Riding with a passenger

Those of us who often ride with a passenger will tell you: every passenger behaves differently. For some, it’s their very first taste of the motorcycle world.

For them, feeling the bike lean into a curve, or even riding at very low speed, can be scary. So, rule number one: the first time someone climbs on the back of your bike, you don’t do 220 km/h on the Décarie Expressway! (Just a figure of speech, of course!)

Well before getting on the bike, I make sure my passenger understands one thing: “Once you’re seated, keep your feet on the footpegs.” Otherwise, we could lose our balance, not to mention the risk of burning your calves.

Keep in mind that once you’re riding with a helmet on, it can be hard to communicate. Unless you have an intercom system, agree beforehand on how you’ll communicate.

Something else to consider: passengers are often scared or don’t lean properly with the bike. When that happens, I tell them to stay close against me and follow my movements, but some are shy! If your bike has a passenger backrest, they can also lean against it and follow the bike’s movements that way.

On a motorcycle, the passenger plays a much more active part in the ride than in a car. They need to follow every movement of the bike along with the rider (and never against it!), avoid constantly shifting around, and squeeze their knees, just like the rider, when braking and cornering. They also shouldn’t try to check blind spots in the rider’s place.

It goes without saying that proper riding gear is a must for both rider and passenger. Some motorcycle clothing offers excellent protection while being ventilated enough to wear on long, hot days on the road.

Ride safe!