2 Up Riding Advice
 

You guys are probably getting sick of my motorcycle posts but this seems like a great group to learn from and I'm definately in that mode.

In the last several months I've got my endorsement, taken the MSF class, bought all the gear you hate to wear in 80 degree weather and ridden the CB400 and now VFR for 2 months, not every day but quite a few. I've learned a lot, had a few (that was stupid) moments, etc.

Now my GF has gone from "I don't really like the idea of you on a motorcycle" to "when are you gonna take me out?"

I've told her straight up, I'm still in learning to ride mode and just worried about my own safety now. When I get comfortable we'll talk about it. She would need to go with me to the MSF passenger class and also gear up. She has a 9 year old son as well. My kids are older, youngest is 16.

How many of you ride with passengers? When do you get comfortable enough to do so if ever?

Okay, time to put on my overpants, jacket, etc. and sweat my ass off :D

Don't period.

You need a few years of riding under your belt.

I've been riding since I was a little kid and I still hate having a bittch on back. They always lean the wrong way at the wrong time.

Jerry, I couldn't even imagine taking someone else on the bike at this stage, and even feel like I'm 2 months away myself from getting as comfortable on the 900 as I was at the end of the CB.

But I also echo Joel and Randy, being responsible for someone else's life on bike is too much I think.

It's a bad idea until you're extremely comfortable with the way the bike acts. And, when you put someone on the back, the weight and balance and everything changes drastically, in a not-comfortable way.

Yea, two up is a bad idea. It's an especially bad idea when it's a female. It's a crazy stupid idea when it's a single mother. It's mind numbingly stupid when it's all of the above and your new to bikes.

You don't need the stress.

Well....yeah, all of the above. Give yourself some time, you'll know when, and by all means remember that you have to ride at 5/10ths 2 up.

Depends on how confident you are in your ability and if you can deal with the prospect of having your passenger get hurt or killed.

Not to be a buzz kill, but that is the reality.

My g/f now rides on the back, but she has no kids/responsibilities, I insist on full gear and make it clear that she is taking her life in her hands. She's a big girl and can make her own decisions and I'm hoping that I can deal with things if we go down. I've been through it before though...

listen to the above. dont jump into it. Even if your a great rider, your passenger can get you both killed if she/he acts like a spaz

on a harley, i found having a passenger was not very difficult but on my sportbike, its very hard for me. my bike is large and im short and the extra weight, with the passenger sitting actually higher than me is not a comfortable feeling

if the passenger is very experienced with bikes, ill do it but i wont take the typical person that asks for a ride ever. no thanks

if your determined to do it, try waiting until you have about 10,000 miles of experience under your belt

Have her get her endorsement and let her ride the 400. I for one was a much better passenger after I learned to ride a bike.

Of course, if she's like me, once she rides her own bike it's all down hill!!! Motorbikes kick ass!!!

angela

This is very good advice (other than the usual caveat that riding is dangerous). I've had to verbally instruct my passengers on when to move (and not move) on the back. If they know how to ride they usually will be better passengers as they know not to shift weight in the middle of a turn, etc.

Well, I'm off to the DMV tomorrow to take my motorcycle test. I'm borrowing a friend's 250cc Honda Rebel. This thread was rather timely as it has convinced me that I am years from accepting a passenger.

It's not like sex......This is the one time you want a girlfriend to just sit and not move a muscle......

so you're saying it's like married sex, not g/f sex

My wife went from not wanting me to get a bike to saying she wouldn't mind riding on it with me. I told her to forget it. I'll never take her for a ride even around the block.

What an idiot. Everyone knows married people don't have sex...



















We make love :(

I can't really add to what's already posted other than... don't do it. Not now. Not for a while. Two up really changes the handling/balance dynamics of a bike.

get a cruiser. i keep an old victory just for date nights. i think putting a girl on the back of a sport bike is insane.

Perfect, that is the reality check I needed. I wasn't considering it in the next few months but I'll put it off longer now, if ever. I have something to show her next time she asks to reinforce what I've said already.

The sex part helps too. I think I might need to have her sign something that says if we get married the sex doesn't become the stereotypical married sex. Once a month, are you done yet kind of married sex.................

As I daily observe my fellow bike riders I don't see very many of the two-up variety taking this collective advice. I'm always wondering how long their riding career lasts.
Jim

My wife and I have somewhere close to 100k miles riding two up together. For the last decade, the bike has been a big honkin' H-D- Road King, all 750 pounds of it. She still unsettles it sometimes, with all of its weight and all of her experience. Nothing dramatic or white knuckle, mind you, but I definitely know when she's up to something back there.

Taking a woman out on a bike can be as frustrating as taking one hunting. I honestly believe they are incapable, as a species, of sitting still and being quiet. At least for very long. They will tax your patience when tagging along for either. You had better be very experienced, very understanding, and ready for just about anything. Don't even try it until you can almost do it in your sleep on your own. Then be ready for a lot of work and frustration once she does climb aboard. In the end, however, I have obviously decided it's worth it. To us, anyway. YMMV.