Riding a motorcycle with an extra load or passenger is shown the difference when you used to drive alone. Put a person in your backseat who is experienced in motorcycle driving. He will direct you and teach you better through your mistakes. Before putting someone else in your back seat make sure you are comfortable enough with your motorcycle and the pillion seater passenger. A passenger puts an extra weight on a motorcycle which leads to more control and balance rather than solo riding. The following tips will help you to learn the technique of riding a motorcycle with a passenger.
1. Dictate the passenger
It is always not possible to maintain good communication during motorcycle riding because of wearing a helmet, wind noise, or other vehicle sounds. Before starting riding either you use those helmets that have an intercom communication system or dictate to your passenger about hand gestures. Make them understand how they can maintain communication by using their hand gestures. For example: when passengers want you to slow down the motorcycle tell them to tap on your back for once and if passengers want you to stop the motorcycle tell them to tap three times on your back.
2. Wearing gear and instruction
Ensure safety for you and your passengers by wearing gear. Make sure your passengers are wearing at least a helmet and in addition gloves, boots, or other protective gear. Tell your passenger not to move after getting on the motorcycle. Unfortunate moving even if a tiny move will cause an accident. Inform your passenger that do not get off from the motorcycle without your permission. Tell your passenger to keep his feet on the passenger footrest all the time and never put off their foot to support you or the motorcycle. Make your passenger understand that even if the bike is falling not put off your feet to touch the ground. That action might make the situation worse.
3. Weight distribution
Weight distribution plays the most important role in safe driving. Before riding, inform your passenger to sit as close as possible to you further left of any spaces. This technique maintains a good balance all over the motorcycle and also helps to steer the motorcycle easily. When you are sharing a rider with a passenger who is heavier than you. Tell him not to leave any space between you and him. Sitting further back and heavyweight will lead to the front wheel lifting and trouble steering. Tell your passenger to hold your wrist or the seat rails in whatever he feels comfortable.
4. Cornering
While cornering do not lean too much with your passenger. For the extra weight motorcycle suspensions get compressed resulting in a fall around the sharp corner. Do not lean too much to scrape the ground with any lower part of your motorcycle. Inform your passenger to use their knees to hold onto you while cornering. Advise your passenger to keep an eye on the shoulder in the direction you turn. I have shared my ride with the type of passenger who leans towards the opposite side of the curve while turning. Which hampers cornering safely.
5. Acceleration
Avoid sudden or fast acceleration with a passenger. For carrying extra weight you have to accelerate a little bit more than solo driving. If you are a beginner, practice multiple times with your friend or an experienced guy in your back seat. Otherwise, a sudden acceleration with more force can lift the front wheel. Raise the throttle slowly to ensure a smooth move.
6. Breaking
Maintain additional safety and be more careful about breaking while sharing a ride with your passenger. Set your stops and start breaking your motorcycle from a safe distance. With an extra weight, breaking requires more time to stop. Though the front brake plays a 70% role in stopping a motorcycle Nevertheless the scenario is different for the rare brake. An extra weight added more convenience to the rear brake. It increases stopping power and stability to be a smooth operator.
Riding with a passenger means maintaining a good understanding. Listen to them if they are comfortable enough and not scared. Without any hesitation inform them if they are doing anything that is making you uncomfortable and also making your driving hard. Once you are comfortable enough with each other, give it a go and enjoy the ride.