Want to know how to ride a motorcycle with a passenger? You’re in the right place! Before you take a passenger on your motorcycle, it’s important to ensure both you and your bike are properly prepared. Getting the basics right helps keep everyone safe and makes the journey more enjoyable.
In this guide, we’ll cover tips for riding a motorcycle with a passenger and explain how you can make your ride smoother from start to finish.
Step 1: Is your motorbike ready for a passenger?
Before hitting the open road, there are some checks or adjustments you can make so that your motorcycle can accommodate passengers. These include:
- Installing an approved tandem or pillion seat if you don’t already have one
- Checking your motorbike has adequate passenger footrests
- Investing in passenger safety grips or straps
- Inflating your tyres to the recommended manufacturer’s pressure
Taking these measures will help to keep you safe and improve the overall riding experience.
Step 2: Preparing your passenger
Any passengers on your motorcycle should wear appropriate protective clothing. Riding with a crash helmet that meets official safety standards is a legal requirement.
For added safety, wearing protective safety gear such as high-top boots, knee pads, gloves, reinforced pants, and specialist motorcycle jackets is also a good idea.
Before setting off on your journey, you should also check that your passenger is familiar with riding safely on a motorcycle. You can do so by highlighting any potential hot zones to be aware of, such as the engine and exhaust pipe.
Explaining how to behave when stationary or accelerating can also help prepare your passenger for the ride ahead. These tips include keeping feet on the footrests when at a stop, avoiding shifting weight around, and holding onto pillion handles instead of the rider when moving.
How carrying a passenger changes the ride dynamics
Carrying passengers on your motorcycle can affect the ride dynamics and handling.
Having extra weight on your bike can slow down acceleration times. Braking times may also be longer, so you should increase your following distance and anticipate slowing down earlier than when you ride solo.
Shifts in passenger weight can also affect cornering and cause a feeling of imbalance. To improve cornering and stability, passengers should lean with the rider when steering or cornering.
Riding with your passenger: Practical tips for smoother rides
There are ways you can make your riding experience smoother and safer when carrying a passenger. Here are some practical tips to consider:
- Brake smoothly: Avoid sudden braking where possible and plan for stopping in advance.
- Transition with precision: Create smoother transitions by gently increasing or decreasing the throttle.
- Map out your journey: Plan your route with your passenger ahead of time to ensure everyone is prepared for specific types of roads, corners, and conditions in advance.
- Decide on communication signals: Agree on some communication signals (like a tap or shoulder squeeze) before setting off. That way, you can inform each other of any potential hazards or emergencies.
- Explain passenger positioning: Ensure your passenger knows to lean with you and maintain a stable centre of gravity during the ride.
- Mount and dismount smoothly: Ask your passenger to tell you before they mount or dismount the motorcycle to avoid tipping over.
Keep protected with specialist motorbike insurance from Devitt
Whether you ride for work or leisure, we can help you secure an insurance policy suited to you and your passengers. We’ve been specialists in motorcycle insurance for over 80 years, so you’re in good hands.
Decide on the level of cover and any optional extras you may require, for coverage to suit your needs and your bike from a panel of UK insurers.
Get a bike quote online or call our team on 0345 872 3614.
Disclaimer: The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication.
You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Devitt, a trading name of Devitt Insurance Services Limited, accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.