Carrying a pillion passenger: Top tips for safe two-up riding

Riding a motorcycle with a pillion passenger can, for a first timer, be a daunting prospect, but in truth, it really shouldn’t be. It only takes a few small changes to your riding style and the bike set-up to ensure you do it safely.

Riding with a pillion is also one of the most rewarding things you can do on a bike. You don’t just share the experience of riding with the person on the perch; you share every moment and breathtaking view with them in real time. It’s all the more satisfying when the person you take on the bike is new to the world of two wheels. 

But to ensure they enjoy the ride and aren’t petrified from the second you pull away, there are some important things to consider.

How to ride a motorcycle with a pillion passenger

Before you get on the bike, it’s a good idea to have a chat with the passenger. Asking them if they have ever been on the back of a bike before is a good start. If they are new to riding two-up, let them know what is going to happen and make sure you cover cornering on a bike and how the bike will lean into turns. 

They will probably have seen bikes on the road, but the feeling of tipping into a corner on a bike will feel very alien at first, and much more extreme than it actually is. Remind them to lean with you as you make your way through turns and explain what would happen if they didn’t lean as you do. It’s also a good idea to show them how and where to hold on – either to you or the bike’s grab rails if they are within reach.

What riding kit does a pillion passenger need?

Like the rider of a bike, currently, UK law only requires a pillion to wear a helmet as a minimum safety requirement. That said, a helmet, a light jacket, jeans and trainers are not a safe option. If it’s possible, lend them some of your spare riding kit, some boots, textiles or leathers, and some gloves as well as a certified helmet that is the correct fit for them and in good working order.

Don’t overload the machine

Most motorcycles will have a maximum weight that the machine can carry. You must not exceed this, as you could be liable for a ticket if stopped by the police or invalidate your insurance if you did have an accident. The bike’s maximum laden weight will be listed in the handbook; if you don’t have that, check with a dealer before riding.

Should you adjust the bike before carrying a pillion?

Most bikes will require a modicum of tweaking before you take a passenger out on the road. The main area of attention will be the rear suspension, as it now has to deal with the weight of two people. Adding some preload to the rear shock to deal with this is a minimum requirement.

For the same reasons mentioned above, it’s also a good idea to give your tyres a visual check, topping them up to the specified pressure if required.

Be relaxed when you ride with a pillion passenger

One of the easiest things to get wrong when riding with a pillion is to tense up. It’s really easy to do, but it doesn’t help you, them or the bike. Try to keep your shoulders relaxed, and your passenger will feel more relaxed as a result. If you are riding for a long period of time, being relaxed will also help you to combat fatigue, and mean you arrive at your destination free of any aches and pains.

Be smooth

A big issue people have when riding with a pillion is the clash of helmets when accelerating, braking or changing gear. The problem stems from you (the rider) having a fuel tank, the handlebars and the footpegs to hang on to – your passenger just has the pegs and you. They also won’t be aware of the exact point you are going to brake, change gear, or open the throttle. You won’t be able to stop 100 per cent of the head clashes, but you can alleviate most of them.

The key here is to make smooth transitions from each of the bike’s controls, making your inputs to the bike as smooth as possible. Braking and accelerating the bike like you’re back on your bike test is a good starting point, you’ll give your passenger time to adapt their position on the seat and their grip on the bike or you to suit the situation. 

When changing gear, you can either feed the clutch out as smoothly as possible, trying to match the revs to make the transition up and down the box as seamless as possible. Or you can clutch-less shift up and down the box if that’s a technique you are familiar with. Try to get most of your braking done in a straight line, and when you tip the bike into turns, try to make it so you can make the turn at a constant radius. Nothing freaks out a nervous passenger like mid-corner changes of direction!

Put yourself in their boots!

Most bikes have a pillion seat located higher up than that of the rider. This means the act of leaning the bike into a corner will feel more pronounced to them than it will to you. You don’t want to dull the sensation too much, just tone it down slightly. As with leaning from side to side, the action of the bike pitching fore and aft will also seem more extreme to a pillion on a tall perch. Making your braking and accelerating inputs as smooth as possible is the key.

Take your time

It goes without saying, but riding with a pillion should be about enjoying being on the bike with another person. Most pillions would rather not be scraping pegs on a B-road - despite what they claim before getting on the bike. Riding like that, especially if they are inexperienced, will only freak them out, and it’ll probably be the last time they volunteer to hop on a bike again.

When riding around town, it’s probably a good idea to relax those last-minute overtakes and aggressive filtering a little. Still do it, by all means, it at least shows them one of the many benefits of a motorcycle, just tone it down a little and try not to force the bike through any tight gaps.

Plan ahead

For starters, you should know your route, where you’re going, and where you are going to stop off for a breather if this is more than just a ten-minute taster ride! You should also be planning further ahead than you would if you were riding solo. Slowing for junctions earlier, getting in lane earlier, and making other road users aware of your intentions sooner than you ordinarily would.

With two people on the bike, it’s obviously going to feel more cumbersome, and the kind of tight manoeuvres you can do with ease while riding alone will be a lot trickier. It’s best to avoid having to do a tight U-turn with a pillion on the bike. In most cases, I find it’s easier to ask them to hop off the bike for a minute so I can complete the turn on my own.

Riding a motorcycle with a pillion - the laws and the rules

Now we have covered some of the riding techniques for carrying a pillion, but before you head out with your riding companion, it’s important to look at when you can and can’t carry a pillion passenger on a motorcycle, and what the rules are.

What motorcycle licence do you need to ride with a pillion passenger?

To start with, the licence you hold will denote whether or not you can carry a pillion. If you are riding a bike on L-plates using CBT and provisional rules, you cannot legally carry a pillion passenger. If you are riding a moped up to 50cc and passed your full car test before February 1st 2001, you don’t require L-plates and can carry a pillion passenger – some roads (such as motorways) are excluded from use though.

For riders holding either an A2 or Full A motorcycle licence, pillion use is allowed without restrictions, although your insurance may need to be notified of this as not all insurance companies and underwriters allow pillion use.

Which motorcycles can you carry a pillion passenger on?

To legally carry a pillion passenger, the bike must have a ‘proper seat’, ruling out the ability for a passenger to rest on a rear mudguard or luggage rack. The bike must also be fitted with footrests that the passenger must be able to reach with their feet. To carry a pillion, the passenger must be able to sit astride the motorcycle facing forward with one foot on each of the footrests. Only one pillion passenger can be carried at any one time.

While those rules mean that theoretically, at least, most bikes are suitable, not all are. Small capacity bikes, for instance, aren't ideal for pillion riding, as the extra weight carried willl impair the perofmance of the already low-power engine. Larger motorcycles, above 40bhp, are better suited, as are bikes that allow the rider to flat-foot the ground at a standstill. There is nothing worse than having to tiptoe on a bike with the extra weight of a passenger on the back!

Can a child be carried as a pillion passenger?

Yes, they can, and at present, there is no minimum legal age for them to ride as a pillion. They must wear a suitable helmet, be able to sit astride the motorcycle seat with their feet on the footrests, and be able to hold on properly. Additionally, they should wear suitable protective clothing, and it is strongly recommended that they have parental consent.

The final point to make on taking a pillion is to only do it once you consider yourself to be a competent and confident solo rider. Take your time, pick the days when the weather is favourable, to start with, at least, and enjoy being able to share the world of two-wheels with somebody else.

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