For the entire span of my motorcycling riding years, I have ridden Cruisers. Most of the time I rode alone. Every once and a while, the spouse or one of my daughters would ask me to take them for a ride, and I would.
The dynamics of riding "two up" got my attention really quickly! The extra torque required to get moving, and the extra braking to stop, were self-evident; but the bigger adjustment for me was the change in the center of gravity, which becomes higher with two bodies, because of the elevation of my riders on the bike.
Up hill stops at a traffic light or a Stop Sign are hard enough by myself at times, let alone with a passenger on board!
For those of you who have never taken a rider, perhaps this word of caution will help. Allow extra stopping distances; beware of balance issues, and give your rider as comfortable a seat as you can!
The 1st time that Becky rode with me, she started shifting herself on the highway. She told me to knock it off, but I explained that she was causing the bike to shimmy. She thought I was joking, but friends told her I wasn't. I prefer to ride alone, but Becky refuses to learn. I've come to realize that she would wipe out and get hurt or worse.
I've been rather fortunate..........my first wife and my daughters, and now my second wife, have all been good "riders." I don't know if it is because I took the time (not that you didn't, mind you) to discuss the "ride" with them, or if they were just naturally calm. Either way, I never had an issue insofar as how my passenger "rode."
MY issue was, getting used to the heavier bike (900 lbs. +), the higher center of gravity, and stops and starts on hills.
Each year, when the riding season starts (I'm in New England) I don't take ANY passengers until after I've had a week or so of re-acclimation to the bike. I need to become "friends" again with my ride, before I'll endanger another life.
I've ridden many times with passengers - children, teenagers and adults. Besides the physical differences (additional weight, higher center of gravity, longer braking distances, etc.), the biggest challenge for me was the emotional stress that I was no longer only responsible for myself, but also for the safety of my passenger. After a few hours, I was much more tired than I would have been riding alone from the stress.
I will carry a passenger if asked, but I certainly don't volunteer for it...
(My wife doesn't ride with me - she rode a motorcycle when she was a teenager, but stopped riding when she was pregnant with her daughter. That was 32 years ago...)
I know what you mean. More times than not, the passenger gets the worst of an accident. I would hate to have something happen to Becky. Especially since the only accident I've been in wasn't my fault. The thing that gets me the most right now is texters. I've almost been side swiped a couple times by them. Alone every time thankfully.
Soupy1957's last post brings up the logistics Autonomous Car Developers are trying to deal with.
In a situation where you have to choose between yourself, passenger, or the pedestrian to survive, who do you choose?
Regardless of what you might think, your brain can't make that determination is the split second before a crash.
In general, neither could a computer in the car.
So in both cases you should do what you can to minimize the force of the impact.......if you can't avoid it.
And that does NOT mean "laying the bike down" unless you are about to have your head taken off by going under a semi !! :fight2:
a long time ago......I had a friend who had recently married. His wife was pregnant. He was driving their small Sedan thru an intersection that was notorious for accidents, because the town had yet to install stop lights there (they have SINCE then).
He was always a bit of an aggressive driver, so it is likely he wasn't watching out for the other guy as well as he probably should have, but in any case, he saw a car approaching at a rapid rate of speed, and he was able to determine that it wasn't a question of "if" they would get into an accident, but rather, when.
He made a decision to put HIMSELF in the path of the oncoming car (his side of the vehicle), resulting in the saving of the life of his new wife and baby.
He made "the ultimate sacrifice" that has Biblical reference, "no greater love hath a man, that he would give his life for another" (paraphrased).
I resolved that day, when I heard of what my friend had done, that I would, if possible, put myself in harms way first, to save another. That philosophy has (fortunately) not needed to be exercised in my life yet, but I tap into its value in smaller ways, each and every day.
I have never been comfortable riding with a passenger. There is enough risk involved in riding motorcycles without adding the extra dynamic of an additional person.
I've never enjoyed riding with a passenger. Honestly, until my current bike, the bikes I've owned we're never just the right fit for me, let alone managing the weight and balance of someone behind me. My bike now is a perfect fit for me and I'd likely feel more comfortable with my wife on board. Prefer alone though.
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