Passenger Safety

[Peteg]

My wife and I are riding a standard with Mustang seats. It's been fitted with hard bags and a tour pack. It's the biggest most comfortable bike we've ever been on. I'm 5'-4", comfortably seated with my adjustable back rest adjusted full forward. She's all the way back against the tour pack. There's way more space between us than we're used to. Recently we slid down the road at about 10 mpg after getting grease on the tires. She came off the bike so fast it was like I pressed an ejector button. Now I'm worried she might come off the bike when she shouldn't, like a hard brake and swerve to avoid an unexpected collision. In the future I plan to make her hold a strap around my waste, something she does on our other bikes. Does anyone with more experience know about issues with unwanted passenger ejections during aggressive maneuvers? I'm thinking we should probably do some parking lot drills without going full out life or death mode. Fortunately we can ride almost exclusively in low traffic situations, and we don't push the bike, but I hate to think of her sliding down the road, with me still up on the bike.

[Jess from VA]

They make belts for the driver with loops for the passenger to hold (with good handholds).  Some are more elaborate than others.


They also make (or used to) some nice fold up/down armrests that attach to the sissy bar/passenger backrest.  I remember some comments that this was installed because their passenger tended to fall asleep.


However, it is my experience that if the bike flops down/over hard, both rider and passenger can be pitched off the side of the bike like rag dolls.  Pure physics.  

This happened to me the other day and I had the worst get-off I've had in over 50 years.  I wasn't going very fast, but the cars ahead were all going, except the last guy stopped short.  I grabbed brakes hard in a slight turn, discovered I was on sand, the back end broke loose and came around, there was no time (before impact) to readjust my braking (let go and straighten out, then brake again), and in one second, I was sliding on my back next to my bike (like a rag doll).  The driver of the stopped car got right out and apologized for stopping short, but I told him it was my own fault.  He helped me lift her back up.  Had to cycle the ignition for the tip over switch, and off I went.

I was all geared up and my only injury was a pinched thumb.  Though the next morning I had mild shoulder and hip pain from impact (gone in two days).  My gear was rubbed but not torn, but my helmet was badly rashed (and replaced).  The bike took all the damage in the front (major) and rear (minor) engine guards, and only a mirror and hwy peg were knocked loose.  I was lucky.  I must have relived this mishap 50 times thinking about it.  I was also humbled.  I pride myself that a few days short of 70, I have all my riding skills.  But sh!t happens (and pride goes before a fall).

Don't mean to drift your thread.

[Jims99]

Sometimes it’s safer to get away from the bike when going down.  But I agree with the arm rests, I had them on one of mine and wife loved them. There’s a few others that use them. I believe ultimate seats sold them and may still. The owner also owns Valkyries. Maybe move the trunk forward just a bit, may be the easiest way.

[RonW]

Hondaline, I presume. Internet pics.



I don't know if this is Hondaline.

[WintrSol]

Sometimes it’s safer to get away from the bike when going down.

Yes - I'd rather slide down the road than be crushed under a bike, any day. The few times I've gone down (all low-sides, thankfully), I made sure to kick the bike away, once it was clear I wasn't getting it back.

[Jess from VA]

The three low side fall-and-slides I've had, I was pitched off and bounced off the pavement and slid along beside the bike, but never in danger of contacting it.  Once, me and the bike went farther apart during the slide.  Always on pavement, not off the road or over the hill or ditch. 

Now I had occasion to fall off a dirt bike doing hill climbs, and the dang thing tried to land on me (several times).  Really all manner of get offs in the dirt.  Fell off practicing wheelies, and got up running and almost caught the bike before it fell over.  But I haven't done any of that for decades.

[Ramie]

I inverted some saddle bag supports to they stick up next to the seat if my wife needs something to hang on too.  Also go with something like this if you have a sisssy bar.



https://www.bigbikethings.com/details/p4325477_16647557.aspx

[Peteg]

Thanks for all the input! I was thinking of strap around my body handles as opposed to the strap she uses on the other bikes. We actually tried a set with the other bikes but went with just a basic strap that she holds in each hand. The handles seemed a little overkill when she's riding her front to my back, but with the Valkyrie riding position the more robust handles would likely be better than a simple strap. I like the Honda line grab handles, but I don't think she'd like having her arms in the downward position. If she just grabbed for them when required, I'd be afraid she'd miss them. I think I'll ask her what she thinks. If she thinks she'll use the grab handles I can mount a set, then she can decide if she'd rather ride with fixed grab handles or handles strapped to my body. Then there's always go with both and if she gets tired of her arms in one position, she can switch to the other. I guess if she decides she's never getting on it again it will make the decision process really easy. 

[Peteg]

Her tour pack backrest has mine arm rest empty speaker housings. I got her out on the bike and told her I could cut bicycle handle bars that would extend out of the speaker housings with nice black hand grips. That way she can rest her arms on the armrests and hold onto the bicycle handgrips with her hands. She said she'd try that! Thanks again for all the input 

[RonW]

The armrest that Jess posted is foldable. I surmise counter-clock wise in the pic.

They also make (or used to) some nice fold up/down armrests that attach to the sissy bar/passenger backrest.

[Jess from VA]

A lot of back seaters could not get on or off the bike with the arm rests down.   

[Peteg]

I'm not sure I could make those work with the trunk tour pack. My back rest will drop forward if I move up to the tank when she climbs on, but we checked out the clearance for handles assuming she would get on first and off last, with my backrest flat forward. Either way we will be able to get her on and off it just won't be as easy as before. It's better than her not riding on the Valkyrie.

[ridingron]

Another example (for sale).

https://www.bigbikethings.com/details/p4325477_16647557.aspx

[Jess from VA]

assuming she would get on first and off last

It's always better if you get on first, to upright and stabilize the bike.  And she gets off first (also for stability).

When you're ready (bike running, kickstand up, bike level, both your feet down, both hands on the bars), you tell her to get on.  From the left side, she steps her left foot on her footpeg, and puts her left hand on your shoulder (and maybe right hand on the tour pack).  She stands up on the peg and steps her right foot and leg over and through and slides onto the pillion seat.  When she's on and ready, she taps your shoulder.  (When you are ready for her to get off, you tap her left leg.)

Getting off, just reverse this process, her first.  

Practice this "best method" a few times.  It will build confidence for both of you.

If she gets on first, while on the kickstand, then after you get on, you not only have to jerk the bike weight up to level off the stand, you must add her (tall) weight to the equation.  Not a good plan.

Another good plan is if you stop somewhere the ground or footing is uneven (or the parking lot or gas station requires a slow bunch of twists and turns to exit), she doesn't get on where you are stopped.  You look for a good (better) place where footing is flat and level (and no more complex maneuvers are needed, like right before the exit apron to the street), and have her walk over there and wait, and you ride over to her solo.  Then she gets on.  There is no shame in this "best method."

The motorcycle safety course is all inside a box, because that's the hardest riding there is.  Have her get on after you are out of the box (wherever you are).

[psckam]

A lot of back seaters could not get on or off the bike with the arm rests down.   

That is what  i was thinking

[Peteg]

I bought bicycle handle bars with grips that lock on. I was able to bend them with a hydraulic pipe bender to fit inside the mini armrest on the tour pack. My wife only rides with me on day trips, weekenders and vacations so we decided to go cheap, removable, and strap on. I fastened the bar with 3 cinch straps. One behind the seat looped through the tour pack attachment hardware. It stays in place permanently but has enough slack so I can easily fish the handle bar through it before cinching. The other 2 straps are captured by the hinges when you close the trunk. They have enough slack to allow trunk opening and assist in passenger loading. Amazingly she was able to climb on and off easily with the handles strapped tight which is good because she had a hard time cinching and tucking in the excess strap when she was sitting on the seat. All in all at this the initial fit up phase, they seem really secure and comfortable. We plan to try some crisp parking lot stops this weekend to see if she's still liking them.

[Relax]

I have this foot pegs extension installed on my bike,,,they made a total difference for wife, sitting behind me. They lower the legs, knees and gives a more relaxed position. They also lower the weigh point of the passenger. She is more stable and it lowers the risk for falling off.

It also gives us more hours riding per day', which we both like.

They are named Grand Canyon foot rest extension with a part number 04-0711550

 

[Peteg]

Pretty cool, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't work for my wife. She's only 5' tall and the first issue she seems to have on a ride is blood flow to her legs getting cutoff. It seems to be  pelvic pressure at the front of the seat under her upper thighs. We typically need to raise her boards (she hates pegs) up, to shift the pressure to her butt, to keep her legs from going to sleep.

[Jess from VA]

There are some threads on here with discussions about raising the pegs or boards for short back seaters.

From fancy bracketry to wood blocks.

I'm not tall, and some chairs will cut the blood flow to my lower legs. 

[Relax]

Pretty cool, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't work for my wife. She's only 5' tall and the first issue she seems to have on a ride is blood flow to her legs getting cutoff. It seems to be  pelvic pressure at the front of the seat under her upper thighs. We typically need to raise her boards (she hates pegs) up, to shift the pressure to her butt, to keep her legs from going to sleep.

Wife is 5,2' ..we have standard seats, ( Valk, standard, 2001)

[Gondul]

Sorry, but the physics involved would preclude her from holding onto *anything* in the event of a crash.

Your choices are:

1. Don't ride with your wife
2. Make sure she has actual protective gear and not 'fashion' motorcycle clothing which is not CE certified/approved (CE tested doesn't mean anything).

Most stuff made in the US is *NOT* considered to be PPE for motorcycle riding... only those companies that sell overseas have their clothing tested to meet CE standards.

EN 1621-1 only refers to the armor
EN 1621-2 is a higher standard for back protectors
EN 17092 refers to the material the clothing is made from (A, AA, or AAA)
EN 13634 covers footwear
EN 13594 covers gloves

https://www.motorcyclegear.com/info_pages/faq_armor_ratings_explained.html

[Peteg]

I guess if I wanted her to stay on the bike during a crash I would go with a seat belt, but I'd prefer to keep her safe. We've been married 41 years and she still hasn't figure out she could do better.

[Led]

I don't think there is anything one can do, to keep them from bailing off.  In the old days, they kept their arms around your waist......

On long trips, my GF likes to fall asleep.

I would be riding along with Her behind me......and all of a sudden, I would feel Her JERK!!  I knew then, She was starting to nap!  NOT good on a Motorcycle??  Lol!!

Edited to add......I don't think it is a great idea, to TIE someone to the bike in event of a accident or mishap. As with a "seatbelt"????

 Many occasions, it is better to be tossed away from the event??  Either way, it will hurt, but which gives one, better odds for survival??

[Peteg]

I could always tell when she was falling asleep on our Triumph. She sits so close, her helmet starts banging on mine. With the Valk she sits way back with the back rest and mini arm rests. She was really comfortable back there until I got into some grease and went down at about 10 mpg. After seeing how easily she came out forward she didn't feel comfortable with the bike anymore. She gave it a grade of "needs improvement". I'm hopeful the handle bars are the required improvement. Initial fitup seems good. Hope to get her on the bike for a test ride soon.

[gordonv]

I've a pair of these for my wife,



We've not tried them yet, but the out piece swing out from the back and flips to the front, so she has another place to rest her foot. 5' tall also.

[Led]

Evel Knievel had that happen to Him in a crash.  The Bike "followed" Him.....and landed right on top of Him!!! Wembley Stadium London, if I remember.....??

[Led]

Just like the Horse riders of old......if you are afraid of getting tossed off.....

STICK to cars!!!!  I mean, it IS a Motorcycle, after all....???