Hi everyone. Another 2-up first-timer here. Took a passenger tonight through an easy canyon road. She weighs about 104 so it was a good starting point. haha.
She said she was comfortable and I hardly noticed her (except at stop lights), but her helmet kept bumping into mine.
Now, is it just the seat positioning of the VFR (6th gen) or is body positioning?
I'm on a 3rd gen, but for the most part I think its just the nature of the beast. One thing that may help is having her put one hand on the tank to brace herself when your coming to a stop. On my bike, holding onto the passengers help her head from moving forward, but I'm not sure how that applies to yours.
I have heard about the non-skid seat covers, but I have zero experience with them; I don't know if or how well they work.
I believe a lot can be gained here is by the passenger not staring at your helmet but also look -a bit- forward. Seeing that you are to slow down will mean the body has time to react. It aids greatly too in cornering, if you turn keft, the passenger is to look over your left shoulder and vise versa.
On long straight roads, if you are anticipating a slow down or significant accelleration, a light tap on the passenger's left knee is a good signal to agree on as a "heads up" :tongue:
In the olden days when I had 1st time riders on the back I also agreed a signal with them, A tab on my right leg means speed up, I'm bored. Left leg tab meant slow down, I'm scared.... I'd stop regularly to have a chat on how he/she is feeling.
Passengers need to use the grab bars and anticipate the braking.
I think they can brace themselves better, lean with you better and not interfere with you or pull you off balance..
When I didn't have my top case, which has the back rest pad, my wife would sit closer to me and we had the same issue. Now with the top case on she sits further back utilizes the back rest and we don't have the issue, unless we have to stop quickly. I think it's harder for her to sit further back when there's nothing to lean against and therefore sitting closer to me is more comfortable for her and easier for her balance. I would think that this would be a common passenger issue but it might be relative to how comfortable the passenger is siting further back on the seat without something to lean against.
Thanks guys for your advice. She has experience being a passenger on a scooter (in Japan) and she also had a little cruiser type bike back home that she rarely rode. I think the main thing is to just tell her to pay attention and anticipate.
As for using the grab handles, I told her not to. Based on geometry, I don't want any weight farther back than the rear axle.
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[image: View Post]Recalcitrance, on 01 May 2012 - 10:21 AM, said:
Thanks guys for your advice. She has experience being a passenger on a scooter (in Japan) and she also had a little cruiser type bike back home that she rarely rode. I think the main thing is to just tell her to pay attention and anticipate.
As for using the grab handles, I told her not to. Based on geometry, I don't want any weight farther back than the rear axle.
Appreciate your input!
You'll be a grab rail believer the first time you have to slam the brakes and the passenger was looking up at the trees... :491:
(could be a guy thing)
First few times I took a passenger I got nothing but complaints about how uncomfortable the positioning is for the grab handles (5th gen). Took the handles off and never had a problem since.
For spirited riding, 1 arm around me, 1 hand on the tank worked best.. for casual street cruising when I took a mate across town for about 50km, he put 1 hand on my shoulder and just relaxed with no issues.
Have offered my grab handles to the current WTB ad in classifieds but no response yet, will list them up as for sale soon if I don't hear from him.
I would say a body position issue, there is penty of room to move back. She might feel safer forward but the helmet butting is anoying. Sudden stops it will happen but should not happen during normal riding. Passenger should have a place to hold on, your waist or grab handles. I would not worry about weight distribution with use of grab handles. Those few inches make no difference.
That makes sense about not wanting her weight farther back on the bike if you are riding as you would at a racetrack.
With a passenger you should not be accellerating so fast to worry about wheelie-ing, or cornering so fast to worry about center of balance.
However, you never know when you'll need to make an emergency stop. Have her sit back from you, with her weight not pressing on your back (which will make for more comfortable rides) or have her brace her arms (at least one) against the tank.
She had one hand on the tank, the other on my waist, and her knees were squeezing the whole time. Not sure why it kept happening. I think it's a combination of inattention and her size (lack of strength).
At any rate, she's not a regular passenger. Just my first passenger. I'm not sure if I like riding 2-up to be honest, but then again, it's all new to me. Maybe if I practice more, I'll start to like (or at least get used to it).
Riding solo is definitely easier. But it's nice to have someone along on the ride.
I always felt more cautious with a passenger. It's all good, just different. :fing02:
End of thread · 20 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 20 Jul 2012
