Tips For Riding A Motorcycle With A Passenger

Author: Matt LeClair

Are you thinking about taking a trip on your motorcycle and plan on having a passenger along with you for the ride? Here are some tips that will help you ride your motorcycle safely when you have a passenger on board.

Getting On And Off The Motorcycle

If you are going to have a passenger riding with you, make sure you (the driver) are the first one on and the last one off of the motorcycle. This allows you to always stay in control of the motorcycle while your passenger is getting on and getting off the motorcycle. You never want to let your passenger get on first because the bike can become unstable and tip over causing possible injuries.


Balance

Another change that occurs when you have a passenger while riding your motorcycle is the balance of the motorcycle. Because there are two of you on the motorcycle now, it is going to be more difficult to balance the bike when starting and stopping. When coming to a stop or starting out, make sure you keep both feet planted firmly on the ground and both hands securely on the handlebars. This will allow you to have full control of the motorcycle during these times.

Increased Weight, Decreased Stopping Ability

The first thing you have to keep in mind when riding your motorcycle with a passenger is that you are going to be much heavier than if you were riding by yourself. What does this mean? It means that you and your motorcycle are now heavier and more difficult to stop, or at least it will take longer to stop than before. This means that you will have to account for upcoming stops a little sooner than you normally would.

Turning

Another aspect of riding that is affected when you have a passenger on the motorcycle with you is turning. Because there are now two of you, the way that the motorcycle handles in turns will now be different because of the increased weight. You might have to instruct your passenger about leaning into turns at the same time that you do. One thing that you don't want your passenger to do is lean the opposite direction as you when going into a turn. This can cause instability and can increase the risk of getting into a crash.

Keeping you and your passenger safe while riding your motorcycle should always be your number one priority. If you take caution while riding and always ensure that you are handling the motorcycle properly, then you'll be able to enjoy safe rides for many years to come.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/tips-for-riding-a-motorcycle-with-a-passenger-4519401.html
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