riding with a passenger

[mes_423]

i recently rode someone on the back of my bike around a big empty parking lot. and i told them to lean the oppisite direction i lean. was that correct? :dunno: i pretty sure it was but just making sure

[jlfrench]

uh, I'd have to say NO... you never want a passenger to involve him/herself in your turn/lean process... have them remain completely still, and if anything look over the shoulder that your turning into.  By having someone counter your lean your putting alot of weight/stress onto your tires and could end up with a nasty lowside.

[nicebelair]

i was always told u want the passenger to be part of u and lean when u lean(in the same direction) and so on, and not put down feet when stopped,
brandon

[Cal Price]

The passenger should not fight against the lean, that will be their natural tendency unless they too are biker. They should stay with the rider in the lean also f'ward whilst breaking and back whilst accelerating. The passenger will also affect your breaking and if you are carrying a passenger regularly or a long way you should adjust tyre preasure, headlamp alignment and chain tension. If gender-acceptable tell them to hang on to you rather then the bike. Have fun.

[crmeyer]

I always tell the passanger to let me do all the work, sit still, and enjoy the ride.

[pantablo]

i was always told u want the passenger to be part of u and lean when u lean(in the same direction) and so on, and not put down feet when stopped,
brandon

this is the right way to do it. They should follow your body movements and not try to fight the lean. they have a tendency to lean the other way if they're not riders and that's baaad.

[JBix]

Typical "correct" way, as everybody knows their own "correct way" is like was said.  The passenger should follow you, looking over your shoulder in the direction of the lean, and should always keep their feet on the pegs.  With my ex, I would tell her if she needed to move to adjust on the seat or whatever, to wait until we were stopped, or at least not braking or turning.  But, that's me.

[gilson1965]

The passenger should always lean with the rider u just follow them

[alerbaugh]

MSF told me for them to lean with you and never put your feet down.  They also said something on the line that a passenger that has never driven a bike would be better than one that has.  Something to do about lean angles and stuff of that nature!

[Blueknyt]

ok, let me clairfy something here, the PASSENGER isnt spose to lean at all, they are spose to let the bike do the leaning for them, they are to remain inline with the bike, even if they cant see past you(shorter riders) you yourself shouldnt even need to lean in relation to the bike, but remaining parralel to the bike, (siting flat on the seat and the bike leans you)  even 2 up hard cornering as i have followed a few, no one slides or leans more/less on the bike, the added weight seems to stick them to the road.  to recap, neither driver or passenger needs to lean any direction that the bike doesnt automaticly put them in. this isnt like sidecar racing where the monkey jumps back and forth through the turns.

[glenn9171]

And also tell them never to mount or dismount the bike without you telling them to do so.

[mes_423]

thanks for all the great tips guys. well see how my next passsenger attempt goes

[yamahonkawazuki]

what ive heard is almost exactly what blueknyt just said...

[Mat]

this isnt like sidecar racing where the monkey jumps back and forth through the turns.

oh boy sidecar racing, looks like so much fun.  i always wanted to try that but i wanted to be the monkey that jumps back and forth in the turns  

[Blueknyt]

sidecar racing, i mean the serious, 10" wide x13" tall rear wheel, handbars only about 20" off the ground, 2 guys in full race leathers screaming around the track, the "moneky" passenger jumps from behind the driver, to lean way out on the right side over the outside edge of the sidecar, and back to behind the driver on the left hand turns. this neat to watch though i havent seen any in a long time. some cases sidecar bikes were faster through the corners then the 2wheelers, but slower in straights.

[Cal Price]

Ahhhhhhh sidcar racing, brilliant! meanwhile back on topic, if you  are going to habitually carry a pax or just once for a long trip in addition to adjusting the headlight, tyre preasure and chain tension you should jack up your suspension a bit. All worth doing. It can surprise you how much difference a pax makes to things you don't expect like the headlight position and the extra tension on your chain.

[vtlion]

speaking of riding with a passenger, can someone point me at a good resourse for the procedure for adjusting the rear shock?  The MOM just says "adjust the rear shock"... alot of help that is  

thanks

[Cal Price]

When I bought a new Honda in '01, Mr Honda very helpfully gave me a specific tool in the kit and very specific instructions, with a diagram if I remember correctly, you are right Vtlion Mr Suzuki seems a lot less helpfull. I have got it written down somewhere, when I find it I'll get back unless a Guru gets there first.

[JohNLA]

You use the spanner wrench that came with your tool set. (I have a pic of the stock tools on my site.)
You find an angle from under the bike and turn it. Seven will be hardest setting and one will be the softest. With the stocker I would go up from 4 to 6 when going 2-up. On my Kat shock I just leave it at 4 for riding alone or with a passenger. It seems solid for either without udjustments.

[Cal Price]

SPOT ON, P20 of the Anglo-French manual has a crappy picture, its a sort of rachet thingy, and says...
"The rear suspension spring preload is adjustable to compensate for rider, load, riding style and road conditions. The adjustment can be performed in seven positions . To change pre-load place bike on centre stand. Twist the spring tension ring to the desired position with the adjuster provided in the kit. Pos 1 is softest and 7 the stiffest. M/C is factory set at position 4"
I too leave mine on 4 but on the Honda I jacked it up to 5 when I carried a pillion pax (It was a lot easier to get at)   Incidently just browsing this manual I discover the French for spark plugs is "Bougies" Hmmmmmmm