Off road pillion riding

My wife and I took a little run yesterday, and at a whim I decided to head offroad for a stretch. We ended up doing a bit of gravel roads (fairly good condition with a few ruts) and some jeep track (rocky, steep descents and ascents etc). I had her stand up with me, and I found it rather difficult. Any form of sudden acceleration or deceleration had her pulling and pushing on me, resulting in unnecessary movement on top of the bike. I have straps on the sides of my jacket on which she held on. Are there any suggestions out there as to how we should approach this, where she must hold on, where we must locate our balance etc. to have a more comfortable ride. Hats off to the guys that did the GS challenge with a pillion...

steyngert,

My Girlfriend and I went to Kosi Bay and Sodwana the past weekend. When we headed back from Sodwana, we took a gravel road to get to the N2. It was about 70km. We got everything from sand to gravel, ruts and rocky bits. It was the first time I did such a long stretch off-road with a pillion. There were no very technical bits such as steep inclines or declines or sharp turns. We only usually get up on the foot pegs when we want to give our bums a break (on the long road).

But anyway, I got to realise that it’s definitely much more comfortable to sit down as far as possible. As soon as it gets a bit technical both rider and pillion should transfer as much weight as possible to the foot pegs without standing up. It also felt much more stable when my girlfriend sat right up against me holding on tight. For the very technical bits (which are usually short stretches) I would rather let the pillion get off and ride through it alone while standing.

Please note that I am still very much a beginner and this is my opinion based on very little offroad experience.

I think it would take serious training and a lot of practise before a rider and pillion would be able to comfortably ride off-road. I think the pillion would also need a lot more skill than the usual pillion. It helps if the pillion has some background and therefore knows what to expect, i.e. if you hit sand and it gets wobbly the pillion is not caught off guard/surprised when you gas it… It should make a huge difference if the pillion also knows how to ride a bike and has experience in off-road riding (not as a pillion). But that would very rarely be the case, as that person would then most likely have their own bike on which to ride off road.

I think the best idea is to inform your pillion as much you can. If the pillion understands off-road riding, he/she knows what to expect when and the rider should experience a lot less pushing and pulling.

Will the guys with experience please correct me if my thinking is wrong, but this is how I see it.

Sias,

I think you are right - it is only time in the saddle that will make it more comfortable. Offroad with pillion becomes more of a team sport than a mere social activity.

I agree! Think the pillion needs just as much skill and experience for the “team” to ride off-road well…

"...and two shall become one...?"

I'm used to baggage behind me, not a dynamic weight that will stand up and lean and move c-of-g.

I reckon I would need training in this too...

question is - is this not too dangerous an endeavour? Is it worthwhile? It feels like I have so little control, particularly on the brake and throttle.

I've seen Charl and Vanessa - in sand - thick sand - on the beach - 2 up - Amazing.
It can be done.

(All standing up with a pillion experience I have is the rest-the-bum one, on tar, 100km/h or slower - - shame )

Truly amazing...!




...and Charl isn't bad either..!