How to ride with a passenger on a motorcycle

Part 2 of our series on how to ride with a passenger on a motorcycle. Riding 2up changes the dynamics of the motorcycle, in this video we look at some tips to help your next ride with a passenger safer.
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Thanks for watching,
Kevin

[@MCrider]

If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member

[@KLP99]

My wife is a natural passenger. She doesn't lean differently from me or the bike. It's a joy to have her with me. She learned when she was in her teens. Her older brother had a sport bike and taught her what helped and what hurt his ability to keep them both safe. Now that we are in our mid-60s she's a wonderful riding companion.

[@chrisstiff4734]

My ol' lady is a blast on the back! She has her cy endorsement so she knows how to "ride"...... hell she even picked up the bike before! It's amusing to me when she starts talking bikes, noobbs don't believe her until their bros tell em...."she's right ya know" A real ol' lady!!!

[@donaldcook6997]

Mine also..she's been riding with me for 45 yrs..never an issue..she'll tell people herself that she slept half way to Knoxville...great to her on board

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

Having someone on back who just gets it.. Awesome 👍👍

[@kylestewart8049]

The best compliment my wife gives me is she feels SAFE when we ride. She does not know all concern and concentration it takes to make a 400 mile day feel “ safe”. And im happy she doesn’t. Thats the point after all. Enjoying the adventure and our time together.

[@ultraclassic01hd]

Always have my passenger get off before I park the bike. Just feel more comfortable doing it this way. Great tips Kevin!

[@luckylanno]

Me too. I'm usually going around 20 mph for stability.

[@bluesboydude]

Same here!

[@michaelwells9980]

@@luckylanno 🤣🤣

[@ronhamilton515]

My wife would not ride with me for the first year of my riding career and I didn’t understand at the time but it was the best thing for both of us.

[@PaganEuropa.]

Frankly,who on earth will dislike your videos? I've learnt from your videos, I am really grateful for your hard work to keep us safe! Thank you so much Kevin! Keep them videos rolling, I know I learn from you alot!

[@erikesenaliev9843]

Hey Kevin, thanks for tips on riding with a passenger. Also I thank you for your tremendous effort on this channel. I’m a new rider and your videos encouraged me to ride more safely. I started practicing emergency breaking and turns in an empty parking lot on my Harley. These drilled in skills saved me when a car pulled out in front of me and stopped while I was going 60 on a highway. Just a few seconds can make a difference. Again, big thank you.

[@j.albertogratacos2076]

A nervous passenger is a risk. So to build confidence I tell them that as a rule, the passenger is the captain and I am the pilot. As a Captain if you say go slow or stop, I am obligated to obey. However, a Captain cannot order a pilot to break the law.

[@chrisstiff4734]

Love this way of telling em what's up! One of the best analogy I've heard!

[@RevJay_Rides]

This was something I needed to have years ago. I hope new riders view this before attempting riding a passenger. I went from riding dirt bikes for 20 years to riding a cruiser in one day. I thought that transition would be easy. It was except for a few differences, but riding a passenger was the hardest change I ever dealt with. I remember one time when my wife was on back and I had to stop fairly quickly, she crashed into me from behind and almost knocked us both of the bike. Fortunately, it didn’t happen, but it showed me I needed to focus more on the differences. Thankfully, I’ve now been riding for about 12 years and that is less of a problem now. Your videos are still helpful though.

[@michaelneely4851]

Thanks for this. I understand the stress you have to overcome while riding with a passenger. Not only to I have a passenger. 9 times out of 10 it is my daughter. Oh lordy do I have my eyes peeled for any situation that we could find our self's in. We ride as a team. We both look for road hazards. I lead a group of riders. Every month and she is in charge of pointing out hazards to the other riders. My best advise is don't be passenger and biker. Be as one on the bike. Don't let the fear overwhelm you. Do let it be a catalyst in you being aware. Two heads are better then one and 4 eyes see a lot. Come up with your own signals. We use taps. A tap on my right side means hazard on the right tap on my left side means hazard on the left. Be a team and enjoy the ride.

[@Sledge-fu5zr]

Kevin. Great coverage of the topic. things to consider: 1) When touring with a passenger, pack heavy items down low to improve the center of gravity. 2) Pack the bike so it is balanced left and right. 3) When touring often we like to use a GoPro on the pilot helmet to capture the trip. As a result, my wife has a clear phone holder with a lanyard to take additional video. This allows me to focus on the road and not the scenery. 4) She has been trained, in part by your videos, to be the second set of eyes. She can recognize possible situations that I may have missed. She often alerts me to road conditions. For example, she will tell me that a car waiting to pull out from a shopping center is rolling forward and may pull out. Keep the good work.

[@ellobo1326]

The two times I have dropped a bike were both many years ago on my 2000 Goldwing. We were in Gatlinburg on a mountain road when the traffic backed up and came to a standstill. Unfortunately, the road had a steep camber and when I came to a stop and put my foot down, there was no road there. Once leaning, it was all over. No amount of strength could keep it upright. Luckily, several nice motorist got out and had us back in the saddle in a very short time. The second time, on the same bike, we came to a stop at an intersection. A plastic soda bottle that had been run over countless times and as flat as a piece of paper was laying right where I put my foot down. It was as slick as owl poop and we of course layed it over. I learned to try my best to anticipate that unusual circumstances can cause you grief whether solo or 2up.

[@fvcostanzo]

Knowing how to be a passenger on a motorcycle is a skill in itself!

[@dalebishop2632]

Once again , great information. For new or “old” riders. A refresher never hurt anyone.

[@HootmonHarry]

Backrest! Having a backrest makes a passenger comfort go WAY up and anxiety go down. Knowing they are not going to fly off when you take off brings peace of mind, and peace of mind means less moving around and "helping" by the passenger.. I tell passengers to lean back on the backrest and keep it pushing against their back.. this reduces there desire to help you lean in corners.. IF you are going to carry passengers, even occasionally, get a backrest, it will make those trips SO much easier on the passenger AND the Rider!

[@BloozBone]

I’m dumbfounded by the student you had in your MSF class. I had a perfect riding and written score in my MSF class many years ago and I wouldn’t even considered myself ready for a Goldwing and my wife on the back. I rode two years before getting my wing, then took a Ride Like a Pro class before putting my wife on the back. If I hurt her due to my stupidity, I’d be a basket case. Thanks for the tips.

[@mbj1163]

I learned at a Harley dealership. They had everyone come early so they could get a tour of the dealership and a side focus of the class was to sell everyone a big cruiser, they'd work the financing for you. Best advice I can give is start 500cc and lower and if you're getting a new bike, get ABS. (IMHO)

[@jimmyb4982]

Perhaps because you're not a cocky, overconfident doctor.

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

@@jimmyb4982 or you could say, he's not Dr. Fauci 😁

[@arizonawvkid]

Great Video , I once knew an inexperienced Rider who rode 2-Up and it was his wife the wrecked and she died .Wished he could have seen this 15 yrs.ago.

[@nbt3663]

Yep it's Friday and it's time to sit relax and learn. Thanks MC

[@01apples]

Hi Kevin. Great set of videos. When I ride solo I always put my left foot on the road when stopping. Recently, on a 4000km tour with a passenger and luggage, my left knee was giving me agony. With a passenger I found it better to plant both feet for balance and to share the weight when coming to a stop. Hope that helps someone.

[@michaelwest4525]

Having my wife suffer an injury as my passenger is unthinkable . We all know it’s a possibility , but we surely want to minimize the risk . We had a couple upsets at 0 speed when getting used to the GoldWing . Keeping the balance centered is critical . With me at 220 and her at 180 + trunk and bag contents , is no mean feat . The lower seat height of my Streetglide is definitely a plus . Been riding for 57 years and always something new to learn as our physical ability and mental ability slowly wains . Thanks for the thoughtful informative videos .

[@TJRohyans]

The first time I rode with a passenger, I'd only been riding my V-Star 1300T for about 6 months. I had promised a female friend I'd give her a ride. I'm a bit on the smaller side for an adult male, and she's on the plus side for an adult female. Even on the way to pick her I was considering how I could back out of the promise without offending her. She got on, we rode out of her driveway, and off we went for about a 30 minute cruise. It was an eye-opener for me to see how much the handling, acceleration, and especially the braking were effected by the additional weight. At one point I rolled through a stop sign because I had run out of distance to safely stop. Luckily for us, there was no traffic at the intersection. In the last six years now I've ridden less than a dozen times with a passenger (once now on the new Eluder which handles it much better), but I still would much rather ride by myself in most instances. She's still a friend, but she's only ever been on my bike that one time. ;)

[@prestonramsey9296]

Really enjoy your videos Kevin.. I'm a 71 yr old rider...riding since I was 8. About 15 years ago, on a Goldwing, I learned how valuable the passenger hand rails were. During a "panic" stop, my wife used those hand rails to keep herself upright and not pushing against me as I was trying to get the bike stopped. Since then I've switched to Harley Ultra's (currently a 2017 Limited) and I installed Harley's version on each bike. Each new rider I take with me ( I have several grandkids) learns to use those before we take off. They're inexpensive and provide an extra measure of safety during unexpected braking.

[@Mladen_Hadzija]

Good stuff Kevin. This kind of video with this point is rare on youtube. Very useful, thanks again.

[@ironhorsetarotwithcj4496]

You rock Kevin! I couldn't agree with you more. Ride safe and live large!

[@robertmocanu6146]

Hi Kevin! Greetings from Romania and thank you for all the hard work you put to teach us how to enjoy safely some of the best things in our lives!

[@greatkingrat]

Like all of your videos, this was a brilliant well thought out video. Thanks for posting this series.

[@eugeneheuschel9539]

You are truly a lifesaver. The story about the doctor was just like me a year ago. Still not ready for my VTX 1300 but the TC 200 is a blast.

[@deckgun31]

Hey Kevin ... Great video. I've been riding a Goldwing for about 10 years. Am I a pro? No, not by a long shot. I try to learn as much as I can every time I get ready to ride. Between your videos, and the series produced by Jerry "Motorman" Paladino, I have a lot of material to study & practice. My wife is a 2nd set of eyes. She signals me, by tapping at my waist, to warn me of things she sees in the path of travel. Or, she'll use the intercom. I like the waist taps personally. Keep up the good work. We need your message.

[@YogisCycleService]

Love your tips. Good channel and thank you for your work

[@Alimahmoudi1992]

Maybe Most of people cannot realize but his tips are life saving, This man deserve a gold medal and thumb up

[@jacobgodinez4926]

I'm a new rider and I've seen a couple of your videos. After this one I subscribed just cuz of the genuine knowledge. And for and older man to take the time to get into technology and make a video talking to a camera is just awesome! Thank you sir.

[@31989mike]

I started riding a year ago, bought a brand new sportbike and just hopped on prior to I watched as many videos as I could to learn the proper information on how to ride, I stumbled onto your channel and now anticipate every Friday to learn something new, 11 months riding I now have 9600 miles and nothing but great memories more will come and my fall will come but I have to say thank you for helping self taught riders like me learn the proper ways to handle a motorcycle and enjoy the road in a more prepared manner.

[@karlupston-hooper5893]

Hi Kevin, just a "thanks". I'm a new rider in Finland (Indian Bobber) and have really enjoyed your informative and calm videos. Very helpful. Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@davidparsons4654]

As always, great information !

[@lovelyjubbly1010]

Awesome as usual well done keep em coming!

[@insanethrottlebikernews]

Awesome information for new and old riders. Very good tips that apply to everyone

[@opichocal]

My wife rides with me 90% of the time. My bike handles so different with a passenger but it's that much more fun.

[@jimwms1able]

I have owned three top heavy bikes. They can be monsters when you are carrying a passenger. Ultimately i got rid of them and bought a bike with a low center of gravity. I always am a bit tense for the first little while until I am back used to having my wife on the back. Once I have been riding for a short period of time I am all good. You really did nail all the issues that you have to watch carrying a passenger. I have had people ride behind me that wants to lean the opposite direction of the lean of the turn...I will not take them any where. I don’t even know my wife is back there. Great video.

[@yurikhromov2905]

Hey, Kevin! That's a great summary of the info to keep in mind when taking a passenger. One thing that caught my attention though: stopping distance should not increase when you have additional mass added to the motorbike, be it a passenger or luggage. Because with increased inertia you also get a proportional increase in tire grip. But you have to use breaks more aggressively. Same as with increasing throttle at take off. And the rear break becomes more useful too. If you apply proper breaking techniques, stopping distance should not increase by any significant number. It may even get better, actually. But if you will break with the same effort as riding solo, then of course higher inertia will take toll on the stopping distance. So it definitely helps to keep larger margins to compensate for an insufficient breaking technique, that may come as a result of solo riding habits.

[@emilioperdomo2227]

I just subscribed to your channel.thanks for the teachings, good stuff.

[@alissarobertson8840]

My wife weighed all of 98 pounds I never knew she was there but I was always mindful of her safety. I have a 72 FLH with the old buddy seat we rode back when she was still riding with me. It helps that she had been riding with her uncle since she was 14 and knew what to do or not do.

[@PKnut7425]

Thank you for the great videos and tips. Always learning from them. Had to brake really hard and fast to avoid a deer. My passenger wasn’t expecting that and I didn’t have time to say anything on the headsets it happened so fast. I braced against the handlebars to hold myself up but didn’t expect the additional weight of the passenger on my arms as she came forward. Almost collapsed my arms. I know to expect that now.

[@colvilletitus1020]

My wife and I are taking the motorcycle safety course in our country ( Trinidad and Tobago ). This information is so valuable. We thank you and love your videos as they are extremely informative and straightforward

[@mac_tire_aonair]

Another great lesson Kevin - thanks!!!

[@psyekl]

I don't carry passengers but I do carry luggage, so this video actually provides useful info. Good info to know if I ever need to carry a passenger in an emergency. Thanks again.

[@neildewitt2869]

Thank you! Great information.

[@ismailpblr]

Needed information, Thank u very much!

[@jessewarren3281]

As usual, your tips are right to the point. Never had a passenger & likely never will but, I am saving this video just in case.

[@ae70gts]

all the times i emergency brake i always put my body against the passenger to protect her and keep the center of gravity in the middle as possible. and keep that rear wheel always on full traction and as always thanks for sharing edit when coming to a full stop i always ease off the brakes right before it actually stops. perfect balance of passenger-bike hey kevin it would be nice if you told yoyr viewers to lightly use the brakes every once and a while when raining to keep those brakes dry and fully active

[@keithpetersen8114]

Kevin -- always the best vids. I'm riding my wife 2up (she is a natural passenger -- so appreciated) on the back of my Yamaha FJR1300 (sport touring) and I am SO conscious of our safety and our kids' need for us to return safely from the trip. I rode when I was 18 (didn't need a helmet -- had no brains anyway -- 71 now) and just started riding again this year after taking the safety course. I ride in the Atlantic Northeast (New Jersey) -- to say it is congested and dangerous is an understatement. Being mentally prepared is vital. Thanks again.

[@djm9557]

Hi Kevin thank you for this great video. I have a lot of experience riding with a passenger and I can't agree more with every single point you made. I especially like the point you made about riding with a passenger is "no time to show off". I'm guilty of that back in the days but when I now ride with my wife I just feel a great sense of responsibility not just for our safety but just knowing that while we are out on the road our 2 young kids are eagerly waiting for us to return home safely. God bless and a Merry Christmas to you and the family :)

[@williamohrt554]

Excellent summary of how to prepare and ride with a passenger. Unfortunately, long before seeing this video, I gave my wife whiplash by accelerating much too fast, causing her neck to rock back; thereby causing the whiplash injury, which still causes her pain 7 years later. Hopefully, this video will prevent similar injuries from happening to those who are lucky enough to see your video in advance of making the same easily preventable mistake.

[@garya3056]

Thx for this lesson, Kevin! 🏍👍🏍

[@gregoryjohnwilson2108]

Last week on a ride out , one guy dropped his cruiser in the parking lot when his passenger started to get off before he had his feet down, lucky no damage to people or bike , but a great lesson

[@barbholub2398]

My close one with my wife was a tight turn off an incline into a gas station, which also had a short little ramp up into it. It was our 1st overnight trip and I'd strapped a top roll bag on the usual luggage rack bag. Haven't used it since when she's on the back. Of you're just starting out with a passenger, maybe think to limit/really check out your stops. Thanks again Kevin, and all!

[@bruceh4226]

So, I'm going to share a little different story. First off I want to say that my motorcycle helped bring my GF and me together... she asked me to take her for a ride and that was the beginning of us as a couple. She was my first ever passenger on my bike, so I did quite a bit of reading up on and watching videos about the subject so I could be as well informed about what to expect and what to do. Fortunately for me, she had been in the back of a motorcycle before and when we talked it out beforehand she usually knew what I was talking about and she was grateful that I was concerned about her safety. First time out we met in a good sized abandoned parking lot and to be honest, it wasn't nearly as "bad" as I thought it would be. She's a great passenger and the hardest thing we had to figure out was the getting on and off the bike thing (my bike has a back rest with attached arms rests, so just swinging a leg over wasn't in the cards for her). The only thing I really had to ask her to do was just give me a warning if she needed to adjust her seating position when we were stopped at a light... having her suddenly stand up on the pegs or shimmy around in the seat when I wasn't ready created a few early wobbles. My advice to other riders would be that if you plan on riding with a passenger often, invest in a communication system... hand signals can cover the basics, but nothing beats being able to actually talk to each other on the ride. Thanks for your efforts at trying to make us all safer and better riders.

[@utahokie8919]

This is good information that I have learned by riding throughout the years with my wife. I have seen many who go out on group rides take on a passenger and observe that they obviously do not do it very often and make the mistakes you mentioned. When I have my wife or some other passenger on the bike with me, I have a whole new set of rules and mental cues to keep us both upright and safe.

[@dougbongle3192]

H

[@TheTwztdtwitch420]

Thank you for all the useful information. Some of these aspects never even crossed my mind when thinking of taking my wife for a ride.

[@renevanoyen3817]

Perfect Kevin, I have nothing to add. Just a little story about my passenger experiences... In the 22 years I ride, I had several women riding on my back - on the passenger seat that is - dressed up in motorcycle clothing and a full face helmet (my rule number 1) and her arms wrapped around my waist (my rule number 2). Riding two-up was due to these two rules simple and safe, as the additional weight feels like one and unwanted movement is avoided. And as they were forced by their sitting position to look over my shoulders, they could anticipate with me on changes in speed, direction and angle, without disturbing the stability. As they knew what's coming and didn't need to react on their own (just follow my body), they stayed calm and submissive. It's like dog training, and you have girlfriends for life... :-D

[@charlesstade773]

Thank you for this. I have been riding for 40 years. I am very comfortable with riding with my wife as a passenger. The head bump is most always the drivers fault. Smooth start and stop is key. Let’s remember who the rider is and who the passenger is. I am now an older rider, and if we are going for a ride on My electra glide, I always want to be feeling well. Love your tutorials.

[@junkiejonesandthepicogang6598]

Another great video!

[@turbomustang84]

Although I've been on two wheels for over 50 years my wife had never been on a bike untill she married me. I put a backrest and bought her proper riding gear . Also I kept it slow until she had learned to just lean with me which most new riders find goes against what their body wants to do . Now she is so good and comfortable that I really enjoy riding with her more than solo riding .

[@johnleady3810]

I always tap on my wifes left knee when I am going to accelerate to pass just in case she is not paying attention

[@jhask64]

John Leady I like that idea. Great tip.

[@dickjohnson5025]

Spot on man, I do the same. Some times she is spacing out, so it’s a good way to say wake up and pay attention

[@zoranj.9420]

i use same technique, as to my gf is 5'2 and I'm 6'3 so she can't see anything above me, only to her sides. It's in the plan to buy second communicator for her so we can talk like normal people while riding. so on passing someone or if I want more spirited acceleration I tap her on left knee to warn her so she can prepare herself. if it's too much acc or speed she headbutts me or if needed to stop she taps me on shoulder

[@johnleady3810]

@@zoranj.9420 mine squeezes her legs together

[@26TptCoy]

at an intersection one night I said "hang on' as I took off. I turned around and she was standing in the middle of the road with that look. She didn't hear me. Another time she ended up between the back of the seat and the tail light sitting on the mudguard. A friend did same only his seat wasn't screwed on and she took the seat with her.

[@hcderksen]

Thank you for this information. My wife and I have many thousands of miles on Yamaha venture, gold wings 1500 and 1800. I have learn many of the things you mentioned here the hard way as when I started riding there were no safety courses. By the grace of God we always made out ok even when we went down because I didn’t account for sloped and sandy surfaces. Spending time in parking lots practicing techniques is one of the most valuable actions IMHO. Thanks again.

[@jeffruebens8355]

If you have a lighter bike, having a passenger will help you decide if you want a heavier bike or not. Heavier bikes are more comfortable on long straight roads, but are less fun for cornering and cost more to buy and for fuel.

[@jimwortham8634]

Motorcycle ride here also on KZbin quite a bit it is amazing amazing how many KZbin motorcycle experts are out there

[@SweetartistacademyAuPerth]

Another great video. most of the time I ride with a passenger, also I am always aware of the danger. But the opposite happen when I ride on my own, I tend to not care and concentrate as much and few times I scared myself.

[@davemiller1007]

One of two times I laid down my motorcycle was when I had a passenger on the back, the road was slick from recent rain, and when I applied the brakes a little too aggressively, we were both sliding down the street and the bike was on it’s side before I knew what had happened. Since the CG of the bike was greatly altered, it wanted to swap ends (which it did) and losing traction on the rear wheel was just the trick. I hope to learn these things from these awesome videos now as opposed to self experimentation!!

[@brettsonter3236]

Great advice mate ,the parking tips are spot on I always look for the safest place to park,better to walk a short distance then drop bike at front door .

[@davenowherejones7380]

I watched a guy struggle to put a F350 between two cars. Four spaces away were 4 empty spots in a row. I also watched guys trying to jam their Harleys into one spot and the same 4 empty spots were available. Walk you lazy people. Do it the easy way.

[@jhask64]

David Jones I see this same behavior all the time, most of the time it's my coworkers in the employee parking lot. Lazy for sure. And, they get all the door dings!

[@nelsongn9]

Great job

[@bartjhowell]

Sometimes just getting your passenger on or off the bike is the trickiest part. I've seen several techniques drivers and passenger use, but the most common seems to be to let the passenger get on/off first ...with some coaching from the driver. I always point out to a new/first time passenger where the exhaust pipes are. In my opinion, you should always have the kick-stand down when mounting. I imagine there are more tip-overs with the driver on first trying to balance the bike with his feet on the ground while a passenger gets on. In the end, you'll figure out the best way. And your point of parking on level ground is good advice.

[@fredericktheiner1284]

Everyone probably has a “best” way. For me it’s with the kickstand down whether the passenger is getting on or off.

[@ganeshc5848]

Very useful. We in India ride with a passenger most of the time.

[@bjsdetailingservicesllc427]

Great video👍

[@Sportybob]

Cant be sure you know unless your shown THANKS MC RIDER

[@lloydsims1573]

Always appreciate your input, even when you touch on my weak areas. LOL

[@richardhatfield915]

Thank you

[@tobypaone3426]

Great video! One thing I would add is to lower the suspension, both front and rear, by replacing the shocks in the back and the fork springs in the front, especially if you have a top-heavy motorcycle like an Indian or a Harley. This is not a simple procedure unless you are a good motorcycle mechanic so find a reputable shop to do the work if you don't have the time, tools or skill to do it yourself. There is considerable expense involved too (approximately $200 - $1,000 or more depending on what you actually get in parts and this does not include labor). Nevertheless, lowering your bike about an inch both front and rear lowers the center of gravity and makes a world of difference in the handling characteristics and confidence of a motorcycle. I've lowered every Harley I've ever owned (3 of them) and it made both solo and passenger riding so much better. I'm 5' 10" (average height for an adult male) and the lowering of my bike just helped out with the handling and confidence immensely.

[@EcoSpeeder]

-- Completely different mind set when hauling precious cargo. And setting the the suspension for 2-up riding is key.

[@bobmcdonald3792]

My partner and I have a dismounting routine on our Goldwing, where she waits until the engine is shut down, I have both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the ground. She then asks, "Ready" before dismounting. This comes after a near tip-over when she innocently dismounted while I was reaching for the key and was not braced for the weight shift to the side. I also make sure the side stand is out in case it does start to lean over. We have enjoyed thousands of miles together so it has become automatic.

[@danielpyke6510]

Great video Kevin. Read a lot of the comments and appreciate the information and points of view. I have ridden for a long time but do not consider myself an experienced rider for a passenger although I do it. This forum will certainly help. One thing I haven’t seen discussed is carrying a passenger on a touring bike on a gravel road; coarse gravel I mean. I have a cottage on a lake that requires a ride of about 2.5km (roughly a mile and a half) on gravel, some of it quite coarse. Washboard is common, lots of hills and curves. Any tips for me here?

[@awichannel3653]

Tank you to information about the motor matic injeksi

[@dickjohnson5025]

Great video as always. I always felt that the MSF didn’t cover near anything related to 2up riding and personally felt under prepared to ride with a passenger. Not sure who the knob jobs are who gave this a thumbs down, but what the hell.

[@jimkillen1065]

I had some learning experiences while ridding 2 up and also by my self . I was in Colorado ridding 2 up and we wanted to a restaurant . As I pulled of off the highway the parking lot was pea gravel and it was pretty thick . This was a situation . I managed to get the bike parked on the jiffy stand lol but I never do that again . I don't have the skill sets to do that . Before I pull off the high way I going to be sure I not in that situation again . I can also add roads that have a lot of off camber on the side of them to park

[@pacopetepnw3434]

It is also easier to mount/dismount passenger with side stand down. (not sure if anyone made this comment) sorry if Iam late to Friday Night MCRIDER party! lol

[@kevinward1638]

pete maffei That’s how my wife and I mount, with side stand down. It makes mounting, dismounting more secure and easier for both of us.

[@2bikemikesguitartopics145]

yup love my goldwing!!!!

[@martinwhite5181]

Kevin, I didn't hear you mention this but when two are on the same bike, the person who is significantly bigger or heavier has tremendous influence as to where the bike goes. If this happens to be the passenger with little riding experience, the pilot could quickly get in trouble.

[@rockon5320]

The smaller the bike the greater the difference will be. You are right even a lighter passenger can greatly affect the handling of the motorcycle. Good point.

[@andreikaportsev6684]

Just wonder whether practicing with two bags of sand or cement strapped to the rear of the bike could help :)

[@andreikaportsev6684]

@Kaptain Kid Did you see the smiley at the end of my statement?

[@rodneybarcus2233]

Hay Kevin with a passenger its easier to get on if you get on and off the bike from the left side. It's a good idea to have your front wheel turned all the way to the left. Put your right foot on the board or peg stand up straight ang your other leg goes over easy without hitting your passenger.

[@arizonawvkid]

Agreed

[@Archaidius]

Have you considered making some practice lessons while carrying passengers within the field guide? I’m going to join the Patreon and get the field guide, please forgive me if that is already in there. Wonderful information included in these videos, thanks Kevin.

[@shaunmcgowan827]

we were always taught to tell our passengers to keep their shoulders parallel with our shoulders and if they felt us leaning a little left to lean a little left with us if we went a little right to lean a little right with us but this was far before the internet. We basically tried to become one Rider

[@grantbradley5084]

I told myself I’d never take passengers on my 1250 RT. Until I met my wife 3 years ago. We’ve traveled thousands of miles together, fortunately for me she’s been a great riding companion. While riding I frequently have to put my arm on her leg to make sure she’s even on the bike!

[@pmdinaz]

I would suggest developing a way to communicate with each other, if it's through a microphone or simple gestures. My wife rides as well so we adapted quickly to riding two up. But I tap her left leg to let her know we are going to accelerate, and I exaggerate my head movements for turns. It's simple and effective. There also comes a time in windy conditions that she needs to be one one side or the other to counteract the wind blast. Thanks Kevin!

[@metricOIL]

My only crash happend with a passenger... nail in rear tire... went down on South Carolina Interstate26... coming back from Gatlinburg TN. Both walked away... without my wife on the rear I probably wouldn't have had a helmet on. She may have saved my life.

[@EcoSpeeder]

-- Two thoughts I would add .. 1. Passenger briefing. Make sure the person knows where the hand holds are. And how to keep weight and lean in the center-line of the bike. 2. Passenger backrest. Even if a low-pro one, goes along way for passenger comfort and safety.

[@huyked]

Such a serious subject. Thank you for the tips and reminders! A question about ABS. Is it smartest/better to slam on the brakes, or still try to control the pressure correctly yourself?

[@huyked]

@Kaptain Kid Alright. Thank you very much!

[@dougwilson6324]

I found the best way to learn having a passenger on board is ask a friend that has m/c exp. they already know how to move with you. this gives you the feel for the weight on the back and learn how to stop, take off, corner, maneuver, AND hold there weight at a stop. remember to give new psngr,s some advise on how to move with and where to hold on

[@inn0v8tiv]

I adore you and your gift of knowledge mcrider. I don't care much for religion so I have had a moment of cringe but all in all I think you have a gift for making people feel safe while doing what they love. Regards to you and your loved ones.

[@MCrider]

Thanks for watching and the kind words, I appreciate it.

[@duartesss]

Thanks for this video!!! An all the others! My main problem is being short (5,7' - 170cm), with tip-toes when try to place both on the ground, with an heavy bike and pillion, how to stop in the best way on place that have asymmetrical ground... Imagine for instance a downhill stop with a certain angle, with more inclination on the left and with the need to turn after the stop about 45 degrees right... And now the opposite with the stop not flat but with more inclination on the right... How you suggest to manage it? Thanks!!!

[@jrcheek1675]

My wife is and always has been a great passenger. Leans with me just the right amount, stays alert for stop signs and lights to be ready for the force of stopping. I ride much more cautiously with her so as to not scare her and as a result she trusts me. We recently moved to the Appalachian Mtns because of the great roads to ride, bur because our house has a steep driveway she has declined to ride with me since we move in. :(

[@gilbertroman1817]

Thanks brother. Haha OMG that peek a boo.

[@morecringe89]

i am sure the wife was happy for not dying. You saved 2 lives, maybe more

[@dalejohnson9342]

I only ride with my wife as a passenger. She has been riding since about 10 here in Thailand and knows what to expect as every day we see someone who has done something stupid and she has even gone so far as to roll down the window if we are in the car and tell them what she saw and how it could have gotten them killed. We have a bike here also and when we go out on it we always talk about where we are going and what we need to do. This way we have a basic idea of where and what is going to happen and then we can concentrate on doing our riding correctly and being ready for the other person (idiot) that is doing stupid things. This way we know if something we need to adjust is needed. It also goes to saying that we have touch points if there is any need to signal something.