Riding with pillion
 

So did my first bit of riding 2up on road yesterday, nothing mad just around the city.

Is it normal for the pillion to slide into you when slowing? It felt as though they were sliding all over the place when accelerating and everything. It wasn't a problem, just wondering if that is what happens?

was good fun though

Draper

Re: Riding with pillion
 

can only say from my own experience with the mrs on the back...this happens with her aswell

u can get some grippy seat covers that are ment to be ok....but not tried them yet

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Not really, get her to grip with her legs and possibly look at a grippier seat.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1, I used to have to use the grab rail to the point where my right arm muscles were aching after each ride, find it much easier now to just use my legs and not bother with it. That becomes a lot easier if your pillion is actually taking note of when you break and accelerate, if he/she is daydreaming then you'll be the one that suffers lol!

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Triboseat cover. That's the solution.

http://www.triboseat.com/

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I'm sure lissa will agree when she turns up. Pillion should be paying as much attention to road as the rider to anticipate braking and throttle abuse.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Couldn't agree more.. It's been enromous difference since my G-friend started anticipating our manouevres.. Depends on the trousers as well..

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Yeah when I first started wearing my leathers they had loads of grip (compared to waterproofs!) then once the leathers got a bit of wear they soon lost that. We want to get some of that grippy seat stuff, would come in handy.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Also I'm looking for a truckist-esque mudflap to keep pillions bottom dry

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Wouldn't hold out too much hope of keeping pillion dry with a big muflap. Even with the mahoosive snow shovel on my viffer, pillion / rear seat gets lots of spray, I think the aerodynamics suck it in.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Gotta be worth a go though ... also an extra place to get my mate to spray some offensive graphics

Re: Riding with pillion
 

But then it'll just get covered in muck :confused: or is that the one place where you'll actually keep the rat clean :p :D

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Nah just spray over top ... same as he's going to do to tank lol

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Ive got some of this on my pillion seat, cheap and does the trick, but can be a pain to dry out if it gets wet.

From having the better half on the back of the bike every morning and evening, what we have learned is

• Get her to support herself on the front of the tank during braking
• Get her to grip with her knees when accelerating
• I prefer her to hold onto me instead of the grab rail as we tend to move together in corners (and she acts as a great heater during winter :D )
• Smoother riding means less banging of helmets together
• Punching of the ribs usually means slow down
• If she complains of being cold tell her, through gritted teeth, you're taking the brunt of it

Other than that have fun, and make sure you whack the preload up on the rear suspension as it helps with the balance of the bike during corners/accelerating.

HTH

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1 - Got one and they are great. Mrs couldn't believe the difference before and after....

Re: Riding with pillion
 

triboseat works very well.

only problem i had with pillion anticipating stuff is when they get a little over zealous and the bike starts to tip in before you even thought about it...

Re: Riding with pillion
 

A good pillion won't slide around. Some of my female pillions do, but I have had plenty that don't, and indeed when I go pillion on Phill's bike, I don't slide around. Just grip with the knees, and hold on to the grab rail. Anticipate the bikes actions too.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Never taken a pillion, and never want to, so I have Gladys, my silent passenger thats bungee'd to the rear. He don't slide around and has always got a smile on his face.......





...not helping am I? :rolleyes:

Re: Riding with pillion
 

i went pilion once, the only thing i could grip with my knees was my helmet. i felt like i was sitting on one of those little clown bikes!

maybe try some of the 'love handle' things. ive heard some people it says it helps.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1 to everything, all of the the comments are spot on i think. I have had only ever had pillion passangers that are riders theirself and therefor know when to hold on and grip with their legs.... I am not looking forward to carrying the girls from work that are desperate to have a ride... I would rather them hold on to me than the grab rail but i am a little on the large side so they can get their hands round!

Dave

Re: Riding with pillion
 

These look like a good idea!

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Yes, a problem if your style is different to your pillion's.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

i now put my head forwards when changing gear to aviod being banged in the back of the head.
gave my first really fat passinger a lift the other day and they wanted to stay upright when i was cornering gave my sides a good workout but im glad im no lighter cos i would have been over the road.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

You're lucky they're not reading this forum.. :p I hear you though!

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1 - been thinking about getting these actually.

Nobbylass loves going pillion and I enjoy taking her out with me. It means I ride a bit more conservatively, but still enjoy it. She is fine with the grab rail and usually only grabs onto me when we're pulling away 'cos she needs the extra comfort that she's not going to come off! Never have a problem banging helmets, she usually forsees braking and puts her hands against the tank for that.

I bought an Autocomm set to save my ribs from bruising, however I think the best way to avoid nagging or beating is to put the tank bag on so she can't see the speedo!

We tried the love handles and they weren't great, now I've got rid of the grab handle due to the motech rack, I've been looking at the tank handles.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I hate being a pillion.....dont mind taking people though.

Kerry always slide forwards and she used to hate it but we have both got used to it and now she just pushed herself back up without even thinking about what effect she has on me.....which is normally no effect anyway as she is tiny.

She used to hate going pillion on the Sv because the grab rail was awkward to hold onto and made her hand go numb....now she just holds onto me as the 600rr doesnt have a grab rail as such.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-SV-650-...1%7C240%3A1318

cheaper than triboseats website with postage....

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1 for hand on the tank when stopping :)

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I tried doing that but never liked it for some reason, I could never reach properly and it just didn't feel right. That and I was always worried about putting YC off, just suddenly reaching round as I couldn't stay with my arms about him the whole time, that would just hurt me back lol. I think just trying out a few different ways and seeing which is the most comfortable for both of you is the best way.

More often than not, anything I worried about as far as affecting YC's riding resulted in him telling me he didn't notice anything amiss, but then there are more important things to think about like that hedge and wall and that there car/patch of diesel.... :rolleyes: :p

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I've only ridden any distance with my brother on the back of the SV. He's 6 foot 1 so he could peer over my shoulder and see what was happening so that he could brace himself accordingly. Apart from deciding to have a wiggle about as I was going over the cobbles on Scarborough sea front he was a great pillion. Being 21 he was completely fearless but I rode sensibly as if I bin the bike and kill myself it's my own doing but I would never risk riding too quickly with someone on the back (although we may have seen just under 110MPH ona closed road officer).

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Gee.. you guys are so lucky to find all those closed roads.. I've never been so lucky, hence so far my Suzie's not gone faster than 70mph..
;)

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I agree with the 'observant pillion' comments. Whenever I've been pillion, the only time I slide is when the rider brakes a little too harshly.

The last bike I was on didn't have a grab rail, and I didn't need to hold on to the rider either. Though I did give him a hug whilst shouting "brake you muppet!" (put my hand on the tank a little close to the jewels, I think he got the message!! :lol:)

Re: Riding with pillion
 

ahh thanks everyone, some interesting stuff

as some of you have said, it's a little different when theres someone else youve got to look out for so was taking it easy (except trying to show off with acceleration once or twice)

she said she loved it though so happy days

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Can't go wrong with that, you must be doing something right ;) :D

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Hmm not a great pilion me - Have tried "Hand on the tank" It made a good accompaniment to a4se in the air.

Grrrrr

Re: Riding with pillion
 

+1 million:D

I don't use the grab rail, because we haven't got one. I just reach one arm round Pete to brace when braking hard, but because I watch the road I am ready for that.;)

Re: Riding with pillion
 

Also with pillion doesn't mean you have to be doing 3mph everywhere, just be slightly less aggressive with everything.

Re: Riding with pillion
 

I got some of that webbing stuff for a pound & made a non-slip seat cover, but the wife & lad wouldnt test it for me... said it looked like a hair-net!!

Steve

Re: Riding with pillion
 

On the very rare occasion that I go pillion these days, I don't hold on either, if your an experienced pillion, you anticipate everything the pilot does.....apart from looking at the scenery:cool:

I've been on the back of YC once or twice...its not the same, he scares the pants off me, I hold on for dear life:o

Re: Riding with pillion
 

:lol: