Need Some Advice On 2-UP Riding
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 94
From: Massachusetts
Can't stress this one enough, particulally if she's never ridden before. Just go SLOW ans EASY until she gets real comfortable.....you scare the crap out of her the first time, it's unlikely she'll ever get on it with you again. My wife and I spend hours and hours on the bike and both have a blast.... I am a different driver when riding 2up.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: GLORIOUS U.P. of MICHIGAN
Get yourself a tank bag or belly bag. Stock it with aspirin, advil, midol[age dependent], comb, brush, spritzer water bottle, lip stick and gloss, tissues, moist towelettes, small mirror, gum, hard candy, breath mints, nail file, nail clippers, nail polish, sun screen and a bottle of water. Be prepared to hand any one or more of these items over your left shoulder with your left hand. In time you will be able to identify these items by feel so you can keep your eyes on the road. Practice saying "OK, I think there's a gas station about ten miles up the road." Learn to say this with conviction. Oh, and teach her to retrieve objects from your front pockets. Ride Safe, Doug
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas Area
Make SURE the passenger only mounts and dismounts when YOU SAY SO! To prepare for the mount/dismount, spread your feet out as wide as possible, and STAND, holding the bike, with the jiffy stand down, but the bike straight up.
Now, here's where I disagree with about half of the responses. I tell my passenger to pay attention and, when approaching a curve, look over my inside shoulder, and STAY THERE. I DON'T want her sitting straight up in a curve because very few people CAN stay straight up. They either lean in or out. I don't want her leaning out, so, by keeping her head inside mine in a curve, there you go! Automatic!
Good luck and have FUN, and RIDE SAFE!!!
Now, here's where I disagree with about half of the responses. I tell my passenger to pay attention and, when approaching a curve, look over my inside shoulder, and STAY THERE. I DON'T want her sitting straight up in a curve because very few people CAN stay straight up. They either lean in or out. I don't want her leaning out, so, by keeping her head inside mine in a curve, there you go! Automatic!
Good luck and have FUN, and RIDE SAFE!!!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
The large majority of my riding now is with my wife. She went from thinking motorcycle was a four letter word to really enjoying it. The basic rule is make sure she doesn't help, that is leaning into, or the most common for passengers is to lean against the turn to the high side. If she will act just like baggage it is better. I prop the bike up first and get braced, then she gets on...steps on the rear floor board and right into the seat. And like someone else already mentioned stopping distance does change. Smooth accleration and stops and you will have a riding partner for a long time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
Actually if she has never ridden (driven) a bike she will likely be a great passenger once you give her some of the advice noted above. I've found that riders tend to make the worst passengers....mostly because they seem to forget they are a passenger and not in control of the bike and tend to "help" you lean into a curve, etc.... A passenger should be like a piece of luggage, in a neutral position all the time....if the bike leans lean with it, but don't lean more, or fight the lean.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 392
Likes: 2
From: Southeastern Wisconsin
If you don't already have one get either a backrest or tour pack. Keeps the passenger from fallin' off.......... Then tell her "put your back against the backrest/tour pack, & DON'T MOVE!" Don't have her lean in turns & tell her to quit moving entirely below 40 mph. She won't stick to the 40 limit, but it'll give you some slack at slow speeds where her movement will cause the most problem. If she simply becomes part of the backrest you soon won't notice anything other than her company. Have fun!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 9
From: Colorado Springs CO
Get yourself a tank bag or belly bag. Stock it with aspirin, advil, midol[age dependent], comb, brush, spritzer water bottle, lip stick and gloss, tissues, moist towelettes, small mirror, gum, hard candy, breath mints, nail file, nail clippers, nail polish, sun screen and a bottle of water. Be prepared to hand any one or more of these items over your left shoulder with your left hand. In time you will be able to identify these items by feel so you can keep your eyes on the road. Practice saying "OK, I think there's a gas station about ten miles up the road." Learn to say this with conviction. Oh, and teach her to retrieve objects from your front pockets. Ride Safe, Doug
Anyway agree with what everyone has said, keep her interested and hopefully you will have some great memories on the bike!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
+1 on the backrest for your new passenger. She'll appreciate it, and it's much safer for her. All the other info is good too.... Just don't scare her on that first few rides...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 1
From: Wagoner, Oklahoma
When the Mrs gets on mine I have to adjust the rear shocks, it helps with a better ride. She does real well riding and I enjoy her being there. Sometimes I get a different passanger that is always good.
Its nice to get in between a different pair of legs.
Its nice to get in between a different pair of legs.