Triumphrat

03-19-2006

The sun finally came out and the rain went away for a full day yesterday after weeks of nearly non-stop rain/hail/wetroads. With the good weather my girlfriend and I took the opportunity to go for an afternoon ride out and around the back roads of West Sonoma County, California.

I've had the Daytona for a few months now, but this was only my second timing riding with a passenger. What we found out yesterday was that we were constantly having to reposition ourselves after medium braking, deceleration and while going down any sort of hill. She's not a heavy girl, maybe 140 pounds and about 5' 8" tall, but I had to use all my thigh and upper body strength to keep myself from sitting up near the full cap.

Really though, I was pressed very forcibly into the tank a lot during the ride (think painful crushing...).

I'm about 6' 2", 180 pounds. My butt doesn't take up the whole seat, and I sit up against the tank as it is. We tried a number of different riding positions, but never found one that stopped her from squishing me on decel and when going downhill. She tried sitting up against me to minimize impact, but that didn't help much. At the end of the ride I felt as though I got twice the workout as I normally do just riding solo.

On our first ride we tried having her sit in such a way that she could put her hand(s) on the fuel tank, but tall enough to where she ended up leaning on me the entire time and then complained that it was hurting her wrists.

All my previous bikes have been early 80s Hondas (CB750, CM400), and I hardly noticed that I was carrying a passenger. I’ve been thinking about getting a rear luggage rack or a grab bar and wondered if they help? There’s a little strap on the seat, but we didn’t see that until we got home from our ride. It doesn’t look like enough to me, but is it?

We’re wondering what other people do. She loves riding as a passenger and found the ride comfortable and very enjoyable for herself. She felt bad about my discomfort, but we can’t wait to find a solution to this problem and then spend the spring and summer riding together. I know that the Daytona isn’t the best bike for touring with a passenger, but if we can resolve this one problem we’ll both be really happy.

Thank you, and I’m really can’t wait to go on my first RAT ride,

--
Randy Wentzel
'04 955i

[ This message was edited by: kilroy914 on 2006-03-19 09:48 ]

Cerberus · 03-19-2006

it is the nature of the riding position that causes this, and there is little that you can do about it.
except install a grab rail for her.

having her reach around (!!) to the tank is the normal way many people minimize the crushing on decel.. but if she can't do that.. get her a grab bar.

do NOT trust the strap!

billindenver · 03-19-2006

If you go with a grab bar, be sure to tell her not to trust her wrist strength when you are accelerating. Personally, I let them snug up to me and just hold them back with my arms. Yeah, it gets tiring but then the impression she gets of your being a manly slab of he-man muscle is worth the effort. And when you get home you can claim physical fatigue from holding her up all day...thereby putting any .. uh..... horizontal labor on her.

Bill

rino2301 · 03-19-2006

ha Im with billindenver, I have always just taken most of the impact on myself when she leans forward on the braking. And definately have her hold on when accelerating because if she isn't holding on tight and you take off and she starts going back off the bike she will grab you and that isn't a very good situation. Good luck finding the right spot.

bradtx · 03-19-2006

Randy, Saddle time is usually the best teacher, for both. Your girlfriend will learn to better anticipate when to brace with her legs before decell...you'll learn that you may have to hug the tank with your knees to better brace yourself and your rider.

Did you apply any dressing to the seats that may've contributed to her moving around easily? If so, Simple Green might clean it off. If she's short, maybe shoes with thicker soles can help her get the leverage she needs.

I picked up the Triumph rack for mine...not much more than the grab rail and offers a lot more useability. (I had to shim mine with washers to keep it off the plastic and it takes only minutes to R/R.) It is usually used by the rider during acceleration to prevent sliding off the rear, my experiance.

Hopefully things will get sorted out...it's worth it!

Brad

silvoor · 03-19-2006

Well then, it sounds like you either need to buy a Sprint or a cup.

03-20-2006

Thanks for all of your great suggestions.

a. Looks like I'll be gaining some additional muscle strength throughout the upcoming riding season.

b. I had been considering the luggage rack from the day I got the bike, so I'll probably invest. Anyone have one they'd like to sell? I'll post in the wanted section, wait for a week or so and then buy at full price if I don't get any bites.

c. Don't trust the strap. Got it. Check.

d. I had considered a Sprint, but the deal I got on my new Daytona was too good to pass up, and I ride solo more than with a passenger and think that I'll be happiest with my choice in the long run. Hey, there's room in the garage for one more bike, so maybe I should start looking for something used to fill the gap. I think we'll be fine.

Thanks again!

joe-tona · 03-20-2006

Why anyone would want to put somebody on the back of a Daytona is beyound me :???:

It would would just #*cK a good ride :wink:

HiDesert · 03-20-2006

I think I see the problem, from the picture you posted. You see, the passenger seat is actually a separate, padded, nullhorizontal pad behind the pilot's seat. What you have there is a seat cowl with a vertical "bum-stop" pad. No wonder she's been sliding into you. :-D :-D

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

03-21-2006

Maybe I'll just have her sit on my handlebars like we used to do on bicycles as kids.

Just hit 600 miles today! Vrooom.

Best,