Tips for Riding with a Passenger on your Motorcycle
Bob LaRosaDescription
Nothing says more fun than two guys on a Harley! Bob and Mark might not ride like this everyday but they wanted to give us some pointers on how to do it right. We shot this video because I asked them what was the #1 paint or chrome issue that they see come in the shop. Take a look.
Let's discuss mounting and dismounting your motorcycle. More often than not, I see outer fairings are damaged in this area, or if the particular motorcycle that has sustained damage has a front engine guard, you'll see the guard has a nice, big gouge in the chrome. Usually, what that is from is when the motorcycle is either parked incorrectly and falls on its own, or if the rider and passenger are not getting on and off the motorcycle correctly. You have to understand the fulcrum point on a motorcycle is true vertical. Once you hit a certain angle past true vertical, you're past the point of no return. Don't try to save the motorcycle. Chances are you'll only cause injury to yourself or your passenger. Just try to let it fall gently and get away from it. Don't get trapped under it, whether it's the left side or the right side that the motorcycle's falling to. I see a lot of people attempt to climb onto their motorcycle from the right side. You can. It's not against the grain. Again, this is my opinion, what I've collected from past experience, what I've seen. If you climb on from the right side, you always take the weight right off the kickstand. If you have a very strong kickstand spring, the kickstand may close, and you don't realize it. You go to put the bike on the kickstand, or you don't quite have time to put your left foot down, the motorcycle's going over on you. You get on the right side, you're just asking for trouble. Always climb onto your motorcycle from the kickstand side, the left side. You're guaranteed the motorcycle's gonna be against the kickstand. I have never seen a kickstand break. I've seen 'em sink into the dirt. I've seen 'em bend where the motorcycle's at an awkward angle, but I've seen one just break clean, and the motorcycle tip over. Again, when you're getting ready to ride, you could always straighten your front handlebars, straighten the front end out. Start your motorcycle, get ready to ride with it on the kickstand. Safe way to be. Make sure you're comfortable, make sure you're dressed correctly. Let's take a look on having your passenger mount and dismount the motorcycle. We're getting ready for a ride. The driver is dressed, motorcycle's started, we're in neutral, clutch disengaged. Front fork lock all the way to the left. Before your passenger goes to climb on, make sure you fold down the foot peg or floorboard not only on the left side, but also on the right side. Make sure you yourself have a good, firm footing. Remember, when you lift up the weight of the motorcycle with a passenger on the back, you don't want to have to be reaching for the ground to hold up the weight of the motorcycle, yourself, and your passenger. Always start loading the motorcycle, mounting and dismounting it, not only the rider, but the passenger with it on the kickstand. I'll have Mark come in. He can climb right on the left side peg. Climb right onto the motorcycle. Your passenger now has both feet on both pegs, you have both feet on the ground. The entire weight of the motorcycle is resting on the kickstand. You can straighten your front fork out. You could stand the bike upright. Knowing you have a good, firm footing, you could fold the kickstand up and you're ready to ride. You don't have to worry about the passenger squiring around getting on the motorcycle while you're holding the weight of the bike. I hear it more often than not, "Oh, the reason we tipped over is my passenger "was squirming around." Believe me. If you can't support the weight of your body and the passenger's body with a little motion, what are you gonna do if you ever come into the panic situation where you really need to get on the brake or get on the gas to avoid some type of accident, some type of debris in the road? Again, the same applies when you go to get off the bike. I myself, when I'm done riding, shut off the motorcycle, make sure it's in neutral, clutch disengaged. Have your passenger get off first. When the motorcycle's to full left lock, they can use the handlebar to assist in climbing off. Again, it's just as important, you, as the rider to have a safe way to mount and dismount the motorcycle. Always make sure once your passenger's off the motorcycle, fold up the rear pegs and floorboards, whether it's left and right side, that way there you, yourself, with the motorcycle on the kickstand can just climb right off the motorcycle. And if the bike is on a nice solid surface on the kickstand, you know it'll be where you parked it when you return.
Please show mount and dismount with a tourpak installed. I have a 2018 FLTRU with a back rest, rear arm rest, and a tourpak. Thank you
Good information. I'd like to see the same procedure with a King Tour Pak mounted.
Should have teamed up with Demon Cycles for the 2 up Demo!
I am a left leg amputee lost leg when teen ran stop sign while texting, but I still ride, however your tip is great for someone with two good legs, but I have a real difficult time loading from that side with my prosthetic leg, any tips for loading from the right side? I get on and off but I lift my leg with one hand and swing it over but sometimes I worry about the bike tipping .. thanks for any advice.. butch aka poppa smurf
Very good info. Am now looking for a gracefull way for an old timer to mount a TriGlide Ultra. Pretty high rear seat to throw leg over.
I am unable to disagree with anything you have offered. Great stuff!!! However, have you attempted the exact same mount and dismount techniques on a classic or limited with a tour-pack. The left fork lock position is quite troublesome attempting to swing right leg over the seat. Enjoy all your stuff.
Pretty good video but here's a couple of thoughts. If you're mounting from the right side, as if in traffic, don't step on the right floorboard/peg, just mount the motorcycle as if you were on the left side. Before your passenger mounts, leave the engine off and the trans in first. This will prevent any unwanted rolling of the motorcycle. There's no need to start the motor ahead of time, even the carb models. When straightening the motor up, use the handle bars as leverage and straighten them last. Lastly, when dismounting, shut the engine down, again leave the tranny in first and then let the passenger dismount. I like the kickstand down when mounting a passenger as well, most people straighten up the bike and then have their passenger mount. Not my favorite thing to watch. MSF Instructor NYPD Motorcycle Unit, Ret
Generally good advice. However, based on a police training course I have taken mounting from the right side should be done when you are parallel to the flow of traffic; Interstate, main road, etc. When mounting or dismounting you are moving away from the flow of traffic. And it is to easy to dismount and turn wide from the motorcycle putting yourself closer to or into the flow of traffic.
Great info, thanks!