How to ride motorcycle with pillion or luggage

Passenger seats are inalienable part of motorcycle riding. Though you ride motorcycle for relaxation or to fulfill your need, very often friends and family members hop up at the back seat as pillion. Without pillion sometimes travelling bags or shopping bags for daily use and other small luggage’s also being carried at the motorcycles. Both these carrying process can be a reason of big accident if the rider isn’t conscious. Motorcycle users can overcome this type of problems by following few things. So let’s discuss about how the riders can ride with pillion or luggage.

Riding with a pillion
We often ride with passenger or pillion at the back seat of our motorcycles. There is a big difference between single riding and riding with pillions. If you monitor carefully you will see the impact of riding with passengers and also the performance dissimilarity of the motorcycle. Keeping that in mind you need to be alert about few things and those are:

You must be confirmed that your bike can carry the extra load of the passenger. For example, you have 50cc or 80cc motorcycle and you took a passenger who holds 100KG weight. It is very simple that your bike can not carry the extra weight more than its capacity. Extra weight put a great impact at the bikes speed, braking and suspension. Because we regularly ride motorcycles with pillions, the air pressure of the tires and suspensions must need to adjust perfectly.

We a have an article based on motorcycle braking, you can find more information about this topic there.


Passenger required notifying the rider before he/ she takes a seat. Female pillions must let know the user because of their seating style. They takes the pillion seat one sided and without notifying if the hop up at the back seat bike can be imbalanced. Remember at this type of situation try to remain the bike straight and position both legs perfectly for best balance. Tell the passenger to hold on tight or else during both helmets will clash during braking. Especially at the off roads passenger must hold on tight for their own safety. If you carry a female passenger then tell her hold on to your waist or waist belt. If she wants to hold the rear carrier (if it is available) then she can. For complete balance instruct your passenger to sit as closer as possible. Turing with the passenger is a very critical moment especially with inexperienced pillion, it may call danger. A little moment by the passenger can imbalance the motorcycle. Inexperienced riders try to hold straighter or opposite position then the rider during turning because of fear, but they didn’t know at the turning position bike needed to be curled. Because of opposite weight and movement of the pillion motorcycle can skid. Passenger must know the consequences. Advise you passenger to become your shadow and do the same body movement as you do throughout turning.

Tell the pillion to put their feet at the foot rest spot, when the bike will stand still tell them to do the same thing. Balancing the bike is your responsibility. If the pillion put their feet at the ground balancing the bike will become difficult. Discussing about unnecessary topics and needless movement is extremely prohibited for the passenger. If they want to move then they need to inform you first but no movements at turning. Try to avoid carrying children’s over the tanker and back seat, because you have to be more conscious if you carry a children. In an emergency case ensure all the safety of children and then start the journey.

Try to reduce the regular speed of your bike when you carry a passenger. If you want to stop the bike then be prepare early and in case of sudden braking let the passenger know.





Riding with luggage
Mainly motorcycles are not made for carrying any luggage but in need we have to take. Though we carry extra luggage with us but it is better not to carry extra loaded things. There are lots of ways you could have your luggage tied up on motorbike. All depends on the distance you are covering and luggage you are taking. Golden rule is to pack as light as you can. With packing you need to be again alert as carrying the pillion.

Checking the tire pressure and suspension conditions is necessary in both conditions. That is why like pillion carrying check both. Difference between passenger and luggage is, pillions can be helpful to keep the balance but luggage will not. You must tie your stuff perfectly at the rear seat because rear carrier is not manufactured for carrying extra weight. It can carry 5-7 KG weight just. When you tie your luggage you must ensure that your bikes indicators and tail lamp is visible and nothing goes at the rear wheel. Because the load will be at the rear axle so you must ensure the tied stuff remains at the middle position. Rear carrier is placed over the rear side axle so it will not be beneficial to carry heavy weight on it. Sometimes you need to observe the condition of your stuff. Carrying heavy thing at the handle bar is not allowed because it can imbalance the motorcycle anytime. When it comes to put things on bike, best option is to have a saddle bag. There are various size and types of saddle bags. Just tie few flaps, few click locks and you are ready to go. Saddle bag not only keeps your balance good, but it allows you to put up a pillion rider as well. Modern age bike riders carry backpacks with them but it is necessary to lock down the chest lock and waist lock of the backpack. Carry a heavy backpack on you back can do some harm as well when you will ride for long, as it will result in shoulder and back pain.

So it is important to ride carefully with both luggage and pillion or else a big accident can take place.