Riding with a pillion

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Andy Ellis
Site Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:41 am

Riding with a pillion

Post by Andy Ellis »

Hi

So I took delivery of my bike! I had a quick go, and it definitely pulls like a train still!

I havent passed my test yet, but I just got my girl on the back and drove down my road to get her comfortable with riding pillion... my only issue is, the rear spring is really soft so the bike almost leans upwards/back...

What can I do to stiffen up the stock spring for now, to aid 2 up?(I've go near enough no mech knowledge except the basics, i.e. oil change & brake pads)?

Also, I looked around at replacement springs from the successors of the FZR but all the "eye holes" etc doesnt make any sense to me lol. Can anyone tell me definitively THE easiest/best spring/shock/suspension whatever you wanna call it that I could fit, that would be good for riding 2 up?

Ta,

Andy
Mikey
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Posts: 47
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:55 pm
Location: England

Re: Riding with a pillion

Post by Mikey »

Andy Ellis wrote:Hi

So I took delivery of my bike! I had a quick go, and it definitely pulls like a train still!

I havent passed my test yet, but I just got my girl on the back and drove down my road to get her comfortable with riding pillion... my only issue is, the rear spring is really soft so the bike almost leans upwards/back...

What can I do to stiffen up the stock spring for now, to aid 2 up?(I've go near enough no mech knowledge except the basics, i.e. oil change & brake pads)?

Also, I looked around at replacement springs from the successors of the FZR but all the "eye holes" etc doesnt make any sense to me lol. Can anyone tell me definitively THE easiest/best spring/shock/suspension whatever you wanna call it that I could fit, that would be good for riding 2 up?

Ta,

Andy
How much riding experience do you have? I'm thinking NONE.

If your In the UK, carrying a passenger is a BIG NO NO. New unlicensed riders are not allowed to carry a pillion. Personally I can not understand why anyone who HAS NOT passed their test would endanger a pillion let alone, break the law.

That said it's your bike, your life, your girls life.

My advice is. Grow up :duh:
DonTZ125
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Re: Riding with a pillion

Post by DonTZ125 »

Harshly put, but correct. Riding a bike is a significant skill, and adding a passenger greatly changes the performance of the machine.

Learn to ride. Get the paperwork. READ THE MANUAL. Your girlfriend - if she's worth it - will still be there waiting for you.
Andy Ellis
Site Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:41 am

Re: Riding with a pillion

Post by Andy Ellis »

First, is this really what you guys do in your spare time? Teach the law to people who aren't looking to be taught? Find this hillarious... no wonder it's pretty dated/dead round here.

20 MPH isn't actually endangering anyone, first on a one way street, secondly its also a privately owned road, no through access permittable. If I wasn't confident with my riding skill, or carrying a pillion, I wouldn't do it.

I've ridden for almost a year myself. Both of us wearing full gear and me taking all the precautions necessary. I would never put her life in absolute risk let alone my own, and I have told her. Before she even got on the back I had 2 of my 3 lessons (3rd being today, and actually my riding skill is pretty good as I'll be passing my test on Tuesday a few bad habits like distance from cars when coming to a stop where my only faults, and not doing *all* my observations before moving off (i.e. only shoulder check the way I'm going...).

I guess this place isn't for me, I'll try find my answers elsewhere, but thanks for the very unhelpful tips (Y). If anyone does actually want to input a fairly sensible/helpful answer I would be greatful.

f*ck'ers.
Mikey
Site Newbie
Posts: 47
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:55 pm
Location: England

Re: Riding with a pillion

Post by Mikey »

Andy Ellis wrote:First, is this really what you guys do in your spare time? Teach the law to people who aren't looking to be taught? Find this hillarious... no wonder it's pretty dated/dead round here.

20 MPH isn't actually endangering anyone, first on a one way street, secondly its also a privately owned road, no through access permittable. If I wasn't confident with my riding skill, or carrying a pillion, I wouldn't do it.

I've ridden for almost a year myself. Both of us wearing full gear and me taking all the precautions necessary. I would never put her life in absolute risk let alone my own, and I have told her. Before she even got on the back I had 2 of my 3 lessons (3rd being today, and actually my riding skill is pretty good as I'll be passing my test on Tuesday a few bad habits like distance from cars when coming to a stop where my only faults, and not doing *all* my observations before moving off (i.e. only shoulder check the way I'm going...).

I guess this place isn't for me, I'll try find my answers elsewhere, but thanks for the very unhelpful tips (Y). If anyone does actually want to input a fairly sensible/helpful answer I would be greatful.

f*ck'ers.

Andy from what I've read I'm assuming your a young man. I was once a young man who thought he knew everything, I now know different. I know that every time i ride my bike that mine and my pillions life is in danger, motorcycles can and do kill. I've witnessed the devastation caused to a mother, father and the pregnant wife of a mate that was killed on his bike. That mate had passed his test around a year before his death.

I passed my bike and car test many years ago. Yup I thought I knew it all, I now know that the many years of riding experience has saved me from serious injury or maybe even death. On numerous occasions when a car driver has failed to spot me and pulled out into my path, my riding experience saved the day, me and my bike.

I at times carry my 8 stone daughter as pillion which does affect how the bike handles, yet my HID headlamp bulbs don't go skywards. When my 19 stone son gets on the back my HIDs are like spot lamps in the sky searching for enemy aircrafts. I dunno where you are in the world but in the UK when insuring your bike the insurance company needs to be informed that you will carry pillions otherwise your pillion will not be covered and any injury caused to them may result in the policy holder (the rider) having to pay any compensation to the uninsured pillion.

Try increasing the preload on you rear shock. The easiest replacement for the crappy FZR shock is an 07 or later R6 shock, it's not bolt on but can be made to work.

I'd like to think the members here share their knowledge in an attempt to help folk such as you. It's your decision if or not you take the advice offered.

BTW yup some of us are f*ckers. If any clown endangered my children due to their lack of experience and respect for others. Then that clown would discover exactly how much of a f*cker I can be. I hope your girlfriends dad is for your sake a total wimp.
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