Triumphrat

Tbirdnz · 02-07-2008

Something Old Scratch' mentioned on the Hitch-hiker thread rang a bell when he mentioned he used to carry a helmet in his younger days when hitch-hiking.

I'm rarely on a pillion these days but it doesn't worry me too much if I know the rider but I can recall once in my youth which lives with me to this day. I hadn't long passed my licence test for a bike, 15 years of age, and among my friends was the only one that had, thus able to go pillion on Learners.

One of my friends also 15 had just bought a Norton Dominator 88, err brand new ! it was that long ago, and at twilight one evening and getting darker he asked me if I wanted to try it, I jumped at the chance but unfortunately he meant pillion. Well I knew he was a learner and that I would be his first pillion but he was still running his bike in so I hopped on the back, didn't even bother to fasten my pudding-bowl helmet. Well he did the ton around narrow country lanes, I remember I tried to get him to slow down but the wind distorted my mouth when I tried shouting ! I still remember every detail !

Oddly enough it didn't put me being on the back.

How do you feel about being on pillion ?

----------------
Ride on !

Sprint1050DA · 02-07-2008

I can't do it, but then I don't really like to be the passenger in a car. I must have vehicle related trust issues, I don't even like to ride with a pillion that much. Always afraid she's going to move the wrong way in a corner and throw everything off.

Whisperinsmith · 02-07-2008

I was a pillion once. Never again! In 196? a guy I barely knew bought the new Honda (305) Superhawk. The bike back then! He and I headed out to Boston. He lost control going through some twisties and we went into the woods. I'll never know how he missed the trees. I, like a fool, got back on and made it to Boston. I hitched home.

He later died in an automobile crash. His fault.

MVP44 · 02-07-2008

I would pillion with Mamola on his 2 seater Duc and would even go with Ulrich on his GSXR on the track and only the track - but other than that forget it - not enough trust in the world would put me on the back with avg Joe street rider. If I am going to tank on two wheels it will be due to my lack of awareness or ability in a given circ.

Clutchplate · 02-07-2008

I was a pillion for 20 years. Rode all around Australia and was very happy.
Sometimes I would ride by myself, but not very often.
I've had my own bikes for the last 10 years, and everyone says that once you ride yourself you'd never be pillion again.
Well I'm still happy to just sit on the back a couple of times a year, and just day dream and look at the clouds, and sleep.

hobbit · 02-07-2008

Probably as bad as I am a car passenger, unless I have absolute trust in the driver I spend all my time desperately trying not to press imaginary brakes etc . . .

HiDesert · 02-07-2008

There's one person on earth with whom I will snuggle, and she doesn't ride, unfortunately. Next question.

drainbamage · 02-07-2008

Did it once. Won't do it again. Nuff said!

Pauljo · 02-07-2008

It would take some dire circumstances to get me on the back seat of a moving motorcycle.

I did ride pillion on the back of my best friend's Lambretta in high school. It beat walking 3.5 miles to school. Yep, the old stories were true - it was uphill both ways!

But you know when you are 17 years old you figure that you are indestructible anyhow. So it didn't really bother me. If we crashed they'd just run me to the hospital and fix me up. And my folks would have to pay the bill. No worries!

My perspective has changed a bit since then.

Catenaccio · 02-07-2008

Quote:

Did it once. Won't do it again. Nuff said!

Amen. A friend took me for a ride on his new Honda in 1971. We zipped around corners at speeds I'd never attempted on my own Honda. He was a competent but dangerous rider. I should've known better as earlier he been arrested for trying to shoot out golf cart tires with his .22 rifle from behind a boulder on the local course. He considered his antics "innocent fun" but was really a nut case. Cured me on the spot from ever riding pillion again.