Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ok, so my lady friend and my mom have both expressed interest in riding on the back of my motorcycle (the kawi 250R that i dont accually own yet) They just want rides around the block (in our quiet suburban neighborhood)

what should i do about helmet? im leaning toward letting them wear mine and just going topless for the 2 minutes it will take to get around the block. i dont want to buy another helmet for 4 minutes of riding. and this would be all IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, not going on any main or secondary roads. (25mph top speed and very little "traffic")

any other sugestions? thanks guys.

Ask around and see if anyone has a spare you can borrow.

Having two helmets is never a bad idea however, simply because it means that if you NEED to give someone a ride somewhere you can do so. Pick up a HJC in medium or small, and you should have most people covered.

It doesn't need to be the best helmet in the world, simply because it probably won't get used all that often.

HandsomeRyan wrote:im leaning toward letting them wear mine and just going topless for the 2 minutes it will take to get around the block. i dont want to buy another helmet for 4 minutes of riding. and this would be all IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, not going on any main or secondary roads.

No. Bad idea. ATGATT. Bite the bullet, buy another helmet, it can be an inexpensive one.

"Perhaps you last ride would be twenty miles an hour down the street by your house combined with an impatient young driver and an ignored stop sign...............you would make maybe a 10 second news story depending on where you live, maybe a paragraph buried on page 32B of the paper. Riding without a helmet could be of no matter—or it could mean the difference between going on as you are now, or having life taken away from you as if God flipped a switch." (Jason Gundlach, on the Timberwoof website, http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/ri ... enIEPage=1

Sorry to disagree, but you asked our opinions. This is mine.

i've been considering picking up a spare just for this sort of reason. even if it was a little 40 dollar beanie style it would at least offer some protection.

I don't like to take passengers unless there's a pretty good reason. I did take my Mom for a 50-mile ride once, but she was visiting and it was a special occasion. And I was only willing to do it because 1., we had enough spare gear that she was able to be totally covered. And 2., my only sacrifice was I wore jeans instead of my riding pants, and I wore a 3/4 helmet instead of my full-face. I also made sure that she knew how to be a good passenger. Non-instructed passengers can do crazy things like attempt to put their feet down at stops - or attempt to assist you in turns. This can cause great upset on a bike.

Anyway, it's up to you and your passengers how you all gear up. But in my opinion, a passenger should never have on less protective gear than the rider.

Cheers,
Loonette

If you get a spare helmet now you'll have one handy not only for passenger's but you'll have at least a temp replacement if anything happens to your's.

thanks for all the helpful input. i may go get another helmet to keep around.

i've told my wife that if she ever wants to ride with me, she is going to have to buy FULL gear.. she isnt allowed to wear any less than me..

First of all, DON'T tempt fate by riding "just around the block" without a helmet. That's just asking for trouble. You are more likely to take a spill with a passenger on the back due to the extra weight, change in center of gravity, passenger leaning against the turn, etc.

I would also suggest you ride solo for at least 6 months/1000 miles before putting someone on the pillion. Everything changes when you have a passenger on the back. Turning, stopping, starting, everything takes more effort, especially on a small bike like the Ninjette.

[/my $.02]

MontyCarlo wrote:.........I would also suggest you ride solo for at least 6 months/1000 miles before putting someone on the pillion....

ditto...