Question on riding someone pillion

speediva · #1 03-22-2008, 07:26 PM

Hey guys!

Okay, so I have ridden a few people pillion on a "sportbike" before (yeah, the Seca isn't much of one, but you'll see where I'm going with this). I am completely comfortable with a passenger, but there's one tiny problem...

I'm not a big girl - 5'10" but I only come in between 150-160lbs. I am dating a guy that isn't sure if he wants to ride or not, and I want to ride him around on my *future* bike. Is it safe or even possible to ride someone significantly bigger than me on a sportbike? He's probably got me by at least 60lbs if not more, and he's taller, too. All the passengers I've ever ridden have been close to my size... no more than 20lbs heavier and not taller. I want to buy a sportbike, but I am afraid that with the design of a sportbike, it can't handle a passenger that is a good bit bigger than the pilot... and that certainly won't help me ride him anywhere.

Now that I've ranted on forever, any input?

Steel · #2 03-23-2008, 12:52 AM

Just take it easy on the turns and such, and you'll be fine. And on the gas too, don't wanna be wheelying. And dont forget to up the rear tire pressure.

jeffcoslacker · #3 03-23-2008, 08:49 AM

I'm sure you'll be just fine....as long as the passenger or load moves with you, you'd be amazed how much you can handle on a bike...

You have to impress on him that he MUST move with you, if you've ever had a passenger who flails around or tries to do their own balancing, countering your lean because they are nervous, you know what I mean...I've ridden small kids on the back that almost wrecked me, not because of thier weight, but because they kept forcing me to shift my control inputs...

Sooo...where's he gonna keep his nuts while riding on the back?

speediva · #4 03-23-2008, 10:26 AM

I've been lucky... I only had 1 passenger that tried to shift around, and at that, she didn't move a whole lot so I didn't have to make too many changes. Then at the next light it was easy to tell her to stop.

I usually just get them to do the "hold on for dear life" so that they don't have a choice BUT to move with me. However, with a guy... he might not be so keen on that "oh sh!t" grip.

As for man law, I asked him where it said that you weren't allowed to have a hot chick between your legs... he caved pretty quickly. Man, I love being a woman!

jeffcoslacker · #5 03-23-2008, 11:16 AM

In Vietnam, China, Indonesia, etc, this is a common sight...

A testament to what a motorcycle and a good rider can do if needed...

Steel · #6 03-23-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speediva

I've been lucky... I only had 1 passenger that tried to shift around, and at that, she didn't move a whole lot so I didn't have to make too many changes. Then at the next light it was easy to tell her to stop.

I usually just get them to do the "hold on for dear life" so that they don't have a choice BUT to move with me. However, with a guy... he might not be so keen on that "oh sh!t" grip.

As for man law, I asked him where it said that you weren't allowed to have a hot chick between your legs... he caved pretty quickly. Man, I love being a woman!

He's probably going to HAVE to use the bitch handle. I know my arms get tired pretty quick when my petite 110 pound girl-whos-a-friend-but-not-a-girlfriend holds on to me and i need to get on the brakes a lot. She's now learned to keep one arm on the handle for the brakes, but still insists on keeping one arm on me cause she feels safer (awwwwwww).

M3FordBoy · #7 03-23-2008, 10:30 PM

Not that I've riddin much, but like riding my buddy who weighed 90lbs more than me, at the time, on the back of a XR200 dirtbike, you'll probably just need to take it slower at first to get a good feel of how the bike is going to react.

Ha, that pictures above are a very common site in Asia...although my dad said that they're trying to discourage more than three people on a bike now in Vietnam. Here's another picture from the year 2000 when we were visiting family over there. Took a little trip threw probably 10 people in a trailer hooked to a 90cc bike. I've seen everything from pigs to blocks of ice being hauled in these trails.....Not that this has anything to do with riding a passanger just thought I would share.

richtazz · #8 03-24-2008, 08:41 AM

I agree that the biggest issue here is making sure he leans with you and watches what you're doing to prevent smacking helmets. As long as you're strong enough to handle and balance the bike and him at stops, you're good to go.

speediva · #9 03-24-2008, 06:18 PM

Cool. I was just concerned about the higher center of gravity on a sportbike passenger seat then on a standard. I know when I've ridden passenger on a sportbike, I feel like I'm 800' higher than when riding. He probably won't give in to me (bastard!

) but I can try my damndest!

Thanks, all!

aussieidiot · #10 03-24-2008, 11:06 PM

i have a few issues for you.

It really depends on the bike too. my blade has a total carrying capacity of 186Kgs and i'm 100 of those so i'm thinking 375lbs max for a sports bike.

as for leaning with you, I prefer to tell people to stay perpendicular to the seat or inline with the wheels. don't lean into the corner, just move with the bike. and don't push on the footpegs unless its both at once.

I have doubled someone who was almost as heavy as me and the bike wasn't good with it. I cranked the rear shock spring up to max but it still steered like 3yr old doped up on red cordial. the slightest bumped and it changed direction. Wanted to wheelie heaps too.

richtazz · #11 03-25-2008, 12:40 PM

To clarify "leaning", I always tell my passengers to keep their shoulders square with mine. I also stress to them to not lean opposite,, squirm around, or put weight on only one peg (as you said Blayne) unless they want to stack and eat some asphalt. That normally keeps them still and in line.

aussieidiot · #12 03-25-2008, 02:05 PM

I tend to "lean" my shoulders out and keep the bike more upright than usual so as not to scare the crap outta the passenger. if they lean with me, i may not be able to corner properly. thats why i tell them to stay straight up out of the seat and only lean as the bike tilts.

Steel · #13 03-27-2008, 09:31 PM

Oh jeez the other day I took one of my friends out for her first time riding a bike. I neglected to tell her about the lean, cause I just plumb forgot. Well, she used to ride horses a lot and apparently on a horse, one is supposed to try to stay as upright as possible, even if the horse is leaning. Yeah, that was a wiggly ride. I had to stop to tell her to lean with the bike, and had her hold onto the bitch bar to help facilitate that.

72chevelleOhio · #14 04-19-2008, 04:53 PM

When I was little, I always rode with my dad. He told me "stay behind me" and even got up to speed and leaned out of the way. I got the full force of the wind and quickly learned..
He never rode super agressive with me on though, no hard corners, just "fast" take offs. (not pulling the front wheel)

I like how in the one pic only the guy has the helmet...

Speed...Why not let him ride your old bike and you get your new one? Do you have to trade it in or something? You can't sell it later?...if selling was the plan.

speediva · #15 04-22-2008, 07:37 PM

Hey Ohio!

I actually didn't have a bike when I posted this thread. I have tried *countless* times to convince my boyfriend that it's legit for me to drive and for him to ride, but he absolutely refuses. As for my estimate, he's got more than 60lbs on me (more like 100lbs - oops!) and it might be over the weight limit of the bike itself if we both rode together.

I'm trying to help him find a reasonable starter bike, but it's mighty hard to talk testosterone down to reason.

Oh well, we'll see!

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