How does a passenger get on your bike?

[HipGnosis]

I don't recall reading that there is a 'proper' way for a passenger to get on a bike.

[Rincewind]

I always get on the bike first, then have my passenger get on while I balance it upright.  Same as when it's time to get off - the passenger climbs off first.  This leaves me in control of the whole thing.

However, I have seen many people on Gold Wings and E-Glides having the passenger get on first with the bike on the sidestand or center stand.  The bad of that is like when my mom was on the back of dad's Gold Wing, and dad did not have as good of a parking job as he thought on the side of the road.  The camber worked against them and mom and the bike spilled over, as I heard it!  

[Cablebandit]

The proper way is whatever works.  Short passenger legs and tall seats make it harder for some people to get on with the driver already in the saddle.  Having a top-case mounted only makes it worse.

[Yankee Dog]

I always get on the bike first, then have my passenger get on while I balance it upright.  Same as when it's time to get off - the passenger climbs off first.  This leaves me in control of the whole thing.............................

This is what we do. Short passenger, top case and all. Only thing to add is the kickstand must be up. And they never get on or off without the pilot's permission.

[Dan K]

This is what we do. Short passenger, top case and all. Only thing to add is the kickstand must be up. And they never get on or off without the pilot's permission.

Me too.

And irregardless is not a word.

- Dan

[expatbrit]

I always get on the bike first, then have my passenger get on while I balance it upright.  Same as when it's time to get off - the passenger climbs off first.  This leaves me in control of the whole thing.

+1 for this.

However, I have seen many people on Gold Wings and E-Glides having the passenger get on first with the bike on the sidestand or center stand.  The bad of that is like when my mom was on the back of dad's Gold Wing, and dad did not have as good of a parking job as he thought on the side of the road.  The camber worked against them and mom and the bike spilled over, as I heard it!  

A friend of mine did that, bike loaded tall. Bounces it off the centerstand, in front of all of us, and ... boom. Over goes the C14.

[Blunder]

After the proper 100PR (PILLION REQUEST) form is notarized and processed through the Central Planning Committee, that meets twice a month, and the prospective passenger has been signed off by a certified behavioral analyst....

Jeebus, what's so complicated about boarding a pillion?

[Bigpoodle]

What Rincewind said.  The smallest chance of a disaster is for me to be in the saddle, flatfooting the bike and able to counter whatever gyrations the pillion induces on the way up.  Using the passenger peg as a step up pretty much takes the passenger's height out of the equation.

[K2D2]

The passenger gets on with the bike on the side-stand and then I get on.


I have a givi on the back of the Sprint.  The back of the Sprint is so f'n high as it is, with a bag on it my Mrs. can't swing her leg over all of it comfortably.  So, she gets on first, slides back, then I get on.  

I'm holding the brake and hold the bars so she feels comfortable getting on.

[FiremanBob]

Vaults from behind, as in the old Westerns on TV.

[Gnigma]

Blowjob.   Sorry, couldn't resist. No. 1.

[Windblown]

What Rincewind said.  The smallest chance of a disaster is for me to be in the saddle, flatfooting the bike and able to counter whatever gyrations the pillion induces on the way up.  Using the passenger peg as a step up pretty much takes the passenger's height out of the equation.

Yep, I get on and have the passenger use my shoulder to hold and the passenger peg to step onto. Easy peesy.  However... it's probably been 4 years since I took a passenger on my bike. They never seem to want to take a 2nd ride.

 

 

[stromgal]

I generally have them lowered via Kampnagel bucket crane.

[viffergyrl]

I generally have them lowered via Kampnagel bucket crane.

 

[black hills]

they don't get on the CBR


the 990 I hold upright and they climb on...

[evilted]

Hmm, I don't remember where I learned this (Harley rental safety review maybe?), but the procedure I was taught involves the rider lifting the bike off the stand (with bike already started/running), and then having the pillion mount from the left side.

Dismount is the reverse -- passenger gets off bike dismounted to the left with the bike still running & held upright by rider.

[PatM]

I used to hold the bike upright until a friend showed me how easy it is to use the side stand.
Sit on the bike, lean against the side stand, lock the brake and have her get on board from the left hand side.

[Eagleswings]

When I ride as a passenger I prefer to get on with the pilot already on and steadying the bike, trying to be as smooth as possible and using the peg as a step. Just be careful if you happen to be on any slight incline. The bike might have a tendancy to become more unsteady even if the driver appears to have it steady. I don't like the kickstand down, get on it procedure. I always wait until I have the "pilot's" permission to mount or dismount the bike.

[ConPilot1]

I always get on the bike first, then have my passenger get on while I balance it upright.  Same as when it's time to get off - the passenger climbs off first.  This leaves me in control of the whole thing.

Absolutely. Only way that makes sense.

[Cablebandit]

Absolutely. Only way that makes sense.

 

You think the kickstand is less capable of holding up the bike than you?

[black hills]

 

You think the kickstand is less capable of holding up the bike than you?

from someone who has obvioulsy never owned a KTM

[ConPilot1]

 

You think the kickstand is less capable of holding up the bike than you?

Yes. Without question. Especially with a passenger climbing on.

[stew71]

Passenger? Shit, the FJR is heavy enough already....

[Scoop]

Drive slowly in first gear while the pillion runs along side.  Just as they are about to jump on, speed up a little so that they fall down.  Stop, laugh and say "no, come on.  I won't do it again"  
Repeat.  

[Acadian Rider]

Here's how Sue and I do it.

I get on first and bring the bike upright.  

If the ground isn't level, I go to where it is.

Behind from the left side, Sue puts her left hand on my left shoulder, her right hand on the top box, her left foot on the left foot peg and then lifts her right leg over the seat and voila, she's on.  

 

[2RR2NV]

Here's how Sue and I do it.

I get on first and bring the bike upright.  

If the ground isn't level, I go to where it is.

Behind from the left side, Sue puts her left hand on my left shoulder, her right hand on the top box, her left foot on the left foot peg and then lifts her right leg over the seat and voila, she's on.  

same style but either side is fine by her. she's really short so there is no way she can just swing a leg over. but OTOH, she won't be riding the 750. she's waiting for the next bike...

[ConPilot1]

This is going to sound stupid, but really, I've experienced this firsthand myself.

just like you have a stronger, more coordinated arm than the other, you also have a leg like this.

No joke.

I've found it easier to get a leg over my seat with a full load on the back using the side opposite that I normally mount the bike from.

During everyday normal riding, I get on the bike on the left (clutchside).

When I've got a full and high load on the pillion seat, it's much easier to get on the bike and get my leg over from the right side.

maybe passengers could try the same if they are having difficulty getting on with the driver in place and a topbox????

[Cablebandit]

maybe passengers could try the same if they are having difficulty getting on with the driver in place and a topbox????

Or they cold just get on first and slide back onto the passenger seat.

[jag44]

I always get on first and hold it for her and she always gets off first.  I usually only take the wife and basically I do it anyway she wants.  Sometimes I pull up to a curb to make it easier on her as I am 6'4" and she is 5'4" and I have a tall seat on a V-Strom.  That bike is pretty high for her to get up on.

[retro]

That  just means you're doing it right....  

  However... it's probably been 4 years since I took a passenger on my bike. They never seem to want to take a 2nd ride.

 

 

[wolf_in_cheapclothing]

I always get on first and hold it for her and she always gets off first.  I usually only take the wife and basically I do it anyway she wants.  Sometimes I pull up to a curb to make it easier on her as I am 6'4" and she is 5'4"

This is a discussion about passengers getting on motorcycles right? For a minute I thought I was in the Penthouse letters section.

[jag44]

This is what can happen to a motorcycle post when the best selling book is Shades of Gray  

[cruisin]

I voted the first choice but with this method:

My wife (and most frequent passenger) waits until I signal her I am ready.

Next she steps onto the left passenger peg and hopefully with one fluid motion, goes straight up, swings her right leg over the top case and settles onto the pillion seat.

When we first started dating, I gave her her very first ride on a motorcycle (she was 43 at the time).  Her first try at getting on nearly tipped us over.  I gave her a second chance with some gentle instruction and off we went.  After that initial ride I decided it wise to give her a little practice with the bike on the centerstand before attempting it with me holding the bike again.  I did this primarily because I too, have short inseam and trying to balance a heavy bike while a passenger climbs aboard with only the balls of your feet on the ground can become quite precarious.  Hence we put the RT up on the centerstand and I climbed on and let her practice going up and down several times, first without the topcase then about two dozen times with it in place.  Once she had gotten pretty smooth with the movement and did it quickly enough, we dropped the bike down and I balanced it with a 2 x 4 under each foot for several more test runs. This little session took well over an hour and completely wore her out, but she really wanted to go for her second ride so we proceeded to ride for about two hours that day.  After a while the mounting and dismounting became second nature and we have had only one minor problem since those first two rides.  We were headed to  Paonia, CO for our first rally and had stopped at a restaurant for dinner in Pagosa Springs.  As we were getting ready to depart to find a campground, she got about half way up and just froze.  All of her weight was on the left peg and I was trying to hold up her and the bike with only my left foot on the ground.  I yelled at her to drop down; thankfully she did so immediately but not soon enough to keep my left calf from cramping up.  I flipped the side stand down and nearly fell off the bike with the cramping calf.  She felt so bad; but has never stopped in mid-motion again.  She either gets all the way into the seat on the first try or knows to drop back down immediately if there is a delay or problem getting over the topcase.

[coho]

Chloroform and bungie cords.

[Andrew]

THe passenger rides in the sidecar, where else would one cary a passenger?

[sammyseaman]

Chloroform and bungie cords.

   

[aviationfred]

Hmm, I don't remember where I learned this (Harley rental safety review maybe?), but the procedure I was taught involves the rider lifting the bike off the stand (with bike already started/running), and then having the pillion mount from the left side.

Dismount is the reverse -- passenger gets off bike dismounted to the left with the bike still running & held upright by rider.

This is exactly how I have my girlfriend get on. As in another post, she does use my shoulder for support and uses the footpeg as a step.

Fred

[AutoXer]

I have to drive to the nearest curb and let the passenger on there - the only person that rides on back is my daughter, and she's that short!

[Andrew]

passenger????  

is there anyone who would want to ride with me??
 

[jsanford]

Most of the passengers I've taken on the bike weigh at least as much as I do, some significantly more. I thought about these procedures a lot for that reason before offering rides.

We have a pre-ride chat. They get on and off only when I nod okay and they use my shoulder to help get up and dismount.  I make sure all my weight it on the bike and my feet are on the ground as stabilizing outriggers; I remind myself that the bike is holding me up, not the other way around.. Most step on the peg and that swing-over is when I keep my butt on that bike so it takes my weight and shifting weight from the passenger.

I've only ever had one passenger misbehave;  he got off without notice at a stop sign.  He was a pilot, so I think the danger-danger-pay-attention-to-instructions part didn't make as much of an impression on him.  I was glad that when I ride two-up, I put both feet down at stop signs (usually just the left) as that kept him from pulling us over.

Grant and I recently rode two-up from the shop after towing his bike there.  He did not enjoy. We should probably practice sometime in a parking lot with me as passenger in case I ever have a Hank Hill experience on the road.

(The episode in question is from the third season)