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Okay here goes. My wife and I are planning a trip down to Galveston from Dallas next week. In the process of planning I suggested that we take the bike and she went for it. But now I am feeling a little worried about it. My wife has grown up on the back of a bike so no problems there, but I have never ridden two up any longer than 30 minutes at a time. If that was the only thing then I wouldn't be worried, we can find a good rythm. My biggest worry is that my beautifull, wonderfull, love of my life is a bit heavier than me.
I am a pretty small guy at 5'7" 149 lbs and my bike is a little big for me. I have just now gotten to where I feel like I am riding it and it is not riding me. (To tell the truth I don't like writing this, I am afraid that this will get back to her and she won't ever want to ride with me again )
So my question is having a passenger that outweighs the rider something that will potentially cause an imbalance or something? I love my wife and I want us to go on trips together but I also don't want to put her in any excess danger.

Please someone help me out and by all means be descrete about it, this is a sensitive subject.

Thanks all,
Tommy

Houndog
Dial up the rear preload, a little extra air in the tires and the bike will handle things no sweat.
At 5'7", can you flatfoot both feet at a stop?
If you rely on a little lean and one foot down at stops, I'd be a little concerned.
Since she's an experienced passenger already, thats half the battle.

Tommy. You've got guts and balls admitting to your fears. It's also a tribute to the people on this board that you feel able to confide in them.

How about going just one small stage futher and admitting the same to your wife? You're virtually there.

Riding with pillion is just an extra skill - nothing special - but If it were me, I would also want to get used to the Rockster a little more. Competant low speed manouvering is essential.

Why don't you just wait a little longer. You'll then be so much happier two-up riding.

Ride safely,

Rog.

Hi Tommy, I took out my first pillion in 6 years a few days after I got the RR. It handled it fine, low speed manouvres were no problem and I really didn't notice the extra weight at all. If it's a worry I'd take it somewhere quiet for a trial run before the bigger trip.

houndog wrote:.....but I have never ridden two up any longer than 30 minutes at a time......

Thanks all,
Tommy

If those 30 minutes were on your Rock and with your wife, why worry?
It won't be any different after 3 hours, unless your wife (or you) falls asleep.
I wouldn't worry about any unbalance, since the extra weight of the passenger is still in front of the rear axle.
However, I would consider it nessecary to have both feets on the ground at a stop.
But you just mention your wife; how about any luggage?
Most of the times it's the luggage that can cause unbalance, since its further back, and therefore can reduce the weight on your front-wheel!

Tommy,

If you're not comfortable with taking a pillion then don't do it. Tell your wife that you are not ready to take her on and jeopardize her health with your current level of experience.

I'm a short guy (5ft6) and I have plenty of riding experience on the Rock. Yet even with the low seat on, when taking a wisp of a passenger (she's lucky if she cracks 100-lbs), I felt incredibly uncomfortable at stops. Naturally the handling is off. You have to accelerate harder to get up to the same speed. You have to brake much smoother. Your cornering is also harder.

Take her as pillion just around the blocks a few times to see. Riding a pillion is a lot more different than going solo, and it takes some use to.

I am at the point where I won't take a passenger any more. If a girl were to want to go with me, then she better be on her own bike. Of course it's easy for me to say because I don't have a wife.

You have to be on top of your game to take a pillion, if you have doubts then you are not going to be. Get more comfitable with the bike first.

In the past I have had my sister on the back who is no heavier than a butterfly admitadly but with no experiance she took to it like a duck to water. But I had a mate who was a good two stone bigger then me. Now first thime I took him out was fine, we must have done 300 miles that day. I could get both feet down and he just sat there. Second time I took him was a nightmare because he had taken up cycling and started to lean into the bends. So a corner would come up and I would have to hold the bike up to counter his stearing from the back seat. So the size is not the issue it's the attitude of the pillion.

Your wife knows the score so once you feel relaxed then go for it.

Oh and well done for standing up and admitting your fears. If more people were honest with themselves I think there would be less tears.

Thanks guys I appreaciate the feedback. I took her out yesterday evening for a ride and I believe that we will be allright. I normally can't flat foot the bike, but with the extra weight of 2 twelve packs of beer and a passenger (even with the suspension set to handle the extra weight) I was able to flat foot it. So I don't think it will be a problem, now if I can just get her Harly lovin butt to wear the proper gear I will be in there.

Thank you guys. I am so very happy to have this board so I can ask these questions without fear of too much embarrasment.

Tommy

Have a great trip!

houndog wrote:now if I can just get her Harly lovin butt to wear the proper gear I will be in there.
Tommy

Tell her no gears = no ride. It's that simple. I don't take pillion any more but when I used to do it, I told the females the same way. No gears = no ride.

fnfalman wrote:

houndog wrote:now if I can just get her Harly lovin butt to wear the proper gear I will be in there.
Tommy

Tell her no gears = no ride. It's that simple. I don't take pillion any more but when I used to do it, I told the females the same way. No gears = no ride.

Oh no, it's the 'does my bum look big in this'. Not as much as it would on a plastic crutch rocket.

Just tell her 300 miles down the road she will wish she had the right gear.

Remember, all she has to do is just look in the direction you are turning, and not lean or shift her weight. I have a back rest for my wife that keeps her squared up and sitten pretty. Dont forget your tire pressures!!! Be well, have fun, ride safe. Mike.