I take it quite a bit slower, especially if they have no experience. Obviously that is true for acceleration and braking (I mean, 250cc of fury and a tiny single front disc), but on the corners too - I take it at a slow enough pace that I rarely, if ever, drag my toes on the ground with the pegs right in front of my heels - ie the lazy, comfy way.
Responsibilities when riding with a passenger
- Thread starter Enchanter
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VroomVroomVroom
Well-known member
You may want to get advice from a Lawyer prior to giving people rides on the back of your bikes. The liability you could be taking is huge. It may even be possible to have a release of liability form made for taking chicks for rides. Check with your insurance company for applicable coverage in passenger instances.
MellowYellow
Well-known member
ride as fast as I feel comfortable with my passanger.
if you know me you would not even ask how fast that is
if you know me you would not even ask how fast that is
sab
Well-known member
pretty much same as above here. I will second the fact that most girls who request a ride will NOT wear gear, even though I beg them. "looks ugly" or something like that. Just getting them to put on gloves and a helmet that I supply is a chore. For this reason I usually don't take many passengers any farther than around the block.
MrCrash
King of FAIL
My street pace is about the same with or without a passenger. Most people will classify it as a B+ pace.
For a newer passenger, yes. During the ride, I'm constantly paying attention to my passenger's body language, and regularly asking how she's doing, and if she would like me to change anything to make her more comfortable.
I encourage passengers to try and stay relaxed, and discourage them from counterleaning. The ride is just smoother that way. I'm not sure if there's anything unusual I don't allow.
I do have insurance that covers passengers.
I think health insurance is a must for anyone on a motorcycle. The gal who has been riding with me does have it - does anyone with the possible exception of students and the unemployed not have it these days?
If she's comfortable with it, I like to give her a little sample - while still leaving what I feel is a large safety margin. It's all up to her though.
I have a lot of fun doing it on the track as well. It's one thing to explain a technique to riders - allowing them to experience it themselves allows them to absorb it that much more.
Coffae
Crash Test Dummy
I give them the talk about how the bike leans to turn, where to put their feet and hands :blush etc... Then I tell them if they are feeling uncomfortable such as if I'm going to fast for them, to tap on my back. If it is the first time, I just give them a slow ride--very careful.
Once, right after the talk though, I had to make an immediate right to get out of the parking space and of course they leaned a hard left.... Another time I had a very fast and experienced (35 years) rider pillion and in the middle of a fast turn he leaned "up". I had to fight hard with the countersteer to get the bike to finish the turn or we woulda hit the wall.
I asked him what was up afterward and he just said he freaked out! Never woulda thought... :confused
Once, right after the talk though, I had to make an immediate right to get out of the parking space and of course they leaned a hard left.... Another time I had a very fast and experienced (35 years) rider pillion and in the middle of a fast turn he leaned "up". I had to fight hard with the countersteer to get the bike to finish the turn or we woulda hit the wall.
I asked him what was up afterward and he just said he freaked out! Never woulda thought... :confused
There is a lot of good information here:
-communication
-pre-ride talk
-slowing down
The comments that shock me are the ones surrounding insurance. Some riders don't ask their passengers, others assume that their coverage is enough, some don't seem to care if their passenger has their own insurance of not.
With the cost of Healthcare, it won't take long for someone to use up all of the $ that your policy provides. Where do you think they will go to look for more $? They answer is that they will likely sue your insurance AND you.
-communication
-pre-ride talk
-slowing down
The comments that shock me are the ones surrounding insurance. Some riders don't ask their passengers, others assume that their coverage is enough, some don't seem to care if their passenger has their own insurance of not.
With the cost of Healthcare, it won't take long for someone to use up all of the $ that your policy provides. Where do you think they will go to look for more $? They answer is that they will likely sue your insurance AND you.
HiggyB
Now flyin' solo...
I just want to echo the need to establish clear communication with the passenger. My girlfriend is about the only person that I ever take on as a passenger and we've not only worked out good unspoken communication (she pickes up on my body language to interpret what we're about to do and when) but we've also worked on small hand signals and gestures as well as shoulder taps, etc. At some point we may opt for a Chatterbox intercom or something, but for now we do well enough as it is.
And yes, the pace is always slower with her than without, I try extra hard to be smooth and easy, we have pre-ride and often post-ride chats as to how things went, etc.
And we both roll with insurance plus I upped my personal moto insurance to help cover a passenger as well. Small price to pay for the extra safety net we have in place. Lord knows I hope that we never use it though!
And yes, the pace is always slower with her than without, I try extra hard to be smooth and easy, we have pre-ride and often post-ride chats as to how things went, etc.
And we both roll with insurance plus I upped my personal moto insurance to help cover a passenger as well. Small price to pay for the extra safety net we have in place. Lord knows I hope that we never use it though!
tzrider said:
I agree with you that it is very likely.
But what about a fall that causes a relatively minor injury? What if the passenger got a minor fracture, some road-rash, or even a broken tooth (more common that one might think)? In other words, what if the passenger receives an injury that is not life threatening, but severe enough that they should seek treatment? What are we responsible for as the rider? The legal ramifications of having a passenger get injured can be large. What about the emotional baggage that will follow you for a long time afterwards.
In my opinion, it's just too much of a risk to take someone for a ride if they do not have medical insurance.
Silence
Has bad taste
2-up rules:
Full gear or no ride
Wait for my ok before getting on or off
Pretend to be like a sack of potatoes and match the bike's lean angle
Don't shift your weight and keep your feet up when we're stopped
Arms around my waist while gripping your wrist
If you need me to stop, tap my side until I notice
Difference in technique:
More gradual acceleration/braking (don't want to lose the passenger or have my crotch slammed into the tank)
No hanging off
Similar line selection to rainy days (to minimize throwing the passenger around)
Full gear or no ride
Wait for my ok before getting on or off
Pretend to be like a sack of potatoes and match the bike's lean angle
Don't shift your weight and keep your feet up when we're stopped
Arms around my waist while gripping your wrist
If you need me to stop, tap my side until I notice
Difference in technique:
More gradual acceleration/braking (don't want to lose the passenger or have my crotch slammed into the tank)
No hanging off
Similar line selection to rainy days (to minimize throwing the passenger around)
NOTCH1
Listens to Enya
I think with regard to insurance issues, for me it's just not worth the risk of having a passenger. But moreover, I know myself well enough that if there were ever a mishap resulting in my passenger getting injured, I could never forgive myself no matter what happened. Just not worth it.
ucdoughboy
Well-known member
You should take them to a parking lot first
In general passengers that i've taken do not have any prior riding experience and sometimes only very little previous passenger expereince. In addition to all that is said about slowing down, and being more conservative on the brakes and gas, it is also a good idea to practice in a large parking before taking off. It's a good idea to get your passenger used to leaning with you and the bike. You should take turns in the parking lot with progressively more and more lean angle so that they feel comfortable with this and so that you have a idea of how much lean your passenger can tolerate before flipping out :teeth. You should also practice accelerating progressivly harder and harder so that they can get used to that affect. Finally do some breaking drills so that god forbid if you needed to stop in a hurry, it won't be the first time that passenger has to deal with it. By doing this in a controlled environment, you can get a better sense of what you can do with this particular passenger and their comfort level before you hit hte twisties.
In general passengers that i've taken do not have any prior riding experience and sometimes only very little previous passenger expereince. In addition to all that is said about slowing down, and being more conservative on the brakes and gas, it is also a good idea to practice in a large parking before taking off. It's a good idea to get your passenger used to leaning with you and the bike. You should take turns in the parking lot with progressively more and more lean angle so that they feel comfortable with this and so that you have a idea of how much lean your passenger can tolerate before flipping out :teeth. You should also practice accelerating progressivly harder and harder so that they can get used to that affect. Finally do some breaking drills so that god forbid if you needed to stop in a hurry, it won't be the first time that passenger has to deal with it. By doing this in a controlled environment, you can get a better sense of what you can do with this particular passenger and their comfort level before you hit hte twisties.
T-1 Thunder
newbie
You know, there is not many people I trust with my life. But from the sound of your post, you would likely be one of the very few I would trust - simply because it sounds like you really give a shit and are above the immature bullshit to try and "impress" someone with the power/etc.
Right on.
jrace
MotoGPhreak
VTRZA
Banned
I had crashed with a pillion about 12 years ago,horrible feeling. She was completely unscathed due to wearing heavy clothing,boots,gloves and she took it like a champ. All these questions you're asking I wouldn't of even thought of when I was 18.
I just took my 55yr old neighbor for a spin the other day and she got the talk,insurance and everything else.
And I didn't even pull any of my asshat moves :laughing Thank god that crash when I was 18 was a cheap instead of costly lesson. Use your heads people.
I just took my 55yr old neighbor for a spin the other day and she got the talk,insurance and everything else.
And I didn't even pull any of my asshat moves :laughing Thank god that crash when I was 18 was a cheap instead of costly lesson. Use your heads people.
nakedape
Well-known member
ironically, my bandit handles better with a load on the rear. Fat people may require a little preload increase, but average size person geared up makes for a nice ride.
Braking: 2x the distance, or so it feels. I have a rear grab bar so I instruct my passengers to use it. Prevents nut squash. I took a GF out to Skaggs and went about 6/10 and she described the ride as "scary at first because I felt like we were going to fall over, but then it felt like we were flying." Because we were!
No gear no go. I provide helmet, gloves and back protector. You need a jacket, at least heavy jeans and boots to get moving...NApe
The moment you consider taking a passenger is the moment you should set your tire pressures, treat it like a track day in terms of safety and prep...
Braking: 2x the distance, or so it feels. I have a rear grab bar so I instruct my passengers to use it. Prevents nut squash. I took a GF out to Skaggs and went about 6/10 and she described the ride as "scary at first because I felt like we were going to fall over, but then it felt like we were flying." Because we were!
No gear no go. I provide helmet, gloves and back protector. You need a jacket, at least heavy jeans and boots to get moving...NApe
The moment you consider taking a passenger is the moment you should set your tire pressures, treat it like a track day in terms of safety and prep...