I need tips for tandem riding

[mspilker]

Anyone have pointers on riding tandem? I am taking my first trip with someone on the back in a month. Any pointers for either of us would be great.

[SNC1923]

First of all, welcome to the BMW MOA Forum. You've found a great place and you're welcome here.

Second, Dave Swider, aka Kbasa, our club's current president, wrote an article on tandem riding in an issue of the Owner's News not too long ago. I'll try to find it, and if someone else knows what month/year it was, do chime in.

[gsjay]

Anyone have pointers on riding tandem? I am taking my first trip with someone on the back in a month. Any pointers for either of us would be great.

If your passenger is Warm and Dry most else won't be hard to overcome.

Really, spare no expense keeping your passenger warm & dry. If she's cold and/or wet it won't be fun for her and won't be fun for you.

And more importantly it might be her first & last trip!

One who likes to have SO along for the ride.

jason

[SCQTT]

Do not take a trip with someone if it is your first time or their first time.

Try a few lunch/dinner rides. Then a day trip or two. Then take a weekend.

If all of that goes well then take a trip.

I friend of mine was killed when he took an inexperienced passenger out for a ride. They were both wearing full gear. They both died. The police said it was a one vehicle accident. He was a good & careful rider. I'm sure he was taking it easy. Best guess is his passenger freaked out (they crashed in a corner)

[mrich12000]

Make sure you lay down the lean rule.if not you'll find out:banghead :banghead

[grossjohann]

If your passenger is Warm and Dry most else won't be hard to overcome.

Really, spare no expense keeping your passenger warm & dry. If she's cold and/or wet it won't be fun for her and won't be fun for you.

And more importantly it might be her first & last trip!

One who likes to have SO along for the ride.

jason

+1

Took a trip with my wife last year. We had to cover 300mi in the pouring rain. I had a ball...(you should have seen the mist over the mountains). She wanted to find another hotel.

- Keep Newton’s laws in mind
- Remember extra weight will be on the bike when you do your T-CLOCS inspection (see MSF)
- Accelerate more easily, and keep the speed down
- Break sooner
- Corner less sharply
- Don’t turn your head to look at her when you talk (intercom?)
- Plan for weather x 10 (If you think it might rain, pack for a monsoon. If you think it might be chilly, pack for the artic.)
- Know how you want to pack the bike ahead of time
- Plan to stop every 1 to 1.5 hours

She’s likely going to want to bring enough clothing for three to four times the length of the trip. Part of your fun is in the preparation. You know what is needed on a long trip (gear, tools, fluids, Anonymous Book…). You need to involve your passenger in the packing process by giving her an area all her own. I usually suggest that we both have a side bag for our personal effects. That way we can bring whatever we can fit into it, and it is fair (although she’s 4’11’’ and can put a month’s worth into a 32L bag). The top case(s) are usually easily accessible and are good for gear, cameras, water, snacks and the like.

If you are safe, if she is warm and dry, if she doesn’t resent you for not letting her take evening ware for every occasion, if you don’t push her beyond her limits, then you should have a great time.

http://lh5.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R-jiHY-PxaI/AAAAAAAABlU/5Q6hdGWnR24/s400/DSC00616.JPG.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/MotorcyclePortrait/photo#5181639987880248738)

[dancogan]

I'd agree that I wouldn't start out with a long trip. Some shorter trips, followed by day trips and maybe a weekend would be a good way to work up to it.

I don't skimp on my passenger's gear. She's got the same gear I wear and we're both ATGATT. She may not ride as much as I do, but if we need the protection of the gear we'll both need the same amount of protection.

Finally, riding with a passenger is a bit of a compromise. Stops take longer, and we're not always on the same "schedule." We found an intercom made things much more fun, reducing the frustration of "when are we going to stop" or "did you see that" kinds of things.

I get tired more quickly with a passenger. The bike definitely doesn't stop as quickly. Have to be more careful of firm footing when we stop, off camber roads, etc. Yup, I've dropped the bike with her on the back. :blush But it is fun to be able to share the experience with my partner of 35 years!

[Mrs2beers]

Great advice from those of you who are the front seat riders. I'm the 2-up person and have truly enjoyed being so. If this is your 2-up's first time talk to them before the ride about how you like to ride --speed, distance etc. If there is no 2way( we didn't have that farkle) then dicuss what "thumps" or body taps would work for signals for you ie: need to get off to strech the legs, food, drink or potty stop. We used the yes and no deaf sign lingo along with our own thumps and taps system.

If the person has never been on a bike , please take them for some shorts rides. The first time I was terrified of the feel of cornering since I had never been on a bike.
Again gear,gear,gear. Also if this is a person who will be with you for a while, look into a advanced motorcycle class that both of you can take. We did that and it was money well spent.
Hopefully you and your 2-up will have a wonderful time. I'm waiting for the paper work and etcs to clear up so that we can get another bike and go riding again.

[rocketman]

I'd add to the above, make sure the passenger knows that when you stop they should keep their feet on the pegs. And make sure they know not try getting on or off without first getting the OK from you so that you are prepared for the shifting wieght of the machine as they climb on and off. I've had more than case of the passenger trying to get on when I didn't have both feet planted frimly and hands on the bars to compensate for the shifting center of gravity, its NOT a good feeling!

And MOST definately go on some short rides and work your way up to longer two up rides!

RM

[SheRidesABeemer]

In addition to the good advice already offered...

- Pick up a neck cord for your camera. Giving your passenger a camera is win-win. They are entertained, and you both get pictures!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2053546888_f8e85ad42d_m.jpg

- For long trips, your passenger might like to have a fanny pack to hold stuff like a bottle of water, snacks, candy...what ever.

- Consider getting communication devices, I really like my Interphone (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showpost.php?p=210757&postcount=14)device.

- If you don't have communication devices, agree to basic signals before hand.

- Let your passenger know your plans. "I plan on riding for about an hour and them looking for food". "If the clouds get darker, we'll stop and put our rain gear on", "We'll need gas in an hour, let's take a longer break then".

- Talk about movement. My daughter assumed it was better to shift around when I was going slow; I corrected her to let her know she should make all her adjustments at speed...not on the off ramp ;)

- Show your passenger where the kill switch is and what it does. Attempt to do this with out letting them know why they may need it... :whistle

- Remember, this is not a forced march & plans change.

[tourunigo]

I enjoy travelling two-up very much and am very fortunate to have found an ideal travel partner. Mary's first long ride, after a few short runs to local rallies, was 12,000 miles in 2001. Some camping but mostly finding small and inexpensive motels. As said previously, 'warm and dry' are crucial. No matter how much 'monkey butt' you can tolerate, be sure that your passenger is comfortable and prepared for a long sit-down. Passenger as navigator should be considered (with communication system that does not require yelling and hand signals). Camera work is a great trip recording activity......

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/003MaryMirroredInHelmet.jpg

Try and ride as much in the morning and stop early. Our ritual was that I would carry gear off the bike and she would sort out what was needed while, most often, I made for a food and adult-beverage run. Sharing the day's adventures and planning the next is great fun. And sometimes, as I made an ice-run, Mary would prepare the 'fridge'.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/01MaryBeerInPageAZ.jpg

Being able to share an adventure will stay with you forever:hug . -Bob

[mspilker]

Thank you for all the tips! If anyone can find that article, I would be interested in reading that also.