There’s nothing like hitting the open road on a motorcycle—but it’s even better when you have someone to share it with. When you have space for a passenger on your motorcycle, it makes the ride more enjoyable, especially when you’re headed to a fun destination.
When you ride with a passenger who may not be familiar with motorcycle safety, then it’s important that you make sure they’re well versed in everything they need to do to ensure that the entirety of the ride is safe. The DMV also highly recommends that you take a safety course before you take a passenger out on your motorcycle to ensure that you know all the ins and outs of the skills required to carry a passenger.
Here are a few safety tips for motorcycle passengers before you plan out your next road trip.
FIRST, PREPARE YOUR BIKE
Before your passenger hops on, you might want to check your bike is equipped to carry someone besides you. Your bike is going to need a seat that’s big enough to fit two people as well as extra footpegs for your passenger.
Look at your owner’s manual and see if it has any information about weight limitations as well as any equipment setup as necessary. Your motorcycle will likely have to be compliant with state law and meet certain equipment guidelines to carry passengers, so be sure you’re paying attention to that as well.
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS FOR PASSENGERS
Let your passenger know the following safety tips to ensure that there are no incidents on your ride:
- Your passenger must be tall enough to reach the extra footrests that are designated for them.
- Your passenger must wear a helmet and protective clothing at all times throughout the ride.
- Your passenger should keep their legs away from the mufflers.
- Your passenger must hold onto your waist or the handholds that are on the bike.
- If your passenger is on the heavy side, then they must brace themselves so that when you brake that they don’t push you toward the bars.
In addition to these tips, be sure that you are practicing in a low-traffic area with a passenger before you go out on the highway to practice your skills.
Motorcycle safety might be important to you and your passenger, but other drivers might be negligent on the road. If you or a loved one have been involved in a motorcycle accident and needs a personal injury lawyer, contact the Fry | Goehring today at (404) 948-3571 to get more information about whether legal action is right for you.
