pillions

pork6156 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Karma :

Hi all,
I have been riding for many years now, and in these many years I have never had a pillion.

This is about to change as my wife would like to get on the back this year, I generally have been a bit worried about a passenger as I only weigh 9 and half stone, and most male friends are heavier than me, so I never bothered letting them get on the back, as I did not want their weight over the rear wheel.
My wife however is 8 and half stone, so not a huge weight there.

So just looking for some advice with regards to having a pillion.

Cheers guys

Flip · Super Spammer Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Karma :

Get her to keep still. Do everything as smooth as you can. Brake smoothly. Don't give it a handful when pulling away or she'll fall off. Change gear smoothly etc.

Also, these are brilliant.

https://www.triboseat.com/

johnsmith222 · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Karma :

Smooth is definately the key.

I spend more time riding with a pillion than without. I weigh 14 stone and my mate around 18 stone.

I'll tell you something though. It depends a hell of a lot on the pillion and how they react. I had a mate who was always leaning his head to look round me and it was driving me mental.

Another mate was grabbing me so tight as it was his first time on the back of a bike. When braking I could tell I was bearing pretty much all his weight. I just beared with it though because it's understandable.

If you get a good pillion, especially one that's active and trusts you and the bike then you can pretty much rag it like they aren't there.

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Tell your pillion to keep their head back. There is nothing worse than getting headbutted every time you brake. I had a mate who always did that until I whipped my head back and cracked his visor Very Happy

Strange, he never did it again.
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Daimo · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 14 May 2005 Karma :

As said, be smooth, brake WELL in advance of what you would normally.

Whilst you may brake late, and use your arms and knees to hold your weight, your partner can't do this, and either either put a large strain on her arms, or on you (depending how shes holding on).

My partner, she has 1 hand on the strap, and one hand around me. When she can see i need to brake, she places the front hand on the tank to stop putting her weight on me.

Tell her to lean with you round the bends, don't sit upright and lean away.

Don't roll off, roll on the throttle. The forces goign fowards/backwards can sometime unbalance the pillion and runs the risk of coming off the back.

Again, i'll say again, brake WELL in advance. Double the weight ont eh bike, it makes a huge difference.

Otherwise, when I open the throttle, i tap my other half on the leg, inwards as if to say "hang on tighter, im going faster" Laughing

I learned this all from pillioning off my old man, and it works great for my other half. If she can hold her own weight when braking, it makes a huge difference, bikes under more control, and the pillion will feel safer as they are leaning against a solid object.

AL- · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Karma :

johnsmith222 · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Karma :

Daimo · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 14 May 2005 Karma :

dragstaar · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Aug 2010 Karma :

i find that the most efficient, yet most commonly overlooked tip (probably because its so obvious) is to watch the road. Tell the pillion to watch the road as if they were driving. They can't just sit there as they would in a car (and no doubt a new pillion will do this).

Once they're watching the road, they automtically adjust. They'll see the light go green and brace for accelleration. they'll see the mong pedestrian who has just stepped out and will brace for braking. They'll see the bend coming up and lean with you.

Trust me, this one tip makes pillions 100 times better to carry

Daimo · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 14 May 2005 Karma :

Totally agree.

Unfortunatly, if they are not road minded and are middle lane, non indicating non looking car drivers, then simply don't let them on the bike at all Laughing

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

I stopped carrying Noriko after a couple of silly blasts when it became somewhat obvious our daughter stood to become an orphan.
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lozzypop1 · Certified MILF! Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

Whjy isnt anyone giving the OP hassle about this thread?

I searched for "pillion tips"

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=215384

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=204207

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=203220

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=195634

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

You don't say what type of bike you have.

I've been taking pillions ever since i passed my test and love the idea of sharing the riding experience with people.

With a bit of practise i've found that even absolute notices can be great pillions once you explain everything to them.

If you have a topbox that does allow the pillion to relax a bit more as they feel secure in the knowledge that they aren't going to go flying backwards (not that they should as you'll be riding smoothly anyway)

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Shit pillion, I ride well and I ride safe.
Have done for the past 16 years. Thumbs Up

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0l0dom0l0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Karma :

I was shitting myself about taking a pillion for the first time. Its really not as hard as you think and once you have done a couple of miles it feels like they aren't there.

As everyone else has said, it's about the pillion. My dad was a pain in the arse and would do my lifesavers for me coming off a roundabout etc. Ended up just un-balancing the bike. I had a right go at him when I stopped.

My girlfriend on the other hand. Probably one of the best pillions ever. Sits there with total trust and confidence in me and the bike, goes with it on the turns etc. Doesn't fight me.

I forget she is there most of the time. We pull up at college and I start to put the bike on the side stand and get off when I hear a little voice behind me say 'oi I haven't got off yet Laughing

'.

Just take it easy, and get used to how the bike handles differently. After a couple of goes you will get it Thumbs Up

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Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I usually carry Nemo as a pillion.
Hes lightweight, but ive had my share of people on the bike (mate from work, 6ft 4 or something big and ~16 stone, mainly muscle Laughing

)

On the GS500, he made it as tall as a mini moto.. but hes always been a decent pillion. He sits still, holds round me and as we are braking he leans his palms on the tank as we stop, definitely helps him and my back.
Same with nemo, except half the height and weight Laughing

Smooth acceleration, work out a way of telling them to hold on tighter as you are pulling away faster etc.
I usually find a tap on the left leg is "going faster" and right leg is "holding too tight"

Tell them to be relaxed and not to worry the bikes leaning over... just advise them to stay in a neutral position rather than them attempting to lean as well.. tell them to just go floppy and go with the bike.

Keep feet on pegs, if they get scared you should encourage them to let you know....or pull a wheelie and shout man up. Laughing

I also find changing gears "up" is easier clutch-less with a pillion. As long as you time it well.. it feels smoother

As a side thing.. i hate going pillion, I ride to my ability and if im on a road that im used to doing 45-50 on or a roundabout I never do over 20 on and they are doing faster, it always bothers me.. I like to be in control, same as cars.

robertwentont... · Derestricted Danger Joined: 14 Mar 2016 Karma :

Very short ago I had my first ride on a motorcycle on the back of an r1 of a friend. At a certain moment he rode 160 mph and also did very fast accelerations and really sharp turns. I really loved it and now I am looking for other fast pillion rides on sportbikes.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Aaaaand *PLONK*.
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