Alright, first of all let me preface this with a few questions...

1. I'm a new rider, I don't really plan on taking passengers for awhile, but I'm just curious how long other people waited before taking people along with them?

2. When I do start taking passengers, they'll be 95% female. A few of my male friends already have bikes of their own anyways. What gear size is a good all-around bet for girls? What kind of adjustable gear is there out there jacket wise?

3. Helmets, the most likely case will be that I will get a cheaper helmet or something in my size and give my passenger my nicer Shoei, what is a good middleground helmet price wise that still offers good protection.

4. How do you communicate with your passengers? I'll be living in an urban area by the time I start taking passengers, so stop lights, stop signs and such...do you think headsets are still worth it? Also...are there any that tie into phones somehow?

5. How do you store your pillion gear?

Thanks!

 

Passengers should be 100% female. ;-)

1. Take passengers when you are ready for it. Give them instructions on how to be passengers...no shifting around on seat, lean when you lean, etc.
2. Most girls can wear small men's. Too, they can wear your spare/extra gear.
3. Always wear your own helmet. The passenger can wear whatever spare/extra you have. HJC, KBC, Bilt, helmets are inexpensive but sufficient.
4. Just talk to your passengers at stops. Hand signals for quick msgs. You can get communication systems for your helmets as well. Cell phones have bluetooth tech that you can use.
5. Use a tail box mounted on an accessory rail or on seat secured w/ net/cable lock.

 

- I waited a few months. But as long as the passenger knows to be your "backpack" youll be ok. if the dont lean w you, or start moving back there, then youll have a problem lol

- passengers MUST be 110% girls

- I give my passengers my spare helmet, and I wear my helmet. Neither one is the best, Spare is an ECE approved, it was like $100. My helmet is a HJC SNELL Approved ($360, track helmet). I wear my jacket and have them bring a leather jacket, dont worry, every girl has one lol

- Only talk to passengers at traffic lights, and all I do is open the visor, once both have it opened, you can talk. I even talk to other bikes like that.


Important for passengers: Tell them that when you accelerate, to push on the foot pegs with their legs/feet (obviously lol) instead of trying to hold on completely from you! it will be easier for them, and you will not have 120lbs pulling on you, the acceleration of the bike is enough pulling.