SuzukiSavage.com - Change in handling when carrying a passenger....

Dave Sisk

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Change in handling when carrying a passenger....
05/07/12 at 18:38:51

I have a learner's permit, so I can't legally carry a passenger in NC. I do plan to take the safety class in the next month or so, and get the full endorsement.

In the meantime, I'm just curious...what kind of handling changes should I expect the first time I put a passenger on the back? The bike will feel more top heavy at lower speeds of course. Harder to make low speed turns, probably swing a wider arc unintentionally I'd guess. Umm...what else should I expect?

Dave

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #1 - 05/07/12 at 19:28:57 Its not a lot difference unless the passenger is a lot heaver than you,Tell the passenger not to lean on a curve or they will throw of what your doing,
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Dave Sisk Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 163 Raleigh, NC Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #2 - 05/07/12 at 20:49:31 I don't plan on having any ladies heavier than me on the back of the bike. So, the passenger should try to stay upright when the bike and driver leans? Cheers, Dave
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #3 - 05/07/12 at 21:01:38 tell her to wrap her arms around you tight and don't let go
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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger..
Reply #4 - 05/07/12 at 21:42:30

My daughter, all 110 pounds of her, decided she should try to look aropund the car in front of us, to see if anything was coming,, thank God no one was, because when she leaned over to look, the bike changed lanes,, & I was way unhappy,, tell the passenger to stay straight with the bike, like a sissy bar, head centered over the middle of the seat. Minor movement is okay, but dont go leaning over,& sure enough, dont "help" in a turn,

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Dave

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Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger..
Reply #5 - 05/08/12 at 03:20:05

A couple of months ago we were visiting family in Florida. After a few days of "visiting" and spending time together.....everyone needs a break and my wife and I rented a very large Harley for a day and went riding. The bike is huge and heavy and at speeds she could wiggle all she wanted and that big bike didn't care. We came to a red traffic light and just as we approached it and I leaned left to put my left leg down....she leaned left was well. Thank goodness I have been going to the gym regularly for the last 1.5 years......it was everything I could go to keep that Harley, the wife and I upright! Shocked

When you are squated down in that saddle and your leg is out.....instead of down....you really don't have a good angle for heavy lifting.

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Paraquat

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Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger..
Reply #6 - 05/08/12 at 04:53:43

Dave Sisk wrote on 05/07/12 at 20:49:31:

I don't plan on having any ladies heavier than me on the back of the bike. Grin

You never plan on it, but sometimes it happens. I've found that, unlike wine, the older I get the less... "refined" my tastes become.

Before this site I didn't know I could adjust the seat with risers - I've always ridden on the stock seat which as we all know is angled forward. My last girlfriend would slide down so she'd constantly be adjusting herself. Little changes like that affect a lot when you're not expecting it.

--Steve

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger..
Reply #7 - 05/08/12 at 07:41:18

I respect no man more than the skinny old dude who has the 200 +pounder up on the Queen seat of his Gold Wing & is sitting at the stop sign, calmly waiting for a clear spot in traffic. Ive come so close to dumping Bull coming to a halt,, There is no moment as likely to see me fall than that moment when I go from moving, to stopped.

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The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke.

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Dave Sisk Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 163 Raleigh, NC Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #8 - 05/08/12 at 08:11:56 Somehow, I just knew this thread would have some comedic undertones.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #9 - 05/08/12 at 08:17:35 EVERY thread needs some humor.
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Dave Sisk Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 163 Raleigh, NC Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #10 - 05/08/12 at 18:23:40 verslagen1 wrote on 05/07/12 at 21:01:38: tell her to wrap her arms around you tight and don't let go ...And continue to do so once you're on the bike behind me. Dave
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Bubba

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Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger..
Reply #11 - 05/09/12 at 09:06:04

My wife likes to go for rides sometimes...she is a total wiggle worm tho'...when I ride with her I always try to be prepared for any wierd movement...especially coming to a stop. I don't blame her cuz the passenger seat is not made for...well a passenger.
The bike is so darn light that any movement is amplified.
One trick I've found is to ride scary fast...then she really wraps her arms and legs around me tight!

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'06 lt Blue, Dyna Power pipe, air screw 2 1/4 turns, 52.5 pilot w/ bleed holes, 150 Main, 2/3 spacer, Pirelli MT66 tires, Raptor petcock, 412-4006 Progressive shocks

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AlphaBarney Full Member Offline Were you born to resist, or be abused? Posts: 121 Raleigh, NC Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #12 - 05/12/12 at 09:41:02 Hey Dave, welcome! If you are looking into the MSF course, you should check out JCC's program. I took that with Vikki Deaton and Susan Hill. Excellent teachers!! Not sure where you are in Raleigh, may be a hike to Smithfield.
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Dave Sisk Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 163 Raleigh, NC Gender:	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #13 - 05/12/12 at 10:34:43 Hey neighbor! Yeah, the Wake Tech MSF course is booked up until August, the Harley dealer class is twice the price, so I am looking at the Johnston County Tech MSF class. Haven't scheduled it yet (kinda waiting on a lady friend who wants to do it with me), but it's on the list for soon. Dave
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Paraquat Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2206	Re: Change in handling when carrying a passenger.. Reply #14 - 05/12/12 at 20:06:14 Dave Sisk wrote on 05/12/12 at 10:34:43: (kinda waiting on a lady friend who wants to do it with me), Couldn't let that pass unnoticed. --Steve
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