Pillioning? All aboard!

General Discussion
User avatar
Cath
KSRC Addict
KSRC Addict
Posts: 3447
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:08 pm
Bike: ZX10R
State: New South Wales
Location: Yarramalongwayaway

Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Cath »

I've never had a pillion on the back of my bike. I've been talking about learning how to do it for ages, and reckon I should stop talking about it and just bloody do it.

Why haven't I just already done it?
Well, partly because when stopped, I rely on balancing on my toes, so while I feel secure doing that with just myself on the bike, the additional weight and balance changes of having a pillion is a little concerning without the ability to have at least one foot flat on the ground - I'm not sure if I would be able to hold the bike up when stopped until I can figure out a way to do it using balance or leverage.
Also partly because no small skinny bastard wants to be my crash test dummy (and I don't blame them). I want to first learn how to do it with someone lighter and smaller than me, as when Dave sat on the back of my bike it felt so wrong and completely unstable and unmanageable.

I usually think about giving it a go down at the Supers, because there's plenty of people willing to jump on the back, and I figure I'll be going slow and the grass will be kinder to my fairings if I drop it. Then again, I'm more likely to drop the bike on the grass I reckon - plus with a crowd watching, it's almost certain I'll stuff up! So I still haven't done it.

So, I really don't want to drop my bike. I don't think I'd hurt the pillion, as I reckon it's much more likely I'd drop the bike from a standstill, or under 10 kms/h than when riding normally, but the risk is still there, of course. But it's a skill I want to have up my sleeve, in case I ever need to get a friend home on the back, or something like that.

Does anyone have any tips, or suggestions?
Has anyone pillioned someone bigger and heavier than them?
Road: 2005 ZX10R - not named yet
Road: 2008 Z750 - Kwak
Track: 2006 ZX6R - Yoshi (with a very Genki undertail)
User avatar
Strika
VIP MEMBER
VIP MEMBER
Posts: 8373
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:02 am
Bike: Yamaha
State: Victoria
Location: Melbourne

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Strika »

Just throw Dave on the back. If you can manage carrying him around, you can pillion anyone !!! ;)


Cath, it's just like having a full gearsack and camping gear on the back. The steering alters more with accelleration and decelleration. It lightens a lot when on the gas and loads up heavily under brakes. Inputs need to be firmer, but also smoother. Changes of direction take more effort and time. Stopping distances increase also. HTH
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me" Hunter S. Thompson.
There are really only two questions in life. 1.Which way do i go? 2.What is the lap record?
User avatar
ijuschill
KSRC Contributor
KSRC Contributor
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:07 am
Bike: ZX6R
State: New South Wales
Location: Somewhere riding

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by ijuschill »

You need a unsuspecting child to pillion, offer them some candy as a reward. Does any one want to offer up one of their offspring as a sacrifice? :lol: :lol:
08 Yellow ZX6R Aka Bumblebee

The 6 is an addiction, but Green is for life! :kuda:
Disco
Team Monster
Posts: 3430
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 5:52 pm
Bike: ZX6R
State: Please Select a State

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Disco »

Cath wrote:Has anyone pillioned someone bigger and heavier than them?
I pillioned wayne home after a breakdown that was an effort :lol: ....The Zed was bottoming out all the way with our combined weight of @ 230+ kg's....

I was surprised how well the bike steered though but the mental scar's from having wayne's arm'e around me will haunt me forever :shock: :lol:
Stopping=Crashing!
User avatar
6maniac
KSRC Addict
KSRC Addict
Posts: 4832
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:26 pm
Bike: Z750
State: New South Wales
Location: Hawkesbury

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by 6maniac »

Don't think this counts as it was only about 500 metres, but the Boss accepted a ride at the Supers back to KSRC central ( but he's a little buggar )

I'm with you Cath ... unless both feet are on the deck, I'm outside my comfort zone. As you imply it's a learned skill. Marty is right about the weight transfer - you need to brake and accelerate more moderately than when solo. :roll:
I've spent over 40 years of my life riding bikes .... the rest of it, I wasted ..
If it's got wheels or tits, it's gonna give you trouble !
HCST #2
Team Black '09 ..... R.I.P. - 2011.
Back in Black....2011.
User avatar
kevindinho
KSRC Regular
KSRC Regular
Posts: 650
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:27 am
Bike: Yamaha
State: New South Wales

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by kevindinho »

HAHAHA @ disco!!
When i grow up i want a ZX6R just like Rob Racer...

Craving PIE PIE PIE PIE PIE PIE PIE PIE....mmmm
User avatar
red_dave
Team Kuda
Team Kuda
Posts: 7973
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:47 pm
Bike: ZX6R
State: Queensland
Location: Dodgy BrisVegas
Contact:

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by red_dave »

You could pick someone with long legs that can help hold the bike up when stationary...

wave.gif
Image
User avatar
UncleChopChop
KSRC Member
KSRC Member
Posts: 221
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:58 pm
Bike: ZRX
State: Tasmania
Location: Tasmania

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by UncleChopChop »

get that little poof pinchy on the back..he's a featherwieght wimp that needs a good feed of fried chicken and a muggacino of htfu, you wont even notice he's there..just watch that he doesn't stitch his man dildo onto the pillion seat, he has a habbit of doing that shit.


.
User avatar
tim
VIP MEMBER
VIP MEMBER
Posts: 5815
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:12 pm
Bike: ZX6R
State: New South Wales
Location: Sydney, NSW

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by tim »

I'm 65kgs and tall we can try Friday of you'd like Cath. :)
2008 ZX6R Special Edition
User avatar
waynemorgan
KSRC Contributor
KSRC Contributor
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:36 pm
Bike: ZZR600
State: New South Wales
Location: Penrith NSW Australia

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by waynemorgan »

Disco wrote:
I pillioned wayne home after a breakdown that was an effort :lol: ....The Zed was bottoming out all the way with our combined weight of @ 230+ kg's....

I was surprised how well the bike steered though but the mental scar's from having wayne's arm'e around me will haunt me forever :shock: :lol:
Actually I was trying to reach the tank.....but couldn't for some reason! :D Plus I needed a step ladder to get on the bike.

Cath if you want to try riding with a pillion you're welcome to use the 500 to see how it goes. It's probably a little lower and less worry about dropping it.

I've ridden with my rack bag fully loaded but it doesn't move around like a pillion - and a pillion will move around.
I don't like the term insane - I prefer mentally hilarious!
User avatar
Six Addict
Pinchy
Pinchy
Posts: 6465
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:51 pm
Bike: Ducati
State: New South Wales
Location: Darlinghurst, Sydney

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Six Addict »

my only advicE is to just do it. It becomes much more pleasant and less nerve wracking the more you do it. I do understand the feet issue tho... I've been blessed with two good pillions, so Ive been lucky
DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 2014
User avatar
Mel
VIP MEMBER
VIP MEMBER
Posts: 1564
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:01 pm
Bike: ZX6R
State: ACT
Location: behind you

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Mel »

I'll be your bitch Cath! :kuda:

I have had someone on the back three times, the first time was my ex, who was a fair bit bigger than me on my 95 ZX6, he was being a fuckwith, hanging off the side and everything, turned me right off ever having a pillion. I was cranky at him by the time we got to my place and he was very well behaved when I took him home and then that wasn't so bad. Though we lived in the same suburb so it wasn't exactly an extended trip. The only other time I ever had someone on the back was a dude who had run out of petrol, and he was *alot* bigger than me, I sat on my 636 then he climbed on and suddenly my feet were firmly on the ground and my knees were quite bent. I was very wobbly taking off and stopping but it was fine at speed. So that doesn't help you much! I should probably ask someone to jump on the back with me too so I can learn too.

Actually - calling ZXRobyn! She's had people bigger than her on the back!
2010 ZX6R
1997 ZX7R
I ride like a girl...
User avatar
Ratmick
Team Hornet
Posts: 1931
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:22 pm
Bike: Other Kawi
State: Victoria
Location: Macedon Ranges

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Ratmick »

I'm with you Cath, no-one's been game to get on the back of mine except my kids down the driveway. They're all teenagers at the moment and giving me the shits so feel free to borrow one ;).

FWIW I've been pillion on a mate's ZX-9R when dropping my bike off for a service and he tells me that motorcyclists make the best pillions as they instinctively know what the rider is doing and will tuck in behind the rider and also lean with them when going around corners. Non-riders have a tendency to sit up on corners and move around a lot more. I found it to be a hoot, nearly as good as riding but with the benefit of being able to look around a bit more.

Mick 8)
User avatar
DaBigfella
KSRC Member
KSRC Member
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:28 am
Bike: GTR
State: New South Wales
Location: Seven Hills, Sydney

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by DaBigfella »

Cath wrote:I've never had a pillion on the back of my bike. I've been talking about learning how to do it for ages, and reckon I should stop talking about it and just bloody do it.

Why haven't I just already done it?
Well, partly because when stopped, I rely on balancing on my toes, so while I feel secure doing that with just myself on the bike, the additional weight and balance changes of having a pillion is a little concerning without the ability to have at least one foot flat on the ground - I'm not sure if I would be able to hold the bike up when stopped until I can figure out a way to do it using balance or leverage.
Also partly because no small skinny bastard wants to be my crash test dummy (and I don't blame them). I want to first learn how to do it with someone lighter and smaller than me, as when Dave sat on the back of my bike it felt so wrong and completely unstable and unmanageable.

I usually think about giving it a go down at the Supers, because there's plenty of people willing to jump on the back, and I figure I'll be going slow and the grass will be kinder to my fairings if I drop it. Then again, I'm more likely to drop the bike on the grass I reckon - plus with a crowd watching, it's almost certain I'll stuff up! So I still haven't done it.

So, I really don't want to drop my bike. I don't think I'd hurt the pillion, as I reckon it's much more likely I'd drop the bike from a standstill, or under 10 kms/h than when riding normally, but the risk is still there, of course. But it's a skill I want to have up my sleeve, in case I ever need to get a friend home on the back, or something like that.

Does anyone have any tips, or suggestions?
I've had a few people on the back of the 9, but no-one is bigger and heavier than me.....
Has anyone pillioned someone bigger and heavier than them?
Ali600+150
KSRC Regular
KSRC Regular
Posts: 972
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 4:44 pm
Bike: Z750
State: New South Wales
Location: Sydney

Re: Pillioning? All aboard!

Post by Ali600+150 »

HART at St Ives used to run a 'learn to take a pillion' course. Not sure if they still have run it though. A few of the girls I used to ride with did it to get their confidence up in a 'controlled' environment and said it was a good experience.
___________________________________________________________________________
Ambikuderousness here I come!
Post Reply