How to be a good motorcycle passenger

"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
10/30/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

So I've covered !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Now, for the flip side of the coin. How to be a good passenger.

The first part of being a good passenger is to understand WHERE to hold onto your ride. If you are on a tourer, your should have arm rests. Hold on to those. If you dont have armrests and have to hold onto your rider, there is one piece of advice that I cant stress enough.

DO NOT HANG ON TO YOUR RIDERS ARMS

Seriously. this is the single most dangerous thing you would do as a passenger, short of jumping off the motorcycle at speed. The rider need to give very precise inputs to the bike to make sure that the both of you don't tip over. If you have your arms tugging on his, that 1/2 inch to the left turns into 1 inch to the right and instead of going down the off ramp, you shoot off into the under growth. Not fun. Hold on to your riders waist or give him a bear hug. If you cant reach all the way around, suggest to your driver that you invest in a wear-able set of handle bars (such as below) in the future.

If you CAN reach around, but for some reason for another find it uncomfortable to wrap your arms around your driver, consider a secondary set of handle bars to hang on to.

A lot of bikes will also come with some handle looking devices on the back. The best example I can think of this the little spoiler looking item on the back of the SV650

These may be called "passenger grab handles" but they are probably the WORST way a

passenger can hang onto a bike. They usually function as A) A place to which you can strap your helmet too when you are off the bike or B) a fancy cover for mounting points for luggage racks.
So I will say it again. DO NOT USE THESE AS GRAB HANDLES.

As a passenger, you must realize that your goal is to be just that. A passenger. You have to try to not make any movements that will upset the balance of the bike.

Before getting on and off the bike, make sure that the rider has given you permission/is aware that you are about to do so. The sudden weight transfer/removal can pull the bike to one side and into the ground. Big no-no.

Also, make sure to get on the bike the correct way. Which isn't one foot on the foot-peg, lifting yourself, and then finding the other foot-peg and sitting down. You have to throw your leg over the seat and slide on to it, THEN find the foot-pegs. You do have to be careful not to touch the exhausts though. those can get very hot.

While riding, don't be startled if the bike leans into the turn. Its supposed to do that. You should lean into the turn with the bike. But not to much, you don't want to fall off OR to bring the bike down. Don't know how far to lean? Just look at your driver's shoulder in the direction you are turning. Turning left, left shoulder;, turning right, right shoulder. Your body will instinctively lean to the side at just the right angle.

Whilst you are busy doing all this, you should also pay attention to the road. Be prepared for when the bike will slow down, accelerate, and turn. I want to give special attention to the slowing down part. You don't want to tap helmets every time you slow down. Believe me, it gets really annoying for the person in front.

Don't be afraid to ask for a break. We as riders are much more used to spending time on a bike, and are well aware how tiring and uncomfortable it can be, especially for the uninitiated. If the rider is going to fast, ask them politely (but firmly) to slow down. After the ride or during a break, speak to your driver about what you liked, what you didn't. If you liked a particular road or a certain speed. we (the drivers) take this into account, as we want your motorcycling experience to be as awesome as we can make it.

And that's all I can say for sure folks! Each rider will have their own preferences for a passenger (I prefer mine to hold on to me VS the bike) so make sure that you discuss with your driver what they may or may not like.

Photo cred: sportbikes.net
Photo cred: vinxxgrip
Photo cred: Suzuki Cycles
Photo cred: Auto Evolution

DISCUSSION (66)

Coty > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 11:04

lolyousaidreacharound

It's a slow day here today.

briannutter1 > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 11:06

Good article. Back in my airforce days I gave a drunk friend of mine a ride home on my GS850L. Bad mistake. Drunk Fucker was 80lbs heavier than me and wouldn't stop leaning into the turns on top of my efforts. A lot of correction needed to keep it from going down in slow corners. Lesson learned. Don't be afraid to instruct people on your expectations.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 11:10

What's the general consensus on the reach around?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 11:16

I basically got told, act as though you're a mass strapped to the bike and try not to move further than you need to, it makes the handling more predictable than if you lean different to the driver or anything. Also obviously hold on properly and don't be that idiot trying to hold onto unsuitable handles (as you said) because holding onto another dude is "gay". (Yep I heard someone say that)

Racescort666 > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 11:39

Kinja'd!!!

I can think of another use for this...

Harrison Voorhees > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 17:08

Step 1: Buy your own motorcycle.

Step 2: Don't be a passenger ever again!

bob and john > Harrison Voorhees
10/30/2014 at 17:09

well, trying the bike with someone else is usually step one. you are describing steps 2 & 3

jalop1991 > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/30/2014 at 20:01

Be that hot.

sadfasdf > Racescort666
10/30/2014 at 20:05

Or you could tell her to eat a goddamn sandwich.

cardriverx > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:05

eh I have used the rear grab handle before for short rides. It actually works pretty well, you make a triangle with your shoulder, hands, and butt being the points. Then your arms act like a beam that's in compression (acceleration) or tension (braking), creating a moment around your butt. It would get tiring on long rides but for a short hop it works well and let's the pilot do his or her thing (and because you are stiff in this position it avoids helmet smacking).

Kate's Dirty Sister > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:07

When I was in college, one of my friend bought a Yamaha Maxim 1100 bike.

He told me when I turn, you turn with me. Felt so unatural, I was always putting my weight in the opposite direction.

After a few close calls, I got banned from riding with him.

bob and john > Kate's Dirty Sister
10/30/2014 at 20:11

Dont blame him. You have no idea how close your where to making the two of you crash

Bubs > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:11

Back when I was in early grade school, my dad took me for a ride on his Norton Commando and showed me how much influence the passenger can have on the bike's handling. He took me on a twisty road and had me - a tiny eight year-old at the time - provide all of the cornering influence on the bike. That alone showed me how crucial proper passenger behavior is, a lesson I've taken into my twenties and 50,000+ miles of riding. I've yet to have a bad motorcycle passenger because I explain exactly what they need to do.

Kate's Dirty Sister > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:13

I know, I did poorly as a motorcycle passenger.

2 Wheels awesome! > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:20

In the middle of a sweeping elevated turn on a freeway interchange in Houston my passenger decided to spaz out one time and just sit up straight... On a 2 lane 65mph left turn ... We started to go wide... Towards the wall... I took my left hand off the bars and promptly slapped her upside the head/helmet to bring her back to reality and keep us from going off the side and all the 40 some odd feet to the ground.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Kate's Dirty Sister
10/30/2014 at 20:22

I had two close calls back when I rode a motorcycle. One of them was because of this. The girl I was dating just couldn't understand how important it was to lean with me. After she almost put us into a curb at speed, I told her we would never ride together again.

That was the beginning of the end of that relationship!

CrymeLord > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:24

A few not mentioned:
1) It's considered bad etiquette to put your your cigarette on the driver's helmet.

2) Keep a keen look out for low bridges when sitting on the driver's shoulders.

3) Fondling the driver's genitalia is encouraged. Extra points if you are the same sex as the driver.

RidgeFish > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:31

Girls that have ridden horses make better passengers imo as well since they are used to gripping with their legs. I prefer a passenger to grip with their legs, just like I do to the gas tank, it leaves my upper body free to move and prevents the boys from squashed when going downhill or braking. Usually I just tell them to loop their arms around me, grip with their legs, and keep their body in line with mine when we turn. New passengers also feel way more comfortable having a topbox/backrest behind them.

BrianK > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:37

The first picture shows someone hanging on to the back of the motorcycle and what appears to be the underarm of the driver - two things you say absolutely not to do. Is this an example of what not to do? 'cause they seem to be doing it pretty well.

The second (large) picture makes no sense - there's no context. It looks like one guy steering his/her motorcycle from the gas tank. After staring at it for a while, I think I get it - the back passenger (who you can't see) is holding on the the gas tank "bars" whereas the driver's arms are out of the picture - so the arms you see don't belong to the body you see. Just sayin' that's not a good picture to demonstrate what you're talking about, unless you are already familiar with this device, in which case this article isn't for you.

The last picture shows someone *barely* holding on to the driver - like not really holding on at all, but at least their helmets are far apart.

All pissing and moaning aside, I did learn something from the article, but the pictures didn't help.

...and there's my unsolicited $.02.

You're welcome,
-Internet.

Futura1000 > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:39

You have to throw your leg over the seat and slide on to it, THEN find the foot-pegs. You do have to be careful not to touch the exhausts though. those can get very hot.

My passenger seat is so high up this is basically a non-option, unless my passenger wants to to a ballerina split. I usually have them get on horse style, by putting the left foot on the left peg then swinging the other leg over. As long as they don't put much leverage on me or the bike, and keep their weight over the center of the bike as much as possible while doing the maneuver, I never have any problems.

jalop1991 > Bubs
10/30/2014 at 20:42

crap, for a second there I thought you were telling us about how your dad rode commando.

NeonBlaqk > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 20:52

I really don't find leaning to be instinctual. Too many years of ballet have made me gyroscopically balanced in a way. That said, those wearable handlebars are going to make my life so much easier next summer.

Bubs > jalop1991
10/30/2014 at 21:20

Kinja'd!!!

hoonhawk > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 21:25

When I was in college I would occasionally give rides to whatever girl I was talking to at that point. For the most part, they were all great passengers. Of course my now long-term girlfriend is a terrible passenger. Haven't ever had the heart to tell her she's a bad passenger.

pfftballer > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 21:38

"Don't be afraid to ask for a break. We as riders are much more used to spending time on a bike, and are well aware how tiring and uncomfortable it can be, especially for the uninitiated. If the rider is going to fast, ask them politely (but firmly) to slow down. After the ride or during a break, speak to your driver about what you liked, what you didn't. If you liked a particular road or a certain speed. we (the drivers) take this into account, as we want your motorcycling experience to be as awesome as we can make it. "

So it's a lot like sex. Just kidding, mostly. My rule of thumb to my passengers was to lean with me or if you found yourself confused as to which way to lean, to not lean at all and pretend you are a statue. That's a hell of a lot better than them leaning the wrong way.

notanother > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 21:47

Rider should also be alert that it is more strain for the passenger. It was rightfully pointed out passenger usually has less riding strength built up. Also seat is less padded/comfortable, and bounces more due to over the shocks.

Rider has the secure bars to hold onto, while controlling the throttle has expectation of how the bike will shift and bounce. Passenger doesn't really have a solid place to grip, and bumps and speed changes can be unexpected. I've found this can give the passenger a back ache. A backrest for passenger can be a nice help. That can be a safety concern though. If bike goes down, backrest can lock occupant to the bike, instead of being able pushing away.

MadisonSuicide > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 21:58

I usually tell first time passengers to just exist. Don't try to help, don't try to not help. Just be there.

Monsterajr > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 22:04

I totally agree with all your points, though I'd add:

- Do not hold onto shoulders either. If I brake hard and you are holding my shoulders, our combined forward weight shift will possibly upsest my control/grip.

I'd also suggest getting a set of in helmet 2way intercoms. Old GF bought a set for us and it completely changed the experience for both rider and passenger. Communication about everything your are going to be doing, sites you are seeing and smells you encounter as well as cursing out the asshole that just cut you off and saying "hang on we're going to take off like a bat out of hell" go a really long way in making your passenger and you enjoy the ride and work together.

Kinja'd!!!

burpbeepburp > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 22:06

I usually find it better to put them on a small displacement bike or scooter is better to let them see what the sensation is like. Riding as passenger scares alot of people off. Of course one of the best ways is to just take the training course with them. Works every time.

Hooneriphic > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 22:21

I've got both a sport bike and a cruiser. I've had passengers that "fight" the lean but I've never felt the passenger could do enough to cause a wreck. Now I'm not saying it isn't possible but it would take a lot for a passenger to upset the bike. If my passenger starts to fight the lean I just give the inside grip a little extra push and over the bike goes.

dmcspeedy > cardriverx
10/30/2014 at 22:26

I've been on the back of an Aprilia RSV1000 using the grab handles. That was not as good an idea as I thought it would be.

Zandit > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 22:29

Not sure I agree with your suggestion for mounting the bike, if your passenger is short(Like my Wife) then there is no way in hell that she is throwing her leg over first, pushing herself up onto the seat, then finding the pegs, it is just impossible.

Adding to that, whenever she rides pillion, I have a top box in place which makes it even more impossible. Her only option is to use the peg to step up first, swing the leg over, find the other peg, then sit down. Hasn't done us any harm at all except for the time she didn't warn me that she was getting on, and I wasn't ready!

The top box is the best thing for a new pillion to feel comfortable with on the back of a bike. Ok, they shouldn't place all of their weight back on the top box, but it gives them better peace of mind than a small hand rail be it fixed to the back like the one pictured above, or on hand grabs along the sides of the rear bike frame.

As for those grab handles fitted to the tank, I can't think of anything more uncomfortable for both the rider and passenger. Being that close to the rider would invite more banged helmets than not using it. The strap-on handles(snigger!) would be better, but I don't see them in my future!

kayjaysee > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 22:36

Here's a post I wrote a few years back about aggressive 2-up riding. The thing a lot of first-time passengers get wrong is they hang on too tight—with a practiced passenger, I'm almost hard-pressed to tell there's someone else behind me.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.p…

Kinja'd!!!

rocknroll_jeph > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 23:05

This should be required reading for passengers! I have gotten in the habit of instructing my passengers on proper riding form for some time now. I have been riding motorcycles long before I was driving (or had a licence!). Nearly all of my bikes have been sport bikes ranging from a 250cc Kawasaki up to my current Ducati. I have learned about a lot of this on my own from some experiences with my friends and family riding with me. Some of my worst passengers have been: my mom- leaning in the opposite direction, my girlfriend- now wife- riding while she was drunk I was afraid she would pass out and fall asleep or off, sister- same as my wife, best friend- 220lbs of Midwest- really upset the balance, my band's 6"6' drummer- bottomed out the suspension just by sitting on it. Fun times! That was before I owned a car, so I ride less and less now anyway.

Gonzo3333 > bob and john
10/30/2014 at 23:15

You did not address the all too unpleasant Sack to Back which should never be attempted.

kayjaysee > Harrison Voorhees
10/30/2014 at 23:21

Some people have no interest in riding their own bike. I've encouraged my wife countless times to do so, but she's perfectly content to just ride along behind me, and I'm quite happy to have her as a passenger. Riding their own isn't necessarily for everyone.

R > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 03:57

When you crash make sure their vital organs are intact for donating.

Ferd > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 05:49

About the lean- I couldn't disagree more. I NEVER tell a passenger to lean, they almost always wind up trying to steer from the backseat. I tell them "just sit there, don't lean, and don't fight MY lean- just let the bike do what it does". Telling a passenger to lean, IMHO, is a bad idea.

yorkyboy > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 05:49

At 22 ive been on the back of a motorbike once in my life when i was 15, i didnt think people needed instruction, in my head it was "lean with the guy not against otherwise its like turning a car tyre left and another right!

matt1994xj > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 07:17

I think its perfectly fine for a passenger to step onto a peg to swing a leg over. 1. All of my passengers are women who are generally shorter. 2. the passenger seat is even higher than the rider seat so its pretty hard for anyone to try and swing a leg over that without looking like an idiot. If you cant hold up the bike when a chick is getting on the back she either way too big and you should reevaluate your choice of passenger, and/or you simply shouldn't be riding.

MP > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 08:03

First ever comment here, but great article.

One other tip that I always tell passengers is to not move around when I'm coming to a stop, or during slow parking lot maneuvers, etc. It's sort of counter-intuitive, but the motorcycle is actually most stable at speed, so while we're going in a straight line at 45, 55, 65 mph (whatever the speed limit is), that's the best time to fix your gloves, adjust your helmet, etc. The centrifugal force of the wheels, motor, etc. spinning makes the bike stable. Passenger probably couldn't knock the bike over if she or he tried.

When we're going slowly, everything's spinning much slower, and so the bike is inherently less stable. Unexpected movements from the passenger have much more influence on the motorcycle's stability.

Also, when i had a bike with a high side exhaust, I always advised the horse-style (one foot on the foot peg, then swing the leg over) mount/dismount. It was really the only way passengers could avoid the exhaust. It works fine if you have a bike you can plant both feet firmly on, and you let the passenger know not to get on unless you tell her or him it's okay.

Ryan Stewart > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/31/2014 at 08:36

Its only common decency.

Seriously though the grab handles things are brilliant. They keep the rider in the line of the bike and mean that they are not influencing the rider. Also gives you a push-pull option, so you can more easily resist going forward under braking.

Being said I have only had a passenger twice. Mainly because my main bike was always monoposto, i finally got a good two-up bike but the girlfriend isnt a fan of bikes.

Ryan Stewart > cardriverx
10/31/2014 at 08:37

It sucks but it works, but mainly for women. I had to ride on the back when I had a hose failure and it caused me to be more upright or leaned back even. A 110lb woman vs a nearly 190lb man mean the front end got light.

Ntovorni > cardriverx
10/31/2014 at 09:33

heh...creating a moment around your butt..heh...

timgray > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 10:00

Simplest answer. Always look over my shoulder in the direction we are turning. If I am turning right you put your head over my right shoulder. It makes it impossible for the rider to not put their weight where it is supposed to be.

Lastly, never ever let your rider put their hands in your pockets, EVER. That is how women lose both their hands in a crash. well you will have your hands, they will just be in his pockets while you are about 40 feet away from him.

Lastly as a passenger, don't be afraid of simply saying, "nope, you are not skilled enough" if the motorcycle owner rides like a complete ass. When a rider is on back the driver is responsible for the safety of the rider. Never ever get on a bike with a Squid, someone that does stoppies, wheelies, or rides as if life is a video game. Because they don't care about you and will find it funny when you get hurt. We call those people squids, and they can barely ride with themselves on the bike, they are not good enough riders to have a passenger.

OG_Jason_Lee > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/31/2014 at 10:00

Yep, that's what I want for my d#%k to be hanging out of my pants at a stop light or worse if we take a dive. Nope.

Grover900SS > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 10:01

In my experience the best thing for a passenger to hang onto is the tank, not the rider's waist. This allows the rider more or less complete freedom of movement and, most importantly, none of the passengers weight gets transferred to the rider under braking. The passenger also has a much better feel for what the bike is doing because they have a direct connection to it with their hands. I've never had an issue with a passenger not being able to reach around (*snicker*), although I admit that I'm fairly skinny and both of my bikes have a forward-leaning riding position.

I also always instruct my passengers to look through the turns (same as you should be doing) over my inside shoulder, and have found that this generally gets them into the right position.

I took 2 hot laps around Road America with Jason Pridmore on a GSXR1000 and he gave me these same instructions. I also happened to get a knee down riding 2-up on the Dragon using this technique (wasn't even really trying - just kinda happened).

timgray > Harrison Voorhees
10/31/2014 at 10:01

Step 1.5 actually learn how to ride, and not from "friends".

Moddoc > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 10:29

I always prefer the reach around

UnfriendlyMoose > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 10:34

Now if only I this was available as a PDF and would include I agree that I have read through these terms and conditions button.

Jellysickle > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 10:41

Serious question for all Jalops, if I ride as a passenger with another guy who is driving the Ninja 650, what can I do to make it not seem weird to put my hands around him?

Dugg-117 > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 11:40

one thing to note. If you *need* to mount the bike by first stepping on the peg because you are to short to just throw your leg over. Warn the diver. This will put a large amount of weight on one side. Things will go badly if they don't have their feet firmly planted with a tight grip on the bars.

Davycroc > Dugg-117
10/31/2014 at 12:14

When getting onto the back of a bike and you cannot swing a leg over the bike (looking at you Goldwing...), put left foot on left peg, put upper body OVER the back seat, until your head is almost touching the driver's right shoulder, then step over. All done slowly so the driver can compensate for the shift in weight. The trick is to keep your center of mass over the bike's center of mass so it doesn't tilt the bike one way or another.

Drivers: if someone does not know how to mount a large bike, just put it on the side stand while the passenger is getting on. It's not hard to pull upright with the extra weight, and the non-wobbly bike is more comfortable for a passenger to get on.

kbasa > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 12:22

OK, I've been riding with my wife for 35 years and there are two bits of advice here that are completely horrible. We've got about 300,000 miles of riding together under our belts, so I read this and just couldn't believe this advice.

Grab rails - they are often poorly placed by being too low and too far back. But unless you like having your passenger sliding into you under braking, you want them to use them. Ideally, you'd have some kind of backrest for your passenger, which makes them feel more secure and gives them something easier to reach to hold on to. The grab handles give your passenger something to hold onto under braking and they should absolutely use them. Worst case scenario - they reach around you and put their hands on the tank. This is what we do on the track or when we're really hauling ass on the street. But under braking, if you can keep the passenger off of your back, which forces you to lock your elbows, you're going to be much smoother and safer.

Passengers getting on the bike. My wife is 5'5", which is exactly average. Unless she goes back in time and becomes a gymnast, there's no way she's going to be able to slide her leg over the seat and lever herself up.

Do it this way: At signal from me, indicating I'm ready for her to get on the bike (both feet on the ground, both hands on the bars, flattish location), she puts her left hand on my shoulder, her left foot on the left peg, lifts herself, swings her leg over to the right peg and sits down. Dismount is the reverse, though sometimes on our tallest bike, I'll stop, put the bike on the sidestand and she can slide off - but she never gets off the bike until I tell her to. Ever.

Adventure bikes, dual sport bikes or sport touring bikes are tall to provide legroom for long rides, which makes the seats higher. If you're 5'5", good luck sliding your leg over a passenger seat that may be nearly 3 feet off the ground.

Banging helmets: It's ALWAYS the rider's fault unless the passenger is falling asleep because you're so goddamn smooth. If you're up there in the front yanking on the gas and brakes and pretending your Valentino Rossi, helmets will be bashed, despite the best efforts of the passenger. Your job as the rider is to be so smooth that your passenger thinks you've got an automatic on the bike and you never brake. Bonus: by being smoother, you'll be even faster and under better control when you're riding by yourself. TL:DR - Don't ride like a hamfisted jackass when you have a passenger because you'll smash helmets and you'll scare the crap out of them, making them tense and you slower.

Before your first ride together: You should talk to your passenger before your first ride about what spins, what's hot, feet stay on the pegs at all times, on left turns you look over my left shoulder, right turns, right shoulder. You should have a set of signals for "slow down, you're scaring me", "I have to pee", "I'm done" and "It's OK for you to get off or on the bike", along with "I SEE A COP". Talk about how to look over each shoulder on corners.

You might also want to adjust the preload on the rear shock(s) so you can actually steer the bike and it's not understeering out of its mind every time you drop into a corner.

Cornering lines: If you're normally a solo rider, the late brake, flick at the apex and out the other side won't work. You're going to need to more traditional flowing line that takes advantage of the full lane. Roll off, roll it into the corner (no flick!), then accelerate off the apex. Use engine braking as much as you can by keeping the revs on the bike up higher.

Passenger involvement: I may not have understood you properly, but the role of the passenger isn't to sit back there like a big lump of meat. A good passenger can help you get down the road almost as quickly as you could when riding by yourself by working with you, just like when you see people ballroom dancing. Rider and co-rider should be perfectly in sync with each other, which will keep the bike from getting all disturbed. If you add in smooth riding skills by the pilot, you have more room for some movement aboard the bike. Pro tip: strong quads help you lift your ass off the bike, minimizing your movement's effect. There's a reason MotoGP guys all ride bicycles for training.

My wife and several other co-riders I know will be half off the seat on fast rides, right behind the rider. If I'm moving my mass off the seat to help the bike get around the corner, the passenger doing the same is absolutely crucial.

And if you say "drive" when referring to riding a bike, I'm going to have to come over there and take all those letters off your keyboard. Please stop that.

Good grief, this article is horrible advice.

bob and john > Jellysickle
10/31/2014 at 12:25

say no homo :P

jokes aside, what you can do is get him to wear a VERY sturdy backpack and hang onto that VS your buddy.

bob and john > kbasa
10/31/2014 at 12:35

did you read the other article? you know, the one FOR the rider? where I say specifically say:

"Make sure the ride isn't too exciting. This is one area where a lot of people go wrong. You want to show them the fun of being fast and leaning into the turns. This scares a lot of the un-initiated and turns them off, saying :"I don't want to die, all bikers are crazy!" And then we wonder why we don't get more people into the sport."

not to mention I got a bunch of your other point?

As for the rider/driver thing. I don't actually OWN a car. My bike is all I have. So whenever I have to "drive" somewhere I ride. So I throw driver/rider around interchangeably by habit. Not to mention, you and the passenger are both technically riders

kbasa > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 12:36

The advice on grab rails and mounting the bike are still horrible.

bob and john > Ferd
10/31/2014 at 12:40

Think I covered that.....

just me > bob and john
10/31/2014 at 13:33

Don't know how far to lean? Just look at your driver's shoulder in the direction you are turning.

I used to tell passengers to look over my inside shoulder during turns. There were the occasional passengers that didn't understand the concept of "inside" and I had to explain SMH.

Ninety-9 > kbasa
10/31/2014 at 15:35

I was going to mention the tank part. On a Sport or Dual Sport, the passenger will usually slide forward onto the rider, the bear hug method is good for highway riding, but the passenger should be accustomed to also pushing on the tank and being aware of when the rider wants to slow down or brake. Pushing on the tank allows the passenger to manage her own weight, rather than crushing the rider's balls into the tank.

The Butt-grips, as I call them, which are the grab handles, typically under or behind the passenger seat, BIG NO. Under acceleration and turning, the passenger has less control to balance, can even fall right off the back. The passenger also doesn't have enough input to lean, but even worse, it causes the passenger to sit upright, which puts more weight BEHIND the rear wheel. Sport bikes are notorious for the front wheel coming up under acceleration.

JasonStern911 > Ferd
11/01/2014 at 13:45

1,000x this. you don't tell passengers in your car to help turn your steering wheel while you drive.

Destructive Tester > Hooneriphic
11/03/2014 at 10:19

The problem with a "fighting" passenger is when you compensate for them and they decide to agree with you mid-turn...

Kugelblitz > Ferd
11/03/2014 at 13:46

I tell them to lean when I lean.

Robert > bob and john
04/18/2016 at 06:54

Very short ago I had my first ride on a motorcycle on the back of an r1 of a friend. At a certain moment he rode 160 mph and also did very fast accelerations and really sharp turns. I really loved it and now I am looking for other fast pillion rides on sportbikes.

Mish > bob and john
05/25/2018 at 09:24

Question - when gear shifting to a higher speed and breaking, I noticed that I was pressing up against the driver (I’m a passenger, clearly) a lot. I did try to keep my helmet back but I noticed that the force propels me forward a lot and I am smushed into him. Is it best to grip my legs against the back of his butt thighs and lean my chest against his back in these cases? I feel like I am smushing him! I had my arms around his waist, but I am just wondering if that is the best. If I don’t do this I can’t seem to lean back off of him. If i hold the grab rails then I am not smushed up against him as much, I can use my arms to not force myself on him when we’re slowing. Any advice?

bob and john > Mish
05/25/2018 at 10:27

You can take a hand off of him and brace yourself against the gas tank when he is slowing down. it helps a little, as well the the leg thing.

as for the gear shifting, eehhhh. sounds like someone can be a bit smoother on the shifting :D