Tips for Riding with a Passenger

It's exciting to share your love of motorcycles with someone else by bringing them along for the ride. But before you hit the road together, you'll want to take some proactive steps to ensure the experience goes smoothly. We rounded up our favorite tips for riding with a passenger below. For all your motorcycle needs, visit BMW Motorcycles of Burbank. We proudly serve those in Los Angeles, California.

Get the Gear

You know all the motorcycle gear you use to go riding? Your passenger should be a mirror image of you wearing all the same gear. See if they already own any items and make a list of what they are lacking. Then you will need to borrow or buy the rest.

They need a helmet of course. But it's not enough to have a helmet. For them to get the proper protection, it needs to be well-fitting and crash-test rated. Then they need a form of eye protection to keep out all the dust, dirt, and debris from getting into their eyes. If their helmet comes with a visor, they are good to go. If not, they will need sunglasses or goggles. 

Finally, they will need full-length outerwear. This helps protect their skin in the event of a crash and from the weather. It's helpful to bring along waterproof outerwear in case it rains, but it's not essential.

Get Your Motorcycle Ready

It'd be a shame to have to cut your motorcycle ride short due to a preventable maintenance issue cropping up! That's why you should conduct a pre-ride inspection before your ride. It'll help you catch issues and get them fixed before you hit the road with your buddy.

Start with your tires. Make sure they have the proper tread and air pressure levels. You can find the ideal amounts in the owner's manual or search the internet for the manufacturer's recommendations. Then look at your fluid levels and top off anything that's low. Make sure your lights are all visible and bright. Finally, it helps to go on a quick test ride to ensure your motorcycle brakes, accelerates, and turns like normal. If you notice any issues, bring it in to a profesional.

Get Your Passenger Ready

You'll want to have a quick chat with your passenger about basic safety practices. Go over what it'll be like to turn, brake, and accelerate. You don't want them to be caught off-guard and fall off!

If it's their first time on a motorcycle, consider going for a test ride first. It'll help them get a sense of the experience so they can ask more informed questions before the actual ride.

Because the road is loud, you'll need to pick a way to communicate with each other. Make hand signals for slow down, pull over, let’s get food, I need a bathroom, I need a break, and so on.

Riding Practices

Keep in mind that the extra weight affects how your motorcycle handles. You may need more time than usual to bring your motorcycle to a stop. Your turn radiuses might be different. It may be slower to accelerate than you're used to. Go slow at first while you figure out the differences. Drive defensively to enjoy a safe, fun motorcycle ride with your pal!

We hope you found our guide helpful! If you noticed any issues during your pre-ride inspection, bring your motorcycle to BMW Motorcycles of Burbank. Our expert staff can repair it in no time. We proudly serve those in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Fernando Valley, and SoCal, California. Stop by today!