Riding with a Passenger
What motorcycle enthusiast doesn't love sharing their passion with others? Bringing a passenger on your bike makes for a great riding experience. You get to show off your motorcycle skills. They get to experience the thrill of the open road. But before you take your buddy along, set yourself up for a successful time. We rounded up our favorite tips for riding with a passenger below. For all your motorcycle needs, visit Maxey's Motorsports. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Get the Gear
Any motorcycle gear you wear, your passenger should wear too. Start by seeing if they own anything already, then you'll need to borrow or buy the rest.
First, they'll need a well-fitting and crash-test rated helmet. Second, they'll need a form of eye protection. If the helmet comes with a visor, they are good to go. If not, then they'll want goggles or sunglasses. Third, they'll need full-length outerwear to protect their skin from the weather and in the event of a bike crash. It can be helpful to have waterproof outerwear in case it rains.
Get Your Motorcycle Ready
A quick way to ruin a motorcycle trip is to experience preventable maintenance issues on the road. Do a pre-ride inspection before your trip so that you can catch any issues and get them fixed first. Start by checking the tires. Do they have enough tread? Are they inflated to the proper air pressure level? Next, look at your fluid levels and top off anything that's low. Then, check out your lights to ensure they are all visible and bright. Finally, it helps to go for a test ride to check the braking, acceleration, and turning on your motorcycle. Take your bike in to a professional if anything isn't working right.
Get Your Passenger Ready
You'll want to go over basic motorcycle safety practices with your passenger. Talk about how turning braking and accelerating works. You don’t want them to be caught off guard and fall off!
If it's their first time on a motorcycle, consider going for a quick test ride first. That way, they can get a sense of the experience and ask more informed questions before you make the actual trip.
You'll also want to pick a way to communicate to each other. The road is just too loud to be able to talk, so you'll need hand signals or taps to communicate. Come up with signals for “slow down,” “pull over,” “let’s get food,” “I need a bathroom,” “I need a break,” and anything else you may need. You can search the internet for ideas or make up your own.
Riding Practices
Keep in mind that the extra weight will affect how your motorcycle handles. It'll brake different, have a different turning radius, and have a different acceleration speed. Drive with this in mind by leaving more space than normal between you and other vehicles, and take things slow as you figure out how your bike is being affected. Drive defensively and you'll both enjoy a fun, safe time!
Bringing a passenger onto your bike is a great experience. Make sure your motorcycle is up for the adventure! If you need any parts replaced or a service before your ride, visit Maxey's Motorsports. We also offer a wide range of motorcycles for sale if you are looking to buy. Look into our financing options as a way to get your dream bike home sooner. If you aren't sure which model is for you, check out our test ride option. We proudly serve those in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Shawnee, Oklahoma. Stop by and visit today!