First time two up...

[Queso]

Boy did I find a bunch of new things I like about bikes 

I did have a passenger for a few hundred feet some time ago, but that passenger weighed nearly twice as much as todays... So I had some experience before inviting this girl for a ride. I've only been riding for about 3 months now, but I've logged over 4,000 miles in that time...

So, all geared up (both of us), I took her around a neighborhood going pretty slow for a few miles. She was a really good passenger actually, never threw the balance off once, or anything. Except for the tight grip around my waist and the occasional helmet knock, it was like she wasn't even there. An extra 105 lbs didn't bog down the bike too much, either. I'm not planning on taking her on the freeway or anything like that, but today's cruise was as much for me to learn as her to get used to it (today was her first time on a motorcycle  ). I'm takin her to dinner this weekend on the GS  I can say with certainty, it's going to be a pleasant trip 

There were also many other pleasantries that are exclusive to carrying female passengers.  Do be careful, though. My passenger nearly gave me the heimlich when a cell phone wielding cager made some emergency maneuvers necessary. The GS was still quite nimble with the extra weight, only braking and acceleration were impaired. All in all, she certainly had a good time (as did I    )

I do offer this tip, lean foward when you upshift, or the back of your helmet may get dinged up 

[RVertigo]

I like riding 2up...  Just remember that it's different than riding solo in several ways, the most important is that you have someone else's life in your hands.

Practice, practice, practice...  Start small and keep safe.  4k on the bike is too soon IMO, but if you're REALLY REALLY DAMN careful about what you're doing and practice riding before jumping out on the street, you might be able to pull it off without issue.  I've dropped my GS once and it was when I screwed up a quick stop riding 2up.

Learning to ride 2up should be treated the same as learning to ride in the first place.


And yeah... I think corning is easier 2up (except that the center-stand is lower and MUCH MUCH easier to scrape in corners), but accelerating and stopping are not as easy.

[CirclesCenter]

I rode two up when I saw a guy standing next to his bike in B.F.E. with the kickstand down fumbling with crap he had no idea of. (Engine? Carb? Huh?)

Yeah, I hated it.

But for a girl or another stranded biker, I'll do it again.

[RVertigo]

You're right...  I should have said, "I like riding 2up with my wife on the back."

[Queso]

I honestly feel comfortable enough at this point to transport her safely. I have no chicken strips left on my tires, I'm pretty decent at slow speed manuevers, and all in all, the ride went off without a hitch. I still had her properly geared up, though.

[domas]

Upgrading your suspension (springs and shock) will reduce ridiculous bottoming out and helmet knock.

[Grainbelt]

Maintain your seating position, grip the tank with your knees, or risk damage to your junk under braking. Just sayin. 

[Mk1inCali]

If she's got long enough arms, she could brace herself on the tank from sliding forward under braking forces.

My last gf didn't have long enough arms to do that, so I became familiar with a certain kind of pain, if there were any quick stops needed.

[coyotee]

first passenger i took was a 7 year old girl that can hang on and reach the pegs,
she needs to learn to sit still better but it was her first time riding in a group and she was extremely excited aobut it. we had a little talk about how she needs to sit still and hang on tight or she will not be riding with me again.
the kicker, my motoX helmit fits her and now she is trying to steal it from me.
helmit, jeans and full shoes are required. her dad is working on getting her some proper protective gear. we didnt go over 40 and it was only a 3 mile round trip ride.

[RVertigo]

If she's got long enough arms, she could brace herself on the tank from sliding forward under braking forces.

My last gf didn't have long enough arms to do that, so I became familiar with a certain kind of pain, if there were any quick stops needed.

She can also grip your hips with her legs...  And if you're griping the tank with your legs, you can minimize the slide forward...

OR she can grab the grab-handle on the back.

[coyotee]

OR...


she could just get one of her own

[Its Just Me]

OR...


she could just get one of her own Tongue

I'll second that!!! 

[Queso]

I haven't had any problems with bottoming out. The helmet knock is only from the decel jolt during high rev shifts. She knows to scoot back a bit at every stoplight. She's 5'3"... She can't reach the tank 

[mike_mike]

I've logged about 10,000km (6200 miles) on my GS, and think i'm going to attempt 2 up riding soon. I've been doing lots of reading to understand the differences between riding normally and with a passenger.

[GSBum]

I agree that she should get her own... if you need to, sign her up for the MSF course yourself... thats what I did 

[pandy]

So how'd the dinner date go? 

[Queso]

She feels more safe on my bike, now. Suffice to say there will be many more dates to come 

[pandy]

 

[GS Jenn]

I've done many many miles as the passenger on the back of my man's bike before I got my own... I still like riding 2-up with him for the closeness of it sometimes. We're renting a bike on a trip we have planned and are going to ride 2-up to save money over renting two bikes or a car.

I would suggest, if you haven't done this already, to come up with a few simple signals that she can give you as it's hard to talk at speed. If I squeeze my guy twice it means he was going too fast, leaning too hard or otherwise making me feel nervous/uncomfortable. On a long ride if I tap him twice it means that I could use a break, please stop at the next gas station/coffee shop/whatver.

[Queso]

I taught her a number of signals before the first ride. They are quite useful, but it doesn't help when I forget which exit to take  I'm getting a car pretty soon here, so I'll be able to take her places while talking to her, soon. Though there will be more riding just for fun