Does anyone actually like carrying a pillion passenger?
Discussion
When I had a bike, my wife did travel on the back. Not often, the furthest was probably about 70 miles, from Essex to the Kent Coast. It was not a regular thing, the idea of the bike being so that she could have the car for work. So, yeah, not ideal with a pillion passenger, only for short essential journeys, and for ease of parking, not for fun.
I'm happy with a pillion. As long as they know what they're doing then I have no problems at all. My wife pillions occasionally, used to be more often and we still plan to do a number of trips, including visiting the Black Forest. Both of my sons have been pillion and a friend and I took my sons around Normandy looking at the D-Day sites. We also did the WW1 sires around Norther France the year before.
It’s partly bike dependent… Gixer1000 : Nope ….. S1000RR : God No ….. CB1000R : OK for shortish rides ….. current Multistrada 1200 : Yep, quite enjoy it.
Small bikes suffer bigger impacts and everyone is uncomfortable. I quite like how it encourages me to ride on the Multi, swift but smooth. I’m as happy riding that one up or two up.
Small bikes suffer bigger impacts and everyone is uncomfortable. I quite like how it encourages me to ride on the Multi, swift but smooth. I’m as happy riding that one up or two up.
I don't go looking for pillions for fun, but I have no qualms with them either.
Before the kids came along my wife used to come out a lot and as she was small (approx 8 stone) and I had decent pillion bikes (VFR750, 900 Hornet) I didn't really notice she was there. It did make the Hornet a little more wheelie prone when pressing on though, but that's rider error really. I've taken some big lads pillion too, and after adding a bit more pre-load they were no bother either. I've never taken anyone without explaining to them what I expect from them though (i.e. don't lean, sit still, feet on the pegs etc.).
I really can't see an issue with it, it's certainly no worse than riding in the rain. I'd say it even teaches you to smooth out your riding, much like riding in the rain in fact.
Now, if you'd asked whether anyone likes going pillion....I absolutely hate it!!!!
Before the kids came along my wife used to come out a lot and as she was small (approx 8 stone) and I had decent pillion bikes (VFR750, 900 Hornet) I didn't really notice she was there. It did make the Hornet a little more wheelie prone when pressing on though, but that's rider error really. I've taken some big lads pillion too, and after adding a bit more pre-load they were no bother either. I've never taken anyone without explaining to them what I expect from them though (i.e. don't lean, sit still, feet on the pegs etc.).
I really can't see an issue with it, it's certainly no worse than riding in the rain. I'd say it even teaches you to smooth out your riding, much like riding in the rain in fact.
Now, if you'd asked whether anyone likes going pillion....I absolutely hate it!!!!
I think it depends on how experienced you are riding with a pillion and the suitability of the bike. In recent years I rode 3000 miles across USA with the other half as pillion and didn't encounter any limitations compared to others in the group riding solo.
On on a modern touring bike you just press a couple of buttons, the suspension preload and damping adjusts and you can barely tell the difference once moving.
On the other hand I can remember in my teens taking pillions on the rear of 125s and giving a 17 stone mate a ride home which was not experience not to be repeated in a hurry
On on a modern touring bike you just press a couple of buttons, the suspension preload and damping adjusts and you can barely tell the difference once moving.
On the other hand I can remember in my teens taking pillions on the rear of 125s and giving a 17 stone mate a ride home which was not experience not to be repeated in a hurry
bogie said:
I think it depends on how experienced you are riding with a pillion and the suitability of the bike. In recent years I rode 3000 miles across USA with the other half as pillion and didn't encounter any limitations compared to others in the group riding solo.
On on a modern touring bike you just press a couple of buttons, the suspension preload and damping adjusts and you can barely tell the difference once moving.
On the other hand I can remember in my teens taking pillions on the rear of 125s and giving a 17 stone mate a ride home which was not experience not to be repeated in a hurry
You won't be able to get much of a hurry on with 17st on the back of a 125 On on a modern touring bike you just press a couple of buttons, the suspension preload and damping adjusts and you can barely tell the difference once moving.
On the other hand I can remember in my teens taking pillions on the rear of 125s and giving a 17 stone mate a ride home which was not experience not to be repeated in a hurry
I hate carrying a pillion, haven't done so for years and have no intention of doing so any time soon. I once upset half of the general gassing forum when I commented that a Porsche 911 handled like a bike with a reluctant pillion...
Not ridden with a pillion for years.. The last time was in 1999, WSBK race, Brands Hatch with my (soon to be) wife. I had an FZR 1000 Exup back then. She was a good pillion, didn’t fidget and leant with the bike. Funnily enough, a few days later after the race she said she was pregnant. That’s a ‘ride’ I’ve never forgotten! 
As for being a pillion.. nope, hate it. Probably like most on here, I need to be in control.
As for being a pillion.. nope, hate it. Probably like most on here, I need to be in control.
A couple of years back I took my now ex on the back of my KTM 690 Enduro R. Helmet clashing almost guaranteed every time I hit the brakes. Weight balance & rubbish power to weight ratio was utterly horrible.
Its a no-no for me, unless I did one of those Harley trips in the US with the mahoosive Mega Glide or whatever they call them....
Its a no-no for me, unless I did one of those Harley trips in the US with the mahoosive Mega Glide or whatever they call them....
Used to carry or ride pillion all the time when we were young, on everything from fifties upwards. Somebody's bike was always in bits, or had an arm in plaster etc. Recently bought a Triumph 900 Legend as a pillion carrying bike. Despite having her own bike, my other half often likes to go pillion... and it means that I don't have to worry about losing her at every junction. Legend is superb as a two up bike, t'other half loves it - in fact, it's the only thing keeping me from selling it. We've done thousands of miles together and I really don't have any negatives to state - no helmet clashing, or leaning the wrong way. A flat out trip to Brussels and back. An early trundle to a local walk. Dropping off t'other half at a pub or similar when she has a night out with her friends... We've often gone "two up" to pick up stuff from the builders merchants or car parts place - stuff that would be difficult to carry on my own. Been on lots of camping holidays, where it's pleasant to bimble about shouting over my shoulder about the view or about stopping at a pub. The sort of things that you can't do without some form of intercom, etc. That said, I choose not to carry her about on the Laverda as it just doesn't work comfortably for either of us. So, choice of bike makes a huge difference.
Not so much now but when I was 18, taking my then young love Marcia to the cinema to watch the original Top Gun on the back of the LC, well, it had a very positive affect on her and outcome on the night for me 
I think it depends on the pillion, my wife would become nervous very easily, which ruined my enjoymemt.
Main reason why she passed her test .
I think it depends on the pillion, my wife would become nervous very easily, which ruined my enjoymemt.
Main reason why she passed her test .
The last time I took a pillion was on a tour through Denmark & Sweden in about 2003, it was my 12 year old son, he is a big lad so was probably 5’6” & eleven ish stone at the time. I had a Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator & it all went very well, he was a very skilled pillion rider. He is now a strongman competitor so now could probably pick the bike up!
But I’ve never had a pillion ever since, none of my partners or other sons have ever wanted to do it and that suits me fine.
But I’ve never had a pillion ever since, none of my partners or other sons have ever wanted to do it and that suits me fine.
I don’t like riding on my own so if it’s not my wife as pillion or a very rare run with my mates then the bike wouldn’t get used.
Saying that if the wife is pillion it’s not too bad. But there again I bought the last few bikes with taking a pillion in mind so it’s not as if I’m taking her on a GSXR.
But given a choice I’d rather ride solo and definitely on anything resembling twisty roads.
I love it. But then I got a proper bike for it, 1290GT, my daughter is a nutter and loves wheelies, we chat away for hours on the intercom, it’s some of the best times of my life taking trips with the kids on, particularly my daughter, who is bike mad.
Take the missus out and it’s good to scare her a bit.
It depends who you have on the back, where you’re going and what to do when there.
We are off to Moto GP lemans next week2 up on a 300 cc Honda! Don’t ask! But it will be excellent!
Take the missus out and it’s good to scare her a bit.
It depends who you have on the back, where you’re going and what to do when there.
We are off to Moto GP lemans next week2 up on a 300 cc Honda! Don’t ask! But it will be excellent!
Not for me, to be honest riding pillion is much worse. Its been a thing for several years now that pillion cover is extra, it used to be a non issue years ago but I tick the not needed box.
Its bike dependant and rider/ usage related.
You the other half, big tourer and 4 weeks adventure away then happy days. A quick 100 mile ride on a sports bike pushing on your local route , fook that .
Its bike dependant and rider/ usage related.
You the other half, big tourer and 4 weeks adventure away then happy days. A quick 100 mile ride on a sports bike pushing on your local route , fook that .
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