Carrying a pillion isn’t quite as straightforward as you might think. Still, there are plenty of ways in which company will make the journey easier and more enjoyable.
You need to weigh the pros and cons, and choose your company wisely. A passenger can easily upset machine stability, it will increase braking distances, blunt acceleration and make steering the motorcycle quickly - such as in an emergency - much more difficult.
An enthusiastic passenger can double the fun. Everything you enjoy on the ride is shared and you relive the best bits when you stop. A pillion can also take some of the strain off you by map-reading at low speed, giving directions and improving your chances of spotting hazards, especially around intersections.
It’s better to ride with someone you know; someone whose temperament and riding history you are familiar with. Touring, even an impromptu jaunt, with a stranger is a gamble: you just don’t know how they are going to behave and it only takes a silly error to have serious consequences. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to ride in any way that you deem unsafe.
