Some people see motorcycling as a strictly solo passion, and of course, that’s a perfectly respectable view — like any other. But for most of us, one of the best things about riding is sharing the experience. If almost every bike on the market has a passenger seat — and has had one since forever — there must be a reason. I’ve been riding motorcycles all my life, and most of my travels have been with someone on the back. And I’ve noticed that many riders overlook a key detail: educating the passenger.
There’s a lot you should explain before setting off. How to dress — and how much. How to fasten the helmet. How to get on the bike, how to sit, where to hold on, how much to move, how to get off. If you don’t have an intercom, you should also agree on how to communicate — they might not know that at 80 km/h, you can hear each other just fine if you crack open a full-face helmet’s visor for a second. And in case of need, a quick tap on the shoulder is all it takes to slow down.
Getting on and off deserves its own chapter. Not all passengers are acrobats who can keep one foot on the ground and swing their leg over the seat. If the seat is high, or there are panniers or a top case, your co-pilot may need another method: placing their left foot on the left peg (or right foot on the right peg) and hoisting themselves up — which shifts the bike’s balance. It’s no big deal if your guest doesn’t weigh a ton — you just need to be prepared and not caught off guard. A little coordination goes a long way.
All these things will become second nature after a few days riding together, but at first, it’s better to be generous with advice. When I think back to trips to the seaside, or steep gravel trails in Corsica or Sardinia on a big bike, or tight maneuvers in narrow spaces that ended with me falling over like a fool looking for nonexistent footing — that’s where a very specific piece of advice comes in. Let me share it with you, along with the little speech I give to every new riding partner.
“If you feel us tipping over while stationary — it happens, don’t make that face, let me finish — if we’re falling while stopped, don’t try to fight it. Let yourself fall on the leaning side, preferably away from the bike.”
Because tipping over at a standstill happens to everyone — even the best — and you can forgive yourself a bent handlebar, a cracked windshield, or a dented tank. But you can’t forgive a leg injury to your passenger — or worse, a fracture. Ankles and shins are very vulnerable in this kind of fall, especially if they end up under the bike.
We’re talking about riders who are geared up properly, even on vacation — never without protection. The fall itself, at very low speed, is no big deal. But it’s critical that the passenger doesn’t leave their leg trapped under the bike. Easier said than done. Yelling at them in the moment — when the bike’s already tilting and there’s no saving it — won’t help. “Move your leg!” Yeah, right. By then it’s too late. We’ve passed the warning stage — we’re in full panic mode. That’s why my recommendation is: prevention. Passengers must be informed before the ride begins — right down to the last detail.
