How do you ride a motorcycle with a passenger?

Question

I've seen a lot of people ask about being a better passenger. I'm a rider, but I have never had a passenger. Any tips, things to watch out for, how does it change things?

Answer 1

If you thought your motorcycle was top-heavy before... Yup, there's more weight, your motorcycle won't handle the same, give yourself more room when going around a corner, take it nice and slow and easy, and don't even try to do a jack-rabbit acceleration.

Be careful to use the clutch when shifting, and make the transition from gear to gear nice and smooth when accelerating.

Your seat must be long enough so you both can sit on it comfortably, or your passenger must have a special "pillion" seat. Your passenger must have her own footrests or "passenger pegs." Your passenger must wear her own helmet (that fits) and shoes. Your passenger has her choice of things to hold on to:
a) Arms around you. This is best.
b) some motorcycles have a "passenger grab bar" or a sissy bar behind the passenger. Acceptable.
c) Hands gripping your belt. Legal, but not good safety especially if your pillion seat doesn't have a back rest for the passenger, or you don't have a padded sissy bar.

Your passenger should NOT try to grab the handlebars. Yup, I had a passenger who wanted to put her hand on the throttle. Not good.

Tell your passenger not to wiggle around or shift her weight horizontally. Doing this at freeway speeds will frighten you. Yup, had that happen too.

Your passenger should keep her feet on the pegs at a stop sign. It's your job to keep the bike straight upright when stopped.

Answer 2

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RE:
How do you ride a motorcycle with a passenger?
I've seen a lot of people ask about being a better passenger. I'm a rider, but I have never had a passenger. Any tips, things to watch out for, how does it change things?

Answer 3

The first couple of times I rode (as a passenger) I didn't lean at all. I was already scared enough, my first time on a bike. I just held on, let the driver do all the leaning. I think it also makes it easier for the driver, because they can get a better feel for having a passenger on...
I mean what if the passenger leans alot not knowing what to expect, and you lean alot not knowing what to expect...
I think it's best just to let the driver do all the leaning, they can compensate for the extra person and get a better feel for it.

Then, naturally the passenger will start to learn to lean with the driver, and the driver wouldn't have to do so much of the leaning anymore... So I would just have the passenger hold on (like someone said above as well) So other than that, I don't think it will be much different, just getting a feel for the extra weight and how your bike reacts. I guess you just need to do it, take it easy and do it. My husband had hiked plenty of people on his dirt bike when he was a kid, very different than having me ride on his bike now, with a suicide clutch, which made it a little harder since he leans a little each time he shifts. It took him awhile to get comfortable with it.

Answer 4

Cannot add at lot more than comment that the last five answers were good and I would not get on a bike with the people who answered before them.
My tips to new pillions are be comfortable, relax and keep your head in line with mine. If you ride smootly, are considerate of your passenger and they trust you they should not have to hold on too much at all.
One pillion I used to have sat and read a book if we were doing a long haul road. Even occasionally she would have a nap but if your pillion is considering this I would recommend having a back rest for them or things could get embarassing.

Answer 5

you want to first check your owner's manual or tire inflation plate for the two-up tire pressure - usually the rear should be 4-5 psi higher than the solo pressure. almost the entire weight of the passenger goes on the rear tire (so usually the front doesn't change. if the rear shock is adjustable you should adjust it up for tthe additional weight. the tire pressure and the shock adjust will help stop the rear end from weaving around and keep it from bottoming on hard bumps. Technique - as above the passenger needs to SIT STILL with respect to you and the bike. if they start squirming around you could be all over the road and not know why. if they need to get circulation restored in their butt - they should gently rise straight up just a little bit on the pegs a couple times while you are going straight. be careful if you have a high power bike that you don't wheelie and lose them off the back. the bike will be more susceptible to wheelies since the cg is higher and further back.

Answer 6

For a person that prefers to ride solo, I actually 2-up a lot.
Enough to have added a second solo seat to my bike.
Check your tire pressure, and adjust your shocks for the extra load. Your bike will feel heavier (it is), everything happens slower (acceleration, braking). New passengers may be afraid, usually nervous. Take everything slow, especially turns.
The first things I tell a new passenger: "Hold on wherever you want, the rail, grab strap, or me. Just not around my neck. Let the bike do what it does, it turns by leaning. You don't have to lean if you don't want to, but you'll have to swivel your hips. Keep your feet up."

Answer 7

There's obviously more weight on the motorcycle so don't lean in on corners too much. Watch out for those corners. Passengers sometimes get freaked when you lean so they lean against the turn and it could cause some problems. Slow down....

Answer 8

When you turn left, tell them to place their head on your left shoulder (vise versa). Acceleration is slower, so you'll have to give it more gas to accelerate as you normallly would. braking to a stop takes longer, so you'll have to brake sooner and/or harder. also, tell your passenger not to move too much or make quick movements (especially in turns). If they have to adjust their seating, tell them to do it at a stop light/sign or in the straights.
I enjoy taking passengers with me cause it makes me a better rider. You will be able to manipulate your motorcycle( when you're alone) alot easier, smoother and faster by training with a passenger.

Answer 9

Always use protection when riding passengers on your motorcycle.

Answer 10

Remind the passenger to lean away on turns, and you just have to be more careful while driving. Make sure you let them know before going over big bumps and stuff.