| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
Here's the deal. A friend at work wants to take a ride on the back of my bike for lunch Friday. Considering I have a 50 mile round trip commute, I'm thinking it would be counterproductive to adjust the suspension for the short jaunt across town. BUT I know XB suspension is finicky. If I add an extra 120 lbs to the back and don't mess with the suspension, what are some handling changes that I should watch out for? Thanks! ~SM | ||
| Hootowl |
Have her look over your left shoulder when you turn left, and over your right shoulder when you turn right. If you're reasonably careful about corner speeds, you shouldn't have any issues with the suspension. You're going to notice the weight more than the change in handling. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
Unless your friend is a dude, then you have bigger problems. You have broken the cardinal rule of 4-balls/2-wheels. There is no suspension setting for 2 dudes, it's just plain wrong. (smile) | ||
| Xl1200r |
Turn in will slow down some, but the bike won't be unpredictable or dangerous or anything. Whenever I had a passanger, I would just jack the preload on the rear shock up to max and leave everything else alone - it's easy enough to do and it's only one change to make. | ||
| Swordsman |
LOL @ Biff... yeah, no dude. I didn't wanna come out and say "hey, there's this chick at work", so I left the 120 lb hint.  I doubt we'll hit anything higher than 40 mph for 2 blocks, unless I come up with a more creative route. Just wanted to make sure. Hoot, thanks for that advice on helmet position. Traffic will probably be messy (lunch in town always is), and I want to be doubly-sure nothing catches me off guard. ~SM | ||
| Hootowl |
You should put both feet down when stopped and keep your hand on the front brake. It's a lot easier to have a tip-over accident with an extra 120 pounds high up on the bike, especially when that 120 pounds moves unexpectedly. | ||
| Crackhead |
Tell her that if she gets scared to hug your chest and do not sit straight up in the middle of a turn. There is a nice right curve with good sight lines that I can take with some speed and the wife 2uped with me on the same road a few times. Well, I decided to carry some speed through the turn and have a decent lean and she decided to sit straight up. During the process of shitting my pants I got the closest to dragging a knee and kissing the bar end mirrors in my entire life. | ||
| Bott |
ask her to move slowly and as little as needed. don't let her on or off the bike until you signal to do so. I recall my gf hopping off once before I was ready and nearly dropping the bike. just dont throw too many rules at her all at once and get her nervous-keep her advised-but comfortable about the whole deal. | ||
| Etennuly |
120 pounds? Heck you might forget she is back there(unless she likes you of course). I carry 120 pounds of crap in my bags and my tent bag. I like running the corners this way, it just feels better when a 22 year old gixxer rider comes over at a rest stop and says something like "I was going to pass you until we got into the corners.....how long have you been waiting here?" Seriously, I have ridden people that with them and crap in the bags, push the limits of the GVWR by a couple of hundred pounds, these bikes still handle capably. You need to feel it out and not get out of your comfort zone. If she has never ridden before that in itself can be a challenge no matter how much she weighs. | ||
| Hootowl |
"There is no suspension setting for 2 dudes, it's just plain wrong." True, but I've still done it. I don't much like being on the back. If I hadn't trusted the operator with my life, I wouldn't have. | ||
| Drfudd |
What i do is increase the rear spring tension a little bit, that helps with two passengers when you don't want to go through the whole resetting of compression and rebound, just watch it in the corners as the rear suspension will sit down more causing some funny sensations, but if you pay attention and take it easy the first couple of turns you can compensate. adjusting the rear tension will reduce that sitting in the corners, but not eliminate it. and number one rule, I tell all my passengers to just sit there and look pretty, let me do all the work. | ||
| Ourdee |
Just tell her not to move when you're coming to a stop and hang on the rest of the time. I put the kick stand down before they get off just in case. | ||
| Balloyd66 |
@ Biff - ROFL. +1 to Drfudd with the addition of "When she dismounts, don't let her drag you off the bike, too." And...Congratulations! A woman that likes motorcycles is a good woman. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
I had to throw the joke. But all joking aside, the extra weight is not a huge issue on these bikes, it's the surprise movements of that weight when not expecting it. Others were right when they said they haul 120lbs of crap when traveling, but it also doesn't move (usually) On our 12xt's we have the luxury of adjusting the preload with the crank knob. Those without that knob, can go without, especially if it is only 120lbs and a short trip over lunch. All tips above on communication are great advice. Whenever sitting still or the passenger is getting on and off, I have my brakes held tight to control rolling. Good luck and enjoy it! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Watch out for the the front end popping up MUCH more easy. | ||
| Geforce |
Mind your slow speed maneuvers and give her a quick "passenger class" and you two will be just fine! Not to get further into the business...but does she have a helmet to wear at least? I picked my wife up from work one night and she didn't have any of her gear except for the helmet... so I took off my gloves, and jacket and she rode protected the 5 miles back to the house. | ||
| Swordsman |
She tried on my HJC and had her do the head shake test, and it seemed to fit well enough. I'm going to have another lady at work bring her helmet to see if it fits this girl any better, just in case. I'll be resorting back to my Scorpion 700. the Scorpion may actually fit her better (thicker cushion and more of it), but it's darn heavy compared to the HJC, and she thought the HJC weighed a lot.  ~SM | ||
| Azxb9r |
Cranking up the preload on the rear shock only takes a few minutes, but if you are only adding 120 lbs it may not be worth it just for a short ride. The steering will light, but handling will be sluggish. The brakes require more pressure, and the bike will be more prone to float the front tire. As others have mentioned, your biggest problem will be at stops if the passenger decides to squirm around and readjust their seating position. | ||
| Rageonthedl |
4-balls/2-wheels. The correct term is Nuts to Butts | ||
| Swordsman |
Well, the ride was a success! Just got back, as a matter of fact. Cranked the rear suspension preload up a notch as suggested. Everything went pretty smoothly. Biggest complaint is simply the Ss ergos. She kinda slid into me, which in turn made me to straddle the airbox. That far forward on the seat, the foot controls were awkward (I have a 30"-32" inseam, depending on who measures). That, and every time we slowed she let her weight fall into me, so I had to support us both via the handlebars. I think she was actually leaning forward because she was a little nervous, and of course the Ss has no rear hand grabs. After the ride I asked her about comfort level, and she said it was fine, so I guess I was the only one that was cramped! I bet we could fix a little bit of this on another trip out. Anyway, we survived lunch traffic, so it's all good.  Another coworker snapped a pic with her phone. I'll post it up as soon as she sends me a copy. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on October 15, 2010) | ||
| Hootowl |
"She kinda slid into me" Umm...That's what she said?  Ba-dum-bum | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Worked just as planned!  | ||
| Brinnutz |
Now, just get her to ride backwards in the rider seat and you will be changing the wording on that, "She kinda slid into me" saying... I'm just sayin'. | ||
| Bott |
well....second date? dinner and a movie Saturday night? | ||
| Swordsman |
LOL, you guys are awful! Alas, it doesn't go much farther than a bike ride. I'm married with kid, wouldnyaknow. But if I wasn't, this one would definitely be on the radar... she's frikkin' hot in my book. (can I say that and not get in trouble?)  ~SM | ||
| Jim2 |
You could have said that without getting into trouble but you just put it in writing.  | ||
| Drfudd |
I had the some problem with the stock Ss seat, I got the touring comfort seat and my passengers no longer slide into me, but you will always feel that extra weight on your hands during breaking. glad it went well, everyone always asks for more! | ||
| Skntpig |
Umm have her hold her own weight with her hands on the tank. No dead fish for passengers. |
