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Two-Up Riding Settings Recommendations

Scorpion56

Scorpion56

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Mar 14, 2014
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130
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Metro Boston
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Well, I finally got the Mrs to ride two-up with me for the first time. She really enjoyed it so I'm glad I surprised her with her new helmet. I don't think that big rides are on the immediate horizon, but local rides to dinner etc. look promising.

I inflated the rear tire to the recommended PSI setting for two riders. At slow speeds the bike felt like it was fish-tailing. Above 20 mph, it felt more or less good. Obviously it's a different riding performance with two people and something to get used to. I'm wondering if I should also adjust the suspension for two-up riding. Let's say a total load of 310 lbs. (Yeah, I'm not divulging her weight :cool:). The manual doesn't say a lot about adjusting the suspension. I'd like to get your recommendations on......

Tire pressures - different than the manual's specs?

Do I need to adjust the suspension?

If so, should I increase or decrease the pre-load, and how many notches from the factory preset fourth notch from lowest pre-load?

Is the tool that comes with the bike sufficient to make the change?

Any other tips?

Thanks!
 
Fishtailing?? Before I start blaming anything on the scooter, I'd wonder how "still" your wife is sitting on the back. Doesn't take much to upset the balance of a two wheeler with a low center of gravity and fifteen inch wheels. Bigger bikes are less susceptible, but a "squirmy" passenger can still ruin the ride for you...
 
You should stiffen up the suspension also, I found that the metzler tires were a little squishy when I had them on my bike if you find the problem continues you may want to look into a different brand of tires.
 
Let's just say my wife and I combined weigh more than you and your wife combined. I haven't had to touch the rear shock (but then, I didn't go ripping up backroads either... just a nice ride to dinner and then the movies).
 
My girlfriend and I weigh about the 310 total and had found that when I am on the scooter alone I have it set the suspension second from the softest and when she is with me I have it set third from the hardest this can be adjusted as you get to feel the difference. I also adjust the tire pressure. As for the tool you can adjust the suspension in 2 minutes one notch at a time
The fish tailing you suggested in your post is the front end feeling light when the suspension is soft. When I do this I also have to adjust the windshield lower to see over it.
 
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Riding with the woman who hangs around here on the back we are putting nearly 400lbs on the bike. I adjust the spring to the firmest setting and make sure the tire pressure is set to the recommended psi for two up. Other than somewhat slower acceleration and a bit longer stopping distance I don't see a lot of difference between two up and solo. I always explain the duties of the backseater if they haven't ridden on the back of a bike before. Those duties are to emulate a sack of potatoes when the bike is moving slowly, stopped or in tight quarters and save any movement and squirming until the bike is rolling at a steady speed above 25mph or thereabouts. Some passengers are natural riders and you won't even notice them and some just don't quite get it. Those are the types who want to lean to 'help' the bike or are afraid of the lean and lean themselves out and away from the turns. They need instruction.
 
Scorpion56 said:
Well, I finally got the Mrs to ride two-up with me for the first time. She really enjoyed it so I'm glad I surprised her with her new helmet. I don't think that big rides are on the immediate horizon, but local rides to dinner etc. look promising.
Click to expand...

How did you convince your wife to ride with you? Mine will have nothing to do with it. I sure could get a lot more riding in if she was willing to go along. Or, maybe after trying it and liking it she would be more understanding when I want to head out for a longer ride alone or together.
 
dascooter said:
How did you convince your wife to ride with you? Mine will have nothing to do with it. I sure could get a lot more riding in if she was willing to go along. Or, maybe after trying it and liking it she would be more understanding when I want to head out for a longer ride alone or together.
Click to expand...

Like you, I kept pushing but getting nowhere. I bought her a helmet - simple HJC black brain bucket, to minimize hair-ruining concerns, and made sure I could return it if necessary. Then I put the helmet on the back seat and surprised her. "Can you come out to the garage and help me with something for a sec?" That led to "how will I get on and off?" and practicing mount/dismounts in the garage. (Me straddling the tunnel and making sure I was firmly flat-footed). Not only did she end up liking it, she asked to go again the next day, which I had to cancel because we were getting winds close to 30. I'm going to try for relatively short (e.g going to a restaurant) rides for the time being. I don't think she was nervous at all on her ride, but I sure as hell was. It's an obviously different feeling and handling bike.

Maybe try the helmet surprise trick and see how it goes?
 
Today was ride 3. On ride 2 a couple of weeks back, the mrs was asked to make sure to not move around back there. ("I'm not moving or fidgeting.") The bike still felt like it was fishtailing starting out from stops. In preparation for Ride 3, I set the suspension up one notch, as Tomas suggested, before the ride (along with the 42 PSI in the rear of course). It rode beautifully. I hardly knew she was back there. At least for me, that was the missing piece. Her comment at the end of the ride..."The seat is sooooo comfortable".
 
e preload on e rear shock definitely need to be firmed up a notch or 2 when accomodating a pillion but not so when riding with a topcase as it wouldn't weigh as much as any pillion would...
 
the harder the rear the more control
just put 550 miles on in 3 days
last day put rear up to 2 from hardest and what a difference
we are about 430lb all me of course
bike is great
 
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