How to Ride on the Back of a Motorcycle

Make sure your driver is experienced at riding with a passenger, aka "two-up"., Wear proper clothing!, Wear a proper helmet!, Wear some sort of eye/face protection., Always wear gloves. , If the bike has adjustable suspension, the manual should tell...

29 Steps 1 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Make sure your driver is experienced at riding with a passenger

Driving with a passenger is very different from driving alone.

This is not the time for you to teach each other new skills.

Step 2: aka "two-up".

Even if it's hot, you want a leather jacket and (at least) blue jeans.

Wear high-top leather boots if you have them.

This is your only protection against road rash and (more likely) exhaust-pipe burns. , Laws or no laws, how much is your head worth? , At driving speed, hitting a large bug can feel like getting hit with a golf ball. ,,,, Almost all passenger seats are too high for the passenger's feet to reach the ground easily. ,,, Put your hands on the driver's shoulders for balance if needed. ,,,,, DON'T take them off.

Even if you can reach the ground it doesn't help the driver. , Just as motorcycles accelerate faster than cars, they decelerate faster, too. , You might want to agree upon a certain shoulder tap or something if you need to get his or her attention. , DON'T backseat drive. ,

Step 3: Wear proper clothing!

Step 4: Wear a proper helmet!

Step 5: Wear some sort of eye/face protection.

Step 6: Always wear gloves.

Step 7: If the bike has adjustable suspension

Step 8: the manual should tell you how to set it for a second person and the driver's and passenger's combined weight.

Step 9: Lower the passenger foot-pegs.

Step 10: Your driver needs to get on the bike first.

Step 11: Have your driver raise the kickstand and stand the bike up fully upright.

Step 12: When the driver is ready

Step 13: approach the bike from the side (I usually do it from the left).

Step 14: Place your foot (left if approaching from the left

Step 15: right otherwise) on the foot-peg and swing your body over the seat like you're getting on a horse.

Step 16: Place your other foot on the other foot-peg and sit straight up.

Step 17: Place your hands around the driver's midsection

Step 18: or on their hips.

Step 19: Tell your driver you're ready to go.

Step 20: When riding

Step 21: do not make any hand signals to other road users and ensure that you lean WITH the rider.

Step 22: When stopped

Step 23: DO keep your feet on the foot-pegs.

Step 24: Don't keep your head too close to the driver's

Step 25: or you'll bump heads when the bike slows down.

Step 26: At normal driving speeds

Step 27: the driver will not be able to hear you unless you shout VERY LOUD.

Step 28: DO let the driver concentrate.

Step 29: Enjoy the ride!

Detailed Guide