passenger on a motorcycle! Hubby wants me to start riding with him on his little jaunts. I'm afraid that if I react to a car getting too close, or a sudden stop, that I'll cause us to have an accident!
Advise, please!!!
2007-05-11 04:17:05 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Well, I'm just amazed at all the great answers and having a hard time choose the best. I was going to go for 'most starred', but CCGriffin's is more funny than informative. Hmmmmmm
2007-05-13 02:05:41 · update #1
Most important of all RELAX don't worry about how you will react, it is being fidety & tense that causes a lot of problems for riders, but try to trust your hubby because he won't put in any situation that will endanger you.
To start off with wear a helment, long sleeve jacket, gloves, jeans, boots with a low heel, and no LACES (because they can be caught in the chain) (you will also find that your head will feel heavy beacuse of the helmet, time will actually make that easier, it is because you head isn't used to extra weight that the helmet consists of)
When you go to hop on, wait until your hubby is ready for you to hop on, get yourself settled find the hand grips & use them (or if your too small hold your hubby around the waist (but not too tightly beacuse he still has a bike to be able to manouver), place your feet on the pillion pegs, then try not to wiggle or move too much as this upsets the stabilty of the bike, when you approach corners keep your hubby's helmeted head in line with yours and you cannot go wrong (because when you keep your head directly behind his your body automatically leans without any worrying about when to lean, or how far to lean, or tensing up (which can cause problems for your hubby's control of the bike) because basically you are fooling the body with the eyes -this came from my hubby when I first stared riding with him & he was & is dead right & before I knew it I became more aware of the corners, without feeling tense or scared).
Before you commence the ride work out hand signals how to tell your hubby to stop or slow down because you aren't comfortable from my own experience I found the best thing to do is finish the ride, & when we have stopped hop off & give him a darn good ear bashing, because your hubby needs to concerntrate to control the ride. And at all times do not remove your feet from the foot pegs, until your hubby has parked the bike & it is time to get off (don't wont major burns form the exhaust pipe)
After going down the first street & stopping you will learn that you need to brace yourself ever so slightly for accelleration & de-ccelleration, but again it won't be long before you will see you hubby straighten up & see his hands reach for the brakes & clutch to stop, as well as recognise when he starts to duck his head in preperation of speeding up (as well as seeing the hands move as well) in the end it is recognise body signals that are ever so slight and you will prepare yourself for that event.
When you have finished the ride & it is time to hop off ask him if he's ready, for you to dismount you don't wont to be the cause of the bike toppling because you got off before he was ready.
The best measure is to ask him before the ride what he needs you to do so you both stay safe, and TRUST him ,RELAX and have fun
2007-05-11 14:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by ozraikat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most passengers d not realize this and most people answering this question haven't said is that the passenger has more control over the direction of the bike than does the rider(driver). You need to lean with the rider because he is use to the weight leaning with him. AT first the best thing to do is pick a spot on the back of his helmet or head and focus on this until it becomes second nature to lean with him. You can move around on the back just do not do it in any sudden movemnet do it slow he will be able to feel it and compensate for your movement. Also feel the bike as you are sitting there after awhile you will automatically lean with him without realizing your moving.
In a lean if you feel like you are going to fall it is because your inner ear is telling your brain that. To combat this you need to push down on the foot peg as he starts to lean. So if he leans to the right put more pressure on the right foot peg. This makes your brain think that you are catching yourself in a fall and you won't get that falling feeling. Without going into all the physics involved when he leans into a turn the forces are actually pushing you onto the seat not to the ground.
Enjoy the ride.
2007-05-11 20:39:36 · answer #2 · answered by quincyurt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best way you can be a good passenger is just relax and let your hubby control the bike. Remember that the car next to you will not touch you,it will touch the bike first. Your hubby has already made the right moves to pass it. Just relax and take in the view and enjoy the ride.Ride easy
a fellow biker
Buy the way what kind of bike do you have?
2007-05-11 22:41:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you've never been on the back of a bike before, chances are that your friend will take it easy to start with. We've put a few tips together to make your ride more enjoyable.
Relax, don't sit there as stiff as an old board.
Lean with the bike. That is don't deliberately lean around corners. Just relax and go with the bike.
Don't try to sit bolt upright around corners.
Don't fidget at high or low speeds.
Arrange a signal with the rider if you are uncomfortable. A dig in the ribs usually works!
Don't get off the bike until the rider has both feet on the ground and is aware that you are about to get off , again it's good to arrange a signal.
If your rider is filtering through traffic, remember that the bike is harder to handle at low speeds, so the less movement you make will help steady the bike.
Expect the unexpected. Watch the road so you can anticipate any sudden braking or accelerating.
During braking, you will lunge forward slightly and will probably nut your riders lid, prepare yourself on the approach of junctions and roundabouts to prevent sliding into the riders seat.
During acceleration you will lunge back a little. If your holding on to a rear grab rail then just grip a bit tighter to steady yourself, leaning forward will help so long as you are not putting your body weight on the rider. If you are holding on to the rider during acceleration then it is easier to steady yourself.
Don't distract the rider whilst moving. They need their concentration on the road.
Give these notes to your hubby:
Prep your pillion (passenger) before you set off.
Arrange a signal that they can give you if they are uncomfortable. Don't let them sit there scared witless at 70mph afraid to move.
Stop frequently to check they are ok.
Take it steady to start with. Having a pillion on the back effects braking and acceleration. So allow time in judging gaps during overtaking and don't break suddenly.
2007-05-11 12:23:28 · answer #4 · answered by skh1972 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Before riding as a passenger on ANYONE'S motorcycle, be sure they have at least 1,000 mikes of riding experience. I have over 100k & 33yrs of experience plus 5yrs working at a motorcycle shop; every new rider wanted to take a friend ASAP, not wait a 1,000 miles. So I`would explain that statistics [at the time] showed that about 95% of all MC wrecks happened in the 1st 300 miles, 98% in the 1st 3,000 miles; so even at 1,000 they were far from experienced. Good riding involes patience, learning, muscle memory & experience.
Good luck, ride safe & ride straight
2007-05-11 21:13:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He will be in control of the bike, you need to just relax but hang on and don't make any sudden movements, at first it can be a bit scary, but once you get comfortable you will love it. Stay close to him when turning corners. All will be fine! Have a good ride and maybe take some practices runs around town to get a feel of how it handles and how your hubby drives it!
2007-05-11 11:30:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
On a motorcycle you are going to have to accept the fact that your safty is in the hands of the driver.
If you can't accept that then you are putting both you and the driver in danger.
Closing you eyes is not really a good idea because it will only make you more prone to overreacting.
A good motorcycle passenger can trust experience and skill of the driver and just enjoy the ride.
2007-05-11 11:31:15 · answer #7 · answered by The Dest 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great That you have been INVITED to ride with him!
The first step in being a great passenger is to communicate with your husband about your concerns.
To become a great passenger first, allow your husband to mount, and get situated on the bike first. Once that is accomplished, wait for him to INVITE you to mount the bike. When a passenger mounts a motorcycle, they will mount from the left side of the bike by placing their foot on the passenger peg and swinging their right leg over the seat. Understand that when you do this; all of your weight will be placed on the left side of the bike and he will have to compensate for this.
Your education as far as being a passenger is to maintain a firm but comfortable hand hold around his waist, keeping your feet on the passenger pegs at ALL TIMES. This allows you control of your movement also.
Realize that in his movements to operate the bike safely; you will feel very subtle changes that occur; but only if you remain in contact of him at the waist and your torso near or against his. It's a form of non-verbal communication.
Stopping: you will feel his body start to straighten up before he starts to apply the brakes. Prepare for this by changing your body position by a slight straightening or sitting up yourself.
Accelleration: the same applies here; although in reverse. He will make a subtle shift in his body positon by leaning forward to anticipate the taking off or accelleration. Follow his position also. Remember that all these movements are smooth and relaxed.
Turning: you have your hands on his waist, your feet on the passenger pegs and going down the road keep your eyes over one of his shoulders. As he prepares to execute a turn, LOOK over his inside shoulder and lean WITH him; not before, not agaist his lean and not more. As he returns back to straight line riding position, you will also.
Personal safety gear for you, the passenger carries the same importance if not more than the rider.
Your concern about being a good passenger is a great start to becoming a life long riding partner with your husband. Enjoy-Have FUN!!
2007-05-11 19:11:04 · answer #8 · answered by Steven F 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
#1 Ask him how he feels you can help. He will know more than anyone, what he needs.
Most passengers> contact. Hold around waist, not neck. be relaxed, be neutral. do not lean, do not help steer, do not get scared. Just sit behind in the most relaxed way you can. At the first rest stop, ask how you are doing, and what could improve.
2 up riding is about communication.
2007-05-11 12:28:16 · answer #9 · answered by cstatman 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't wiggle around. When you move around you shift your body weight it's as if you were driving the bike. This doesn't mean you have to be completely still, you can scratch your nose and things like that. If you need to stretch your legs out while riding do one at a time, slowly. It is especially important that you don't wiggle when the going slow, like coming to a stop. This can really throw the bike around. In turns lean with your husband, not against.
2007-05-11 11:28:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋