When Wes isn’t cuddling Sean on a motorcycle, it’s my job. I recently putted a Honda Shadow around a parking lot at the veterans’ center long enough for the nice folks at the MSF to declare me fit to pilot a motorbike, but that hasn’t stopped me from riding as a passenger as often as I can. That’s me up top, on the back of Sean’s GSX-R600. I’ve put in thousands upon thousands of miles sitting on the back of a bike. Taking one motorcycle means we spend less on gas, I get the exhilarating enjoyment of riding a bike with a safely speedy rider who’s far more skilled and experienced than myself and, because of that, there’s the added educational benefit of learning about riding, experiencing different lean angles, entry speeds, lane positions and observing the decision making and judgement skills that go into riding skillfully in traffic. It also means I know a thing or two about riding pillion, so the guys asked me to share that skill with the rest of you.
Apart from all that practical stuff, it’s simply a truth of the world that chicks dig guys who ride motorcycles and guys want chicks on their bikes. Knowing the ins and outs of riding with a passenger or how to be a good pillion (leave it to the Brits to have a refined equivalent for the term “riding bitch”) will keep you both safe and happy, thus making it more likely for you to get naked together later.
I want a ride on your motorcycle
Ladies, I understand why you’re excited about going on a motorcycle ride. Motorcycles are awesome and riding them with cute boys is even more awesome. But slow down for a second. Whoever you get on a bike with literally has your life in their hands.
I know a lot of motorcyclists. I know a fair number who are competent and admirably skilled. Yet, I can count the list of riders I’d consider riding with on one hand. Why am I so picky? Acquiring the skills to get a motorcycle moving isn’t all that hard. Having the confidence and ingrained skill to know exactly what input to give and to what degree in the split second one has to avoid a crash only comes with experience. When you’re wrestling a bike that has the added weight of a passenger, that’s compounded even more.
You’re most likely a passenger because you don’t ride. If that’s the case, how are you supposed to know if you trust someone when you might not know the first thing about motorcycling or the rider’s experience? If you don’t know the rider well enough to be able to answer these two questions, then ask them before you get on the bike:
How long have you been riding and how often do you ride?
Keep in mind that years aren’t really as important here as frequency and miles. A rider who has ridden 30,000 miles over three years is more than likely sharper in their skillset than a 20-year veteran who only rides a couple hundred miles a year. If a rider is a commuter, that’s a good sign. They’re used to riding daily, dealing with traffic and navigating themselves out of a number of close calls per week.
Do you have experience riding with a passenger?
I’ve been shocked before to find out that some of the most competent riders I know have a) never ridden with a passenger on their bike and b) never been a passenger on another rider’s bike. If a rider has no first-hand experience of how a bike behaves differently with two bodies on it, you probably don’t want to be the test dummy.
If you’re a rider and a potential passenger doesn’t bring up either of these questions, have the conversation with them anyway. They’ll be more confident in your skills and less likely to be nervous on the bike, and hopefully they’ll learn about the questions they should ask the next time they consider being a passenger.
If you’re a rider and you can’t give answers to these questions that inspire confidence, you’re probably not ready for a passenger. Do you have a freshly minted motorcycle license? Yes? Great! But please leave the solo seat cowl securely attached to your bike, put the passenger seat in a closet somewhere and don’t even consider letting a girl near it for a long, long while. I just got my motorcycle license, too. (Yay for us!) When you’re a lady like me, it’s easier and more socially acceptable to be a newb about motorcycles. I simply know there’s no way in hell I should even consider taking another person’s life in my hands when I’m fairly certain, given my newly acquired skills, my own is on thin ice. Gentlemen, you know this is true for you too, but testosterone makes you think you have motorcycle skills in your DNA. You don’t. So if you’re new or don’t have that much experience, just be honest about it.
What do I wear?
For a long time motorcycle gear was the bane of my existence. I wanted to go on bikes, but I also wanted to look good, and that’s hard in borrowed gear. Wearing booty shorts (or the cute dress you wore to the bar) is just not allowed on motorbikes. I know you likely want to look fashionable and hot while you’re riding around with the sexy guy who is taking you for a ride on his motorcycle, but I guarantee you want your skin more. An armored leather or textile jacket, pants no lighter than actual denim jeans (not jeggings), boots that cover the ankle, leather gloves and a helmet are the minimum you should be wearing in terms of gear. And it doesn’t count unless it’s worn properly: zip up the jacket, lace up the boots and the chin strap on your helmet needs to be tight. I don’t like to be cold, so I also layer a lot when I’m riding. Wearing tights or leggings under jeans can make a longer ride a lot more comfortable. Wearing the right gear also makes the ride so much more enjoyable — having fun going fast without the fear of losing skin is not over-rated in the slightest. Skilled and safe motorcyclists take gear seriously. If a rider isn’t concerned with what you’re wearing, or what they’re wearing for that matter, don’t get on a bike with them.
Riders should hold fast to the fact that motorcycle gear for your passenger is every bit as important as your own. Yes, your old jacket is better than nothing, but it likely swallows that cute little lady whole, and makes it a whole lot more likely for her to get road rash up her back if the bike does go down. If you’re serious about sharing motorcycling with others, invest in some gear they can use or advise them on what they should pick up.
What do I do?
Okay, so you’ve found a guy who is a motorcycling god, you’re totally safe with him, and you’ve got the gear. We’re ready to go now, right? Riders, before you take off, have a talk about what to expect and how the passenger should behave. You can help your lady friends (and friendly ladies) a lot by sharing a few basics that will more likely make the experience good for everyone. I’ve learned this stuff over the years, but it would’ve been nice to avoid confusion and have a handle on it before getting on the bike, where you can’t really ask questions.
Getting On
Always get on motorcycles from the left side. Don’t attempt to mount the bike until the rider has indicated he’s balanced and ready for you to do so. Ask the rider about how he would like you to get on the bike, and do everything smoothly and slowly and you won’t cause any sad, stopped motorcycle tip-overs. If the bike is really tall and the rider is aware you are going to do so, you can put your left foot on the passenger peg closest to you, then step up and lift your right leg over the seat to the other peg. While we’re on the subject, dismount in the same manner. Slow, steady, and when the rider indicates you should.
Your hands and arms
The best place to hold on depends on the motorcycle. If the bike has grab rails, holding them in positions that allow you to lock your elbows makes you feel more stable. Often reaching around and bracing yourself against the gas tank on a sport bike is necessary as a passenger when slowing or stopping. Grab rails on sport bikes are good in theory, but they aren’t very functional and you’re probably going to have to hang on to the rider. Putting your arms all the way around and clasping them in front is the probably your best bet to feel most secure. Now isn’t the time to get shy.
Your feet and legs
Put the balls of your feet on the passenger pegs, and keep them there at all times. Rather than just loosely sitting your feet there, it’s usually more comfortable to have an engaged stance so you can stand up a little when going over bumps. When you’re on the bike, keep your knees pulled in tight against the bike and/or rider to create stability. Never, ever try to put your feet down when the bike is stopped. Keeping your feet in place keeps everything stable and gives you a good foundation for balance. I never knew how important those pegs were until my inside passenger peg closed up mid-way through a 40mph corner; keeping my foot off the road and staying on the bike until we exited the corner and I could get the peg back down was no small feat.
Balance
Your body is a mass than affects the balance of the bike. Don’t wiggle and jiggle all over the place, and whenever possible, keep your head directly behind the rider’s. Pay attention to where the rider leans, and lean with them. DON’T lean in the opposite direction because you’re scared the bike is going to tip over. It’s not going to and by leaning the wrong way you’ll make it very dangerous for the rider because they’re actually going to have to lean even further to compensate for you. The faster the bike is moving in a straight line, the less your movement will affect the balance. For example, it’s much better to adjust your seating position while cruising down the freeway at a healthy pace than while stopped at a stop light, or in a corner. Speaking of stop lights, it’s tricky to balance that sucker while it’s stopped and a passenger is perched on top of it. It’s okay to turn your head, but try not to turn your body. And if you want to talk to the rider, a tap on the shoulder is usually all it takes.
Communication
It can be hard to communicate while riding, especially with full face helmets. Arrange a few mutually understood hand signals for anything you’re concerned you might need to tell the rider while in motion. Usually, if something needs urgently discussed it’s best just to indicate for the rider to pull over, and then deal with it while you’re stopped. To tell the rider to pull over, tap them on the shoulder then deliberately and clearly point at the curb. If the rider is going too fast and you get scared or they make you uncomfortable, a swift punch in the kidneys is always fun, but it’s probably more effective (and nicer) to put your hand out palm down in front of them where they can see it and slowly push down a few times. They’ll get the message. If you’re a daredevil and you’re ready for a real ride, palm up and pull your hand up quickly a couple times to indicate you’re comfortable with more speed.
A note from Sean to riders about braking with a passenger
When you’re carrying a passenger, your rear brake suddenly becomes a lot more powerful. The weight distribution is shifted significantly up and back. Because of that, you should use it more, and by doing so you’ll be able to brake nearly as fast as you would without a passenger on the bike.
Now I’m getting the hang of this
Once you have the basics down and you start riding pillion regularly, there are some great benefits and you can also have a whole ton of fun. Rather than being a passive bystander, get engaged with the ride. Look out ahead as much as possible. You can start to identify upcoming changes in the road surface and adjust your seating position as the rider does (rise up off the seat for bumps and dips). If you’re interested in becoming a rider yourself, take advantage of this time on the bike to get used to the sensations and make note what the rider does in every situation. Riders, if you enjoy riding fast and canyons, you can start to teach your passenger about leaning off the bike with you in turns, leveraging the extra weight for some truly fun cornering. I would give you more advice about getting fast riding two-up, but it really comes down to a very specific poetry between whatever bike you’re riding, and the body positions of the two riders, and what works for Sean and I is most likely not applicable across broad situations.
I’ll end on this note: my casual gender assignments (men as riders / ladies as passengers) might make you want to call me out for sexism, but when I see guys riding two up, it’s usually for practical purposes; someone crashed or bikes are being transported around. And, well, I’m a girl and I like to ride bikes with boys.