Question regarding pillions

[Yohan]

So ok, I've been riding around from here to there on my GS500E now, and I'm feeling very confident about just riding in general. Granted, I can't take turns at 80mph or do a 12'o clock wheelie, but that's not anywhere near in my agenda so far. But, to put it lightly, my Isuzu Rodeo (does this make me a SUV caging @$$hole or does it make me a SUV cager @$$hole wanna-be?) is in the shop, and I need to take out this girl to the movies and maybe dinner. Here's my question. If I can't flat foot completely but can still touch down with both the balls of my feet, enough to back the bike up and what not, will this provide enough stability to accomidate a passanger? And also, should I practice carrying a passanger with my dad first, who has moderate experience with motorcycles? How do I go about all this? What was your first experience with a passanger like? Maybe i'm just a little bit hesitant because I'm out of shape and I want my stomach region to be a little bit more firm when she holds on to it, I dunno- Damn car! Always giving me problems.

[JasonB]

Definatly practice! You dont wanna look like a n00b and drop your bike with her on it on a date! With the added passenger the bike will actually sit lower if you dont adjust the rear shock so it might help you out. And make sure you go over the rules of a passenger!

[pantablo]

If this is your first time taking a passenger-DONT. Especially on a date. Practice lots first. You've only been riding for a few weeks (months?) so it may be premature for you to take a passenger...be careful. Borrow a car from somebody...doesn't she have a car?

[Yohan]

Thanks for the advice, I will wait a little bit longer. My intuitions tell me that I'm ready, but then, maybe I'm confusing my pride and intuition.

[TheGoodGuy]

I took a while before i went 2 up. But unlike you I used to take 2 up in India, but i hadnt in a long time and the dynamics here are different, the riding position isnt easy for 2 up.. vanessa can crush my nuts if I hit the brakes too hard, so she braces herself with the tank when i brake.

Riding 2 up you got to remember the bike is no longer like it normally is, its slower to accelerate, lousy at turning and brakes like a dog.

[2ride4life7]

i have had my gs for about 2 months now and i taken the misses out on it after only a week. I am tall so i am stable. But as long as you can touch the floor with the balls of your feet you should be ok.

If you cant manover it when parking up or summin just make her get off, but when the bike movin you will be fine.

Just remember the rules (BABS) Braking your braking will be alot slower. Acceleration you will accelerate slower so give your self more time. Balance will be effected when turning make sure she relaxes and dose not try and counter act you lean. Steering will abit more sloppy so pump up the tires to the correct setting i think its 32psi on front and 41psi on back but cheak the manual.

I would suggest taking your dad out on it first a couple of time to get used to it but it is not really that hard.

i think that she will love it on the back mine misses does. will make the date abit more exiting and different anyway, aleast she will remember it.

good luck  

[mrslush50]

if you do decide to take her on the bike, make sure she has good gear too.  Helmet, jacket, long pants, good shoes, gloves, the whole bit.

A few simple things you should remember when two-up riding:

1)Make sure they hang on! - Sounds simple, but there is an art to holding on correctly, to tight and they squeeze shaZam! out of you and you cant ride correctly, not tight enough and they fly off the back  :lol:

2)lean and mean - make sure they lean with you, but there is a fine line with this also!

3)Make sure they keep their feet on the pegs! very important because at lights the last think you want is someones weight, your weight and the bikes weight on your one little leg!

And like Mrslush said - get the passanger some good gear, if she has good gear she will more likely want to come along again!

Stay Safe!

[Delta88]

One of the biggest problems you're likely to encounter if you're intended pillion has not been on a motorcycle before is when leaning for directional changes. It's most people's instinct to lean the other way when they feel the bike leaning into a turn. I usually suggest that a new passenger simply looks over my inside shoulder when I lean the motorcycle. Another suggestion is to practice being smooth. Smooth take-offs, smooth shifts, smooth turns and smooth stops. There's not much more embarrassing than slamming you're date's helmet into the back of yours because your 1-2 shift is too "jerky." One more thing, if you practice with your Dad first, make him pay for the movie.  

[dmp221]

Dating 2-up can catapult your intimacy level the approximate equivalent of another 4 or 5 dates...so if she's cool and you like her, you're saving a lot of time and $$  But if she's not too terrific, it'll be a long night  Anyway, practice with your dad, do what everyone else said about giving her passenger instructions and good gear...hope for the best and have fun!

[V8Pinto]

I taught my son how to ride with me on the back.  When he had enough seat time I would get him started (this is a 175 street/dirt and he was 10 or 11) and then hop off the back.  Learning two-up first made it a snap for him to ride solo.

Two-up is different and you are responsible for the person's life that's on back.  Don't take that lightly.  Are you comfortable enough to guarantee her life on the back?

Yes = ride and get close
No = practice some more and borrow a buddy's car

[Rich500]

YOu know whats great? WHen riding with a really fine girl and she gets scared and squeezes her legs around you, and get nice and cozy with her hands and chest. Oh and the amount of vibration produced by the GS is just what the doctor ordered for setting the mood. take her on the date with the bike. why not?