WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

I think we all have had this happen to us.

You are in a large room when, from the blue, you hear your name or a word that cuts through it all and brings your attention to bear.

This happened this morning at the gym.

I was on one machine, in the middle of a set, and throughout the noise and hubbub that occurs in a place like this I clearly hear… "Motorcycle Accident."

Like hearing your name, or something else near and dear to you, these two words came in like ‘Breaking News’ used too.

Some call it theCocktail Party Effect. Thephenomenon that occurs when you're able to hear your name being called, even in a crowded room filled with chatter. This ability of our brains shows just how our names, and things important are to us.

It is hard to ignore something like this being said, and the angels on my shoulder immediately began to arm wrestle on what, if anything, I should do here.

Not being the shy guy, I waited till she was done with her set, introduced myself, and asked about the accident. It was her sister… and it was nothing like what I had expected to hear.

Middle of the day, on a charity ride, and her sister lost consciousness and fell off the back. Did she just fall asleep, or did she have a condition that had her pass out – that is to be determined – but it got us thinking about riding with a passenger.

On one side of this discussion was a friend of mine who will not take passengers on the back at all; claiming it is too distracting and takes away from the riding pleasure.

But many of us take a guest now and again, and these passengers, we will call Copilots, need to be vetted constantly.

Let’s look at some factors that will come into play when you have a “pillion.”

One thing to consider is weight and size. It is far more difficult to passenger someone on a small machine. No matter how you look at it – two adults on a petite bike does not make for a fun day. So, if you are going to do any real amount of two-up travel choose a bike that can handle it.

Another part of the discussion was saddles, and the good and bad of armrests. You will see many bigger machines with pillions that rival the best La-Z-Boy – and many have armrests. Some passengers grow to depend on these, and the thought of not having them makes them feel a bit antsy.

Yes, they certainly snug the copilot in behind the pilot (rider), but also keep them “Locked In” which is not a good thing if an incident occurs. There is a reason we do not have seat belts on bikes.

My thought, and you can feel free to differ here, is I want my copilot to be part of the ride – not just baggage.

When we are on the road it is not uncommon for us to leave one bike behind, and have Shira ride pillion on my GS to dinner, or a baseball game. It’s easier, and I like having her on the bike – a warm summer night with my honey behind me is the best!

But… she is an experienced rider and when riding with her on the back she is part of the ride. She leans the right way, and she doesn’t slam her helmet into mine at each stop light. She knows how to be a good passenger. I know other couples that are simply amazing two-up on a ride – they are like one and they are as impressive as hell. 

As the Pilot – you have a responsibility for the safety of your Copilot.

That is where vetting and taking on the responsibility for a passenger should always be in play. Let’s assume you are all good, and 100%; but how is your passenger? With the woman who lost consciousness and fell off the bike… did she know she had this issue? Her sister told me she had passed out at work just weeks before. So that is an issue, right?

The point is that if you are taking on the responsibility of a passenger then make sure they are physically up to it and know what is going to happen. That motorcycles need to lean to turn, and that sudden starts and stops are common and to be ready for them. Have them be part of the experience from the first time they get on the back. Communicate with them – if you don't have a comm system, then make sure they know they can signal you if they have a problem, or need to stop, eat, or pee. 

Encourage them to snuggle in tight. A talented copilot can usually sit with their hands on their thighs, but when they see action coming up (turns, traffic, or a situation) to firmly grasp your waist – yes boys, even if you got your 'bro' on the back.

There is an art to being a great copilot. Not everyone should ride a motorcycle, and not everyone should be a passenger – it is up to you to earn these wings.