Tips on getting Spouse to feel safe on the FJR

[seventyss]

Have been working for two months to get the Mrs. to go on short rides, which she has. Talk of longer rides has stalled because she thinks that she will fall asleep and fall off. Have been adding some safer gear including a new RF-1100 helmet. We have a Yammie top box that she leans against, so no worry about going off the back. Added a heated jacket to make sure she is warm and toasty. I have really been gentle with the throttle and big cornering angles. Any other ideas, other than just accepting the fact that the bike is way less fun for the pillion and that she only comes along to appease me?

 

[user 6393]

accept it and move on....

flowers, chocolate and jewelry may help

YRMV

 

[pjm204]

My girlfriend will ride with me but since its an obsession for me, I want to ride much more than she does. It helps when the destination is somewhere she wants to go. I've just accepted that she won't wont to go as far as I wanna go, or ride as often as I would like to. I enjoy having her on the back but I like riding alone as well. good luck getting her to ride more.

 

[El Toro]

My wife and I made an agreement many years ago - when we want to travel together, we want to have snacks, air conditioning, good audio, and room to spread out and bring along luggage .... maybe even the dog. So when we want to go somewhere together, we take a cage.

I really like the fact that I am free to go on motorcycle rides and trips by myself.... BMW video of the K1300GT traveling through Norway not withstanding.

I love my wife, but the motorcycle is more fun solo .... riding with a pillion is sort of like a decaf at Starbucks, i.e., "what's the point?"

My advice is to take advantage of the fact that she doesn't want to go, and enjoy the additional element of freedom.

Of course YMMV.

 

[Scoops]

yes, long rides on the back of the fjr can be sleep-inducing . . . and i have enjoyed more naps than i can count and never even slid to one side! There are actually a number of people who get a kick out of seeing my head slump forward . . . Violione has givi side cases and top case, which have been quite adequate in keeping me in place. besides, when he leans, i wake up and lean too.

it's the boredom factor that led me get my own bike, though it sure was nice sleeping away the 4 hours of slab that separate us from the mountains and the good roads.

Photography is a good hobby for pillions who don't want to sleep. other good pillion gifts are a kindle, electronic sudoku, or portable dvd player, not to mention kickass tunes and an airhawk.

best of luck to you!

 

[rushes]

No drinkin' till ya git where yer goin'.

You too...

 

[mcatrophy]

QUOTE (seventyss @ Jul 3 2010, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have been working for two months to get the Mrs. to go on short rides, which she has. Talk of longer rides has stalled because she thinks that she will fall asleep and fall off. Have been adding some safer gear including a new RF-1100 helmet. We have a Yammie top box that she leans against, so no worry about going off the back. Added a heated jacket to make sure she is warm and toasty. I have really been gentle with the throttle and big cornering angles. Any other ideas, other than just accepting the fact that the bike is way less fun for the pillion and that she only comes along to appease me?

Friends of mine do many miles on their FJR, she often sleeps on the back. He wears what he calls "love handles", a belt with a loop either side. She slips her arms through these, arms folded. Can't possibly fall off.

Only picture I have that shows these is this one (click on image for larger view)



Yes, it was raining.

 

[pjm204]

My girl's major complaint is her lack of visibility. I'm tall, she's short so she sees the back of my head. I'll often say, "hey look at that" and she will never get to see it. For me the biggest thing that added to our riding pleasure together was a communication system. I do think her taking some pictures while riding would help. I've got a backrest ready to go on soon which should help too. I don't find riding with a passenger any less enjoyable, barely notice she's there.

 

[Grumpy]

My girlfriend will ride with me but since its an obsession for me, I want to ride much more than she does. It helps when the destination is somewhere she wants to go. I've just accepted that she won't wont to go as far as I wanna go, or ride as often as I would like to. I enjoy having her on the back but I like riding alone as well. good luck getting her to ride more.

Sounds a lot like married sex to me, but then after 48 years of marriage what would I know about that?

jim

 

[pjm204]

My girlfriend will ride with me but since its an obsession for me, I want to ride much more than she does. It helps when the destination is somewhere she wants to go. I've just accepted that she won't wont to go as far as I wanna go, or ride as often as I would like to. I enjoy having her on the back but I like riding alone as well. good luck getting her to ride more.

Sounds a lot like married sex to me, but then after 48 years of marriage what would I know about that?

jim

Been with her 5 years...so I know the feeling. They lure you in, then stop putting out a few years later when its too late to bail out haha.

 

[ScottyUSN]

Duct tape, lot's of Duct tape..

OK, on a serious note... How about some velcro on the back of her jacket mated to the topbox?

Should stop (almost) all side to side movement, and fairly easy to peel off with a crunch like shift forward.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

I feel very fortunate. My wife of 28 years decided to get back on a bike about a year and a half ago, and she also gets tired on the boring stretches. I think the OP has a very valid question, and I have been brainstorming too, to try to come up with a good solution. I like the love handle idea. I had thought of a nylon strap (loop) attached to her, and a couple of clip-type buckles attached to the back of my jacket. When she gets tired, she can clip-up and then nod off.

I, too, am very lucky in that my wife is a fantastic passenger when the road gets interesting. I've leaned over far enough to skim a peg with her on the back, and never fell her tense up or fight the corner. I'm a lucky, lucky boy.

 

[SacramentoMike]

She can talk to you, right? If you don't have an intercom, that would seem like the first thing to do. And she can watch for cops, can't she?

 

[Bostonfan2]

Along with choosing destinations she would like to see, make sure the route is fun, avoid straight shots

of miles and miles, that even puts me to sleep, also include frequent stops, my wife is comfortable

with 300 mile rides stopping every 75 or so to stretch and bathroom breaks, If you dont have one

get an intercomm so you can talk , keep her safe and comfortable and you will get more miles with her...

Ray

 

[mike_123]

Have been working for two months to get the Mrs. to go on short rides, which she has. Talk of longer rides has stalled because she thinks that she will fall asleep and fall off. Have been adding some safer gear including a new RF-1100 helmet. We have a Yammie top box that she leans against, so no worry about going off the back. Added a heated jacket to make sure she is warm and toasty. I have really been gentle with the throttle and big cornering angles. Any other ideas, other than just accepting the fact that the bike is way less fun for the pillion and that she only comes along to appease me?

i cant ever get my wife on the back fo my fjr unless she needs a ride from dropping her car off to be serviced or doesnt want to walk home after running to work or something

she sais sitting on the back of the bike all she see is DOT on the back of my helmet and its incredibly boring sitting on the back

so this year she bought herself an fz6r and a motorcycle safety course

now she rides with me anywhere i want to go and shes usually standing at the door with the helmets ready for a ride when i get home from work

maybe you should suprise her with a safety course and see how she likes riding herself then she can make the decision to ride on the back or ride on her own

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

My wife is finally riding short rides with me on the FJR. For some reason she felt more comfortable on my old cruiser.

What has helped (per her feedback):

1) a backrest (Garauld's hits her back in just the right spot she says).

2) Passenger peg extenders because she has long legs.

3) Exhaust shields so she doesn't feel like she will burn herself getting on/off.

4) Decent Gear

5) I need to get an airhawk or sheepskin or something (eventually a custom seat) before long rides will work -- her words, not mine.

6) More frequent breaks than I would do, so she can pee, move around, get caffeine, etc.

7) Initially we used a buddy belt (They don't make them anymore as the company went out of business). It is similar to the one in the picture. A heavy Nylon with loops for handholds the pillion can hold onto. Since I got the other items she just hangs onto me. I still use it for the kids occassionally.

8) I ride conservatively with her on it.

Good luck!

 

[madmike2]

One thing that might help is riding with another couple. Most of the ladies appreciate the "sharing" and social aspect and NOT being the only lady in the mix.

My wife is finally riding short rides with me on the FJR. For some reason she felt more comfortable on my old cruiser.
What has helped (per her feedback):

5) I need to get an airhawk or sheepskin or something (eventually a custom seat) before long rides will work -- her words, not mine.

6) More frequent breaks than I would do, so she can pee, move around, get caffeine, etc.

[SIZE=12pt]D'ya think!?!?!?[/SIZE]

Try buying a lamb skin seat cover from NAPA-O'Reilleys-whatever auto parts-in-a-box/Walmart and trim it to fit and tuck under the passenger seat. That really should make a difference in the comfort.

On our local rides we try to plan "stretch" breaks every hour/75 miles. It helps the pillions and the social time isn't bad, either.

8) I ride conservatively with her on it.

You've gotta come ride with some of the 2-up NorCal bunch. [SIZE=8pt]Not to mention names: Mike, Rich, Brad, Mark, Rob, Dave, John, .....[/SIZE]

 

[Silver Penguin]

Way, way back when I would ride two-up with Andy, I often fell asleep. He had a top box and bags but no fancy accommodations for a passenger (we were teenagers, at the time). On the one and only time that we went down (rear tire issue at 70mph) I was able to walk away from the accident due to being totally relaxed. i.e. asleep when we hit the road.

Some great suggestions here, so far. I would add my support to enrolling your good lady in an MSF class, if that's something she would like to do. Riders make better passengers. She may prefer riding her own for short, local jaunts then be more willing to ride pillion for longer rides. Who knows, as her experience grows, she may want to do the longer rides on her own bike.

Andy and I have just got back from a ten day tour of six states. He rode his own. I rode my own. I won't mention our short, two-up ride and what happened, since it would be counter-productive to the spirit of this thread . We did have a wonderful time though. There are few things to beat sharing your passion for riding, with the one you love.

 

[madmike2]

We did have a wonderful time though. There are few things to beat sharing your passion for riding, with the one you love.

Awwwww...golly, gosh and gee whiz, now I have warm fuzzies. :wub: