Tips for Riding a Motorcycle as a Passenger
Although it may seem that riding “two-up” is more convenient than riding a motorcycle itself, the reality is something else. The pillion passenger will also need to be active, careful, and responsible to make the ride safe and enjoyable for both themself and the rider. When riding two-up, being casual about your safety can be more dangerous than you think—so be vigilant.
If you have accepted an invitation to join your friend or colleague as a motorbike passenger, here are tips to prepare you for the ride. Read on to learn more about riding a bike as a responsible passenger, and for more information, visit Biggs Harley-Davidson® for a friendly chat with our team. You’ll find us in San Marcos, CA, where we happily welcome our patrons from San Diego and Oceanside.
Wear Proper Gear
The first thing to do as a motorcycle passenger is that you will want to invest in good-quality riding gear. Buy a bright-colored riding jacket and pants or a riding suit, a pair of close-toed shoes, goggles, and well-fitting gloves. You’ll also want to wear a well-fitted DOT-approved helmet before mounting your motorcycle for undertaking the ride.
Mount with Care
Next, you’ll want to mount the bike carefully and only after ensuring that your rider is ready for it. This means that you’ll want to make sure that both the feet of your rider are firmly on the ground and the front brake of your motorcycle is applied.
If you are tall enough for your motorcycle, you can swing one leg over the seat with your other leg still on the ground. On the other hand, if your bike is tall for you, you might need to use the footpeg to step up.
Maintain Your Balance
Another tip to follow when riding a motorcycle as a passenger is to be active. This means that you’ll want to be aware of your bike’s movements and react to them timely and suitably. For example, you should follow your rider and lean into turns just like your rider. You will also need to prepare for stops and try not to slam the back of your rider when the brake is applied.
Use Hand Signals
More importantly, you’ll want to learn a few hand signals for communicating with your rider during the ride. As you may know, shouting to convey a message can distract the rider and cause an accident. To avoid this, you’ll want to use hand signals like a single tap on your rider’s shoulder to let them know to stop when convenient or double-tap to signify urgency.
We hope these tips help you enjoy your ride as a pillion partner. If you have more questions or want to get a motorcycle yourself, come down to Biggs Harley-Davidson®. We have an impressive collection of motorcycles for sale, and we can help you pick a model that suits your budget and riding style. We are in San Marcos, CA, and we proudly serve San Diego and Oceanside.