Wales by Bike

You might have mastered the art of riding a motorcycle but carrying passengers is a completely different skill. Neither the standard nor advanced tests go into too much detail on pillion passengers so it's not surprising that many motorcyclists are afraid of taking another person on their bike.

Before carrying a passenger, there are a few points to consider:

• your bike must be designed for passengers with adequate seating space and footrests
• your bike will handle differently when carrying a pillion passenger and you may have to adjust your riding to compensate for the extra load
• the suspension, headlight(s) and tyre pressures may need adjustment to allow for the additional weight (check the manufacturer's manual)
• if you only have a provisional motorcycle licence, you can't carry a pillion passenger
• while there is currently no minimum legal age for a pillion passenger, make sure they have parental consent, wear the correct protective clothing and that they are able to reach the footrests

As a rider.

• make sure your passenger is wearing adequate protective clothing including a properly fitting safety helmet
• you are responsible for the safety of your passenger so don't try and scare them
• tell your passenger what's going to happen before you set off to reassure them
• make sure you have a clear view in your mirrors

As a pillion.

• relax and go with the bike - don't try and sit upright in a bend
• hold on at all times - either use the grabrail or hold the rider at the waist and grip with your knees when the bike is braking
• keep your feet on the footrest at all times, even when the bike comes to a stop at junctions, traffic lights etc
• sit still and, most importantly, don't scream - agree a signal that you want to slow down or stop with the rider before you set off (such as a shoulder tap)