Motorcycle Riding with a Passenger

Ready to take your motorcycle riding to the next level? Bring a buddy on your next venture. It'll give you someone to help navigate and explore your destination with and will give them a thrilling experience! But before you hit the road, you'll want to set yourselves up for success. A little proactive planning goes a long way in making the trip go smoothly. We rounded up some tips for motorcycle riding with a passenger below.

Get the Gear

Riding motorcycles requires a certain amount of safety gear, which applies to your passenger as well. They won't need everything that you use (such as motorcycle gloves since they won't be gripping the handlebars and need that protection). However, there are some non-negotiable pieces of gear they need to stay safe.

First off, they'll need a properly fitting helmet. If the helmet doesn't come with a visor, they will need some other form of eye protection. Goggles or sunglasses should work fine.

Second, they will need the proper clothing. Normal clothes won't be able to hold up against the unforgiving pavement in the event of a crash. They should wear something sturdy (ideally, a motorcycle riding jacket and riding pants). It should be full-length to offer full protection. It doesn't have to be waterproof, but that will make the ride even more comfortable in the event it starts to rain or snow.

Get Your Passenger Ready

If your riding partner has never been on a bike before, it may be helpful to go for a short test ride first. It'll help demystify the experience, help them know what follow-up questions to ask, and help them better gauge their endurance level so you can plan accordingly. Before you head out, you'll want to review motorcycle passenger safety. Talk about how turning, braking, and accelerating work and what you'll need from them.

Safety Practices

Remember that the extra weight of the passenger is going to affect your motorcycle. The turning radius is different, so it'll take longer to accelerate and brake. You'll want to ride defensively and leave plenty of space between you and other motorists to compensate for the increased brake time. You'll also want to take turns slower while you figure out the turning radius.

We hope you found these tips helpful! For all your motorcycle needs, visit Road Track & Trail in Big Bend, WI. We proudly serve all those in Milwaukee and Waukesha, WI, as well as Chicago, IL.