I was just reading a post in another forum about someone popping a wheelie and losing their passenger at 80 miles an hour. Now, I've been regularly carrying (various) girlfriends as passengers for about five years and consider it one of the perks of riding a motorcycle. My question is whether anyone has any special rule for when they ride with a passenger or if anyone doesn't ride with a passenger because of the risks. Is it inherently dangerous to take a passenger or is the danger more limited to people riding like jacka$$?
I'm of the opinion that it is more dangerous to have a passenger if you are talking about the exact same two situations, because you don't have the same control of the bike with a passenger. OTOH, the fix which almost always works is to change the situations. Like driving a car with a trailer when it comes to stopping distances, or merging or avoidance maneuvers. For the most part, if you appropriately increase the care/conservatism with which you ride, you're probably no worse off with the passenger. Only when something out of your control happens, like a car jumping out in front of you, do you really have more danger (I would think) with a passenger.
Others' opinions may vary, so FWIW.
--Mike D.
You can toss some one off the back without going fast or anything stupid.
I had a guy fall off the back of my bike once. He did not believe how fast my bike was. We had been going 100+ and slowed down for a stop light. It turned green so I rolled back on the throttle easily. We were only going about 35 and off he goes. My shirt gets ripped off and some how I ran over is foot. He became relaxed and lost his balance. Could have been a lot worse.
Whenever I take someone for a ride (which is very rarely anymore, by choice), I make sure that they have a good grip around my waste. I tell them that if I ever tap their arm, they better hold on tight 'cause we are going to have some fun.
about that chick falling of the primered ninja 7r, he wasn't going 80 mph but that's not important....
my rule is don't do any wheelies with a passenger :mrgreen: ....i don't give out rides for 2 reasons...the gs rear shock is so soft that i scrape the centerstand when i turn at 15 mph with a passenger....i gave a ride to a 120 lb chick one time and didn't have problems but i still prefer to ride solo
whenever im toting someone around i always tell them the first time to hold on to me tightly and dont fight the lean. just follow me. also i tell them if the need to stop for some reason to tap my helmet. of course i dont do anything dumb either..
I hadn't ridden two up before, so i took my buddies sister out, shes light figured it was a good start. I noticed RIGHT away that the bike's power was somewhat reduced (my modded GS didnt strain as much as i thought but it was noticable). Also, the major thing, my braking was out of wack. I mentioned to her before we went that i would like her to brace herself on my tank if i tapped her wrist, well that didnt work out. VERY painful. I took her best friend for a ride, little taller, and much closer to my age so i felt more comfortable taking her. She had ridden on the back of bikes before and I didnt even have to mention it. She braced herself for stops, and held on for acceleration. I think it takes alot of practice to ride 2 up, but there is also ALOT of practice to be had on the part of the passenger.
Hey, what better thing could happen to YOU if you have 10 serious reasons why your gf has to hug you from, anyway, behind!
Tell her to have a firm grip around your chest / waste, and if it's not your gf, you might want to show her / him the handle straps or grips and explain to please hold on firmly(!).
I've bought one of these nice Givi cases which also can be equipped with a lil backrest - primarily to make sure that I can ride 2-up with my wife with no hazzle. No way to get down from there. pic:
(http://1x1xl.com/dl/foto/Backrest01.jpg)
That Givi luggage + backrest looks like the way to go. And I've heard of passengers who hold onto the handles on saddlebags, which would probably be more comfortable than bracing against the tank.
Regarding 80mph or 30mph or whatever, falling off a bike at any speed can still do some damage if the passenger isn't wearing some gear. I'd insist on the passenger having basic gear: helmet that fits, some kind of jacket, leather boots and gloves... basically enough gear to be accepted at an MSF class.
There's good passengers, and bad passengers.
My passengers wear a helmet and I prefer they wear a jacket as well, I supply one for them if they don't have a suitable leather jacket. The only thing I require they wear is a helmet, but I'm always sure to have them visualise what it would feel like for their bare flesh to scrape the concete at 70mph before they choose to ride without a jacket.
When I first started riding two-up, when my bike was still new, I gave this guy a ride, and we did a wheelie when I accelerated. It was accidental, I didn't jam on it or anything, but the shock was so soft (it's adjusted harder now, but it's still soft by nature). He was holding on well, thankfully. It kind of scared me, but he thought it was really cool *shrug*.
I always go over the basics before I give someone a ride: Hold onto my waist and don't try to sit up when I turn; just stay with my body.
My most recent rider is actually a very good rider, even though she's never ridden before. She takes the corners very well, sits still, holds on tight, never tries to put her feet down when I stop or help me back up/whatever (most people don't), and automatically braces herself on the tank when I stop without me ever saying anything about it (she figured it out for herself really quick). And refills my drink while we eat to boot :P.
But seriously, some people don't sit still, fidget around to where it can give me control issues, LEAN badly to one side to try to see around (everyone else can see around my head without making me countersteer... why can't you?).
I also hate the helmet turbulence. With my good riders, they seem to notice it when it starts to happen and find a position for their head to compensate... some people don't seem to get it though, and it annoys me greatly.
Quote from: GRUabout that chick falling of the primered ninja 7r, he wasn't going 80 mph but that's not important....
my rule is don't do any wheelies with a passenger :mrgreen: ....i don't give out rides for 2 reasons...the gs rear shock is so soft that i scrape the centerstand when i turn at 15 mph with a passenger....i gave a ride to a 120 lb chick one time and didn't have problems but i still prefer to ride solo
I wasn't talking about the ninja 7r- but I want to find that video online- just for a laugh
ok, here it is. www.stupidvideos.com/?VideoID=866
Ouch... that's horrible. Not even any sleeves. Straight on the face.
She ate it on the landing, too. That's not really the part of the wheelie I would have expected someone to fall off on.
Quote from: DanielyI mentioned to her before we went that i would like her to brace herself on my tank if i tapped her wrist, well that didnt work out. VERY painful.
Sometimes my nuts even get crushed when I ride solo. Doesn't happen alot but happens often enough to remind me that it's an experience that I will never quite get used to. :lol:
All I can say is: Nice leathers/protective gear.
Stupid is as stupid does. :roll:
:o HOLY HELL! she definetly took one for the team,huh?
Simple guideline , if you have a pillion, ride for them .. they have no control of the machine or any situation that may arise , you are responsible for thier well being :thumb:
I have a great girlfriend... She is just under a 100lbs and has a good grip... Only drawback.. She doesn't like wearing a helmet... If we're going somewhere close to home we'll go without but if we're going to take the freeway I have to be the bad guy and make her gear-up...
fett
There is a thread started by pantablo No Need For Safety Gear (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9507&highlight=gear) which was /wasn't / was / isn't sticky any more (for reasons unknown to me). :dunno:
After I read it, I thought I share it with my wife. Next day we went to buy some gear, both of us have used it at every single ride ever since.
Here in Austria, wearing helmets is required by law, so there is no discussion as to whether or not to. It is, however, perfectly legal to wear t-shirts and shorts and riding a busa. That thread did - somehow - change our minds. I repeat myself: Genius who wrote it!! :thumb:
:dunno_white:
My first bike was an X-6 Hustler. It had a strap about halfway back on the seat that the passenger could grab instead of my body. For the passenger, it feels more secure when you get used to it, and for the rider it gets rid of the extra hassle of having somebody messing with your balance. It's really best for hard acceleration since the rider doesn't have to worry about being pulled back.
Withthe GS, you could easily wrap a small belt around the seat and place the buckle underneath. Just don't foul the seat lock.
I always advise the passenger to act like a sack of potatoes (when riding).