Question for wives / girlfriends or other pillions

What bike(s) are better for riding pillion? What are some of the features

I know it's not your question... but since you are asking about
pillions... tell her to put her hands on the tank when you are on the
brakes.

Just make sure that she's wearing gloves, and if she isn't, make her
take off her rings. You don't want to end up with big scratches in your
tank.

Or big scratches in your passenger's hands in the event of a get-off.

Her ability to do so depends on how far of a reach it is around the
pilot's midsection. ;-)

A big fat guy with a pillion. That is outside of the design
specifications of a sportbike and my suggestion.

that make the ride more comfortable and feel secure. (no big trips, max 100
miles a day) I think a top case with back rest would be a big plus.

If I didn't already have the FJR for that purpose, I think I'd probably buy
a DL-1000 Suzuki V-Strom. I have about 6 friends who own them, or the

Or if money is really tight, an FJ1200.

smaller 650, and they're thrilled with them. The back seat on a DL-1000
would be worlds better than the back of a sportbike.

Hrmph.....
Anyone wanting to ride with me will have to have their own bike or
sprout wings.

No one is riding on my V-strom but me.

The F4i is not really pillion friendly. Perhaps if I can find a top case to
fit?

Sorry, I can't afford an FJR, ST or BMW.... And a no cruisers please.

Dude, with all the bikes you have, your wife can't ride one?? :)

Actually, the previous owner of Whee often went on long trips with his
wife on the back. She liked it just fine (not sure I would).

I'm thinking of removing the passenger pegs on Whee and putting them on
the front for highway pegs. Guess I'll have the best excuse for
refusing pillion rides, aye? ;)

Hey, get a V-strom, dude. Listen to your own advice.

One word: Goldwing.

My wife calls our GL1200A's seat "the couch."

I call your whole bike "the couch". ;)

Anything to limit the feeling of sliding off the back. Corbin makes

Leather pants will do that on just about any seat.

Or duct tape.

You have obviously never had a woman pillion who needed to get
off quickly for a pee...

I always drain 'em first.

most of their seats with the ability to slide in a backrest. That was
my primary reason for getting one, but they are terrific seats besides.
Mine is over six years old now with going on 60k miles and is still in
excellent shape.

A bike with handgrips to the sides is better than one with a handgrip
in the rear which is better than no handgrips at all.

Probably the consideration of most importance is leg angle. The further
she can angle her hip down from horizontal the better. Any bike that
causes her knees to be higher than her hips with her feet on the pegs
should be immediately sold to a loner or misogynistic biker.

I like the Concours comment. I rode one home for a relative beginner
(one year licensed with no highway time) I work with. It was a '94 as I
recall. I was amazed at just how good it was. It needed a new
windscreen in the worse way, but aside from that it had quite a nice
ride, cornered nicely, and was incredibly smooth for an inline. I had
read all kinds of storys about them being buzzy, but I found it to be a
powerful and buttery lump. Best of all, he only gave $1500 bucks for
it. I'll bet the Mrs would approve.

I just remembered that one negative the Concours has for pillions is air
turbulence. Air would blow up the bottom of her FF helmet, causing her eyes to
water, which caused her mascara to run, which caused her eyes to burn. We had
to install the little chin shield in her helmet to solve that problem.

That wouldn't prevent the accompanying helmet buffeting though. This
might:

Thanks. I saved that link. I was toying with the idea of replacing the
windshield but wasn't too enthused about having one where the edge pointed at my
head. I might try this.

They don't look BAD, but I think they're pretty functional. Handling improves
with replacement of the factory springs. The mirrors get blown out of position
every time I hit a hard bump at 60..