Tips for motorcycle passengers

Summer is the time for those longer motorcycle rides, including rallies such as Sturgis and the already past Republic of Texas Biker Rally. So it goes that you are more likely to take along a passenger on your motorcycle to keep company. Here are some riding tips for motorcycle passengers.

The rider should suggest appropriate clothes for the passenger to wear. Like the rider, the passenger must wear protective clothing in case of an accident or an unlikely spill. Leather jackets and pants are highly suggested, but if the passenger does not or cannot get a hold of a pair of leather pants, any durable pair will do the trick. For the jacket it can be anything durable as long as it's abrasion resistant.

The passenger should wear shoes that will protect their feet, but boots are highly recommended over regular shoes. Wearing a helmet is a must for safety reasons, it is preferred to wear a helmet with a face shield, and if the helmet doesn't have one, then one must wear goggles or glasses to protect the rider's eyes. Being comfortable is important, especially with the unpredictable Texas weather, but the usual comfortable clothes are loose and billowy, and they can become stuck in the motorcycle's rear wheel, drive chain, or any other moving part, so please refrain from using extremely loose clothing.

Before mounting the motorcycle, make sure the passenger knows how to get on and get off. The passenger should know where the foot pegs are located, and if they are down or not. It is generally custom to mount and dismount from the left. While doing this, one should be aware of the location of the exhaust pipes, and try not to touch them with your legs since they can be hot and can cause minor burns. By just lifting your left leg one can just gently slide and mount the motorcycle, without forgetting to set your feet on the pegs. Before getting off a motorcycle, the passenger should wait for the rider to say it is okay to get off, since an unexpected weight change can make the motorcycle fall.

While the motorcycle is in motion, it is important the rider keep their feet on the pegs and cinching down any laces on their footwear. Doing so lowers the possibility from their feet getting caught on the rear wheel, drive chain, or touching the exhaust pipe, which, again, is extremely hot. Passengers should never try to help the rider hold up the bike.

For safety reasons the passenger should always hold on to the rider's hips, since holding their hips keeps the weight on the bike centered, and the bike's movements smooth. If the passenger moves around, the movement can overthrow the balance of the motorcycle and can lead to an accident. Motorcycles tend to do turns by leaning to the side that they are turning into, so don't freak out! Just position your body to where the motorcycle is leaning. When the motorcycle comes to any stops, the passenger tends to slide into the rider, in order to prevent this the passenger should brace their weight against the foot pegs and use their thigh muscles.

By following these tips, both the rider and the passenger can be safe. When both passengers and riders are comfortable and safe, they can simply relax and enjoy the motorcycle ride, and then while on a lengthy ride the only worry is where you're going to stop next and get something to eat!