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Your Guide to Riding A Motorcycle With A Passenger

Last Update: 31 December 2023

All the Best Tricks To Riding A Motorcycle With A Passenger - MOTORESS
The Complete Guide To Riding With A Passenger

Riding a motorcycle alone is an art requiring timing, balance and control. And riding with a passenger means you’ll need twice those skills! Generally, as a woman motorcycle or scooter rider your passenger’s weight will be greater than your own. If you’re already operating a heavier motorcycle such as the Harley-Davidson CVO Streetglide, you’ll need to be thoroughly confident in your abilities before taking a passenger. Nevertheless, riding a motorcycle with a passenger can be a thrilling experience! With additional care and attention to ensure the safety and comfort of both you the rider and your passenger – hosting friends or family members on the back of your motorcycle makes for fun rides and is totally rewarding!

There’s much negativity from riders where passengers are concerned. Many riders refuse to take a passenger because of the manner in which they change the bikes handling. But riding with a passenger can certainly be a shared fun. Some motorcycles such as sportbikes (modelled/designed after racing bikes) are as not comfortable as other styles of riding nor are sportbikes designed well to carry passengers. And then, many motorcyclists just never bother to develop the good skills needed to host a passenger. But if you know what you’re doing, passenger riding can be rewarding and a great method of advancing your skills and confidence.

Bringing a passenger on your motorcycle isn’t just sharing a ride; it’s offering them a first-hand taste of the thrill and joy that comes with riding. It is equally a sample of the fun they’d experience if they did decide to learn to ride!

Best Tips: Riding A Motorcycle With A Passenger

First Time Passenger Must be a Motorcycle Rider:  It is the best practise to ensure your first passenger is an experienced motorcycle rider. So ask your motorcycle friend to meet you in a large parking (don’t head out on a busy city street with your first time passenger) to help you practise. Your first kilometres with a passenger will likely be sloppy as you try to balance the added weight and steering inputs at slow speeds.

An experienced motorcycle rider as passenger can anticipate your moves and knows already about the protocol of a good passenger.

Prepare Your Motorcycle – Make the Adjustments: The extra weight will affect how a motorcycle handles. And you may need to your motorcycle shocks and  suspension. Equally important is adjusting your tire pressure for the load. This is the same as when you would be carrying extra cargo.  Refer to your motorcycle owner’s manual and make the necessary changes.

First Step Pre Ride Passenger Briefing: Before your passenger climbs onto your motorcycle, host a pre-ride briefing with them. Of course you’ve already either provided or insured they have full riding gear just as you do. A certified full face helmet (or helmet with visor) which fits; sturdy jacket made of leather; gloves, sturdy pants/ thick jeans; sturdy boots covering the ankle and protective eye wear against the sun. Ensure passengers are geared up and dressed for comfort no matter what conditions you’ll be riding in. Do not take a passenger without the aforementioned  GEAR – their safety is in your hands.

How To Ride A Motorcycle With A Passenger - MOTORESS
How To Ride A Motorcycle With A Passenger

Quick Passenger Riding Check List

Here are some key tips to consider when riding a motorcycle with a passenger:

  • Proper Gear: Important for both the rider and passenger to wear appropriate safety gear, including helmets, gloves, jackets, and pants that provide protection from the elements and in the event of an accident.
  • Weight Distribution: It’s important to adjust the motorcycle’s suspension and ensure that the weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear of the bike. This can help to maintain stability and prevent the motorcycle from tipping over.
  • Communication: Establish clear communication between each other signals before setting off. Signals can be used to indicate when to start or stop, change lanes or turn, and to inform each other about any hazards on the road.
  • Start Slowly: It’s important to gradually build up speed when riding with a passenger, especially if the passenger is new to riding. This can help the passenger feel more comfortable and help the rider adjust to the extra weight and balance of the motorcycle.
  • Smooth Acceleration and Braking: Using smooth and gradual acceleration and braking to ensure your passenger’s comfort and safety will ensure an excellent experience. Furthermore, sudden movements can cause the passenger to lose balance or shift their weight suddenly, which can be dangerous.
  • Leaning: When leaning into turns, the passenger should follow your movements and lean with the motorcycle, but not overdo it. Your passenger should also avoid sudden movements or shifting their weight, which can affect the balance of the motorcycle.
  • Awareness: Be aware of your passenger’s movements and feedback throughout the ride. This allows you to adjust your riding style and ensure your passenger’s comfort and safety.

Pre Ride For-The-Passenger Briefing Points

  • While a passenger is on your motorcycle they’re the person in charge!  If they want to slow down or stop for any reason, you’ll do so. Devise a signal such as a tap on your right shoulder in the case you might not hear them. As the pilot, you control the bike and your passenger controls you. Explain that you have no intention to frighten them while riding with you but in fact you want them to have the best experience possible.
  • Climbing on or off. Ensure your passenger agrees to the following:
    • They agree to get on and off the bike only at your permission and signal.
    • They get on and off only while you are on the bike, and when you say “ready” or give the “ok” nod. The same is practised when you are ready for them to dismount.
    • When they mount and dismount the bike they do their best to keep their weight centred on the bike – that they not pull the bike towards them but, rather, push themselves towards the bike.
  • When riding/underway explain that they can talk to you if they want (if you have a communication system instruct its use), but ideally when moving have them pretend to be a sack of potatoes and be relaxed. They can move about just not suddenly.
  • They need not “help you” through the turns such as not leaning in anticipation.
  • Assure your passenger particularly if not a rider, that you are careful, cautious and safe (not had an accident). Also that when moving, no matter what happens, their feet stay on the passenger foot pegs (or floorboards). Also inform them they are never to try to touch the ground with their feet to try and hold up the motorcycle when stopped.
  • Inform them that in an emergency situation where you may need to brake harder than normal, their weight will come into yours and that’s totally okay and normal. Explain that you are prepared for that occurrence.
  • Instruct them to sit close to you as it is best for controlling the motorcycle and its stability.  If a heavy passenger sits too far back to the rear of the seat this will effect steering negatively in the front and create lift to the front wheel.
  • Inform your passenger that a motorcycle leans to turn and that it works best if they lean with you. If they’re confused about this or often frightened, just have them focus their eyes at the centre back of your helmet. This will keep their body position upright and in line with yours.
  • Inform them they can also use their knees to hang on to you by squeezing them or their thighs against yours (if applicable depending on your motorcycle style/model).
  • Instruct them where to hang on to you and that initially, they hang on at all times. When they become more comfortable and get a sense of acceleration, turning and stopping effects on the bike,  they can hang on to seat grips or rails.
  • Inform your passenger that they are welcome to wave to oncoming motorcyclists but may not signal such as when turning or changing lanes.

Passenger Riding Best Practises: The Start

  • Deploy the usually hidden passenger footrests/pegs; show the passenger this is where their feet are positioned.
  • Get on your motorcycle and raise the side stand (if the side stand is down, when the passenger mounts, their weight will compress the shocks causing the side stand to possibly dig into the ground and/or push the bike to the right causing upset ). Best to get the side-stand out of the way. Note that there are situations where you can keep the side-stand down – once you have the bike up and level (so the bike is off the side-stand). This is as a backup when the passenger mounts – a safeguard if you lose balance.  (Also advantageous when on gravel, hills etc.)
  • Do not turn the motorcycle on (added safety) until you and your passenger are ready to go. You can keep your bike in gear for stability, especially when on a hill – but again, not running.
  • Ensure both your feet are on the ground and you have a good grasp on the handlebars.
  • Pull in the front brake and keep it applied as the passenger climbs on to ensure the bike doesn’t move or shift.
  • Once the passenger has mounted, check/adjust their sitting position to ensure not too far to the back of the bike; closer to you will optimise your balance/control.
  • When ready to move off, start your motorcycle and ask for a “thumbs up” from your passenger that you are ready to get underway.
  • Once underway, expect that while slowing or riding slow, that your passenger will take this time to shift and move around.  Passengers tend to sit very still at speed but are more relaxed when slowing, just the time when you need to control the slowing weight of the bike!
How To Ride A Motorcycle With A Passenger - MOTORESS
Ensure the following areas are practised and you’re comfortable before you take out your real first time non-motorcycle experienced passenger.

Your Role As Passenger Host

Many motorcyclists take a passenger out for the “ride of their life”, frightening them and entirely turning them off motorcycling. It is highly probable your passenger has had such an experience. So really, your task is to be responsible and ensure that your passenger and your motorcycle is as safe and as pleasing as possible. I know every “non-rider” who has taken a ride with me, wants to immediately get their motorcycle licence!

Often, riders unintentionally turn off potential enthusiasts by giving passengers a wild, frightening “ride of their life” experience that steers them away from motorcycling altogether. Chances are, your passenger might have had such an ordeal before. Your responsibility is crucial in prioritising safety and comfort for both your passenger and your motorcycle. In my experience, every non-rider who’s taken a ride with me has been so thrilled that they’ve considered getting their motorcycle licence right away!

Rider Challenges

  • When you move off from a stop, aim for a smooth take off to the ride. The same for coming to a stop.
  • You can try practising all this in a confined area free of traffic, such as a parking lot.
  • Aim to ensure your gear shifts are smooth to the point the passenger doesn’t even sense the shift has occurred. If your passenger’s helmet is knocking into the back of yours, you’re not smooth enough yet.

Ensure the following areas are practised and you’re comfortable before you take out your real first time non-motorcycle experienced passenger.
During the practise you will a likely experience awkward jerky movements including balancing wobbles – don’t sweat it – it’s all part of developing the skill.

  • Passenger mounting and dismounting
  • Moving off. Here is where riding the clutch at the friction zone pays off again!
  • Stopping the motorcycle both normal and emergency / quick-stop
  • Backing (engine off) – important practise required in parking situations.
  • Slow speed turns especially right turns.

Make It Great!

Although riding with a passenger will change your solo riding experience, it is something you will truly enjoy sharing with a friend! And remember, riding with a passenger requires skill and practice, and it’s important to be cautious and aware of the additional weight and balance on the motorcycle.
Above all else, don’t take a passenger on your motorcycle or scooter unless you feel you’re ready.

 


2024 Kawasaki Ninja e-1

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2 comments

Katrina 2 March 2024 at 08:05

I had no idea there was so much involved when riding a motorcycle or being a passenger at that. Thanks for this information it really helped me understand on a new level.

Reply
Patricia 15 April 2021 at 09:19

Great tips. I had no idea there were so much details about taking a passenger. I haven’t yet, so I’m glad I’m now aware of it.

Reply

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