Did you know?

[Dnyce]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

I've had GFs that I would do a couple hundred with but... It's much better if they get their own bikes...

i had one that'll do 300+, current one max is 100.
still looking for one that has their own lol

[azoomm]

After rolling around on a BMW LT last summer, Evan and I have decided to rent one for the two of us. The plan is to take a trip and take turns as pilot. I like the idea, a LOT.

[Archren]

Originally Posted by Trip

Dude, if you let her ruin our trip, I am going to find you and stab you.

Seriously, you need something like a 1200GS to even consider it, I would want a goldwing myself. All the extra luggage and shit you will need to be comfortable, I wouldn't attempt it on a small bike. I couldn't take the whining. If we do a 250+ mile local day, she is not in a good mood.

I agree that a larger bike is more comfortable, but it really depends on the girl. I have a higher tolerance than most - my only long distance trip was pillion, and we did 5500 miles. My butt got a little sore, but I have a little perspective on pain and discomfort that most women do not (deployments to Iraq, for instance).

I'd say if she's dead set on doing it pillion, start out small for her sake - take her on a few shorter trips first for HER to see if she'd even like it, and for YOU to see how good of a passenger she is over distance. That also serves to get her used to the inevitability that her butt will go numb, her feet might be buzzing, and that 500 miles on a bike is vastly different from 500 miles in a car, etc.

I had a good time, but I want my own touring bike for the next time I do it.

[wildchild]

done many trips with the g/f. set the rules right away. first trip we did, i just assumed she knew how things went.

#1: NO CAMPING for her!!!! she did not enjoy riding hundreds of miles then crawling in a tent only to get soaked with that nights rain. who knew that was an important consideration. LOL

#2: no two up riding. apparently she doesn't appreciate my riding style at all.

#3: out of state trips now days she takes the truck and tows her bike, then rides when we get where we are going.

this year she wants to take a trip on her own bike and try to ride the whole thing. no problem I'll cut my expected mileage down 30% but I know in advance. honestly I may pull a camper with the truck and put the bike in the trailer, I've done enough highway touring miles to last a lifetime. it's boring. I'll just let her and some of our buds do the ride together. none of them has done a longer trip so they want to try it.

probably best if you either go alone (just the two of you) or only with other couples. otherwise single guys tend to get antsy about the "couple" pace. one guy in our group took off towards the end of the trip and made the trek home on his own. no big deal, but it put a damper on her feelings because she thought it was her fault.

decide what riding you're going to do when you get there and do it with her. one guy on a run with us left his wife in the mountains in the rain and took off because she couldn't keep up due to nerves with rain and curves. she had never ridden rain. we stayed with her through the curves.

have her practice packing for a bike trip. many people don't understand pack light. LOL giver her a saddle bag and say that's your luggage, what fits goes, what doesn't stays home.

overall we enjoy riding trips together as long as we both compromise on how we're going to get there and what we'll do when we get there. rainy rides are out for us unless she gets caught and absolutely has to keep going. she can and has done it but doesn't like rain. be prepared to skip a ride and just sit in a hot tub for a day. not always a bad thing. LOL

[wildchild]

Originally Posted by azoomm

After rolling around on a BMW LT last summer, Evan and I have decided to rent one for the two of us. The plan is to take a trip and take turns as pilot. I like the idea, a LOT.

that one I couldn't do. LOL I have a very hard time riding shotgun with anyone.

[Archren]

Originally Posted by wildchild

have her practice packing for a bike trip. many people don't understand pack light. LOL giver her a saddle bag and say that's your luggage, what fits goes, what doesn't stays home.

THIS! Again, I'm used to packing light (living out of a wall locker and a foot locker for a year FTL), so living out of one hard bag (including my DSLR) for two weeks is doable, but it takes planning (cold and/or rain gear take up space) and ensuring that you take some time to do laundry along the way.

Not everyone likes to do this, but I carried a camelbak. Good way to help stay hydrated between stops, and it acted like a mobile purse - wallet, phone, chapstick, smokes - so I wouldn't have to dig through the saddle bags during gas stops.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by wildchild

that one I couldn't do. LOL I have a very hard time riding shotgun with anyone.

Yeah, I know... If your wife had the same riding experience you did, you might think differently. Both of us just think the idea of having the choice to pilot and/or the choice to sit back and enjoy the ride to be a grand idea.

[G-Rex]

Originally Posted by wildchild

have her practice packing for a bike trip. many people don't understand pack light. LOL giver her a saddle bag and say that's your luggage, what fits goes, what doesn't stays home.

This is a great idea. Highly recommended.

Also, take along some duct tape or tie-downs. You never know when those latches on the bags will give. *hides*

When I'm not in the middle of work stuff, I'll add a few additional points as well, but you're getting good advice across the board already.

[Archren]

Originally Posted by G-Rex

This is a great idea. Highly recommended.

Also, take along some duct tape or tie-downs. You never know when those latches on the bags will give. *hides*

When I'm not in the middle of work stuff, I'll add a few additional points as well, but you're getting good advice across the board already.

To quote you... HEY NOW, GOD DAMMIT! Billy's latch broke too, so it wasn't my fault!

[wildchild]

Originally Posted by azoomm

Yeah, I know... If your wife had the same riding experience you did, you might think differently. Both of us just think the idea of having the choice to pilot and/or the choice to sit back and enjoy the ride to be a grand idea.

funny when you put it that way, I might get too comfy on a good pillion like a bimmer or a wing. LOL

nah I'll just sit back here and enjoy the morning coffee and watch the sunrise LOL (my mom's idea of a morning ride LOL)