(re-posted from the December 2009 Newsletter)
The pic above pretty much says it all
Taking a passenger on your ride is a fun thing to do. Being with your significant other or friend makes the ride and the destination that much more enjoyable. But.....as a passenger, there are some things you need to know when riding two up on the back of a bike.
I have seen bikes tip over at a stand still, causing a fair amount of damage for reasons which could easily have been prevented. Talk about being pissed off. Nothing is worse than having your bike go down because your passenger didn't warn you that he/she was about to get on and you were not ready for the extra weight. if you are the driver, it's a good idea to point out the following to your passenger at the start of the ride. It also beats an assault charge when you lose your temper. lol. If you are the passenger, read these tips BEFORE you mount your friends bike.
- Always get on and off the motorcycle from the left side (the side the kickstand is on) by placing your foot on the rear foot peg or floorboard. Swing your right leg over the bike, and sit down. When you always mount the bike from the left hand side, the driver will be able to evenly distribute his or her weight to accommodate your weight on one side of the motorcycle. Switching the side you mount the bike will confuse the driver and throw off his ability to steady the motorcycle.
- Hold on to the driver at the waist. Do not hold on at shoulder level which is a common mistake for many new passengers.Some bikes have a strap on the seat or side bars to hold onto. As you get more comfortable as a passenger, you may be tempted to not hold on at all. This should only be an option if the bike has a back rest to lean against.
- This is probably the most important point, and yet the most difficult for the new passenger to learn. When the driver leans into a turn the passenger usually tries to compensate for the scary feeling of being off center by leaning the other way to keep the bike more upright. This is NOT the thing to do. You have to lean with the driver in a turn. Your natural impulse will be to lean the opposite way to stay balanced. Leaning with the driver will assist him in navigating the turn effectively. By leaning with the driver you are helping him and yourself much more than you may realize.
- Do not yank backwards on the driver upon acceleration. Understand that when the bike accelerates the laws of physics will cause your body to move backwards. The natural tendency is to grab for anything to keep yourself in an upright position. Unfortunately in this case it will be the driver you yank on. They will not like this surprise feeling and it will throw them off. Try to squeeze your legs against the frame of the bike and lean further forward if necessary to prevent this backward motion. Also, anticipate when your driver will be accelerating and stopping.
- Stay alert and be the second pair of eyes on the road. No one wants to be a motor vehicle casualty because of something unexpected on the road. if you see something such as gravel, bumps , pot holes, animals, water, oil or other vehicles, nudge the driver to make sure he or she has also become aware of the hazard. Pointing with your finger is very effective to signal the possible danger.
- It is not uncommon to be hit by flying objects such as large insects, rocks, and on occasion birds when you are a passenger on the back of a motorcycle. Be aware of this and maintain your balance if it happens. Do not shift your weight suddenly for any reason as this will cause a wobble in the bike, distract the driver and potentially result in a serious accident.
- Finally, on long rides, a passenger can become very relaxed, especially on the large comfortable touring bikes on the roads today. Nodding off is a real concern and you should know this as a passenger. If you feel sleepy let the driver know. Find a way to keep yourself awake until you can find a place to catch a few z's.
Be safe, have fun and ride on !
Josh
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