Pillion tips

[Nibblet99]

Also its worth agreeing a signal with the rider, for slowing down/stopping.
It can be noisy on a bike, and if you're not comfortable, and need to stop, a gently knock on the back of the rider, is a good way to tell them somethings wrong.

Apart from that, act like the sack of spuds, think like the spuds, become the spuds. Just do nothing at all, let the rider be incharge of balancing the bike. Using a grab rail will make a huge difference, and anchor you to the bike, so you can be more like the spuds.

[Shamrock]

plasmabot 4. If on a sport bike, try your best to manage your weight when the driver is braking hard. You tend to slide right into him and in turn causes him to slide into the tank... it can hurt. Bought myself a tribo seat to prevent this happening ! Thanks for all the tips already do several of them but will but others in to practise

[mrmoove1982]

When riding pillion, on a sports bike i was told to place my hands on the tank and push against the tank when braking and squeeze with my elbows when accelerating. I would also look over the riders shoulder.

I was told the rider found i was one of the best pillions he had ever had on his bike. He would let me know what we were doing and felt comfortable riding with me pillion.

[mrmoove1982]

I never actualy used my body to lean. I would do my best to be like cargo solid with the bike. If the bike was at a lean of 45 degrees my body was at the same angle. The only movement was my head.


(think about the physics of it) I think anything else would be like trying to right a capsized boat from both sides at the same time. The pillion should be like a mast. This makes the pillion predictable everytime.


I've heard strange thiings like: pillion falling asleep. Is this safe? How is this possible?

[Kal]

Asleep yes it is possible. Both myself and my partner have done it on different bikes. Safe? No. Worrying if you ake up going through a set of curves? Very.


Pillion:

Balls of Feet on footpegs - gives better leverage when the bike is stopping to stop the afore mentioned sliding into rider

I keep my shoulders in line with the riders so my body is mimicing exactly what his is doing. Si recently said he didnt know I was there after giving me a lift - which is cool.

And lastly

Drinking: Should be a no brainer but a pillion shouldnt drink anymore than a rider should. Over here being drunk as a pillion is considered Drunk Driving with all the same consequences for both Rider and pillion.

[Tyrone ORourke]

Its all been pretty much covered. Just remember that every move you make, however small you think it is, is likely to have some effect on the rider and the bike.

Defo keep feet on pegs till you've been told to get off

Keep a good hold of the rider, just dont squeeze to much. While you can use the grab-rails as support it is more dangerous and you are more likely to disbalance and even fall off the back of the bike under acceleration.

Its been said, mimick what the rider is doing as pertains to body movement. I would say that at all times, dont lean in any direction when taking a curve, as doing so adds unwanted and uncontrolable weight for the rider to deal with. When taking a curve, stay straight, and lean into the rider if you must move, as this way the rider can do any needed weight distribution alone, in other words, act as if you are an extension of the bike.

Agree on some type of signals for different circumstances as more often then not talking wont work, and will distract the rider, for instance, tap the left shoulder for a mechanical problem you have noticed, tap the right shoulder if you need to stop etc. And if you notice something that needs an emergency stop, dont panic and start flailing around, just make the arranged signal and leave it to the rider.

If you get tired, make a rest stop rather than risk falling asleep, it has been done, but can be dangerous.

Don't drink.

While this may or may not apply to you now or in the future, if the rider is your boy/girl friend, leave off any teasing etc till you've stopped. Any distractions are to dangerous, and you would be suprised how often it can happen.

Make sure the rider knows your limits and what you are comfortable with, it would never do for a pillion to get too scared.

Of for any reason you feel angry, and are having an argument with rider, dont get on until you have things properly sorted, as both rider and pillion can be a menance to eachother in such cases.

Many enjobale miles Shamrock!

Cheers

Tyrone

[Lion_Lady]

DOs:
1) Do wait for the rider to steady the motorcycle and give you the okay signal before getting on.
2) Keep your body movements smooth and slow. Any shifting of your weight should be done while the motorcycle is moving in a straight line at better than 20 mph.
3) Look over the INSIDE shoulder of the rider in turns. This will automatically shift your weight where it should be.
4) If there is a hand hold behind you, use THAT instead of hanging onto the rider. (Will keep you from sliding into the rider in an emergency stop.)
5) Keep your feet on the footpegs until told to get off the motorcycle.

DON'Ts
1) Wiggle around needlessly. (I hate taking my son as pillion because he is a horrible FIDGET!)
2) Don't try to keep the bike upright in a turn by leaning the other way. (A friend dumped his HD when a nephew panicked turning out of the driveway.)

P