Riding with a Passenger

[RaYcE]

OK, so my girlfriend has bugged me enough about going riding with me. I took her around our neighborhood a couple times today and she did good about leaning with me but it seemed pretty wierd when taking off and braking. I am thinking about getting a passenger backrest so she can sit back and I won't have to worry about her flying off the back end. This may help the helmet knocking aswell.

Anybody out there have anymore advise before I take her on some real rides?

[Singular]

Originally Posted by RaYcE

OK, so my girlfriend has bugged me enough about going riding with me. I took her around our neighborhood a couple times today and she did good about leaning with me but it seemed pretty wierd when taking off and braking. I am thinking about getting a passenger backrest so she can sit back and I won't have to worry about her flying off the back end. This may help the helmet knocking aswell.

Anybody out there have anymore advise before I take her on some real rides?

Be certain you are experienced enough to take a rider with you.

I recommend at least 10,000 miles.

[robertc729]

on checking out your own experience first, you have to have the experience to handle the bike well enough for just yourself, but putting someone on the back prematurely is an accident waiting to happen. The backrest is always a plus for the passenger, but more importantly is a general discussion beforehand about what you expect from a passenger, in terms of behaviors and body movement.

[Low&Slow]

The back rest will do away with 90% of the helmet kissing, also it will get her off your back literally.

[Clint]

Which kind of kills the incentive for me.

I don't think you need quite 10,000 miles. I'd say 3-5,000 with some training and/or reading. Just take it slow. Practice quick stops somewhere safe.

[JustinOhio]

I always tell my passengers to keep their body right with mine when leaning... Also, abesolutely NO moving while we're coming to a stop or taking off. That's an important one for me..

[Rickb1415]

Ahhh okay the single shock sucks for riding with a passenger. I hit this little
bump. By little i mean it blended into the road when looking at it and u definitely
wouldnt expect it to be too harsh since the road has a speed limit of 50mph and there is one of these bumps every 50ft or so... anyway. It shot me and the person behind me about 4 inches off the seat at about 55mph... not fun..

I use to hit that road at about 75 with someone on the back, on my CBR and
those bumps would hardly be felt lol... but.... still love my M50 ahaha.

[srt03]

I rode about 2k miles before I decided to put my girl on the back. I love it. I just bought a backrest/sissy bar from Cruiserbackrest.com Got the backrest and luggage rack for $230 shipped. Not bad. I can't wait for it to get here. First part I have bought for this bike.

[lcotgrave]

Hey tell your passenger to relax hold onto something else and not the rider, and just go with the bike whatever the bike does do the same, pay attention to lights and junction common sense will state when rider is going to slow down or stop and dont answer your mobile phone with a text as my 16 year daughter tried to do just recenctly

[lcotgrave]

Originally Posted by lcotgrave

Hey tell your passenger to relax hold onto something else and not the rider, and just go with the bike whatever the bike does do the same, pay attention to lights and junction common sense will state when rider is going to slow down or stop and dont answer your mobile phone with a text as my 16 year daughter tried to do just recenctly

[RaYcE]

Wow, thanks for all the advise. These are all things I have talked to my girl about. I plan on getting more experience before letting her ride with me. And I think I will buy a sissy bar soon for her.

I do agree about the M50 bucking like a bull over bumps.

Sorry about the phone, although it did give me a good laugh.

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by Singular

Be certain you are experienced enough to take a rider with you.

I recommend at least 10,000 miles.

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Which kind of kills the incentive for me.

I don't think you need quite 10,000 miles. I'd say 3-5,000 with some training and/or reading. Just take it slow. Practice quick stops somewhere safe.

Phew. Thought I started too soon.

Don't forget to bump up the preload on the shock, as well.

[srt03]

Originally Posted by JmalB

Phew. Thought I started too soon.

Don't forget to bump up the preload on the shock, as well.

How do you bump up the preload on the shock? Is that something I should do when I go riding with her? Note that I am 230lbs and she is 125lbs. Just curious.

thanks

[SVZuki]

Originally Posted by srt03

How do you bump up the preload on the shock? Is that something I should do when I go riding with her? Note that I am 230lbs and she is 125lbs. Just curious.

thanks

You should read your manual. I believe it is in there. There should be a tool in your toolkit in order to do this. You simply rotate part of the shock to increase the preload before you ride. If the preload isn't enough, you could rub something on the tire possibly, or just be a very harsh ride. The sissy bar helps a ton for her comfort and yours.

Most certainly wait until you have at least 3-5k miles under the saddle before allowing her on. You really do not know how the bike truly rides and reacts until then. Especially if this is your first bike.

MSF class is something you should take if you haven't already. I stress it to all my buddies and everyone who wants to ride. Great experience and depending on where you are, it can be very cheap, too!

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Keep it rubber side down!

[srt03]

I did take the MSF. I would recommend it to everyone as well. This is my first bike and I am still learning. I have about 2300 miles now and my girl just started riding with me. We started out in the neighborhoods b/c I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with her on the back. I think I was more nervous than she was. I have now had her on the bike a half dozen times and I love it. The longest ride we have gone on was about 2 hours.

I will check the manual and see about the preload thing. Thanks

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by SVZuki

You should read your manual. I believe it is in there. There should be a tool in your toolkit in order to do this. You simply rotate part of the shock to increase the preload before you ride. Keep it rubber side down!

The concept is simple. The execution is a PITA. The manual says to pull off the seats and loosen the battery box. Do it. With my runway model sized arms, I wasn't able to generate enough leverage to get it rotated without moving the battery box out of the way.

[Jammer]

Take also into consideration the weight. For instance I am 195, ok so maybe 205 with my g/f's good cookin' ..anyway..she only weighs like 140 something...I don't really feel her on the back. Then compare that to my ex-mother-in-law "Jill-ZILLA" and we would have a situation.

Since you talked of a backrest you have to have a cruiser. My bike when I bought it came with a little back mini-backrest and I think it's perfect. It should make her feel more at ease if you get on it. Now helmet kissing...sorry but I would find fault with the rider on that one. When I take a rider I'm extra careful not to jerk it and make much smoother shifting and braking. Overall I would say to keep riding with her on it. Not only will it promote love and compasion it'll get easier.

[d_m50]

for the passenger

TIPS FOR THE MOTORCYCLE PASSENGER

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by d_m50

for the passenger

TIPS FOR THE MOTORCYCLE PASSENGER

Excellent. That's getting linked on myspace. Errr, did I say myspace?

[RaYcE]

Thanks again for all the advise. It has been really useful.

I do need to go back and change my pre-load again since I origionally lowered it down to a 1 for when I was riding solo.