SHOCK, HORROR!!!

I generally don't go as fast with a pillion as I do without.

2 reasons:
1) Increased stopping distance, so I have to slow sooner for bends.
2) Bike doesn't accelerate quite as quick, so less opportunity to get up to speed before needing to brake.
These effectively shorten the straights and I don't like going really fast on the motorway (too easy to get caught), where these factors are less of an issue.

So more to do with the physics/performance of the bike when a pillion is on it, rather than riding more cautiously because someone is on the back. The exception to this would be roundabouts. I had a hairy experience where I straightlined a roundabout at speed and my pillion who is normally pretty good tensed up and leaned the wrong way ( she seemed to object to being inches from the kerb at 50+mph for some reason ). It threw the handling out; we got round okay, but the back end pogo'd a bit and it was a rather brown trouser moment. So I take roundabouts a bit more sedately when I'm 2-up now.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Liz complains that I don't go fast enough when she's pillion

She never complained with me, though maybe she was just being nice.
She did fall asleep on the M3 at some 3 figure speed.

[Balky001]

depends on the pillion but I think you generally slow down (a bit!) as you are responsible for someone else. I don't like taking pillion

Im only happy/feel 100% comfortable going pillion with my other half, hes done 160mph+ with me on the back on a clear,empty road and i was fine with it.
Been pillion on my mates tl's and my other mates millie and i doubt id do it again!

Originally Posted by Carsick

She never complained with me, though maybe she was just being nice.
She did fall asleep on the M3 at some 3 figure speed.

Sorry

I like going pillion i have done over 160 on the back of a bike, and hung on as we've wheelied away from lights and gone full pelt over hump back bridges and got air. It's all good fun and if i didn't like it then i wouldn't get on the back.

Heh, was just my attempt to make Fizz jealous.
I haven't actually been pillion on a bike since I was about 6.

Yeah, I slow down when someones on the back.

Unless I'm in a hooly mood ar are trying to impress, or scare them

But every time there's a bike on this programme the presenter always has a disapproving voice. I've written him off as just another of the 'bikes are dangerous' brigade

[Biker Biggles]

I too hate that Alistair wotisname's condescending tone when talking about bikes( and road users generally).Was'nt he done for some motoring offenses a few years ago(DD)?Hypocrite.Holier than though prat.

Originally Posted by Lissa

While I was browsing on here the other night, Police, Camera, Action was on in the background. No, I don't really watch that kind of programme, but the TV remote was on the other side of the room and I was too comfy to move

Anyhow, I just caught one of the little snippets in which Alistair Whatsisname was saying 'and this motorcyclist was clocked at speeds of up to nearly 100mph, WITH A PILLION'

My initial reaction was 'Yeah? And?'

My reaction this morning is STILL 'Yeah? And?'

Not in response to the speed, but in response to the tone in his voice when he said 'With a pillion' So what was he saying..............that if the guy had been riding alone it would have been ok to do that speed? From what I saw the guy wasn't doing stupid over-takes or acting recklessly, he was just riding quickly on a road with plenty of vision and little traffic.

I make no bones about it, Pete and I like to scoot along fairly quickly He WON'T pull stupid stunts, he will NEVER overtake on solid white lines or coming up to blind bends like so many we see, but on the open road we like to go as fast as the conditions and the bike will allow. I know this. I know how Pete likes to ride, and if I didn't like it too I have the simple choice of NOT getting on the back of the bike. But it got me wondering. How many of you compromise the way you ride because you are carrying a pillion, or how many of you won't take a pillion purely because you don't want to have to compromise your riding?

He's got room to talk he was done for drink driving a couple of years ago the tosser!!!!!