Solo or Two-up?

[sportsterideragogo]

Without question-solo, always. For one-I have never enjoyed having a 'backrest', and for another-I was in a VERY bad wreck in 2002. It was all I could do to try to keep myself from getting the chop-When something bad happens, and you go down, there isn't a single thing you can do to help that passenger. Everything happens way too fast, and I don't want the responsibility of looking out for another person when things go wrong.

A friend of mine in another group always signs off with "Ride safe". I told her-'safe' is for people in Ford Escorts. Motorcycling is an 'implied risk' activity. I have many many years of experience in the saddle, and I think I'm a pretty good rider. "Ride Safe" isn't gonna help when some moron pulls a left in front of you. We can be the safest drivers on the road-but we're still at the mercy of the lowest common denominator idiot that we happen to be sharing the tarmac with at any given time.

I told my friend that a far better motto for her to sign off with would be "Watch Out!"

[Sev]

Back when I had a cruiser with it's low center of gravity, and a good passenger I didn't mind two up at all. On a good day it was like I was solo riding. Since I got the new bike with the passenger seat way up behind me, and now lacking a good pillion, I find that anything my passenger does just makes me feel awkward. The high center of gravity means that my steering seems to go to pot, I need to work far to hard to keep things going the way I want.

I love riding with someone who is on a different bike, but to me the ultimate will always be blasting down the highway without having to worry if the person I put on the back is going to turn with me, or against me.

[SheRidesABeemer]

I ride 2 up with my 10 year old. I'd say it accounts for about 10% of my riding. But that gives me 10% more than I used to get without her. I love to have her cause she's my kiddo and she loves speed and twisties. But she has no tollerance for long distance, and can be a squirmy wormy. Her presense has a signigicant impact to my ride, and after a long weekend I can't wait to be rid of my passenger! But she's still at an age to think her Mom is cool, and I'll ride that for as long as I can. 6 more years 'till she can have her own!

[sapaul]

[quote="SheRidesABeemer"]I ride 2 up with my 10 year old. I'd say it accounts for about 10% of my riding. But that gives me 10% more than I used to get without her. I love to have her cause she's my kiddo and she loves speed and twisties. But she has no tollerance for long distance, and can be a squirmy wormy. Her presense has a signigicant impact to my ride, and after a long weekend I can't wait to be rid of my passenger! But she's still at an age to think her Mom is cool, and I'll ride that for as long as I can. 6 more years 'till she can have her own!

Enjoy that relationship while you can, before you know it they are off on their own and you have to get on the back to spend any time with them.

[rodzbike]

I prefer to ride solo, but my girls like riding so much now that they're older, I rarely get to go solo. One of the reasons I bought my VTX was because of them, but wouldn't ya know it, they prefer riding on the gixxer.

[flynrider]

My sister-in-law loves to go riding, but I'm the only one she'll trust to drive. Her son (my nephew) recently turned 10 and is big enough to reach the pegs. He started riding on the back last summer and loves it. Other than those two, I mostly ride solo. My girlfriend won't even get near the bike. Her loss

[ejshotgun]

I prefer solo riding (like already mentioned) it's tough enough when things "go south" when alone but when you have someone w/you its damn near impossible. Plus I don't like the idea of being responible for getting someone else hurt.(even if it is the "other guys" fault)
And also I believe for the experience of motorcycling to be fully enjoyed it must be as a solo rider.
After all that I do enjoy sharing a ride w/girl friend if she is up to it.

[canuckerjay]

I don't care too much for the lack of comfort and power that results from riding 2up. It's nice to have the wife with me though, so it's a trade off. Most of what I do is single riding, though. When she comes I have to take off my Corbin Stinger and put back on the stock seat & pillion -- that's a bit of a pain.

[VermilionX]

im not strong enough to balance additional weight. so i doubt i'll take passengers.

if i do try... they must not exceed what i weigh, which is pretty light. at full stops and hills, it'd be hard for me.

the other main reason i don't wanna take passengers is the responsibility. i'd never be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to my passenger if mistakes happened whether it's my fault or not.

[K9]

Solo for me. I mentioned it before, my sales guy at the shop knows to put the seat cowl on and remove the passenger foot pegs. Yes, performance and handleing all the way.