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Can I Still Be A Good Pillion Now I Am Also A Rider?
I have not been on the bike for a couple of weeks. Gasp, horror!!!. Well the weekend before last I had lots of house chores to do, what with wanting to sell the house, so I had to grit and grind and gnash my teeth and stay home. The next week I spent in the wonderful Isle of Man with the bf as a pillion. Still being on L Plates meant I could not take my own bike to the island.
There were occasions when I felt I was glad I did not have my bike, like getting on and off the ferry. Bloody hell that looked scary to me!!. Ramps leaving feet in mid air and shiny slippery metal surfaces to slide on, metal lumpy bits all over the deck to weave through, urgh shudder! Some of the roads were also very challenging with very tight uphill switchbacks and gravelly sheep tracks. Would I have been able to handle them? Mind you we often think we can not do things that we can when actually put to the test.
I still like being a pillion. It is a fantastic way to take in the views and boy does the Isle Of Man have some views worth seeing. A truly beautiful place. I can also take some photos while moving on the bike which is not something one can manage while riding yourself of course. It was good to know that I can switch from rider back to pillion and still enjoy it.
Photos - Some of the stunning varied scenery I got to enjoy in my leisure while on the back of the bf's bike
Coastline
Sunny wooded glen
Windswept mountain
However since being a rider I have noticed a couple of things that never occurred to me before as a pillion. One is that riding a bike is so much more comfortable than being a pillion. As a rider you move far more freely. You know if you need to make a shuffle on the bike and prepare for it. As a pillion you have to be careful not to move about too much or too suddenly in case you take the rider by surprise. Something I forgot at first when I got on the back of the bike this week until the bf asked why I was moving around so much. Whoops being a rider is messing with my pillion skills.
You also get to stretch and flex more while riding. Changing gears keeps your hands and feet moving. Stopping at lights lets your legs come down and stretch. It all helps to keep the blood flowing and joints from seizing up. So for all the pillions out there and my own self included we are all well hard to be able to cover big miles as pillions.
I also think I am not quite as relaxed as I was before I learned to ride. I am now as a rider very much aware of how frankly unstable a bike can be. How much road surfaces and weather conditions etc can all affect the bike. So where as before I would have never have looked at the road I now find myself tensing ever so slightly when I see gravel etc across the road. This awareness has given me a new respect for the bf's ability to handle his bike so effectively. But it has also opened up my eyes to dangers I was previously blissfully ignorant too.
I did find myself itching at times to be on my own bike. Particularly on a nice stretch of traffic free gentle curving tarmac. I could just imagine my little Zen and I zooming along (as much as 125cc's can zoom that is ). Yes I missed my bike.
So can a rider be a good and happy pillion? To be totally truthful I think I was a better pillion as a non-rider. I never had the itch to be riding myself and ignorance of riding a bike and the hazards was bliss. But I can still enjoy being a pillion. It is not a case of urgh do I have to go on the back. I still enjoy the ability to just sit and gaze at the wonderful views. To just relax and be a princess while someone else does all the hard work. I also enjoy the closeness you get to the rider while being up close and personal. You can give then a hug and they can squeeze your leg. A leg squeeze always brings a smile to my face. You can say straight away to one another wow did you see that rather than waiting until you both stop.
In summary then I would say I love my own bike and when not riding him I miss riding a lot. But riding myself has luckily not taken away my enjoyment of being a pillion. I know some people say that after learning to ride they could never be a pillion again. Well I guess I am lucky then, I get to spoil myself and enjoy the best of both worlds. Spoilt that's what I am. One up, two up, bring it on it's all bikes and I love it all.
Reader's Comments
Stu Pot said :-
Why could you not ride your 125 on The Isle Of Man? I've seen a few "L" plates on the island when I've been over there and the cops didn't give them any grief.
Glad you're still enjoying being a pillion. After my mate got his 125 he just point blank refused to get on to the back of my bike again. Mind you, I tend to give it large either one up or two up :-)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Stu
Check out the link below to the Isle Of Man's government website. At the bottom it clearly states
"You cannot drive in the Isle of Man if your driving licence or driving entitlement issued outside the Island is only a 'provisional' licence or entitlement held by a learner driver. "
That seemed pretty clear to us that Sharon could not ride there with only a provisional motorcycle entitlement. This being the official IOM government's website it seems pretty definitive. Crying shame really, but those are the rules!
As far as our research shows this is also the case with most other countries. If anyone's planning a trip abroad on "L" plates make sure you do your research thoroughly.
www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/drivers-and-vehicles/driving-l...
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Sharon said :-
Hi Stu,
Riding my own bike has given me the the best time of my life. I love it so much but I am glad it has not made me dislike being a pillion. I have been a pillion rider and loved it since my first ride on my uncles bike at around 7 years of age.
Being a pillion gives you the freedom of having a good look around at the scenery. It is the best way just to sit back chill and relax.
If I want the thrills then I ride my own bike. So being able to do both as I said I guess gives me the best of both worlds. Lucky me :-)
As for the L Plates in the Isle of Man I may have indeed "Got away with it" but I have to be honest and admit I am a bit of a fuss pot so would have been freaking out all the time, so best wait until I pass my test before I can sample the delight of riding myself abroad.
Safe riding to you and your friend on his 125.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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