Riding with a Passenger

Motorcycle enthusiasts are constantly in search of the next adrenaline rush. As fun as it might be to cruise down the open road on your own, it can be even more exciting with a passenger. Whether you invite a fellow rider along, a family member, or a friend, this will surely add another layer of adventure to your experience. Before you hop on your bike with your passenger, you’ll want to take a few extra steps to prepare. Cross Country Cycle has gathered some tips below.

If you’re still in the market for a new ride, visit our dealership to check out our motorcycles for sale, including BMW motorcycles and Ducati motorcycles. We’re located in Metuchen and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. We proudly serve the states of New Jersey and New York.

Inspect your Motorcycle

Your ride with a passenger will begin like any other ride, which is with an inspection. You’ll perform the same checks as always with a few extras. When you add a passenger, you need to be certain that your motorcycle is equipped to handle the weight of another rider. Fortunately, many touring models perform well with the additional weight. Other bikes might not fare so well. The quality of your ride should never be compromised due to the weight of another person. If you plan on regularly having another rider or traveling long distances often, you should keep this in mind when you’re browsing motorcycles for sale.

It’s also important to note that if your passenger has never ridden a motorcycle before, they probably don’t know what to expect. You should take the time to have a detailed conversation about essential riding techniques before you hit the road. Another good idea is to establish a means of communication to use while you’re riding together, such as hand signals. After all, it can get pretty noisy on the street, so you’ll want to have a way to communicate. Be sure to teach your passenger the basics when it comes to accelerating, turning, braking, leaning into curves, navigating congested areas, and so on.

Choose the Right Gear

If you’re a seasoned rider, you know how crucial it is to choose the right gear. When you add a passenger to the mix, the gear becomes even more critical. Regardless of your passenger’s skill level, you’ll want to set aside plenty of time for discussing gear choices. Remember that you’re responsible for their safety and yours. Neither of you should ever skip out on required gear.

You’ll both need to be wearing a protective helmet. If you have a spare, you can lend it to your passenger as long as it fits properly. A helmet shouldn’t wiggle or slide off with movement. Make sure you’re both wearing clothes that are appropriate for riding. Your passenger should choose heavier clothing that’s highly durable, like a pants and jacket combo that’ll hold up on the road. There’s always the option of investing in riding apparel, but if they’re only going to join you once or twice, they should be able to get away with wearing their own durable clothing.

Safety Practices

Once you’ve decided to bring a passenger along for the ride, you’ll need to implement extra safety practices. As always, you need to pay close attention to your surroundings and your passenger. This is especially important when they’re trying to communicate with you. Bear in mind that motorcycles accelerate much harder than cars. If your passenger has a seat without a backing, they’re going to jerk around quite a bit. You should try to be mindful of this and go easy when you brake and accelerate. You can’t always avoid bumping helmets, but this won’t be too much of an issue.

You’re officially ready to hit the road with your passenger. We hope this guide has been helpful. If you’ve got questions or want to browse our motorcycles for sale, swing by our dealership. You’ll find us conveniently located in Metuchen and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. We also serve the states of New Jersey and New York. Whether you’re looking for a BMW motorcycle or Ducati motorcycle, there’s plenty more where that came from.