Riding with a Passenger

What's an easy way to make your motorcycle ride better? Take a passenger along for the ride! But before you hit the road with your friend, you'll want to do some planning to ensure a fun and safe trip. We've rounded up our top tips for riding with a passenger below. If you have any questions or want to look at motorcycles for sale, visit Cycles of Jacksonville. Our motorcycle dealership is located in Jacksonville, Florida and we proudly serve those in Orlando and St. Augustine as well.

Get the Gear

Your passenger is going to need all the same motorcycle riding gear that you do. See if they already own any gear, then you can buy or borrow the rest.

It starts with head protection. Ideally, they'll wear a full-face helmet as these give the best protection. Next, they'll need a form of eye protection. If their motorcycle helmet comes with a face shield, they are covered. If not, get a pair of goggles or sunglasses.

Then you'll need outerwear. Full-length clothing is best since it'll offer better skin protection in a crash. A motorcycle riding jacket and riding pants works well. You can look into ones that are made from breathable materials and built with ventilation so you can stay comfortable on hot days. It also never hurts to have waterproof outerwear in case there is unexpected rain.

Get Your Motorcycle Ready

Before you hit the open road with your buddy, you'll want to make sure your motorcycle is ready to ride. It'd be a shame to encounter an issue on the road that you could've prevented! All you need to do is conduct a pre-ride inspection before your trip. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread. Look at the fluid levels to ensure nothing is low. Test your brakes and lights to ensure everything is operating as it should. If you catch any problems, you can bring your motorcycle into a service department and get it fixed before your ride.

Get Your Passenger Ready

If this is your passenger's first time riding a motorcycle, it may help to do a short test ride first. Go around the block, come home, and see if they have any questions or concerns before hitting the highway.

Once you are on the road, you will want a way to communicate with each other. The engine noise, road noise, and wind will make it too loud to hear speech. Before you head out, coordinate hand signals. These can include “slow down,” “I need a break,” “pull over,” “let's get food,” “let's find a bathroom,” and “let's go home.” Of course, if you both have Bluetooth-enabled headphones, you'll simply need to talk into the helmet to communicate.

Safety Practices

Remember that the extra weight of your passenger is going to affect how your motorcycle handles. You'll need more time to brake, your turn radius will be different, and you may need more time to accelerate to full speed. Leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles because of your increased stopping distance need. Drive defensively and enjoy a great motorcycle ride with your passenger!

We hope you found these tips helpful. If you want more advice or want to look at motorcycles for sale, visit Cycles of Jacksonville. Our friendly staff is happy to answer questions or provide suggestions on which models best fit your lifestyle. Let us know your budget, riding ability, and riding style and we will find models to match. Our dealership is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and we also serve those in Orlando and St. Augustine.