SWMBO finally rode Pillion!

[CatatonicBug]

Hi 'Bug,
the one worse thing than telling folks your wife's age is revealing her weight.
And if she is to go riding with you, you cannot afford to NOT buy her a well fitting helmet. And a leather jacket and all the rest of the gear. ATGATT, eh?

LOL... Caught that, eh?

That's why she gets the "good" helmet while we ride, and only for short loops on city streets. I am a firm believer in ATGATT, at least for most of it, and she gets frustrated at me when I tell her she has to change out of her capri pants and sandals, and put on some jeans and closed-toe shoes, and long sleeves. If she gets to the point where she really wants to ride more, we'll look into the full setup for her. Right now, I'll concentrate on getting a helmet that fits. It amazes me how expensive those things can be!!

[DGXSER]

Hey Bug,

For about $70-$80 you can go to Wallyworld and pick up a DOT approved helmet for one of you.

I hate to hear of someone wearing a beat up and torn up helmet. Remember that diagram you have posted more than once? Well, helmets are only good for one impact, and your mind is a terrible thing to try and do without.

[CatatonicBug]

My Walmart doesn't touch that kind of stuff. Some guns, a short aisle of fishing gear and some camping gear is about all they have for sporting goods. I have a Cycle Gear here, but they don't sell anything in the 3X size, because Snell won't test/certify anything that big. I guess people with big brains don't warrant certification? I don't care about the Snell thing, but CG just won't sell it if it's not Snell'd. I bought my helmet there for $80 last fall, and like it, but the fact that we're not going to be using it more than a couple hours per week makes me want to stick to something cheaper. I just found an HJC on Craigslist, and the seller wants at least $90 for it. I told them I'll give then $40, if they don't find any other takers. Maybe the coming months will send a deal my way.

[Bigfoot]

Hmmm. 3x I didn't remember you having a huge melon.
I have noticed that sized vary alot by manufacturer and even model of helmet. Best thing would be to take her to a bike shop and try a bunch on. Find one that she likes, fits good, and is a reasonable price, then buy it online. I bought a modular on closeout at motorcycle superstore.com for $89 and love it.

[Crazcnuk]

Congrats.

I got the ex wife on the bike, maybe, twice. Ex girlfriend did about 10,000kms on the back of the Shadow, though. Back in high school I had an A100 Suzuki and my girlfriend at the time rode on the back, then she rode the bike herself once I got a bigger one.

I used to wheelie the CB-360 leaving the passenger standing there...until my buddy got his belt caught on the licence plate one day...

One of my friend's wives used to like me pulling wheelies on the Shadow 1100(with her on the back) she thought it was fun.

You will find that having a passenger becomes 2nd nature very quickly.

As for suspension, the Shadow didn't have enough spring inthe rear for 2 people, even at max. The XS1100 is ok, but does have trouble with me (210lbs) and a 300lb passenger, as I found out recently when a buddies CB900 needed a parts run. Talk about scraping on every corner.

[CatatonicBug]

Hmmm. 3x I didn't remember you having a huge melon.
I have noticed that sized vary alot by manufacturer and even model of helmet. Best thing would be to take her to a bike shop and try a bunch on. Find one that she likes, fits good, and is a reasonable price, then buy it online. I bought a modular on closeout at motorcycle superstore.com for $89 and love it.

I know... I've never thought of myself as having an abnormally large head, but I've always known that regular hats never fit me. Evidently, SWMBO has the same issue. We have a very limited selection of helmets in the area, especially the ones that regular people can afford. I'm sure I'll find something eventually. There's just no way I'm spending $200-$500 on a helmet!

[webbcraft2150]

My wife was rather adventerous when I first meet her. I was into Desert Racing, fast street bikes and 4X4's. She took it all in stride. While I could never get her on the dirt bikes, she has left some fingernail marks in the dashboard of my aging "75 Power Wagon. She has proven to be a excellent tailgunner on the street bikes. I no longer having that acute pain in my lower back section as the speedo hovers past the C note mark. Indications that the last peg-dragging corner may have been a little extreme have been reduced to a firm but gentle squeeze of her legs against mine. Her resolve that I am not going to do anything to hurt either one of us if I can help it has made the motorcycle a positive experience for both of us. Riding with a passenger takes a different set of skills, 'specially if that passenger dosen't "go with the flow". Take your time and both of you will enjoy more each time. Riding bikes has its own inherent dangers and we all have chosen to accept them. My youngest daughter was under a year old when she got her first bike ride. At 19 now, she to is an accomplished passenger who often retorts after a 3 gear redline run, "is that all you got Dad?".