My first two-up motorcycle ride

nadams

Well, finally accomplished my first 2-up ride. Took a friend out for about 40 miles through some back roads. Was nervous to start, and stayed tense the entire time, which made things worse. My fear to start out was the corners, but my friend is an experienced rider and knew what not to do.

The biggest issue then was stopping, and not having the bike fall over. Getting to a stop was easy... timing when to put my feet down was harder. Normally I can come to a complete stop before needing to put my feet down. With a passenger I felt the need to duck-waddle before being completely stopped to make sure I had the bike under control.

My little '83 Yamaha 400 struggled on some of the hills. I was afraid to downshift, because I'm used to riding by myself, where it doesn't matter how savage my shifts are. If I cracked it down to 4th on a hill, I was afraid I'd lose her.

Also, I think my rear (mono) shock is a bit weak with its age. Some of the bumps left us bouncing for a few seconds, and that's with the preload cranked all the way up.

All in all, it was a good experience, and I look forward to trying again soon.

obieone

The last time I rode as passenger, I could NOT grasp the concept of leaning with the rider. Felt absolutely funky to me.

dkg999

Nothing worse than riding with an untrained passenger on-board!

SKsolutions

2 up on a Sunday with nowhere to go, and a full tank - is a day well spent.
Be safe-

exalted512

"total control" by lee parks. Great book. Also explains very well how to ride 2 up. I love going 2 up with the fiancee. Fun times. Shes not as comfortable as she was on my 500 though. Race bikes arent exactly mean for ergonomics...lol.
-Cody

SWFalken

My bike had a solo seat for a reason. Riding with passengers, no matter how much you love them, takes all of the fun out of riding.

Ricardo

Never liked riding with a passenger. Gives me an "I'm trapped" feeling that I can't stand.

bobman1235

I'm also not a huge fan of riding with a passenger.... makes me way too tense where riding is usually so relaxing.

nadams

I've got to give it a few more go's before I decide if it's good or not. I know I was tense this time simply because it was the first time out. I don't like that I can't lean back very far. I've got long arms, and usually I'm leaning back slightly to stay comfortable. Having to sit straight up killed by shoulders by the end of the ride.

thsmith

Take the Mororcycle rider safety course no matter how many years you have ridden then take the advanced course.

Sherardp

thsmith wrote: »

Take the Mororcycle rider safety course no matter how many years you have ridden then take the advanced course.

+1 one. It's required out here by military safety, so I also took instructor class too just to be on top.

nadams

I took the MSC to get my license, but didn't take the advanced course yet.

bigaudiofanatic

It is pretty easy for me I have ridden passage's on mine and I explain to them not to lean with me and all before they get on.

exalted512

So I was at local bike/car meet tonight. Wide open parking lot, no businesses open, no housing around for half a mile. Anyway, a couple of people were trying to do wheelies.

Me and a couple other dudes left as it was getting late. Pull on to the access road, cross over the overpass. While were crossing over, a LEO is coming the other way on the overpass. We stop at the light and they turn around, we go to turn and she puts on her lights.

So we all pull over (3 of us) and she asks us if we were doing wheelies in the target parking lot. We weren't, so we said no. So she asks for our licenses and insurance. We hand them over, were all clean so we get off.

My question is...WTF? Why can a cop pull you over because some other motorcyclist was doing a wheelie? So if a car is reported speeding, can they pull over any car and ask if they were the ones speeding? That's borderline ridiculous.

To make matters even more odd...I called my buddy that was still at the meet and he said they had went over there and told them that they could do wheelies (it was in a parking lot), just not to get hurt.

WTF!?! So we got pulled over just because we happened to be going away from that direction for something that they wouldn't have even ticketed for in the first place?

/rant.
-Cody

CLPolk

nadams wrote: »

I've got to give it a few more go's before I decide if it's good or not. I know I was tense this time simply because it was the first time out. I don't like that I can't lean back very far. I've got long arms, and usually I'm leaning back slightly to stay comfortable. Having to sit straight up killed by shoulders by the end of the ride.

Sounds to me like the person on the back had some BIG BALLS You would not get me on the Back with YA!!!

2003 100"Custom
1995 ZX-11
1986 GoldWing

nadams

CL- for every driver who is experienced with a passenger, there was always someone who was their first. No way around it. The girl I took out I'd known less than a week at the time, but knew her parents from bowling. Her parents trust me, so she does as well.

Wouldn't want you on the back of my bike anyway. A guy riding "****" is just wrooooong

Poee7R

I remember my first 2-up, many years ago. In the mountains, on a sportbike, then the rain came... was fun as she kept going back and forth trying to see the sight's over my shoulder's. A few pulls on the brakes, and she finally got sick of headbutting the back of my helmet, and stayed where she was.

Grats to ya Noel, it can get ya spooked. But just play it cool and you'll be good to go.

Ive had to ride **** before, but that was after a low slide that ripped my clutch and gear lever's off. Not my proudest moment haha.


Dave

Poee7R

exalted512 wrote: »

So we all pull over (3 of us) and she asks us if we were doing wheelies in the target parking lot. We weren't, so we said no. So she asks for our licenses and insurance. We hand them over, were all clean so we get off.

Ive been pulled over just so the cop could "talk bikes" with me.

What can ya do?


Dave

CLPolk

Wouldn't want you on the back of my bike anyway. A guy riding "****" is just wrooooong Yep I agree with ya!

Yes everybody has a first time for everything, Just sayin not with me on the back!!!!!!!!!!