Riding with a pillion rider on your two-wheeler is not a simple task but having somebody that keeps you company is always fun. A pillion rider is someone who travels on the seat behind the rider on a motorcycle or scooter, etc. That person does not drive the motorcycle from behind, but his attention and concentration are equally important as a rider. It is said that a good pillion passenger makes it worthwhile regardless of the distance you are traveling. A pillion rider’s contribution to the ride mainly depends on his behavior from behind.
At the back of every good rider…
A good long-distance trip isn’t just the result of riders; A couple regardless of their age has ridden successfully around the globe. And most of the best and adventurous motorcycle trips are a result of adventurous riders at the back. Most people assume that they have to stick to` tarmac roads while riding with a pillion rider. This isn’t true. Riding on unpaved surfaces can be unnerving, but satisfying. There are certain tips if followed by the pillion rider that can make trips exceptionally amazing and safe.
Riders sometimes take technical aspects of riding for granted. Since they do it they automatically assume that the pillion rider will too. Here are a few pre-ride suggestions for passenger riders.
Tips to Drive Safely with a Pillion Rider:
1) Make Sure the Bike is capable of Handling the Weight
The first thing that you need to be sure of is whether the bike you are taking on long-distance is capable of handling the weight of two along with accessories such as a motorbike backpack or not. The best approach to determining this is checking out the gross-axle weight of the motorbike and then summing the weight that you are going on it. As per a practical estimate, the net weight should not exceed 80% of the gross axle weight of your motorbike. Always keep in mind that two-wheelers don’t give the luxury and space as your car so you have to be minimal while hitting the road on your bike. If your pillion rider is someone new to motorbike riding, tell them about packing essentials only and nothing more.
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2) Look Over the Shoulder
It is a great tip to be followed. While riding on the road people always look further up on the road and by turns and as far as possible, which gives them extra reaction time. Someone who is new to motorbike riding might not be aware of the benefits of looking at the turn. Looking over the shoulder can be beneficial during the ride. If the passengers look through the turn and not directly in front of the bike it will give them more control and speed sensation will be lower.
3) When on sport bike, use the tank for stops
If you’re riding with a passenger on a sports bike or other bikes that have more forward inclination you might feel push-ups during braking. When you apply the break, the pillion’s weight tends to be transferred onto you which can be painful sometimes. Ask the passenger to put his hands on the tank and support their weight while stopping.
4) Slow speed adjustments
The passenger, especially if he is new to motorcycling, may not fully understand that slow speed maneuvers are way more difficult on the motorbike. Riding with a pillion rider makes it even more difficult, as you have to maintain the balance between the two along with the weight of the bike. Advise your passenger to not get fidgety when you lower the speeds.
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5) Adjust the Ride
Now is the time of showing off how smoothly you can control your ride. When you have a pillion at the back seat of your ride, even the slightest imperfections get highlighted, such as harsh gear switching and abrupt braking. Pillion rider poses additional weight at the back of the ride which takes longer in applying the brakes. And you might have to use rear brakes more than usual. This will stop both front and back while keeping everything perfectly balanced on the bike. Seamless gear switching also helps with this. Practicing slow speed maneuvering has a high impact on the clutch control and smoothness of riding.
6) Holding On
Most of the pillion riders rush to hold the rider the moment they get on the bike. Well, here is an advice for riders while traveling with a passenger rider: make sure you keep their speed low. Advise your passenger to lean with the bike. And avoid making any abrupt moments on the back especially when the rider is about to stop or take a turn. Jerky movements on the bike by the rider have 2 major downsides: primarily it causes unnecessary fuss and fatigue when you constantly move around on such narrow space and secondarily it can cause the passenger to get off the saddle and fall backward, or lunge forward. That is why it is also important for the reader to sit tight and be smooth with acceleration and deceleration.
7) Getting On and Off the Bike
It is important and should be practiced before you hit the road. The touring panniers and top-box can get in the way of mounting and dismounting, which is the last thing you would want while riding. Practice the rider getting on first, down the side stand, make the pillion get on, then the rider straightens-up and flicks-up the side stand, or while the bike is on the side stand, the pillion gets-on, and then the rider. There are a number of options that work differently for people. Mainly depends on the seat height, length of legs, and pillion’s flexibility.
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8) Sharing is Caring
An experienced rider knows about sharing the workload on the back which is needed particularly on long journeys. A good pillion rider must share that load. He should contribute in navigating directions, looking out on the road, clicking pictures, feeding and watering the rider, engaging in the good and safe talk, paying the tolls & petrol, and keeping the important documents. These are just some of the ways that you can make riding with a pillion rider safe. Follow these tips to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip.
