My wife's first ride on the Trophy

[NOLA]

[smg id=1377]

Actually, it was a first for both of us.  She's never been on a street bike before and I never rode a passenger.  I was a little apprehensive but all went well.  She say's she WILL ride again    The only complaint was the wind noise in her helmet.  She commented on how comfortable the Trophy was.  I didn't really know what to tell her other than hang on to the grab handles and try to stay neutral in the saddle.  Any other advice on riding a pillion?

[janfmiller]

I always tell riders to hang on to whatever feels comfy for them, stay centered by looking over my shoulder on the side we're turning toward, make themselves 'small', don't wiggle around, especially when rolling up to a stop, and don't try to jump off no matter what you've been told my non-riding-experts... And I point out the motorcycle must lean to turn and if they lean out of the turn I just have to lean more to compensate..  'The Speech' takes about 30 seconds..

And then I ride moderately and don't try to impress them with my Kenny Roberts-like abilities.  So they have fun and are not scared..

[bobv07662]

Making the rear passenger comfortable is very important. She who must be obeyed was very happy after we got the Sena SMH10 headsets linked together and connected to the Trophy's excellent audio system. Adding the tall touring windscreen lessened her buffeting issues as well. Good luck and enjoy your new rider.

[Aharbi]

Great advice so far. Agree, the intercom headsets were a BIG factor, made her feel so much more at ease. Her riding gear should be the same quality as yours. She may prefer to hold onto you more so than the grab rails :-) She looks at riding with you as time spent together. Never put her feet down unless stopped and told its OK to do so. (You have to remember shes "back there" and tell her). She will need more potty stops than you. The trunk and right side case are hers. The other one is for you and "bike stuff". About leaning, I told her to think of a broom stick down her back attached to the bike, lean as the bike leans. Tell me when underway when she has to shift positions. When traveling with her on the back I upscale a level nicer hotel. Let her pick her own gear (pink helmet, jacket, etc) keep quality high. You are in for a treat. Having the wife on the back is a wonderful thing. Many great adventures lie ahead for you two :-)
https://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Passenger_Tip_Sheet.pdf
ps. Once she got comfortable on the back, I bought us a weatherproof digital camera with neck strap. She takes wonderful pictures of our rides/trips together.

[1150newguy]

My wife and I started riding together before we were married. We will celebrate our 39th anniversary this year. It is to the point now where she almost knows what I am going to do before I do. She is an extension of me until a hard part drags and then I hear "back down" through the intercom. There has been several times over the years when the extra set of eyes and ears have been deeply appreciated plus she has the uncanny ability to spot deer long before I can. Our TT is one of the best two up bikes we have had and we have had them all. I added a Airhawk R cushion and she has a set of small floorboards in place of her pegs. That is the only modifications we needed in order to do back to back 600+ mile days. Talk to her when you ride, especially when you take breaks. Ask her about the seat, footrests, backrests, and anything else that will aid her comfort. My wife has went to sleep while riding on a boring stretch of road, can't get much more comfy than that. Make her comfy and relaxed and she will always be right behind you. Oh yeah, heated gear on a cold day will make you a hero too. The only thing I have not been able to do is get her in a full face helmet, not even a flip up. I make her buy a quality open face and she doesn't mind a clear face shield, but forget the full face.

[GarminDave]

  NOLA and 

I have had years of fantastic adventures with my wife on the back.  When I tour with her we have four rules she likes me to abide by:

1.  200 to 300 miles per day
2.  Do not ride in the dark.
3.  Do not ride in the wet (this one is tough, I live in England!)
4.  Have a daily focus.  Usually a sight or building or friends house, a reason to be.

43 happy years latter we still like each other but lately she does not ride on my TTSE as most of her riding was on an Electra Glide where she felt cosseted in the wraps of the pillion seat (sofa).  Three typical pictures, first day I 'lost' my GarminIII in Canada, Zagreb just after the civil war ended and the Canadian US border on our way to Niagra Falls........I have more!

[Coconut]

I will add that if you DON'T have a Helmet to Helmet Intercom system,
work out some sort of signalling system between you, something like :

2 taps on your left shoulder means she wants you to pull over on the left as soon as you can,

2 taps on both of your sides means she needs a Toilet stop,

4 taps on both shoulders means she needs you to stop urgently - NOW !

Respond with 2 taps on her left leg to acknowledge etc.

..... or whatever else is good for you.

( Should there be, or even is there already, a "common" system for this ? )

It's not much fun trying to be heard by shouting above the wind noise at speed,
when she is trying to tell you she desperately needs to stop for a Toilet Break,
and you mistakenly think she's just enjoying the exhilarating ride ...... " Weeeeeeeee"     



 

[cropbiker]

I find that if riding with a pillion and they grab hold of your delicates and squeeze really hard that is a good indicator that they want to stop urgently!!!