Pillion Riding?

Hi Peeps,

Wonder if you could help.

I've been riding for about a year now and my GF still won't jump on the back with me, she keeps saying she doesn't trust the bike but i love it.
either way it's frustrating as if i need to pick her up I have to get the car which is a nightmare plus i look like the stig when im in my leathers in the car (Mainly cause i'm late) and no i don't sit in the car with my helmet on.

Has anyone else had this problem with their other halves and the Fear of the bike issue.

If so how did you sort it out cause i would love to have her with me when i go out for a ride.

Cheers

yup had the same things with my lass. You just have to get the right time and mood and then take her around the block. Start small and very slow and slowly build up.

to be honest i cant fault her. Ive been pillion and its bloody scary stuff! it took about 8 goes before we hit the speed limit (yes thats 30 mph!)

I did the complete opposite... I scared the living hell out of her but she loved every minute and wanted to go on again!
It just depends on what your lass prefers in all honesty, does she enjoy quick driving in the car or is she more of a slow and boring type?
Just work around which she prefers and she'll love it =)

[Jayneflakes]

I have ridden pillion for years and have had my own license for a year now, so you would think that I am a comfortable pillion to have...

Er, no.

Last week, the wife was on the front and was "making progress" as she calls it. Being an advanced skills trainer and DAS Instructor, she can handle our "little" SV easily.

I got travel sick and then nearly had a brown trouser moment when she braked late for a car that was stopping.

Pillion is scary, especially when the rider is in a hurry and is throwing the bike around like they do on their own.

My tip, start very small. I took a friend, who has significant learning difficulties, out for a ride and knowing that she was scared, did 100m before returning home. Two minutes later, she wanted to go further and then after that further again. It is about building trust, being super careful because you are carrying very precious cargo and letting her trust you.

Get an intercom set too, that way she can talk to you and you can give her support and instructions. A basic one from Lidl will do start with.

Hope that helps your cause.

My other half will categorically never get on my bike. End of. I don't even bother asking if she wants to hop on when the weather is nice. She's even kindly been offered kit by others and still won't.

Don't force her. If she wants to she'll do it.

Originally Posted by BaP

My other half will categorically never get on my bike. End of. I don't even bother asking if she wants to hop on when the weather is nice. She's even kindly been offered kit by others and still won't.

Don't force her. If she wants to she'll do it.

For once, I would say BaP is right - he's not normally...

Give her time, she may become curious and if she does, then like the others have suggested, baby steps. Not everyone likes bikes and a huge amount of people are scared of them. Just leave her be if she doesn't want to get on with you!

I can understand it being scary once you've been used to being in control of a bike on your own but f she's never been on the bike then she should at least feel she can give it a try. I remember my first pillion ride on the Isle of Man, i was extremely cautious but YC just took it very slowly to start with and then would tap me to see if it was alright to speed up a bit. I'd say yes each time, till we were racing around the southern 100 part of the TT race circuit! Obviously it depends on your personality, but if your gf has the mindset that she's not going to like it before she's even had a go then it will take you a while to get her out of that frame of mind.

Explain that you'd really love her to be a part of something you love, and reassure her that you won't do ANYTHING without checking with her first (on the bike that is!). Come up with a few easy-to-understand gestures/signals such as a tap on the shoulder for yes or a squeeze round the middle for slow down. She might be under the impression that once she's on the back she's going to be cut off from you as you'll just be concentrating on riding when it's not like that at all. Talk to her whenever you stop at traffic lights and keep checking (don't just assume she's ok and carry on regardless, that's the worst thing). And make sure when she's on that the one thing to get into her head is if she feels the need to lean - do it in the same direction as you not the opposite way!!

Good luck.

[yorkie_chris]

Tell her she can sort her own transport if she doesn't like the bike, they call you abdul or something?

Cheers for the responses all,

I've spoken with her about it a few time and from what i can gather she tried to go on with her uncle when she little and he had a goldwing type bike (the way it was described) and the Pr*t dropped it when she just climbed on.

What she has said is that if i can practice with a mate on the back then she might be a bit more successeptable to the idea but i think the signals and intercom sound like a plan.

She may very well be more susceptible to the idea if you practice with a mate. Or, make yourself useful bunjee a sack of spuds on the back. Two birds with one stone and all...