Carrying a Pillion

[AcIdBuRnZ]

Hi,

As many of you know I passed my test recently...

...and with 2 younger brothers (16+19) who are bike daft (offroad) I was being nagged for a ride mintue I passed!!!

I've had them both out on the NSR. One is slightly better pillion than the other.

Just wanted to ask for any tips\advice?

The bike feels totally different. Do I need to change the tyre pressures or anything? Cornering confidence is way down too...

Cheers guys
Mark
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

[Steve H]

Tyre pressures are advisable to change (although in practice unless it's a planned trip how many of us do it!), as are suspension settings if you can. The extra weight on the rear makes your front end light thus causing it to feel slightly 'feathery'.

I always make it clear that I'm the gaffer on the bike prior to riding and the passenger should bow to my every command (doesn't go down to well with my wife!). Personally I think this is a must as you need to have 100% confidence that your passenger isn't going to act irresponsibly causing you to lose control of the bike.

Being a good passenger is on a par with being a good rider, ride time and experience are of real benefit as is knowledge and road sense.
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[ProXimaCore]

I've been thinking alot about this too. Back tyre pressure should be increased from 33 to 35 according to the sticker on the swingarm if you're taking a pillion. I've had a couple of people on the back of my bike just going in a straght line down some where quiet. Not really fast though. I did find the faster you went the easier it seemed to get. I'm dreading having to take someone through town round all the corners at low speeds.

[True Blue]

I've only had a pillion on the back of the NSR once and even then only for a short distance. I didn't feel to comfortable with it though.
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Past >>>> Honda NSR 125 >>>> Suzuki GSXR 600 K1 >>>> Suzuki GSXR 600 K4 >>>>Kawasaki Z1000 DAF >>>>Suzuki RMZ 250 >>>> Current >>>> KTM Superduke R 1290 >>>>

[Bendy]

Practice.

I don't like taking pillions much, but I attribute most of that to the fact that I don't do it very much, and so it feels completely alien when I do.

Also, I always seem to get big blokes on the back of my bike and that just feels horrible at low speed - all that extra weight sitting up and behind. On the rare occassion I get a little person on the back, it doesn't bother me nearly as much.

[hugo-a-gogo]

tell them not to move about
As you are slowing down they think that is the perfect time to change position
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"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them - but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one. That is why they are dangerous."
Hunter S Thompson
clicky 4 bikey

[Major_Grooves]

I take my girlfriend pillion nearly everyday. I think most new pillions think it is okay to move around when you are slowing down, but it is probably the opposite.

One of our first problems was when she was holding on to me she would occasionally give me a "hug of love" which would be a bit startling. We've managed to stop that nonsense now though!

Tell them not to turn their body to look at things as you go past as you can really feel the bike move the other way.
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About me|@Major_Grooves|My company|Digg|Flickr

[craigT19]

i have a pillion all the time...the only tip i can give is combined braking, use your back brake and front brake together, it stops the bike from rocking, and so the passenger doesnt move around.
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Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
BCF member pops. sadly missed 1945-2003

[mr.z]

[ProXimaCore]

[ZaphodBeeble]

[priller]

I have had pillions on the back of a RS125, doesn't effect the handling too much, but the slopped seat doesn't help them stay on. Needless to say the pillion fell off at 40mph.

[priller]

Double post, oops.

[AcIdBuRnZ]

You've had 2 pillions fall off at 40mph?

Gee...that IS unlucky

Mark
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

[mr.z]