Question for those who ride 2-up

[Geekay]

Hi. Have persuaded my wife to take a short 2-3 day tour with me. Possibly next weekend which is a public holiday weekend here in the uk. I'm a bit worried about it now.

Firstly. Out combined weight is about 330lbs. The panniers won't be loaded too heavy for such a short trip but I will have all three OE Yamaha luggage boxes fitted. Should I be worried about the bikes strength and capability with this?

Second - and an odd one. Have ou any tips for actually getting the passenger "on board" with all three luggage boxes in place? Are there any rules? How do you all do it? Usually I just get on the bike first, stand it upright and put my feet as wide as they can and brace while the passenger climbs on. But luggage gets in the way eh? Am I worried about nothing?

All hints and tips gratefully receive!


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[booner223]

I get on the bike first and brace for the imbalance the passenger will create. I always keep my focus on the bike and keeping it upright to allow the passenger to find the best way for them to get on. That's what seems to make the wife most comfortable. I'm assuming that you have ridden 2 up before? If not, I would practice with short rides.

 

[tubebender]

Your owners manual should list the max load you can carry. My 1st gen (US, California) says 459 lbs.
You may want to weigh your packed boxes to get an idea of your total combined weight.

As for the pillon climbing aboard, I do exactly what you do. She just stands on the peg, then steps through and sits.

 

[hojo in sc]

My wife has had hip surgery and it is a bit more difficult to get on the bike, especially on the Tenere which is taller than the Gold Wing. If the bike NOT on a perfectly level surface and on it's side stand, I put my foot on the side stand to weight it down and hold onto the left handlebar (with a slight pull to make sure it stays leaning to the left). My wife is just able to get her right leg over the drivers seat and climbs onto the drivers seat first, then slides back and up to the passenger seat, all while leaning towards the left (to help make sure the bike stays on the side stand). My wife only gets on this way if the ground is angled to the left of the bike (to help make sure the bike is leaning).

My wife gets on the bike in the same manner with it on the center stand when the bike is on perfectly level ground, but I've never had the bike loaded down for a trip, we reserve the Gold Wing for that.

 

[Geekay]

thanks for all responses!

i have ridden two up yes - including on the tenere if i take a trip with the wife to, for example, a local bike meet - but never fully loaded. I guess my worry is what additional difficulty the luggage will create!

 

[Chuck B]

As the weight goes up more concentration on your part is needed as well as passenger communicating with you before getting on, off or moving about at stopped or nearly stopped speeds. My better half and I have worked out clear signals between us. These past couple years she's really gotten into the offroad 2up riding. While we don't do the harder stuff on the Tenere she's become quite the 'little monkey' on the back with our other bike. Our last event she had a few of the dirt bike guys comment that they slowed down to watch the two of us tackle some of the harder sections and loved how she was moving around as the bike bounced underneath. ::012::

 

[Geekay]

thanks again - i have to say - this will, of course, be strictly "on-road" for our few days! - looking at riding up to scotland and then ferry across to Northern Ireland. for a couple days.

 

[Chuck B]

We were in Ireland 2yrs ago. Spent a few days in N Ireland as well then up to Scotland. I can fully understand why Europeans don't get our 'need' for full size vehicles. My Dodge PU would be next to worthless over there... ::008:: Have fun!!

 

[Checkswrecks]

You ain't got nuthin' on Ray and Karen!!!


Stand it up and brace your feet for her to get on. Ride away.

 

[OldRider]

I hold the bike over on the side stand while the wife gets on and then I throw my leg over the seat.

 

[cakeboy]

At the moment I am touring spain and france on mine ..I have the wife with me and well loaded up ....I can really tell the difference and do struggle at times ..However I am a firm believer in my alt berg boots that give me rock steady footing when I pull up ...and have the seat on the lowest setting so I can get my feet flat on the ground ....l also put the side stand down just before she gets on as a safety precaution .......she said she was going to lose weight before we left but that was never going to happen was it ?.... ::025::

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
Just an additional thought, make sure you adjust the rear shock preload and damping. There are all kinds of ways to make this adjustment but the one I find the easiest is once the bike is fully loaded, including passenger, take a ride and look into your mirrors. Adjust suspension preload until the mirrors look the same as when you normally ride. As far as damping, if the bike starts to wallow leaned over in a curve increase damping. I usually ride solo but with the bike loaded for a camping, etc. I turn the shock up 6 clicks and the damping up 2.
Later,
Norm
PS Just an after thought that I've had and discussed with friends, what does the passenger do if you need to stand up on the pegs? Stare at your ass : or stand up too?

 

[HHH]

The best way to have the passenger on a loaded Ténéré is to have it on the side stand, the passenger climb first as if she would ride solo, then slide back. You do the same next throwing your leg above the rider's seat. I have to climb this way even if I'm riding by myself, except then I swing my leg over the pillion seat.

 

[ThreePutt]

I start the bike, put it in gear and give her the OK nod. She puts her and hand on my shoulder, her left foot on the peg, takes a crow hop and does a step-through. Most of the time she lands softly. She used to throw her leg over the top box until it got too tall.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Have my Tenere set up for a passenger with a Penske shock [with big spring] plus trunk and bags.

Weight wise, it sounds like you're fine. Load capacity has already been addressed and you're well within that. The problem my wife has is she's short at 5'2". Getting over the panniers and into the pillion seat is an ordeal, especially if the ground if not level. Additionally with a slightly higher ride height dialed into the Penske and the suspension unloaded, the bike leans over much more on the side stand. No pillion mounting while on the side stand as I can't pick up the bike once she is on it.

Since the bike is awesome set up this way [wife even likes ride / comfort better than FJR] our solution...I find the closest curb and pull up close to it. The extra 6" step height makes getting over the bags less an ordeal.

--G

 

[Motor301]

You ain't got nuthin' on Ray and Karen!!!


Stand it up and brace your feet for her to get on. Ride away.

Is there a ride report to go along with this? I would love to read it

 

[Rasher]

I did a lot of two-up on mine with a similar combined weight.

On stock suspension you will find it a bit too soft at the back, max pre-load with a few extra clicks of damping will help a lot, but you will probably find it is still a bit soft / wallowy and lacks ground clearance if pressing on, but at a steady cruise you will be fine so go and enjoy ::008::

My Mrs stands on one peg first and this gives her the height to throw her leg over the panniers, just make sure she gives you warning with this technique as you need to brace well - and make sure your solid footed, I have nearly dropped my bike when I had one foot on a pile of gravel once.


If you want to do a lot of two-up in future look at a better shock, I went with a Wilburs, a 140 spring will give a better solo ride yet still improve the two-up performance a lot, if your going to be two-up more often than not hten go up a spring size to a 150, this is what I had and it was brilliant two-up but a shade harsh solo - gone back down to the 140 now she has her own bike.

 

[Mike91]

I never really take my luggage off, so my wife is always climbing over it. It is generally a non-issue. When we go camping, if I start strapping dry bags to the top of the panniers, it is a bit tighter, but we still don't change the process.

I get on, and stand up the bike. She grabs my shoulder and climbs on. I have no idea what she does, I let her figure out the best way. It is a bit clumsy when we're loaded up for camping, but always works out.

 

[Geekay]

thanks for all responses guys - really appreciated.

we went out last night "fully loaded" for a trial run - i guess i was hoping for some sort of "magic bullet" - but of course, that doesn't exist!

she seemed to do ok - didn't find it particularly "elegant" but got on and off ok - i think it will improve with practice!

booked ferry and hotel now so off we go on friday morning! - fingers crossed for me!

 

[leen]

First time my bike got on the bike with all our camping gear we both fell over since I didn't expect the weight of the bike and passenger. The final procedure for getting on and off that has work for me are:
1. I get on with side stand down
2. I apply front brake and left hand off the clutch so she can use that side for balance as she gets on .
3. She gets on by standing on left peg and then swing her leg through. She doesn't swing over top case since that is too high
4. While she is seated, I take over and no more tip over.