Two Up

[MattC13]

I was wondering when do you guys think it would be alright to ride two up?

I have been riding for about a month now and have put around 800 miles on my new bike, and i feel very comfortable riding. Would just like to take a friend along.

Any tips for riding two up would be great.

-Matt

O and she wouldn't have a problem riding with me so theres no convincing involved, and i have gear for her to wear too.

[Ninja Geoff]

I think i had about 3,500 miles before i took someone on the back. Then it was just around the neighborhood for 15 minutes to get the feel of it. The bike will accelerate slower, jerk more, stop slower, and handle heavier. Everything will take more input, give you more feedback, and you have to be rico suave with that throttle, clutch, and brake or you're going to have helmets bumping a lot. I personally would wait more than 800 miles.

[storysunfolding]

So.. many.. articles... here... already... same... subject...

Sorry- you can tell I tried to hold it back

I'd personally say that you're going to want to get some more experience before taking a passenger. A month and 800 miles doesn't lead me to believe that you've experienced anywhere near the full gambit of situation solo, let alone with someone else's life in your hands.

When you do decide to take your first passenger, it's best to have it be an experienced rider in a less active environment so that you get used to the difference that 110-250 extra pounds makes and so you don't scare the hell out of your first passenger

When you have a passenger here are a few simple rules to live by

1.) Don't be a jerk- ride more conservatively.
2.) Explain some rules to the passenger to start
a.) Don't mount the bike until you say it's ok
b.) Don't dismount the bike until you say it's ok.
c.) Don't take your feet off the pegs until you dismount even if you think the bike is falling or at a stop light
d.) tell him/her to look over your inside shoulder in a turn and to lean with you. Explain that by not leaning the bike won't lean and the bike needs to lean to turn
e.) Tell him/her not to move too much if at all, and especially no sudden moves so as to not upset the bike's path
3.) You will need to use smooth starts and stops otherwise your heads will bang together or you might leave your passenger sitting on the ground behind you
4.) Both of you are geared up (way to have that taken care of)
5.) You both understand that m/c's are dangerous and that both lives are in your hands

I'm sure someone will add something that I missed

[OreoGaborio]

My first 2-up experience didn't extend beyond the parking lot of my local high-school. I basically did a bunch of MSF course exercises for about 1/2 an hour or so w/ my 200+lb dad on the back. (talk about trial by fire ) The toughest part is riding at low-speeds... sub 10mph.

Think I had about 3k miles of riding under my belt at the time.

Yeah, I'd get some more experience before throwing the girl on the back if I were you.

[storysunfolding]

My first 2-up experience didn't extend beyond the parking lot of my local high-school. I basically did a bunch of MSF course exercises for about 1/2 an hour or so w/ my 200+lb dad on the back. (talk about trial by fire ) The toughest part is riding at low-speeds... sub 10mph.

Think I had about 3k miles of riding under my belt at the time.

Yeah, I'd get some more experience before throwing the girl on the back if I were you.

On a tangent, that is an awesome avatar.

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks that was taken at a Cornerspeed Race School track day down at VIR North during the pit-bike race

[MattC13]

thanks for the advice guys ill probly wait awhile now before letting her on the back. better safe than sorry i guess.

-Matt

[jonnythan]

Holy crapola.

My GF was on the back of the bike on my very first ever motorcycle ride, which was on an old Sportster after a 1-hour session with her stepdad.

I then took the MSF and got my own bike.. and she was riding on the back after the first week.

[tropicalhotdog]

I did the same thing with my GF when I first got a bike. We all get that Forest Gump luck sometimes.

[shane-o]

I put a seat cowl on my bike so as to discourage the wanna be "take me for a spin".

I hate 2 up, just cause I dont feel free, having said that, my wife will often nag the puck out of me for a ride which of course I do.



Oh and as for 2 up with little to no experiance, thats jus plain fookin stoopid, further more, who in their right mind would climb on the back of someone who has no clue about riding. Id try a couple of years of riding if I were you before endangering the ones I love on the back of me bike.