Taking Pillions how much do you Really PAY ATTENTION TO?

[radicalrabit]

How will the extra weight affect the handling of the motorcycle?

* The centre of gravity is raised making the motorcycle top heavy and unstable.

* At slow speeds the motorcycle is more unstable.

* The steering will become lighter.

* Accelerating and braking will take longer.

* At speed the bike will drop into the bend quicker and be harder to lift back up.

Many of us take it for granted and don't always ride really paying attention as to how the bikes handling is going to be different.... So I was wondering how many people really make the extra effort ?
WOULD YOU TAKE A PILLY WHO IS IN A SKIRT OR HAS BEEN DRINKING OR SMOKING WEED OR DOING OTHER DRUGS?
oops
Do you ever advise the pilly on how to sit or what do do or not do?
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

There are a stupid amount of Pillion threads.

Have a quick scan through those and come back.....



















I knew you wouldn't bother...[huffs]

The only time I have forgotten I had a pillion was when I was very drunk and high.
Turned out I didn't have a pillion at all, and was just bombed out of my swede.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Deadringers]

[Suntan Sid]

[clancy]

Bike wheelies like mad with a pillion, great fun
____________________
KLX 300r

[radicalrabit]

yep thats what I thought...........no sensible comments, everyone just sticks em on the back and sets off regardless..... Thats what I do too ... unless they have never been on a bike before.
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[Yoyo]

When I had a full license, the only time I realised I had a passenger was when either getting my kidneys boxed, or loads of angry texts and phone calls say i'd left them at a set of traffic lights half hour ago.
____________________
Joe: I don't wish to floccinaucinihilipilificate your choices, but the best word in the world is gaylord.

[johnsmith222]

[FiBob]

From a different perspective, I remember when I rode pillion for the first time, my OH just told me to hop on - no help or directions as to where to sit or how the hell to hold on and not fall off.
I only got given advise when I either moved for the first time (I had never ridden at this point) or headbutted him. But he often says he forgets i'm there...

[radicalrabit]

My daughter got a pretty full lecture before we went on our first ride, but she is a lightweight and the big bikes dont even know she is there, until she decides to suddenly stretch a leg or wriggle about .

But having had some discussions with the police recently and getting some feed back from Honda, It surprised me how much a bike can be adversely affected by a pillion and that the effects of not adjusting the rear shock can mean using up all the available suspension travel preventing the bike from handling as it should.

The reason for the post was to try and get people thinking about how much the suspension set up, the pillions position relative to the bike, and its centre of gravity and their weight , is likely to impact upon the bikes ability to cope with changes of direction and speed and what happens when both speed and direction are changed at the same time...

Food for thought ......
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[P.]

Rarely give pillion, just need to tell them to hold on and sit still. If they move they get a tap on the leg and a quick word at the next lights.

Some are nice and hold on when your front wheel decides it dislikes tarmac and prefers sky.

[Doovy]

[P.]

You were in work clothes, if you come off, fuuuuuck

[DrDonnyBrago]

Only pillion I've taken was my wife, who clung to me screaming the whole time because 30 seemed too fast...

Ridden pillion once, but I outweighed the rider (brother) by about 7 stone, so the tiny cb250 went light at the front and wobbled like crazy. Didn't enjoy that tbh.

So.... I've not really had to consider pillions too much.

[radicalrabit]

i took a 17 stone pilly to wales recently on the blackbird and even a big bike like that didnt like it I was never over 60 all the way apart from a quick sprint to catch up with the rest of the ride on the motorway ... but round twisties was 'orrible
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[TheSmiler]

Don't really mind going pillion been a few times; the only time I hate going pillion is when the rider has bad throttle control. So you feel like you are going to fly off the back, it's not a nice feeling at all.

Not sure what I'm like as a pillion though no ones really ever mentioned anything about it afterwards
____________________
CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[Vracktal]

The BMW r1200r I was looking at recently had some kind of trick suspension where you could put it into pillion mode, which made it stiffer or something.

Of course I'd probably forget to do it if i ever carried one anyway.
____________________
2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[P.]

[G]

[Pol Anorl]

[Suntan Sid]

[thx1138]

depends who it is, uber fidgets can throw the bike off a bit

[The Shaggy D.A.]

This is the first time ever I've renewed my insurance without pillion cover; not carried one since 1999.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Clutchy]

Rode pillion twice, hated every second of it because I wasn't in control and just could not trust the rider (he's not bad or anything and was rather sensible) it was a crap experience.


Gave a lift to someone who was 5 stone heavier than me, made slow speed turning a little difficult but not too bad, only difference I felt was that it took more effort to turn into corners and to be more careful as their life was in my hands
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Radis]

I always give them a quick chat to make sure they don't wiggle too much, get on or off without me saying it's ok to do so and that they hold on. Never bother changing the suspension or tyre pressures though. Not done huge trips with a pillion though, just cross London stuff, been fine so far...