Pillion - climbing on!

[Beiciwr]

Took Kim as pillion for the first time yesterday - she felt she was ready for it!
But can anyone offer any advice as to the best way to get on? She's a little over average weight (she'd be the first to admit it!), but the problem is that she is rather. She has to climb on! I know she'll get better/faster at it, but I want her to be able to get on without her causing me to risk dropping the bike!

I've not carried a pillion before, so have no experience in this, but which of these would be best for her?
- Climb on behind me, while I struggle to keep bike upright?
- Climb on first when bike is on side stand?
- Climb onto rider's seat, with bike on side stand, then move back?
- Climb on behind me onto rider's seat (OK, a little tight), then move back?

Advice appreciated.
Cheers.

[TSM]

you: stand bike up, both feat down, front brake on

pillion: left side of bike, left foot on rear peg and step up on that and over

if you know she is getting on from the left you can prepare yourself for the bike to want to tip over to left, problem with having side stand out is that with both of you on the bike it may not be possable to pull it back up without tipping to the right a little, if you can, try holding the bike normaly but with the side stand out just incase it tips over to the left, note getting on from the left makes sure it tips to the left

i have had someone on the back of the bike that would stay on the rear seat as i filled up and went to pay, then come back and get on the bike while she was still on the back, that was no problem at all, but that was on my kwak.

[Ed]

You should be on the bike first. Sit on it with both feet on the ground and hold it on the front brake. Then when you are ready tell Kim to climb on. She should NOT be on the bike first. Different people have different ways, if she can get her leg over :D then fine else she'll have to climb on using the pegs. Make sure you've adjusted the suspension... There are some good threads on here on carrying a pillion, do a search.

[Jester666]

Same goes for when she gets off. Pillion off first every time.

[beaniebikerbabe]

hiya

tell her to place her hands on yr shoulders as she climbs on; and off; if she never done this b4 remind her to go with u and the bike, when moving, and to sit still not shuffle lol sounds like it is obvious but it isnt! yr very brave i wud not dare take a pillion so good luck to ya both. some like to hold u but i know some riders dont like it and prefer the pillion to hold the grab rail ??? personal preference try both?

hope it is enjoyable, sure it wil be

[Beiciwr]

Many thanks for your speedy advice TSM & Ed.
Yes, because she is so short she has no option but to climb on using the pegs.
Your words all makes sense, and is what we did yesterday - she just needs to get more adept at it, I guess!
(Yes, I found & read several threads on carrying pillion, but couldn't find anything on mounting.)

Cheers again, guys.

[beaniebikerbabe]

i am short and under height too, i always have to use pegs to get on and off, and it does get easier with time and practise, (just dont get a top box lol) and new leathers dont make it easy cos they dont give so much; by the end of the summer it wil be easy peasy lemon squeezy lol

[yorkie_chris]

Keep it simple, 2 rules.

Don't get on or off untill told to. Keep still.

[CoolGirl]

I've ridden pillion with quite a few folk on here, and the deal is that the rider is fired up and ready to go, engages front brake, I jump on (elegantly and employing footpegs if required), and off we go. And when we stop, I get off first - usually the rider stops, engages front brake, I get off and then they manouvre to park.

Can't remember doing any different and no-one's come a cropper so far.....

[TSM]

I've ridden pillion with quite a few folk on here, and the deal is that the rider is fired up and ready to go, engages front brake, I jump on (elegantly and employing footpegs if required), and off we go. And when we stop, I get off first - usually the rider stops, engages front brake, I get off and then they manouvre to park.

Can't remember doing any different and no-one's come a cropper so far.....

what, have you ever got off when the rider has not stopped, or did one of them come to a stop flinging you off

[Beiciwr]

Thanks Beaniebikerbabe. Yes, I'm sure it'll get much more natural/easier for her before long.
Yesterday we used pillion grippers / love handles. Worked well for us both. Now I wanna buy some bluetooth system so we can talk! Gonna start surfing for that now .....

[yorkie_chris]

What you wanna do that for? :-P Get a loud can instead...

[Ed]

Now I wanna buy some bluetooth system so we can talk!

Er why have you bought a bike:confused:

[missyburd]

I use the pegs regardless of whether I can get my leg over or not ;) but then leathers can restrict movement somewhat! It helps to use the shoulders as something to push off as Beaniebikerbabe said.

As long as Kim does exactly what you tell her when getting on and off then you shouldn't have a problem :cool:

Most important of all, tell her to relax and just enjoy the ride, pillioning is great fun!!!

[yorkie_chris]

Oh yeah it's pretty easy to deck the pegs if you're a bit silly 2 up. Rearsets or a slightly longer shock is good.

Although the SRAD shock doesnt seem too good for 2 up as it's pretty soft.

[DoubleD]

Mrs DoubleD uses my foot peg to stand on when mounting the bike described like the others, reason being is she is a short @rse and can't get the lift using the pillion peg.

[lily]

I swing my leg staight over the back of the bike and then find the pegs (looks quite funny i think people that we have riddin with on here will say) :D

used the foot peg once today on the ride (as i've always felt there not strong enough) and it was easiler then swinging my leg over (however it was the end of the day and my legs were very archey so it was easiler to do it that way) :rolleyes:

As others have said tell her not to move.... i do sometimes but its when drew is expecting it because I either tap him to tell him or i've just slide right into him.... so he knows that i will be hikeing myself back up the pillion seat....... have part sorted out the sliding out by anti slip matting placed around the pillion seat (don't move unless emergency brake... or last minute)

And most importantly.......

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

[missyburd]

used the foot peg once today on the ride (as i've always felt there not strong enough) and it was easiler then swinging my leg over (however it was the end of the day and my legs were very archey so it was easiler to do it that way) :rolleyes:


I was the same the first few times I got on the back, I remember thinking 'must not break bits off his bike....!' but then I realised it would save a lot of hassle just to use them and was pleasantly surprised at how sturdy they were!

[yorkie_chris]

Remember they're designed to be stood on ;-)

[lily]

Remember they're designed to be stood on ;-)

I know that.... they just look a little flimsy ;)

[missyburd]

Remember they're designed to be stood on ;-)

that's as may be, but I used to think they were just footrests :rolleyes:

EDIT: I was young and foolish back then :p

[leatherpatches]

Oh yeah it's pretty easy to deck the pegs if you're a bit silly 2 up. Rearsets or a slightly longer shock is good.

No, it's not. You have to be riding like a **** to do that. With someone on the back that also makes you a ****.

[yorkie_chris]

Yes mom.

And if you've never decked a peg out then you must be gay.

Do I win the sweeping generalisation of the week award?

[BanannaMan]

Haven't seen this mentioned so far....
Shift into neutral or turn the bike off... before having the pillon exit.
That way if you do drop it...the damage will be much more minimal.







Yes mom.

And if you've never decked a peg out then you must be gay.

Do I win the sweeping generalisation of the week award?



:winner: :smt046


[-X
And shame on you for being "a bit silly" on that motorbike with a pillon on the rear.
It's off to bed with you and no pudding!

[beaniebikerbabe]

Thanks Beaniebikerbabe. Yes, I'm sure it'll get much more natural/easier for her before long.
Yesterday we used pillion grippers / love handles. Worked well for us both. Now I wanna buy some bluetooth system so we can talk! Gonna start surfing for that now .....




hiya

ebay?? a m8 of mine and i had some off ebay years ago now, dont use them any more, my fella likes the peace and quiet lol :p we have been thinking of getting some love handles for the boys tho wen we start to take them on the back???

[kitkat]

i am like Kim and a larger lady. I have to stand at a kerb to get foot onto foot peg then place my hands on shoulders of rider and said here I go so he is prepared to hold on tight. when getting off I sit still til he taps my left knee.

I take my kids pillion and they have adopted the same policy. saying that my daughter is so tall on the back of the raptor that she stands up while ont he back - feet on the ground and i could move the bike forward and leave her standing there without her burning her legs on the cans, but she is just a freak of nature.

as for talking to each other - nah you dont want to be doing that. the whole point of biking is that you dont have to put up with innane drivel with pillion telling you to slow down and to look at the sheep etc etc.

Hope you and Kim have loads of fun.

[beaniebikerbabe]

i am like Kim and a larger lady. I have to stand at a kerb to get foot onto foot peg then place my hands on shoulders of rider and said here I go so he is prepared to hold on tight. when getting off I sit still til he taps my left knee.

I take my kids pillion and they have adopted the same policy. saying that my daughter is so tall on the back of the raptor that she stands up while ont he back - feet on the ground and i could move the bike forward and leave her standing there without her burning her legs on the cans, but she is just a freak of nature.

as for talking to each other - nah you dont want to be doing that. the whole point of biking is that you dont have to put up with innane drivel with pillion telling you to slow down and to look at the sheep etc etc.

Hope you and Kim have loads of fun.

ha ha ha :) totally agree kitkat, and i have a daughter just the same nearly a foot bigger than me lol

[Luckypants]

Oh yeah it's pretty easy to deck the pegs if you're a bit silly 2 up. Rearsets or a slightly longer shock is good..

No, it's not. You have to be riding like a **** to do that. With someone on the back that also makes you a ****.

It is much easier to deck the pegs with pillion on the SV. Used to do it all the time with my lad on board. Had the stand down a few times to if we hit a bump mid-bend. Loading the bike up means the suspension is more compressed than normal and so there is reduced ground clearance. (yes, even with pre-load wound up to max). :offtopic: (sorry guys)

[blueto]

You should be on the bike first. Sit on it with both feet on the ground and hold it on the front brake. Then when you are ready tell Kim to climb on. She should NOT be on the bike first. Different people have different ways, if she can get her leg over :D then fine else she'll have to climb on using the pegs. Make sure you've adjusted the suspension... There are some good threads on here on carrying a pillion, do a search.


how much wieght will one peg take if all the weight is exerted on the inital transfer from floor to peg? will it ever break?

[beaniebikerbabe]

how much wieght will one peg take if all the weight is exerted on the inital transfer from floor to peg? will it ever break?



hiya:o i have been riding pillion almost most my life and never have i seen a peg break under some ones weight climbing on; the wieght is on it for seconds that is all, but i did once see a honda goldwing tip up wen a larger lady was getting on in matlock, now that took some picking up! :rolleyes:

[Stig]

Or when your at the annual rideout, fully kitted up with panniers, luggage on cargo rack and tank bag. Get the whole of the .org to give her boost getting on. Any one remember that :?: Kept Jo and I chuckling for ages when we left.

[TSM]

how much wieght will one peg take if all the weight is exerted on the inital transfer from floor to peg? will it ever break?

loads, dont worrey about that.

hiya:o i have been riding pillion almost most my life and never have i seen a peg break under some ones weight climbing on; the wieght is on it for seconds that is all, but i did once see a honda goldwing tip up wen a larger lady was getting on in matlock, now that took some picking up! :rolleyes:

pegs can take very high load, if you think, shock loading for just a second is much more than your own weight and it still does not brake off



so, nothing to worrey about