Passenger Comfort

[TheAxeman]

A couple of you guys have mentioned your loved one "napping" on the back when you are riding...Are you serious??? My GF did it one time and after a 1/2 hour of bitching at her for doing so she never has done it since. If the passenger is so tired they can't stay awake for a couple of hours of travel I don't want them on the back of the bike. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she were to ever fall off or be ejected off because of me making an evasive maneuver while she was "napping". There is just to much at stake. On a Wing you can almost see it because the passenger has armrests to prevent sideward movement, but on an FJR???

 

[panthercity]

Axeman, I'll send you Anna's cell # and you try tellin' her what she can and can't do...

 

[rogdeb]

Axeman,

Per Debbie,

The napping is unintentional, mostly after a lunch on a hot day. It's really light snoozing and she's out of it when our helmets touch as she leans forward, or any slight sideways move.

Like panther, I'm not telling her she can't do it

 

[TheAxeman]

Rog, I know exactly what you are talking about. Michelles helmet bouncing off the back of mine was the only indication that she was napping and it woke her up immediately. Maybe I'm just sensitive to it because I ride primarily solo but it scared me to death. At the risk of her not speaking to me for week I felt I HAD to give her a verbal reaming.....I don't really think she fully appreciated what I felt was a serious offense. I know many others are comfortable with it, I'm just saying that I'm not. No offense intended to the nappers....

And now back to our regularly scheduled thread....

 

[awryders]

Hi Fellas,,Well ummm,,,napping.Yes,been there done that .Rallys and cross-country trips will generate some big miles.We've done a number of 1200-1500 mile days.The Mrs. will take a nap, due sometimes to exhaustion or once in awhile due to lack of intrest . She's real comfy with the stock seat and top box(which has the angle(Pitch)slightly altered).She leans foward,turns her head to the side and nods off.I can tell how deep she's sleeping cause the Auto-Com will pick up her snoring . There have been times she's slept for a couple of hours .After 19 years she must trust me.. :blink:

 

[twowheelnut]

Question for the guy who started this post with the long name...

You asking about an '06, or earlier models? If you're asking about and '06, none of us can answer your question as it's a different bike from previous years and no one has ridden one, let alone, ridden 2 up. If '05 or earlier da brudda's gotcha covered.

 

[Maywannayamaha1300]

Hi there gents and maams. Roger from NY here....enjoying all the feedback and comments from the FJR gang. Yeah..my name is long....I was a potential wannabe when I created it. Now, I'm a friendly impatient waiter looking to pass the time and gain some knowledge while my clock goes tick tock ...seems like an eternity since I ordered the FJR. Anyway, in answer to your question....I figured that the new FJR will be somewhat similar and I wanted some ideas and feedback about pillion comfort. I'm back in the dating world and lord knows how the height and weight of my dates tend to vary...so thanks everybody for your pearls of wisdom and experience of which (FJR related) I have none.

 

[bikerskier]

05 with a Sargent seat and backrest which we both far prefer to the stock saddle. Marianne is comfortable for about 2 x 200 mile segments per day as long as she is not cold. She is 5' 7" and about 130#.

Old rule when riding with a fair maiden... Don't let them get wet, don't let them get cold, don't scare them!

That is if you want them to come along once in awhile and look the other way when you spend too much on pretty sparklies for the toys.

 

[Tim05fjr]

Hey Roger,

I took my girlfriend to Niagra Falls last Sept. I live on Long Island and she is up in Albany. It was her first long ride on a motorcycle. I split the trip up the way up there, stopping overnight after the half way point. Then on the way home we did it in one day. She said at no point was she uncomfortable and now she wants to take the bike everywhere!!!

I think this ones a keeper. ( the bike and the girlfriend)

Tim

 

[Maywannayamaha1300]

Hi Tim. I'm also on LI. I live in Nassau County. What year bike do you have ? It sounds like you're a lucky guy .... you have a great motorcycle and a great gf.

Maybe I'll catch you around one of these days.

 

[vdoguy]

Catherine is 5'10".  Mods/additions to the bike:  passenger peg extenders, ...

My wife and I have done three 2000 mile trips and aside from the napping issue; she always asks to stop when she's fading and she's had naps in some pretty weird places... Even my daughter says that she almost always finds herself nodding off on the Feejer, a testament to it's smoothness I guess...

I have the stock seat, the Givi V46 mounted on the the Universal fittment plate and had the backrest pad thinned by an upholsterer. Her only complaint is that there is not enough lumbar support so we use the bike cover bag filled with the cover and towels bungied so that it gives more support to her lower back. She certainly enjoys it and we're planning a trip to Newfoundland this summer. We've ridden through all sorts of weather and as long as I keep the Cee Bailey (4"x3") screen up at 3/4s height she stays very dry and warm enough.

Her only real complaint is that the pegs are a bit too high, hence the reason for quoting the message above. What are the best passenger peg extenders? And where to get them?

 

[awryders]

Old rule when riding with a fair maiden... Don't let them get wet, don't let them get cold, don't scare them!

Bikerskier,,, You are so right :lol: :lol:

And lets not forget,,, food + drink,,, every now and again

 

[Grumpy]

At the time I bought passenger peg extenders the only ones available were from Bike Johnny. Seems like I recently saw a different brand on ebay. In any event, they make a difference.

 

[kanfjr]

My SO and I used to ride a VS1400 Intruder. One day we rode to the Yamaha dealer to "look" at the FJR. She got to sit on it and bought it later that day. We would ride the Intruder a couple hundred miles a day. (max!) On the FJR she has gone about 350-400 miles per day. We could have gone farther (I think) but the temps outside were running around 90. She couldn't take the heat. Anyway, we have the Yamaha stock trunk, pad, and seat. She is usually always ready to ride whenever I ask. :clap:

 

[SilveradoSlick]

vdoguy,

I got mine from Cycle istic. Nice guy. When I got mine he didn't have anything specifically for the FJR so I had to use a grinder. Looks like he's got them for the FJR now.

 

[leebunyard]

Passenger napping on a ride can easily have deadly consequences. About 15 years ago, my secretary at the time was on a ride with her (then) husband with a large group of Goldwingers. On the ride back to Sacramento on Hiway 50 while still in the mountains a friend of theirs drifted off riding behind her husband on their GL1500. The woman fell off the bike at 50 mph and was killed. Her husband apparently never got over it and gave up riding all together.

Warn your passengers that if they start getting sleepy to alert you so you can stop and get them rejuvenated.

Lee in the Mountains of Northern California B)

 

[zzkenoman]

Ok..I told my wife how much the backrest, custom seat, new driver seat and you know what happened? If she won't give you the $$$, you gotta DIY

 

[Bounce]

A couple of you guys have mentioned your loved one "napping" on the back when you are riding...Are you serious??? My GF did it one time and after a 1/2 hour of bitching at her for doing so she never has done it since. If the passenger is so tired they can't stay awake for a couple of hours of travel I don't want them on the back of the bike. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she were to ever fall off or be ejected off because of me making an evasive maneuver while she was "napping". There is just to much at stake. On a Wing you can almost see it because the passenger has armrests to prevent sideward movement, but on an FJR???

I've mentioned the same thing on Wing lists and been flamed for it. I stand by my personal opinion. People may do it but it doesn't mean it's safe or smart.

 

[vdoguy]

vdoguy,
I got mine from Cycle istic. Nice guy. When I got mine he didn't have anything specifically for the FJR so I had to use a grinder. Looks like he's got them for the FJR now.

Thanks for the info SilveradoSlick, I'll check them out.

 

[Silver Penguin]

My bride unit is 5'2" and 105. She likes riding about 75 miles on the stock FJR seat. She hated the stock seat on my Warrior, can't blame her for that, and was terrified to ride it on the highway, even with a sissybar backrest.

The Warrior SUCKS for a passenger, unless your knees belong somewhere up near your ears. The footpegs are so high that you end up sat on your tailbone. I've ridden on the back of DH's bike for no more than five miserable miles at a time.

The FJR is MUCH better for a passenger and a lot more comfortable than DH's K1200S. Of course, I prefer the front seat of my own bike but of all the bikes we have, mine is the best for a passenger even without the box.

Last time we took a ride together, I feel asleep on the freeway, it was so relaxing (and boring).

Jill