Five Tips For Riding With Passengers
For many, motorcycling is a solitary pursuit. For others, having a passenger along to share the experience is welcome. If you are a new rider and are looking forward to taking someone for a ride, here are five tips to make it a safe and positive experience for you and your passenger.
- Wait until you are ready - I recommend that you have at least 6 months time in the saddle, after earning your endorsement, before you carry a passenger. Carrying a passenger changes just about every aspect of how the bike feels and handles. Being intimately familiar with what is normal for your bike will help you to detect and compensate for these changes.
- Prepare your passenger - Obviously your passenger must wear full safety gear including a helmet, jacket, gloves, full-length pants and boots. Explain to your passenger how they should get on and off the bike. Explain where they should hold on to you and the bike. Explain that they need to lean with you in turns (a good tip for this is to have them look over your shoulder toward the inside of the turn). Make sure they understand not to shift their weight or position while you are cornering or maneuvering at low speed. These shifts can unsettle the bike and cause a crash. Review the route you are going to take and any planned stops. Work out signals so your passenger can communicate that they need to stop or would like you to slow down.
- Take it easy - Don't head right out to the most challenging twisty in the area. Pick a relatively easy route. This type of route will also give you opportunities to become familiar with the very different handling characteristics of your bike in a non-technically challenging environment. Also, if your passenger is new to riding, limit the distance of the ride and stop frequently to see how they are enjoying the experience.
- Give yourself extra room/time - With the added weight of a passenger your bike will accelerate more slowly and need more distance to stop. Give yourself extra room when coming to a stop and always remember to use both brakes.
- Take a break - There is additional mental strain when carrying a passenger. You become even more focused than normal out of concern for the other person's safety and comfort. It's important to stop more frequently than when riding solo to allow your brain to relax. The effort of steering and stopping the bike with the additional weight is also increased. So you may become fatigued more quickly and need a rest stop to recharge.
Motorcycling with a companion can be very rewarding. Shared experiences strengthen the bonds between us. Preparation and a little extra care will go a long way toward making riding together a relaxing and positive experience.
John Davis is a rider and writer. His current ride is Victoria, a candy red Honda VTX1800 Retro. John writes for several web sites and blogs in addition to his own site, NorthwestCycleReport.
