Ride with a passenger?

[mcold]

Hi

Bought a GS500 this summer. Nice machine!
Now I think I have the courage (and enough experience with the machine) to drive with a passenger.
Is gs500 suitable for driving with passengers. Is there power enough and is it stable?

Experience? 

[mr72]

Yes there's enough power and it's stable.

The only thing to really be concerned about is weight vs. the suspension. The stock suspension is quite soft even for an average size adult rider. It needs stiffer springs (not just more preload) front and rear to handle two adults in the 150 lb range.

It's very different riding with a passenger. It helps to have the passenger look over your inside shoulder in curves and not fight you when you lean to turn. You naturally will require more braking distance and it accelerates more slowly but you really only notice that at initial take-off. Once underway it's fine.

[Bluesmudge]

I ride with a passenger more often than I ride without one. The GS500 has plenty of power and a strong frame.
mr72 is right though, you need to upgrade the suspension if you are going to do it often. I have Sonic springs and a Katana rear shock.

[mr72]

+1 I also have Katana shock and sonic springs (0.90kg/mm), which together are a tremendous upgrade and definitely make the bike much better 2-up and feel much bigger in general. No sacrifice in ride comfort. Even with the stiffer suspension, my GS is like riding on a cloud compared with my Triumph.

[ShowBizWolf]

The majority of 2-up riding I've done with my GS was with stock front and rear suspension. I never had any problems and my passengers always enjoyed the ride. However, that was when I weighed around 130lbs and never had a passenger that weighed more than me.

Since upgrading the front springs and swapping the rear shock to the SV650 one, I've only carried a passenger one time... but it certainly felt significantly better!

[Suzuki Stevo]

Worst Case Scenario.... drop one tooth on the CSS for easier take offs   

[Torstein]

No issues when I ride 2-up. I'm about 150, wife is about 120. Only problem I have is passengers sliding forward off their seat and putting their weight into me. Wish there was a better spot for them to sit and stay put LOL