Riding 2-up

[sammyseaman]

OK, that's a fair point that I didn't make clear. I'm standing on the *right* side of the bike. I'm not worried about it going over to the left with the stand down, unless it rolls forward, which, is easy enough to prevent by holding the front brake.  But, again, this is all presupposes level ground.  

I guess judging by the "crazy" comments, this is all highly unorthodox and I'm challenging the established procedure...  

Clearly I need to be practiced at pillion mount/dismount while I'm already on the bike for times when level ground isn't around.

You are a rebel my friend  
Gonna state the obvious here, it seems to me you two should probably practice riding 2-up for a while before going on a long ride.

[Rincewind]

It's not that unorthodox - I see people do it plenty often - but that doesn't mean it's advisable.

[foobert]

You are a rebel my friend  

Well, of course! I ride a motorbike -- how much more evidence do you need?!?  

But, to be called a rebel by a fellow rider, I'll wear that as a badge of honor  

In all seriousness, I shall reconsider this approach and work on the more accepted method...

[KenH]

Keep the speeds low. Slow down some more. Then slow down. Once the two of you click in a manner that brings comfortable cornering and braking, a little faster will be okay. Repeated banging on the side of your helmet means, "SLOW THE FUCK DOWN!"

[birdrunner]

Keep the speeds low. Slow down some more. Then slow down. Once the two of you click in a manner that brings comfortable cornering and braking, a little faster will be okay. Repeated banging on the side of your helmet means, "SLOW THE FUCK DOWN!"

for a quieter ride,  ACCELERATE until the screaming stops

[axelwik]

Here's what I always tell my passengers:

1) Keep your feet on the pegs when we stop, and no monkey-business when we're going slow or stopped... let me control the bike.
2) The bike will lean because that's how bikes turn... just like an airplane.
3) When we're turning left, look over my left shoulder, when we're turning right, look over my right shoulder.
4) Poke me in the ribs or give me a hand signal if I'm going too fast for your comfort, or you need a break.
5) Be one with the bike and enjoy the ride.

[Echo3Niner]

So, I ride 2 up almost all the time. My wife rides pillion some, but my daughter (15) rides pillion almost all the time with me. We ride with a sportbike club every Monday night, weather permitting, and we ride pretty hard when we do.

First, I'll assume you know how to set your sag, if not look it up, it's easy and all about pre-load. At anyrate, I've set mine to the harshest or smallest sag that is within limits, as I almost always have a pillion rider. That has made a huge difference in handling, much more stable in corners specifically.

Second, my daughter uses the grab handles while we are just tooling along, which is better for me. But when we ride hard, she holds around my waist, because she feels more secure that way. The grab rails are better for me though, because she stays off me more. When ridding hard, your pillion will often slide forward (breaking into the corner) and put much more weight on your arms, so be careful.

My recommendation would be to try to get her to use the grab handles, if she's at all comfortable with them; and to learn to arch her back to try to keep from leaning on you so much during braking.

Also, I have very basic rules; get on and off ONLY when I've given the thumbs up to do so; lean with me at all times; try not to crowd me as much as possible; only adjust your hold or position at a stop, and do it quick before I leave; balance when we're at a stop, don't lean; pat me on the shoulder if you need my attention, and know we'll stop because I can't talk with you over my shoulder while riding, and no sudden movements.

Also, you'll want to rev more before leaving a stop or you'll stall, and you'll want to be as smooth as possible on the starting/stopping/shifting, at least until you're both comfortable.

There you go, our thoughts.

[foobert]

Well, riding 2-up ain't all that bad at all! Made 180 miles, the wife is all smiles. Now, I shall sign off the internets and such and report more about the trip tomorrow. A private hot tub awaits...

[Rusty the Scoob]

Well, riding 2-up ain't all that bad at all! Made 180 miles, the wife is all smiles. Now, I shall sign off the internets and such and report more about the trip tomorrow. A private hot tub awaits...

Nice work!  You've earned that hot tub!

[birdrunner]

Well, riding 2-up ain't all that bad at all! Made 180 miles, the wife is all smiles. Now, I shall sign off the internets and such and report more about the trip tomorrow. A private hot tub awaits...

you knew this was coming.................

[Thundergod]

I usually like to ride with my tires at 40psi with 2 up....normally 32-35psi.

If you don't have a communication system, then figure out a communication sequence with hand/leg pats.

Two pats on the shoulder is look over this way.
Multiple repeated waist pats....pull over soon to rest/sightsee

And my PERSONAL FAVORITE.
A long couple of pats on the crotch.....bathroom break.


----
Learn to slow down gently with a pillon. Gradually increase the brakes. Remember they have no idea on your decisions for throttle and brake, you have the bike to hold on to and know when it will happen. You can slingshot your pillion rider around....give a small brake blip (Preload) to alert her to the oncoming brake.--inform her of this behavior so she can learn to prepare for braking without crushing you into the controls.

Use the grab rails on the bike, not you.
-----
My best advice....to tell her, her most important job.....RELAX and enjoy the ride, take pictures for you since you can't.
If she is tense, or stressed out she will get very tired quickly, and a tired wife rider will end the trip.


--

[foobert]

you knew this was coming.................

OK, how's this:

Settling in -- We stayed at the Whale Watch Inn -- it's not crazy fancy, but, it made a nice retreat for us.

DMC-ZS3, ISO 400, ƒ/3.3, 1/30sec, 4.1 mm focal L. ~74mi from prev photo, map

Full ride report here.  


So, Again, many thanks for all the comments, naysayers and all.  This is what I learned after 390 miles:

• Sack of potatoes is fine,  mirroring my leaning is great!  Turns out, the later is easier for my wife to do too -- takes more effort to try to move with the bike than it does to move with the rider.
• It does take more energy riding double, but mostly only when doing stop-and-go riding.  It's much, much harder to get a smooth, left-foot-down, nicely balanced stop. Probably half the time I planted both feet because I rolled too slowly to a stop.
• Which leads to braking:  Gradual application of brakes is key to having everyone be relaxed and enjoy the ride. I have a new appreciation for how much work the brakes do after grabbing a handful during a quick stop in sudden traffic congestion.  Bracing against the tank -- sounds good in principle, but just didn't really work in our case.
  

The rest of it just worked itself out naturally for us.  As mentioned in the RR linked above, we hit an absolutely perfect stretch of empty road with nothing bot smooth connected sweepers and the 2 of us just tore it up. I barely needed any inputs into the bars since she'd perfectly follow my leans and the bike just instinctively carved out the corners.  We're not talking footpeg-drag'n lean angles here, but, just good safe/fun speeds.  

She definitely "gets it", and I think she's hooked  

[Blunder]

Oh no. Another blue poofy.  

Glad it worked out for you. Two-up trips with a loved one are great.  

[foobert]

Oh no. Another blue poofy.  

Glad it worked out for you. Two-up trips with a loved one are great.  

Well, I don't think the real Bluepoof has to worry about any competitions going on here.  There's not enough cooking/food discussions going on here for my wife to bother signing on...

[R1rider]

OH! Was that your g/f that I had to swerve around in the middle of the road?

no...      if so, she would be my EX-wife, i'm sure.  


edit:   glad you had a decent trip.  sounds like you learned alot.  

[Giaka]

+1

Seems obvious, but easily overlooked. I'm surprised none of us mentioned it.

Come on now, who of us carry around passengers that can reach the ground from the back seat?  

1) Make sure she is VERY still at all stops (since this is new for you too). Very slight movement without the gyroscopic effect of wheel speed can cause you to tip over easier than you might think.

2) As mentioned earlier your passenger should NEVER mount of dismount until you give the verbal OK to do so. I was on my old connie with a good load (camping trip) and my wife decided to climb aboard while I was putting my gloves on. Holy crap was that exciting.

Ride safe and have a good time.

[Rusty the Scoob]

Come on now, who of us carry around passengers that can reach the ground from the back seat?  

 Yeah, I was thinking this as well.  The Celtics may practice in my town but I've yet to have one as a passenger.

[loopedguru]

    It's kinda funny.  My second day of owning my first bike a long legged nice breasted woman asked me to take her for a ride and a bite to eat.  Now, at the time she also had a bike.  We took the street level and limited access roads.  When the evening was done she told me everything I did wrong with both a pillion and just as a rider.  I've become a better rider for it.  I generally don't shy away from a passenger as long as they have the proper gear.  I also walk them through everything explained above. Hah, most of which came from that first pillion.  

    I took an 800 mile camping trip with a lady friend early this month.  It was her first trip on a bike, and basically her first ride over an hour (those 2 or 3 with me).  She bought the gear bits I didn't already have and we had a wonderful trip.  She even got the chance to learn that bikes are fine in the wet.  Damn, I might have found a trooper.