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| Yes, of course I chose a photo of Michael from Grease 2 for this article. Via |
Hey ladies. Hey there. Hey. I've been on the back of a motorcycle exactly twice in my life, and it's a bit of a fear of mine if I'm being honest. Today Jessie Hughes is back with an article on why it maybe shouldn't be.
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Motorbikes tend to be
something that people are either in love with, or are a bit scared of. Then of
course, you get the people who haven't tried going on a bike yet and are kind
of in both camps – the bikes look cool, the gear looks cool, but isn't it a bit
frightening going that fast without a car around you?
Going On the Back
For most women who see the appeal of a motorcycle but haven't been enthused enough to get a license and ride their own, the first opportunity to experience riding a bike generally comes when a bike loving friend or boyfriend offers that coveted position on the back of their ride. To the person offering, this is nothing - they ride their bike all the time and think it's great, so it may not occur to them that when they pat that little space of seat behind them and tell you to get on, your heart may well be metaphorically in your mouth!
Are You Ready To Accept That Ride?
It is never a good
idea to hop on the back of a bike without being prepared in terms of safety,
but if you are good to go in terms of clothing and a well fitting helmet, then
there is really nothing to be afraid of as a pillion passenger – as long as you
trust the person in front! If you are offered a ride home from somewhere on the
back of a motorcycle with a borrowed helmet that is far too big and you are
wearing a little summer dress, maybe take a rain check, however if you are good
friends or in a relationship with a motorcycle enthusiast, opportunities to
take a ride on the back will come up often, so why not invest in your own
helmet and some gear? Some motorcycle
gear by the big bike brands like Dainese clothing looks
really good, and as you shop for cool boots, gloves, motorcycle jeans (which
look like regular jeans but have built in armor!) and jackets you might find it
is worth being into bikes just for the clothes!
Actually Riding
Once you are wearing
appropriate stuff, then you need to bite the bullet and actually get on the
bike. Only do this for the first time with somebody you know is a competent
rider and is used to carrying a passenger – the handling of the bike changes with somebody
on the back and you
want them to be completely at ease too, so you'll feel safer and be able to
enjoy yourself. The ideal sort of trip would be about thirty minutes, so you
have long enough to get a real sense of what it is like but without starting to
ache from being in a position you aren't used to for too long. People worry
that they won't remember to do things like lean in on corners, but most people
find they do this naturally, and are soon completely relaxed and wondering what
they were ever afraid of!
As long as you are
with a good rider and well protected by your gear, you are likely to feel quite
safe quite early into your first time on the back of a motorcycle – so gear up
and accept that offer of a ride!
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Tell me - are you a motorbike owner? A frequent passenger on the back?
Tell me - are you a motorbike owner? A frequent passenger on the back?
I haven't been on the back of a bike often but it was with a very experienced rider. i wouldn't trust just anyone.
ReplyDeleteI own my bike, but haven't ridden her in awhile :(! I can't store her at my apartment so she stays with my parents. Even though she's a 250 my dad still rides her to work sometimes. I LOVE riding on the back of motorcycles, seriously, I'd hope on with a stranger if I could. Cheers to this post!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been on the back of bike twice and both times it was fun, but my husband owned a bike in his late teen years and had a terrible accident due to someone else (a teen girl driving) so he's never been back on and I never will either LOL....xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI haven't ridden on the back of a motorcycle in quite a while but when I did, it was a ton of fun! I had two boyfriends in the past who had motorcycles so I rode them a decent amount. It was scary at first, but then definitely fun!
ReplyDeleteListen, I keep hoping Steph will never do the skydiving thing on her bucket list and I really do not want her getting on any motorcycles!!!
ReplyDeleteToo many crazies on the road. I feel kind of safe on a cruiser bike riding the canal path with a helmet on- even then
you have to watch out for people not paying attention and you can either fall into the river or the canal. The canal is straight, flat, no cars!! For those on bikes of any kind- angels and lights!
Love, Steph's Momma
This post has great advice! Luckily when I wanted to try a friend had a helmet I could borrow and another friend had a bike he was used to riding on with this wife every once in a while so I wasn't too scared. We only did it for a short time, but I got a good feel for a sport bike. Now I want to ride on a cruising bike, I think that's more my style!
ReplyDeleteI've never ridden on the back of a motorcycle but it's actually on my bucket list - because I'm so scared of it! I want to conquer that fear! It's no longer a requirement to wear a helmet on a bike in MI and that drives me nuts... no matter what, I will be wearing a helmet when this day comes.
ReplyDeletemy family is huge into harleys, so it was always a part of my life. it was seriously like the movie mask, if you've ever seen that. my uncle is still in a motorcycle club and my late dad used to ride.
ReplyDeleteonce my friend got into an accident and almost died... i just can't handle it! makes me way too nervous!
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of friends up north who had bikes, and I loved to ride on the back. But recently one of my good friends was in a terrible accident (a lady in a giant SUV not paying attention), and he's needed several surgeries from it. I'm so glad he's alive, but it was so scary! I'm a big proponent of those bumper stickers that say "Check twice for motorcycles" :)
ReplyDeleteahhh, I want to believe all of this and great points have been made! I have been SOOO scared on the back of one, I must admit. I always feel like I might just detach and fall. I think a lot of it has to do with not being the one in control.
ReplyDeleteoh gosh - ever since I witnessed that motorcycle accident earlier this year & found the rider in the middle of a corn field, I'm petrified of motorcycles now. When one drives past me on the road, I hold my breath.
ReplyDeleteI'm scared to death of motorcycles. I went on one once in my life and when I was 13 and it was with my dad around our quiet neighborhood streets. Jacob used to ride one and I always refused.
ReplyDeleteMy dad had motorcycles when I was growing up so I have been on lots of rides. The last time was in high school sometime. I have to say, the older I get...the scarier it is for me lol.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has had a bike for nearly eight years, and I love riding on the back. I have no interest in driving one. We had it six months before I ever went near it. He took classes, which made me feel alot better. We've been in the mountains, on the twisty turn roads, which scared the crap out of me. We've ridden to Myrtle Beach and Panama City. We have alot of weekends where we ride 400 miles. Seeing things from inside a vehicle doesn't compare to seeing it from the back of a bike IMO.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have for sure seen some awesome stuff from the bike!
DeleteI get so nervous being on the back of a motorbike these days especially turning corners and I also hate being locked into a helmet. I think it's a control thing. lol
ReplyDeletei have never been on the back of a motorbike.. in KY it's not the law that you have to wear a helmet or protective gear, so i doubt i ever will. KC used to have a motorbike but he sold it when i moved here. for a hot minute 10 years ago i wanted to get a motorbike (because traffic in sydney sucks and the bikes always zipped past it) but i couldn't hold the damn thing up hahaha.
ReplyDeleteAs i secure as a result restless to be in the once again to a motorbike in recent times notably making aspects and even As i moreover do not like to be based proper motorbike helmet.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re looking for best motorcycle helmet click here
As a girl i always ride bike for my daily activity. Nothing wrong with it. Actually, all girls now can do anything through their bike help. It's a life changing vehicle for women. You can check motorcycle helmet details any website like mine.
ReplyDelete