Better Riding: How to Ride with a Pillion | Expert Two-Up Riding Tips

Riding with a pillion - often referred to as two-up riding - is one of the most rewarding experiences in motorcycling. It’s a chance to share how awesome motorcycling is to those on the periphery or complete outskirts, but it also comes with added responsibility. Carrying a passenger changes the dynamics of the bike from handling and braking to acceleration and balance. Done well, it’s smooth, safe, and enjoyable for both rider and passenger. Done poorly, it can be stressful and even dangerous.

This guide brings together expert advice from professional coach Mark McVeigh (www.motorbikecoach.com) and years of rider experience to help you master the art of riding with a pillion, mixed with advice you as the rider can pass on to your passenger.

Read on for an overview of the accompanying video or watch it in detail here: 

Better Riding: How to ride with a pillion

Essential tips for carrying a passenger safely and confidently.

No matter if you’ve just started riding or have decades of experience under your belt, there’s always something new to learn. And that is precisely what our Better Riding series, in association with Honda Motorcycle UK, is all about.

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Why Riding with a Pillion Matters

Adding a pillion isn’t just about extra weight, it’s a test of your riding skill. It demands smoothness, anticipation, and empathy. When you ride two-up, every input is magnified - abrupt throttle changes, harsh braking, or jerky gear shifts can unsettle your passenger and compromise safety. On the flip side, riding with a pillion can improve your solo riding skills by teaching you about balance, grip, and precise control.

You, as the rider, are also acting as a representative to promote motorcycling to the unconverted. After just one ride on the back of your bike and your pillion might be itching to book a CBT.

Pre-Ride Checklist: Setting the Pillion’s Expectations

Before you even start the engine, preparation is key:

1. Are you allowed to carry a pillion?

• You must have a full licence to carry a pillion in the UK

• Make sure you are insured to carry a pillion

• Check the bike’s maximum payload

2. Safety Gear for Both Rider and Pillion

• Helmets that meet safety standards. Check our ‘Best motorcycle helmet’ guide.

• Protective clothing: jacket, gloves, boots, and trousers. Here’s our ‘Safest motorcycle clothing’ database

• Clear visor for visibility

3. Bike Setup for Pillion Riding

• Rear Suspension Preload: Adjust for the extra weight to maintain balance and handling. Your motorcycle suspension questions answered.

• Tyre Pressures: Check and increase if necessary to cope with the load. Complete guide to motorcycle tyres.

• Grab Rails or Handles: Ensure they’re secure for pillion comfort and safety

• Headlights: if you’re riding at night the additional weight on the rear of the bike will pitch the headlights up, so they need to be adjusted

>> See more tips about setting your bike up to ride with luggage and/or a passenger here.

The centre of mass of the whole bike/rider package changes when adding a pillion

4. Brief Your Pillion

Explain the basics:

• Mount and dismount only when signalled

• Allow the rider to be on the bike with the side-stand down before the pillion climbs on

• Keep feet on the pegs - even when stopped

• Hold onto grab rails or your waist

• Stay relaxed and avoid sudden movements

• Look over your shoulder in corners to stay in sync

Communication: The Invisible Safety Net

Clear communication prevents surprises. Agree on simple signals before you ride:

• Two taps on the shoulder: “I need to stop.”

• Thumbs up: “All good.”

Modern Bluetooth intercoms make this easier, but even without tech, a quick briefing works wonders.

See how the ‘footprint’ of the tyre changes as the forks of the front suspension compress under braking (as the weight loads the front). It’s enhanced by the additional weight when carrying a passenger

Bike Dynamics: What Changes with a Pillion?

Adding a passenger shifts your bike’s centre of gravity backward and upward. This affects:

• Stability: The bike feels less agile and more prone to understeer.

• Braking: Increased weight means longer stopping distances and slower suspension response. Better Riding: Braking Advice.

• Cornering: The bike wants to run wide; steering inputs need to be smooth and deliberate. Understanding these changes helps you anticipate and adapt.

Smoothness: The Golden Rule of Two-Up Riding

Every control input should be silky smooth:

• Throttle: Avoid abrupt acceleration. Short shift to keep things calm.

• Brakes: Use a two-stage approach - initial gentle pressure to settle the bike, then firmer braking as weight transfers forward. Release gradually to prevent lurching.

• Clutch & Gear Changes: No snatchy shifts. If helmets bump, you’re too harsh.

Cornering with Confidence

• Late Apex: Gives you better vision and time to react.

• Safety Bubble: Maintain space around you for unexpected hazards.

• Synchronised Movement: Encourage your pillion to look over your shoulder in turns. This naturally aligns their body with the bike’s lean.

Small head movement by the pillion allow better vision and preparation for what’s ahead.

Advice for the Pillion Passenger

Being a good pillion is about trust and relaxation:

• Avoid leaning the opposite way in corners

• Don’t fight the bike - let it move beneath you

• Keep movements minimal and predictable

• Use head movement (looking over the rider’s shoulder) rather than shifting your whole body

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Abrupt Inputs: Cause helmet clashes and instability. Fix: Be smooth.

• Ignoring Suspension Setup: Leads to poor handling. Fix: Adjust preload.

• Poor Communication: Creates anxiety. Fix: Agree signals before riding.

• Overconfidence: Remember, extra weight changes everything - braking, acceleration, cornering.

Mindset: Responsibility First

Riding with a pillion isn’t about performance or showing off, it’s about precision, empathy, and calm control. You’re responsible for someone else’s safety so approach the ride with care, not ego.

• Prepare: Gear, bike setup, and briefing.

• Communicate: Simple signals prevent surprises.

• Be Smooth: Throttle, brakes, and clutch - no jerks.

• Anticipate: Look ahead and plan early.

• Stay Calm: Confidence without aggression keeps everyone safe.

A cheat sheet to ensure everything’s covered

We have even more pillion advice from top travelling superstars, Andy and Alissa Davidson aka ‘Mad or Nomad’ who’ve been touring two-up around the world since 1st Jan 2018.

This Better Riding series is brought to you in partnership with Honda Motorcycles UK whose goal: zero traffic fatalities involving Honda mobility products worldwide by 2050. Better Riding is a collection of self-help videos and written guides packed with practical tips, expert advice, and simple yet effective exercises. Designed for riders of all levels, it aims to boost confidence, improve machine control, and complement traditional post-test training. Because when your skills improve, so does the fun.

Top Tip: I often commentate while riding. It helps to remind myself of hazards and what my responses are to avoid danger. If you don’t already, why not try it? Afterall, nobody can hear you.

If you have an action camera (here’s a link to our reviews of the most recent 14 options), record your ride and review it afterwards looking at possible areas to improve. You can always ask specific question over at BikeClub or on our private Facebook Group, or tune in to the other episodes in this series on our YouTube channel.