While Cruising around solo is incredible, having a passenger can change the dynamics. Though double riding means double fun, it also requires double mastery of the skills. Do not sweat the thought; by following proper instructions, you can make the ride a memorable one.
So, how to ride a motorcycle with a passenger? To ride a motorcycle with a passenger, you must choose a suitable motorcycle, do proper passenger briefing, and do the necessary bike adjustments. Also, there are a few safety tips that you need to follow to ride with a passenger.
The following segments will provide you with the necessary detailed guidelines for riding a motorcycle with a passenger. Stay tuned to know more.
How To Ride A Motorcycle With A Passenger? Pro Tips Here
Riding a bike with a passenger may be a great deal for a newbie driver. Though it may seem a lot, you just have to maintain specific facts.
While driving, follow the instructions below, operate smoothly, and you are good to go.
Prepare Your Bike: Get the Two-wheeler Ready Before Going On Board
When you plan to ride with a passenger, you must ensure to prepare your bike beforehand. Preparing the bike includes certain aspects, and they are elaborated in the segments below.
Choose a Suitable Motorcycle
Not all motorcycles are suitable for carrying a passenger. Riding with a passenger refers to carrying extra weight; therefore, the motorcycle must be sturdy enough to hold the passenger’s weight.
Cruisers are great for passenger carrying with wide handlebars. The low seats, 500 to 1800 cc engine, and foot pegs at the front of the bike make it comfortable for two-ups.
Touring bikes are also incredible when it comes to carrying passengers. These are quite heavyweight. Therefore, they are good at carrying extra weight. On the contrary, sports motorcycles are not ideal for carrying passengers. They are mostly designed for racing purposes and do not provide two-up comfort.
Again, bagger motorcycles provide a luxurious experience to the passengers. Now, what is a bagger motorcycle, actually? Baggers are custom bikes with custom fairings, paints, saddlebags, etc.
Adjust the Motorcycle Settings
You must go through the user manual of your motorcycle and do the settings accordingly. If the manual does not contain specific directions about carrying passengers, do the adjustments similar to carrying extra weight.
Adjust the tire pressure considering the passenger weight. The ideal pressure should remain between 28 to 40 psi. Manufacturers may list the suitable tire pressure considering the passenger weight. Also, the suspension adjustment such as setting the preload, sag, and rebounding damping should be done for carrying the extra weight.
Passenger Brief Before The Ride: Get Your Pillion Synced With You
Before starting the voyage, set some ground rules for your passengers. We have added the instructions you should brief your passenger.
- First of all, set some sign language between you and the passenger. Make sure you communicate in those languages while driving. It can be a tap on the shoulder, showing finger signs, etc.
- Forbid the passenger to do any sudden movements. The movements should be followed by sign language communication and be synced with you.
- The passenger should always set their feet on the foot pegs.
- While stopping or even driving, they must not put their feet down at any cost.
- Ask the passenger to always get off/ on from the left side. Otherwise, there is a potent chance of burn-related accidents due to the muffler.
- While accelerating or braking, the passengers should be lined with your body. Otherwise, any sudden brake or acceleration can lead them to push you to the handlebars.
- Tell the passenger to keep an eye on the back of your helmet. When the motorcycle leans, keeping an eye on the back of the driver’s helmet keeps the passenger aligned with the bike. If the passenger leans the opposite way against the bike, it will cause disbalance for the driver.
[Note: If your passenger is a first-timer, you both must practice these instructions in the parking area before the accrual drive.]
Wear the Safety Gear
Safety gear is a must whether you drive with a passenger or alone. According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Safety gear includes helmets, gloves, motorcycles, jackets, boots, and full pants.
The helmet, being the most important one, is the most prominent protection against motorcycle crashes. Almost all the states require riders to wear helmets except Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire.
Passengers, along with the driver, must wear helmets that meet the quality standard. Make sure you do not stretch your helmet’s shelf life. So, how long are motorcycle helmets good for? Helmets can be used for 5 years at a stretch and then need replacement.
Again, leg-covering pants, Motorcycle leather jackets, snug-fit gloves, and boots are must-haves.
Instructions to Follow While Riding
Till now, we have covered the guidelines regarding preparation for driving. The following segment will cover instructions that you must follow while driving.
- Take corners carefully
The extra weight of the passenger affects your motorcycle’s suspension as well. It effectively compresses the bike’s suspension, resulting in clearance difficulties while taking sharp corners.
Thus, while taking corners, be calculative enough to prevent scratching the motorcycle’s lower parts to the ground.
- Maintain an ideal speed.
Gravity will attract you more if you drive slower than the average speed. Therefore, maintain an appropriate speed limit according to the law. As per DOT, the speed limit for residential areas is 25 mph, for rural highways is 55 mph, and for interstate highways is 70 mph.
- Keeping the bike in an upright position
Many drivers maintain an ill practice of keeping the bike on a side stand when a passenger gets off/ on. You must keep the motorcycle upright with your legs when the passengers get on/off. Keeping the bike on stands will cause you difficulty uprighting the vehicle with the added passenger weight.
- Brake Sooner
When you are driving with a passenger, the additional weight will make the brake work slower. Thus, you need to estimate that your bike will go a longer distance before stopping and must brake sooner.
- Accelerate slowly
When you crank your motorcycle’s throttle with a passenger, you can experience a jerk in the front end. With the added weight, the motorcycle cannot accelerate very fast. Thus, for smooth acceleration, you must slowly twist the throttle.
Safety Tips
- Try to mount and dismount your passenger on a plain surface.
- Use a helmet communication system for maintaining communication while riding.
- Be observant of the road and weather conditions.
- Check your motorcycle settings every time prior to a ride.
Related Questions
So far, we have covered every detail regarding how to ride a motorcycle with a passenger. Yet, if you have any questions, follow the FAQs below.
Is Carrying a passenger very difficult on a motorcycle?
Carrying a passenger on a motorcycle is not very tough if you are experienced. But for new riders, this skill may take some time to master. Also, an experienced passenger can help a lot. Practicing will make carrying a passenger easier.
How long should a driver wait before carrying a passenger on a motorcycle?
Though there is no definite time for this, a rider must take the motorcycle safety course and have at least 3 months of driving experience before carrying a passenger.
Can three people ride on a motorcycle?
No, it is unsafe and not legal to ride three people on a motorcycle unless a sidecar is attached. With proper seats, up to two people are allowed to ride a motorcycle.
Conclusion
Riding a motorcycle with a passenger is great fun. Adventuring with our loved ones on a bike is always a pleasure. But you must take care of your and the passenger’s safety first.
Before attempting a ride with a passenger, make sure you are skilled for it. Do the driving safety course, practice well, and then opt for riding. Always abide by the traffic rules and follow the above-stated instructions to prevent any unwanted situation.