Everything is better together, especially if it means having someone to ride with you on your motorcycle! Do you know how to make the experience an amazing one for your passenger?
So you’re ready to make room on your motorcycle for a passenger and show them a ride of a lifetime. Here’s an important checklist for all riders!
Riders: Read This Checklist Before Riding Double!
- If your passenger is an inexperienced rider, you’ll need to inform them about your motorcycle and about things that you may not even consider such as where to hold, where their feet will go and what not to touch. Make sure the passenger is balanced before taking off.
- Ensure you’ve adjusted your motorcycle’s rear suspension for the extra weight before you ride – you can refer to your owner’s manual.
- Come up with a way to communicate with your passenger during your ride. Perhaps a tap on one shoulder can means your passenger needs to stop. Also, it might be a good idea to stop more frequently, especially if your passenger is new to riding so you can check in on their comfort level and make sure they are doing ok.
- With extra weight on your motorcycle, you will lose some braking efficiency so it’s important to start braking sooner than you would normally.
- Make sure your passenger is wearing proper motorcycle gear for the ride, especially a proper fitting helmet.
- Your motorcycle might drag because of the added weight. It’s important to remind your passenger that this is normal so they don’t panic when it happens.
- Let your passenger know that they are being a great sidekick by giving them a pat on the thigh every now and again. This is especially appreciated by passengers who are on their first ride!
