Just wondering what everyones first experience with a passenger on the bike is like? How much different does the handling get?

 

Acceleration is slower braking is much slower and the handling takes more effort to respond. Other than that its fun to rip with a passanger, except when there helmet hits yours

 

Watch out if you accelerate too quickly and your passenger is not ready for it. Dropping them on their butts is NOT a good way to get them to like riding. On the other hand, if you want to get rid of them quickly...

Braking can be a lot more strenuous on your arms because you're carrying a lot more weight, especially if the passenger has his/her arms around you. Advise them to place their hands on the tank to support themselves under braking, which reduces the weight you have to hold up. Or keep their hands on your hips. There's so much more, like leaning with you in turns, not hopping off the bike til you tell them to, etc etc.

 

first time i rode my gf, she kept sliding into my damn seat. It was like both of us on the driver seat Havent really ridden her ever since. Actually i guess that was the only time i ever rid her..haha. She hates riding for some damn reason but denies it saying that its just too cold. When its 50-60deg outside, that is not freakin cold

 

Here's a couple of pointers:

1. The biggest thing I see people do as a passenger is use their hands on the tank when the bike is slowing or stopping. This is not a good idea. Not only can you scratch the tank if you are wearing rings or possibly dent the tank, you put so much unnecessary stress on your wrists. Its really easy: squeeze your legs against the front guys hips when the bike slows. This way you can hold on at the same time and still stay on your seat when the bike slows.
2. When the bike is leaning, the passenger should look over the riders shoulder in the direction the bike is turning/leaning. i.e. When turning right, the passenger should look over the right shoulder. When turning left, the passenger looks over the left shoulder. Doing that removes the passenger as a factor affecting a turn, because if your passenger stays straight, you have to work much harder to lean the bike over into a turn. If you ride a passenger and they move while your turning, you will feel it, and you will have to adjust for it during the turn.
3. Brake earlier, you are carrying more weight.
4. Do lots of wheelies!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoostedSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">first time i rode my gf, she kept sliding into my damn seat. It was like both of us on the driver seat </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL....I know the feeling

 

tell them to keep their feet up!!! it gets hella unstable when they touch their feet down, i've almost dropped my bike many times cuz of this

 

passenger = more rear brake traction, little or no fun period. Trying to get laid, fine. Otherwise its no fun. Unless putting around town looking cool is what you want. In that case it'll work.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tonydatyga &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">passenger = more rear brake traction, little or no fun period.</TD></TR></TABLE>
exactly . . . . .