How much power do you need for 2-up riding?

[vadim]

When I have my girlfriend with me on the B6 I find that I keep my RPMs as low as possible and try carefully not to accelerate too hard and especially not to break too hard unless it's absolutenly necessary.  Otherwise she's pretty uncomfortable.  Now all the "sport tourers" out there seem to be a liter+ bikes with tremendous amounts of power.  For those riding two up, what's the point?  It seems like I have to keep my B6 in the tame power band if I want the passenger to be comfortable.  Am I doing something wrong?  Or is all the power for those beautiful days when I am riding alone?  

[Red01]

For me, it's mostly the latter part - and the ability to still make lightning quick passes of slow traffic when two-up with luggage. I also invested in a back rest to keep my passengers from flying off the back when I do get a little heavy handed. (At the insistance of the spousal unit.)

[curiousmike]

She's pretty uncomfortable because she's tense.

Being a passenger on most modern bikes sucks.

A sturdy backrest goes a long way towards helping the passenger.
Knowing how to hold on to you helps.  Does she know to put one hand into your gas tank when you brake ?

Being able to predict what you're doing helps.

If you're an beginner/intermediate rider, it sucks for the passenger even more... clunky shifting ( BANG goes their helmet into your helmet ), accelerating unevenly, braking unevenly etc.

Pick the best motorcycle rider you know: And really, really think about being his/her passenger for the day.

[andrewsw]

I used to carry my wife on my previous B4 all the time -- daily commute. She eventually got pretty comfortable with it and became a very good passenger. The trick is to get her to snuggle up real close and HOLD ON. Then go for smoooooth operation, not necessarily tame operation. Smooth shifting, gentle roll-ons isntead of whacking it, easing into the brakes etc. If she's holding on real good, then she should have no trouble. A jerky shift is way more troublesome than the pull of hitting the powerband.

 I also used to have her actually lean on me a bit -- it would get heavy in hard braking, but gave me better feel for what she was experiencing.

Of course this was all on my B4 and the extra weight often forced my further into the powerband.

A big liter bike tourer is that way for ease of highway riding and the ability to add a passenger without significantly degrading performance, I guess.

that's my .02

[KX5000]

MORE!!!!!!    

[jeepskate99]

My wife likes riding fast.  Wish I could help.  She wants me to buy a Busa.  I like the Bandit and Warrior so she's shit outta luck.

[Mini4x]

My ex liked riding 2 up on my TW200 better than my CBR1000F...

Go figure..

[amboman]

The liter + bikes all seem to be larger in size as well so that makes for more space so the pillion can get a little more comfortable.  The stock seat on my CB1300 is much more comfortable and there is certainly more space as compared to say a B6.

I also think the extra grunt allows for a smoother ride as less stresses are placed on pillion ie less gear changes.

[KX5000]

My previous useless post was a joke, I'd have to second everything Andrew said.

[Slider]

My wife likes riding fast.  Wish I could help.  She wants me to buy a Busa.  I like the Bandit and Warrior so she's shit outta luck.

I don't think the Busa was ever designed for passenger use. Also, if you think your legs are bent on the Bandit, wait'll you try a Busa. Nice bike but you can't put forward pegs on it. I bought crash guards and forward pegs for the Bandit and recently put approx 3000 miles on a camping trip with comfy ergs, (albeit with Heally bars). Still, I carried over 200 lbs of gear.

The Bandit is a MUCH better all purpose bike. I have even "cow trailed" 2000 feet up a mountain over a white knuckle "jeep only", road, (just one bag on, though).

Too many bikes today are single purpose bikes, methinks

[solman]

The only bike that I have rode passenger(My bike broke a valve stem and I needed a ride back) on was a Blackbird CBR1100XX.  At one point we were doing a 100mph and I didn't even know until I looked over his shoulder.  I also hardly felt the need to hold on as well during the motorcycle ride back.  I know one guy with a B12 and his wife likes riding double with him on his bike.

[kedeg_97B12]

Some of us weigh as much as two so we need the power. When I say some of us, I mean a friend of mine who lives in Alaska that no one has seen.

[Rocketjock]

Wish I had  a girlfriend. Lol. My wife won't go near the bike. Then again, I took my daughter for a ride and she was hanging on to me so hard, the weight was killing my back. Maybe it's really a one up bike.

[ttewejnodnarb]

My wife used to ride with me on the Duc...I always noticed the difference when she would sit straight up and hold onto the handles because it sucked for low speed maneuvers (common in NYC traffic).  It was MUCH better when she hung tight to me.  I think it's better for C of G.  On long trips I would imagine having a backrest and using it would be fine...and better for passanger comfort.  I think it's important for passenger to realize they are not just along for the ride.  It takes just as much work and attention to be a passenger on a bike as it does to ride one, IMHO.

Having said that, I was a passenger on my Duc only once.  I was out for a drink with a friend I used to hang out with and I decided it would be fun if she rode herself home to brooklyn.  She is a very competent rider but I WAS SCARED SH@#LESS!

[Old_n_Slow]

When I have my girlfriend with me on the B6 I find that I keep my RPMs as low as possible and try carefully not to accelerate too hard and especially not to break too hard unless it's absolutenly necessary.  Otherwise she's pretty uncomfortable.  Now all the "sport tourers" out there seem to be a liter+ bikes with tremendous amounts of power.  For those riding two up, what's the point?  It seems like I have to keep my B6 in the tame power band if I want the passenger to be comfortable.  Am I doing something wrong?  Or is all the power for those beautiful days when I am riding alone?  

The bigger bikes are just more comfortable than the small ones. Plus the bigger engine spins slower so there's less vibration, and you don't need to shift nearly as much when you want extra power. I've been doing a LOT of 2 up recently, my wife likes to get away from the grandchildren for a brain break, and my daughter likes to get away from her new daughter (our 3rd grandchild) for a brain break. Both have been with me on smaller bikes and both highly praise the Bandit with the Corbin, especially with the back rest. As for me, I need a solo run real soon for my brain break from the women-folk!