Riding Two Up - a Compendium.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Nicely done.

I might have to show this to my wife who thinks a good "Slow Down" signal is smacking me upside the head as hard as possible.  

 

[Sport-Touring]

[andmoon]

Nice



but I still do not know what a 'compendium' is

[Lawn Dart]

com·pen·di·um     /kəmˈpɛndiəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-pen-dee-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -di·ums, -di·a     /-diə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-dee-uh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation.
1.   a brief treatment or account of a subject, esp. an extensive subject; concise treatise: a compendium of medicine.
2.   a summary, epitome, or abridgment.
3.   a full list or inventory: a compendium of their complaints.

Damn, I probably should have used the term "Tome" instead!

[andmoon]

com·pen·di·um     /kəmˈpɛndiəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-pen-dee-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -di·ums, -di·a     /-diə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-dee-uh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation.
1.   a brief treatment or account of a subject, esp. an extensive subject; concise treatise: a compendium of medicine.
2.   a summary, epitome, or abridgment.
3.   a full list or inventory: a compendium of their complaints.

Damn, I probably should have used the term "Tome" instead!

Isn't a 'tome' where dead people are?

[ST4Fun]

Excellent post BMW-K, one of the best I have read on a MC forum in quite a while...covering a "very" important topic and skill set. Nice job!

[Grith]

Nice job BMW-K, as usual.

Tome = where dead knowledge is stored.  
Tomb = where dead people are stored.  


Grith

[jay547]

good stuff. now if i can just find someone to ride on the back...

[Scarman]

Good stuff.  I'm working with my wife on two-up riding so this was good timing.  

[CRFJohn]

Thanks for all of the great info! My wife is going to start riding with me this spring, I waited until I had almost 10K miles under my belt before I invited her to come along. We are now waiting for ordered gear to arrive, will be out there together very soon!

[Lawn Dart]

Best o Luck to ya John!  Riding two-up has been one of the greatest moto-joys I get to have.

[bombsquad]

Great write up!  

All the info is spot on and should be required reading at the DMV prior to the license test.  I've seen the universal slow down signal (helmet smack) in 6 different countries so far!  The wifey's signal for a bathroom break is a quick but firm grab of my hooyah.  It gets your attention while expressing her urgency.  If she needs a rest; she gives a quick but firm massage of the shoulders.  If needing to pass or accelerate I use the left hand to reach back and double tap her leg.  This gives her time to get a good position before I can reach the clutch for a downshift, if needed.  It forces me to plan my passes.  If I do not have time to tap I will not make a pass.  If she sees the pass coming, she will position and give  a double squeeze letting me know she is ready.  
I  couldn't ask for a more attentive pillion.  Now that she is learning to ride on her own she has a better understanding of motorcycle physics and has become the perfect pillion.  
Oh yeah, she's hot too!!  

[hobbes]

I liked it so much I think it deserves to be stickied. Thanks!

[tigertim955]

 Excellent post!! One thing I've always done is to wait for my pillion to get comfy before starting out. Trish knows I won't move until I get a gentle tap on my waist. Easily 90% of my riding is two up and it is a fantastic way to spend quality time together. Trish has NO desire to ride front seat,so I'm guessing she enjoys the closeness as well  
  While camping a few years back, we were riding into town to get some supplies when a spider crawled out of my pillions' helmet. She jammed her thumbs into my sides so hard I think they touched!!! Check your gear.

[Lawn Dart]

I liked it so much I think it deserves to be stickied. Thanks!

Holy Smokes!  I got STICKIED!  Honored AND Humbled!

Thanks Hobbes!

[lobo10s]

Great article, we ride 80% two up. I passed this on to my wife. Thanks again.. be safe

[jsanford]

Bike won't be maxxed out with my father and I on it, but it'll be close.

My first MSF instructor talked about his first ride as a pillion; after twenty years' riding experience.  It happened by accident when a friend offered to give him a ride to the shop to pick up his bike. Friend showed up with his motorcycle; instructor asked what he was doing.  The response:  "I'm here to give you a ride, what do you mean?"

So, he rode pillion to the shop--and told us with a straight face that it was the single most terrifying experience in his life.

[sketch]

An excellent article!  The frist time I rode with my wife, all that I asked her to do was to become part of the bike.  I knew that my ride was heavy enough without a passenger, let alone with one.  After reading this message on pillion riding, I have to thank my wife for getting it, without having to be specific.

[MidLifeMike]

I did my first two-up trip on Sunday - relatively short at less than 30 minutes each way, mostly in suburban traffic. Things went easier than I expected. She is leggy and fit so she was comfy on the pegs and no problem getting on and off. Apart from a half dozen light helmet to helmet taps I barely noticed she was back there.

Most of the helmet taps came when I did my shifts from 1>2 at too low a speed and the bike lost momentum before picking up in 2nd. So I slipped the clutch from a stop more than when solo but from then on, just shift quickly and accelerate like normal. Braking was business as usual - miss as many red lights as I can and proceed.
This is my 3rd season on the same bike, a 1979 UJM 750cc; now with SS brake lines.

The hot tub and wine was the thanks I got  
Ooooh, I like my bike!

[Ant]

My first MSF instructor talked about his first ride as a pillion; after twenty years' riding experience.  It happened by accident when a friend offered to give him a ride to the shop to pick up his bike. Friend showed up with his motorcycle; instructor asked what he was doing.  The response:  "I'm here to give you a ride, what do you mean?"

So, he rode pillion to the shop--and told us with a straight face that it was the single most terrifying experience in his life.

Riding pillion is scary!!   Took my bike for a service the other week and my mate came with me on his bike to take me to and from the shop. We ride a lot together so I know how he rides, when he brakes and leans etc so I could react as one with him and that was all fine. But goddamn I do not like not being in control!!  

[FiremanBob]

Thanks for the excellent post.  And timely - the new gf says she wants to ride along starting real soon. I've scrapbooked it and will show it to her over dinner.