Responsibilities when riding with a passenger

[Enchanter]

How many of you ride differently when carrying a passenger? What do you do differently?

Do you speak to your passenger before the ride to ensure you both know what to expect from each other?

What type of behavior will you not allow from your passenger?

Do you have adequate insurance to cover your passenger?

Would you take a someone for a ride if they did not have health insurance?

Are you able to resist showing the passenger what you can do/what the motorcycle can do?

 

[nisser250]

i do ride much slower with a passenger, depending on their knowldedge of riding (leaning with you) and their comfort level. i don't go as far as to check if they have medical insurance, etc. if they are a newbie, i go over the basics with them before we take off.

oh yeah, if its a long ride, i tell them try and not fall asleep. the dead weight throws me off :laughing

 

[Eisernkreuz]

As of late, I've stopped taking passengers. As fun as it is, it's just not worth the risk. Riding is something I love, and I'm prepared for death or paralysis, but most girls that want to ride aren't prepared for that. They just want to romanticize on a bike

But when I did take passengers, I'd give them a little talk before we set off, prepared them for things they'll experience when on the bike. I would tell them how to sit and what to do. I explained some basic signals. I made sure I had adequate protection for them and that they had some sort of coverage since my insurance doesn't. Usually, girls would decline wearing gear :confused I'd bring a helmet, jacket, gloves, and ask them to wear jeans and high-top shoes, and they'd be like "Pass!" and hop on in a tank top and shorts :rolleyes

 

[rsrider]

There is a chapter in Lee Parks Total Control on riding pillion. Both you and your passenger should read it. Good stuff.

 

[tzrider]

Generally, if I take a passenger, it's someone with comparatively little experience on a motorcycle. In that case, first prepare them:


- Ensure they're geared appropriately
- Show them how to sit, how to place feet on the pegs
- Show them where/how they can hang on
- Ask them to sit still on the bike; to not lean to either side when we're cornering
- Set their expectation that it's supposed to be fun; it's not supposed to be scary. I tell them to slap my thigh a couple of times if they are at all uncomfortable.

Then, once underway, I begin the ride at very low intensity. Smooth and comparatively gradual acceleration and deceleration, no deep lean angles, no quick-turns, etc. I keep speeds on the low side, traffic allowing. At various points on the ride I ask the passenger if they are comfortable and having fun.

I might ask them if they want to go faster. If they do, I'll increase intensity gradually. If we're on a backroad, I'll tell them that I'm going to show them what harder braking feels like. We execute a harder braking maneuver; not max braking, just a little harder than previously. I repeat a couple of times, progressively harder so the passenger can work out how to brace against the braking force. I keep checking in to see if the passenger is comfortable.

The common theme in all this is gradually increasing the intensity so the passenger can desensitize slowly. I may ultimately give the passenger a somewhat spirited ride, but always with a very big margin.

Once in a great while I've carried a passenger who is a good rider themselves. I will ride more the way I normally would, allowing for the fact that a passenger can't quite predict the exact instant you're going to do something and muting my control inputs accordingly. Taking quick turn-ins as an example, the passenger cannot know the exact moment I'm going to flick the bike and may not be prepared for a sudden lean angle change. So I'll taper into my steering input a hair to give them a cue and then finish the turn entry quickly.

I do not query my passengers about their insurance status, though I usually know them well enough to be able to make an educated guess.

 

[zeefrenchspy]

I definitely ride different, although with different passengers and on different bikes I adjust accordingly.

For example with the gf on the back of the r6 I make even more of an emphasis on being smooth and take all the turns "in-saddle" so to speak as she is still building her confidence up in the motorcycle and me.

But with my little brother on the NC35, I was hanging my ass off the side of the bike in most turns (and he was moving with me appropriately) as it has serious clearance issues with the pegs. I was also manhandling the engine a lot more as it is only a little 400 after-all and had to wind it up quite a bit to get going uphill.

In both cases though I would use the rear brake when slowing down, and dragging it most of the way going downhill to minimize front-end (and passenger) dive. When riding in the twisties I'm wearing full leathers and the passenger is wearing my full set of textiles. Only ride in 1/2 gear (jeans, jacket, gloves) around town.

 

[Feanor]

I ride completely differently when I take a passenger, which is rare to begin with.

I ride much slower and smoother than when I am riding alone; as in I brake much sooner and accelerate much slower to get up to speed.

I ride the corners very sedately and never get off the seat to the left or right any more than a smidge. I do this conciously because I tell passengers to lean the way I do and if I were to hang off the seat, well, that could cause problems :laughing

In truth, I find riding with a passenger distracting because I find myself hyper concentrating on how they're doing, how comfortable they are, and keeping them safe, and this, I know eats into the attention I give to the road and other traffic.

Plus, my wife doesn't like me riding with other women

Stefan

 

[ALANRIDER7]

http://www.bikepics.com/movies/000125/

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

In the past, when I've carried passengers (such as my ex-husband... well, you didn't me to ride bitch on my OWN bike, did you???), I've been hyper-careful about it. They were required to wear gear, and if it was the first time, I talked to them about cornering, not moving around on the bike, holding on, and tapping me if they had a problem. Aside from the responsibility issue, the only time I ever went down on the street was as a passenger (dumbass showing off). Went across 2 lanes of traffic and got stopped by a curb. I got off with a little road rash on the back of my hand (about the size of a dime... 20 years later, and you can barely see it!), matching one on the elbow. He broke 3 ribs, and was bleeding from the neck down. Bike was still rideable, so we went to the shop where I kept my dirtbike, I patched him up, and then made him put the forks back on my dirtbike (which was the purpose for the ride). God I was pissed...
So I don't ever want to put a passenger in that position.

 

[Enchanter]

This isn't the Kitchen Sink, let's keep this thread ON TOPIC.

 

[silverbelt]

How many of you ride differently when carrying a passenger? What do you do differently?

Do you speak to your passenger before the ride to ensure you both know what to expect from each other?

What type of behavior will you not allow from your passenger?

Do you have adequate insurance to cover your passenger?

Would you take a someone for a ride if they did not have health insurance?

Are you able to resist showing the passenger what you can do/what the motorcycle can do?

Absolutely. I don't ride anywhere near the limit that I would if I were riding solo. No matter how much she wants to go faster

I don't take on newbie passengers. She has to have a M1 and I set the expectations up front

Don't have insurance for passenger, she must have her own.

Doesn't have to have health insurance, but it would be nice.

I've seen too many people riding pilion that got messed up because the rider could not resist showing off or trying to show just how fast he/she can corner.

 

[HondaFreak]

Since I got my 05 F4I, my fiance has been on the back 1 time. That was around the block. I made up my mind a long time ago that I care for her too put her on the back without meeting certain requirements.

1) Full gear I.E. 1 or 2 piece full leathers. NO fabric allowed, synthetic or other. Helmet, gloves and full shin racing boots.

2) Learning how to setup my own suspension to accommodate for her added weight.

3) We take the ERC class together and understand what each of out rolls are when riding.

4) She needs full medical coverage I.E. health insurance. My MC insurance covers her, though it's not enough. She did get coverage finally.

I know I am prolly being a little "over the top" with my restrictions. I can replace my bike at will, however I can't replace her.

Maybe someday we will complete my prerequisites and she'll be able to ride on the back.

"Never put anyone on the back of your bike you don't mind visiting in the hospital"- Tim

Christian

 

[DucatiHoney]

I've just started taking passengers--all have at least been on a bike before...been riding a bit over three years now and I'll only take them on the Duc, where I'm completely comfortable. Never thought about asking whether they had insurance, but the few people I've taken do. I've gotten into the habit of delivering a 15 minute schpeil about how to hold on, how not to hold on, what to expect/do with bumps, etc. I gear 'em up pretty good with my spare stuff before we go out if they don't have their own. I try to be super-smooth and don't do anything nutty. I can't. I'm comfortable with even a 180 lb. passenger, but I won't try anything "creative" at speed.

I took one of my co-workers on back the other day and gave her the whole safety talk, got her geared up and made her repeat everything back to me. She hopped on and seemed OK. Gradually she starts holding on tighter and tighter. At every light I asked her if she was OK and she wanted me to pull over. "Nope, I'm having a BLAST!" was her response. So we keep going... I get on the freeway and she grabs directly onto my boobs--one in each hand--and scooches up so close to me on the seat that it's crushing my girlie bits. I had let her know that she didn't need to worry about getting too close to me while we were riding--just hold onto whatever makes you feel comfortable--but I hadn't anticipated that! I figured she was getting pretty nervous. I given her the signal to have me pull over before we left--but she didn't use it. I was concerned that she was scared out of her mind and was too afraid to move. I was on the Bay Bridge, and taking it very slow, but there was no place to get off safely. So I continued on and went as slowly as I could without being a hazard... She didn't jerk or seem upset--she was just clinging to me. So I take our exit which was just a little ways off of 80 and ask her if everthing's OK after we come to a stop. "Oh yeah...I'm GREAT! This is AWESOME!" :laughing Later on I asked her if she knew what she was grabbing onto and she was laughing--she had no idea. We've bonded.

 

[drmchsraj]

I used to be confident and loved taking passengers when I was starting but but of late I am finding that they distract me from my perfect sense of driving.

When I do, I engage in conversations but I have this mental background process telling me to not cross the optimal safe speed, brake waaay ahead etc. In other words, I ride like a sernior citizen. No point scaring them and keeping them too alert/high strung.

 

[DeathB4mullets]

I just took Georgio Furioso for a ride on the KTM the other night. Wheelies as often as possible, while making him scream like a little girl. It was awesome. :laughing

 

[Nemo Brinker]

Since I'm a small-med-size woman, most of my passengers are physically larger than I am--it presents challenges in terms of balance, control, braking, and bike suspension. I've learned, mainly, to adapt.

I give them a pre-ride pep talk, instructing them on how and where to hold on (so that unlike DucatiHoney, I don't get my girls grabbed unless I want to...), not to get off until my signal, how to follow my lean, signals for speeding up, slowing down, getting scared, and wanting to stop.

I make sure they have a helmet, gloves, one of my spare jackets, and preferably boots and leather pants.

I carry a policy that covers passengers up to 30K, which isn't enough, but is a start.

The friends and lovers who ride with me are precious, and I don't want 'em getting hurt, especially when I'm responsible. I tend to ride like a grandma when they're on board. It should be a treat for them, not an opportunity for me to showcase my technology-fueled jackassery.

And I have several folks, including my gf, who ride with me often, so it must be going rather well!

 

[wackyiraqi]

Great thread, Tim.

How many of you ride differently when carrying a passenger? What do you do differently?

I don't ride as aggressively, and I don't split traffic as much or as quickly. I know that I can't stop as quickly, and can't maneuver as confidently with a passenger, so I tone it down accordingly.

Do you speak to your passenger before the ride to ensure you both know what to expect from each other?

If it's a stranger, yes, but I don't generally give rides to strangers. Everyone who I've given a ride to can either ride themselves or at least has ridden pillion before. If I did give a ride to a stranger, they'd get a brief talk first.

What type of behavior will you not allow from your passenger?

It's never really come up, but I suppose the usual stuff...feet stay on the pegs, ass stays on the seat. I'll give someone a little tipsy a ride home, but not someone sloppy drunk and might fall off or make me crash.

Do you have adequate insurance to cover your passenger?

Yes. 50/100 w/guest passenger liability. I think that's adequate, especially since 99% of my 2-up riding is with the same person, and she has health insurance as well.

Would you take a someone for a ride if they did not have health insurance?

Maybe for quick ride for a few blocks, yes, but not riding on a regular basis.

When Frankie was between her last job and grad school, she did not ride with me for about a month and a half because she didn't have health insurance during that stretch. I still had liability insurance, but IMHO that kind of claim would be an absolute mess compared to just having health care, so I was extra cautious.

Are you able to resist showing the passenger what you can do/what the motorcycle can do?

Yes. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt someone due to my stupidity.

 

[Mike T]

absolute different playing field with a passenger...way more riding at a safer speed, told her about how to communicate with me and all, and all the sorts....she knows what signals im giving her too...

 

[K-dog]

Not to go too far off topic, but I was once picked up by a biker when hitchiking, I had no helmet, and an ~70lb frame backpack. I also never managed to find the passenger pegs due to the saddlebags. dunno what they were thinking, but we made it ~20 miles without any major mishaps. :toothless Would any of you consider that?

As for the questions.

Yes I ride differently, much more calm, and steady.

I do 'coach' them a bit prior to the ride.

I'm pretty liberal on what I'll allow, even if I told them previously not to do it. If they're male, and grab my nuts I'd probably stop and kick them off. unless they're HAWT of course. (once had a male pillion that had a boner that I could feel, and once another male that was climbing up my back scared shitless, didn't kick either of them off, but considered it.)

Dunno about the insurance questions. I'm sure mine is not fully adequate, but I don't ask them about theirs either.

and yes, me and my motorcycle don't have to show off to any passengers. If they feel it's not 'exciting' enough, they can hop off on their own.

 

[9rPilot]

Several years ago, my wife, who is a very competent rider herself, asked to ride pillion on my sportbike to see my technique thru a particularly technical section of some canyon roads. I obliged and we took off. It took me a few turns to recalibrate to having a passenger onboard but quickly regained the groove and settled into my spirited pace. After several miles of near knee dragging fun i stopped at a pulloff. I asked if she was OK, no response. I twisted to look back at her and still no response. I opened her visor and saw a look of shock and horror on her face... It took me a while to get her calmed back down. If anything I think I convinced her that she would rather pilot than pillion. I do not recommend that anyone pull this stunt with a passenger. She finally forgave me many years later but she still lays down the law when she ever rides pillion with me. Keep in mind we've both been riding for a few decades so we're not exactly noobs. She got a big kick out of watching the Ducati 2 seater at Laguna Seca. With Mamola piloting, the duc was really hustling thru Laguna. I joked that she should volunteer for that ride. she smacked me.