch felt slow, but was much more settled so that's something to work on.

It probably depends on the bike, but the bike still turned well and felt very planted 2-up. I tried to take a smooth line and didn't feel any adverse effects from the extra bloke on the back.
-having someone who knows how to ride a bike on the back probably helped too on the very twisty bits.

The 'pseudo-v-twin' grunt seemed suited to carrying extra weight and acceleration wasn't bad either.

I made sure that I slowed down well in advance, although the brakes wasn't actually as bad as I'd expected.



Anybody got any thought/hints/tips/stories of pillion knee-down?
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TDM850

[Red Mick]

Pillion knee down? You are joking I hope.

If you're pillion is a rider, he/she would not expect extreme lean angles. If they're not, they wouldn't appreciate it.

Clutchless changes all the time, upwards anyway, blipping on downshift to avoid deceleration headache . Early and gentle braking wherever possible.

From a rider's perspective, a little word to the pillion about how they mount/dismount and keeping still on the back wouldn't go amiss.


OK, I'm sure you know this already, but it's just my (and my pillion's) twopennorth

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[calyx]

Being a good pillion is different than being a good rider. Mrs is a better pillion than me but she even cant ride a pushbike. Your pillion needs some experience and off course balls
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Boris - London

[Smooth]

[Smooth]

[Mac_Black]

Pah, that's nothing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVExD-Fz688&feature=channel_page

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Red Mick]

[mr.kris]

i have taken azionicben pillion knee downing its not as hard as you would think
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[sickpup]

Lozzypop1 makes a good pillion. Never fazed by wheelies, stoppies, 140mph+ dashes down dual carriage ways, Speeding through flood waters 12 inches deep NOTHING bothers her at all.

She even asks if she can move on the seat at traffic lights. Perfect pillion.

[lozzypop1]