I'll never forget the time I was 14 and rode my KX 80 big wheel to my friends house and picked him up along with a case of beer he had stole from his parents. 2 kids riding a little dirt bike full speed down the street while the rear passenger holds onto a case of beer like his life depended on it.
My “two up” story involved taking my new wife to the Blue Ridge Parkway. An hour or so into the mountainous section of North Carolina she motioned she wanted to stop, being a lover of mountain vistas I sailed into the next turn off and up to the curb of the overlook, flipped out the side stand, and before I could even rest the bike on the stand, she was off the bike and on her hands and knees crawling toward the wall of the mountain 🤔. Unbeknownst to me, she was afraid of heights 😱! It took me 45 minutes to get her back on the bike 😆. It all worked out well though. We completed the parkway before heading home, and 36 years later we’re still married 😉.
Bugs? Wet towel/cloth/similar, drape it over the visor/screen and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Special store bought solutions aren't necessary unless you are in a real hurry :)
Bugs and passengers! One of my favorite experiences (in retrospect…😬) My first bike: Triumph Bonneville. One of my first passengers was my buddy, Dave and we were going to a party in the neighboring town 10 miles away. It was summer and dark, in Illinois. Anybody familiar with “June Bugs?” They’re all over the place, hard-shelled flying beetles the size of a dime. I’m wearing my open-face helmet, he’s not (hey, it was 1972 and we were invincible.) On the dark lonesome highway, I see a June bug glowing ahead in my headlight beam, spiraling toward us at 65mph. At the last moment before it strikes me in the face, I duck and Dave takes it in the forehead… WHACK! ”You fucker!” he yelled… Dave was undeterred and rode on the back of my Triumph many times (later on I got a spare helmet AND a fairing…a Windjammer, in fact since I worked for Vetter…) 😎
Hi Guys! This "two up" discussion is all good advice and, I might add, advice that cannot be shared enough among us motorcyclists. Your stories caused me to reminisce about my own pillion experiences going back to 1970 when I first started carrying passengers. I think a most interesting experience was when I gave my sister-in-law (who is an accomplished equestrian and competition horse rider) a ride on my big touring bike. On that ride, I learned what her mount must experience as she straddles her horse. I was amazed that every directional change I made during the ride was inadvertently telegraphed to me as my passenger subconsciously signalled the turns using her legs, squeezing my hips as our ride progressed. I learned what it must feel like to be a show horse in an arena during a riding competition! After the ride, I asked her about it and learned she wasn't even aware of doing it. That's another form of "motor memory." Thanks for another great HSLS!
The only two up I've done is with my cousin when I visit his city. He doesnt drive so all our adventures are 2 wheeled. Nothing funnier than two 6'2" guys riding around on a 600 sportbike or a 640 adventure with a 50L backpack full of beer/groceries. The last time we made a girl cry she laughed so hard 🤣
When I had my Rocket 3, I took a girl out on a motorcycle ride. Good thing about the Rocket, is that a 60 kilos girl can do whatever on the back and the bike does not care. And I was being all nice driving kinda slow and she was egging me to go faster. So I did. I warned her: "Hold tight", and the Rocket is very on/off when you twist the throttle. She asked me "not to do that again".
Usually just listen to this podcast while i'm out on the highway on my bike. Learned so much over the years from these guys. Thanks alot for all the hardwork fellas, keep bringing more!!
Happy Father’s Day to me! All I wanted in all the world was a HSLS t-shirt and the kids got me one! And get this, revzilla messed up and sent me two! I secretly think the second one is really a prize because I am a loyal listener. Anyway, my daughter claimed it, so no send backs!
Dude it looks like spurg has lost considerable weight. It could just be the camera, but usually they say “the camera adds 10 pounds” not “the camera removes 50 plus pounds”
Took my better half down the road to a local farm to check out what they had out at the stand. Nice one-and-a-half mile ride, except the speed limit is 45 mph (which in NJ means 60 mph). There’s a nice S turn before the stand. I took it slow (40) ignoring the impatient car behind me. This is the first time she has been on the bike going over 25 mph. When I heard “oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit” I knew at that moment 40 was still too fast and cruising around the block at 25 is where we are going to stay for a while.
Great topic and great tips! I just started riding 2 up with my girlfriend and it's been awesome to share the experience with her. Keep up the great work guys!
This is fantastic. I haven't ridden in years, bought an MT-03 last year to get my legs back, and my wife already wants to jump on back. I'll make sure this video is part of my "training program" once I've got something big enough for us to enjoy together. The last time we rode anything on two wheels together was when I rented a scooter on our honeymoon in Key West for a night, which was about 13 years ago lol.
This podcast is so damn good. I wasn’t really into the subject today since I never ride 2 up but still fully entertained throughout the episode as usual. You guys are awesome !
Great advice from Zack on planning a different ride with a passenger. I've never been a passenger, but it is a completely different experience and should be taken into consideration.
Perfectly fine to have a podcast with just Zack and Spurg but anyone else think Lance would have some amazing stories to add here? I live in NJ and I want to be one of Spurgs buds lol. Lets get a RC going call it B.O.S. Buds of Spurg! Spot on Zack "if done properly" are the key words in lane splitting/filtering and there are a host of videos out there that show what can happen when it is not done properly. The other hurdle to is driver/rider education. Drivers need to be made fully aware that this is now legal and they must allow riders to split/filter even if they do not agree with it. If a driver interferes or accosts a rider spitting/filtering the penalty should be severe, as should the penalty for a rider not splitting/filtering legally. For those who say its too dangerous under any circumstance please understand that no one is making you split/filter, just because you can does not follow that you must. For instance, its legal to smoke weed here in NJ but Im not rolling dubes and toking up, I can but I am choosing not to. Holy Crap Im an Uncle Bob! I dont think any mom is really cool with her kids on motorcycles. Good show lads, see you next cast!
No crazy uncle but two older brother inlaws that took me to the motorcycle street drags. 40 years later still riding. The two up conversation hit home in every scenario
Had to ride on the back of my uncles bike to go pick up my new bike. That was a new experience and then the sport bike i got was also a new experience :D
Low speed lane filtering is great. It's much safer moving to the front of traffic, and lessening the risk of being rear-ended. + It's much faster than being stuck in traffic.
I own a VStrom, it's good for a loaded 2up. The bad part is the suspension, but for street that's not an issue most of the time. But for that price, that bike is a mule that gets the job done. I've also ridden 1200gs and... I love it, I'm just too poor to have one. That one was REALLY comfortable for both, and had PLENTY of power that my Strom doesn't have. PS: I ride with the wife, loaded with luggage and, sometimes, the dog. To travel around the country we currently live in (MX) PSS: I changed the dogbones or whatever those are called, so it is higher from the ground. And with the Anakee ADV tires, I feel really confident.
Utah lane splitting is pretty good since you can filter to the front of the queue at red lights as long as the speed limit on the road is 45 or below. Makes riding on surface streets way nicer. But it's a no-go on the highway. I got pulled over for lane splitting through a traffic jam on a 65 mpg state highway on a hot day. At least he let me off with a warning.
I owned a Kawasaki Ke-100 when I was 16. I sold it and bought a Suzuki GS550. On my first drive home with the 550, I was not used to the clutch on the bike and chirped the rear tire every time I shifted it. So yeah there is something to be said about getting to know a new bike before taking a passenger for a ride on it.
I have only done lane splitting in London, on a rented bike. I found it scary at first but when I saw that the drivers actually understood and seemed to really accept it, it was wonderful and definitely safer than being a bike in Friday afternoon rush hour. I live in Chicago now and it would take A LOT of cultural change to make Chicago drivers happy to just scoot their cars over so people can ride through.
My two-up story is, don't ride with a passenger that is carrying a long backpack when your exhaust is under the seat... I have an FZ6 S2 (twin exhaust under the seat) and a friend was carrying a backpack... Well... To our surprise, when she was sitting upright, the exhaust gas was close enough to the backpack to melt the whole bottom!! Thankfully, it wasn't a long drive and we weren't stuck in traffic so we didn't lose anything. But separating melted plastic from hot house-keys is not the easiest hahahahah PS; for me, I know that I have impressed a passenger when they tell me "wow!! You are a very smooth driver / rider"
My first ride as a passenger, and before riding on my own as well, was on the back of my friend's dirtbike. We were like 13-14 and going over to another friend's house, he had a TTR 125 or something like that. No passenger pegs, small seat, definitely not meant for a passenger. I could feel my shoes hitting the chain and was worried about my pants getting into the sprocket, worried about slipping off the back, plus he was riding pretty fast on a rough trail. I about pissed myself before I told him to slow down.
Another fun show, even without guests! Lane splitting should be legal everywhere. Without lane splitting, I have no reason to commuteon a bike. Here in NY I consider any tickets part of the cost of riding. One of my fond riding memories is splitting lanes leaving LA, on the way to Monterey for the Moto America round at Laguna Seca, 2 summers ago, following a CHP officer. It felt awesome! You made me dig up Lee Parks books! A bit more technical info on riding 2 up might have been helpful. Yes, the bike will accelerate, brake and corner differently, but no discussion of preload adjustments or any other ways to mitigate the additional weight. Enjoyed the banter while working.
Electric motorcycles are a weird niche that will be difficult to make work outside of a city context until something changes. RyanF9 broke it down pretty well in one of his recent vids.
I had a pretty good strategy for helping ladies know the rules of being a passenger (before I got married, grand total of 3 including my now wife) Id dance with them waltz style on the side of the road like an idiot. Fallow my body when I move, I lean, you lean etc. Stay on until its stopped and try not to wiggle to much or we'll crash. Good ol 2007 triumph bonnie was a great bike for the time I had it. Great episode, you guys are always fun
I know most people would choose a KTM Duke 390 over the Yamaha MT-03, but I swung a leg over both and found the Duke seat to be a bit higher (at least in my mind) and much less comfortable, and the foot and body position a bit agressive for my taste. About a week later I took the MT-03 for a test ride and bought it that day.
Seeing the bug covered helmet made me think of the 70's era Gumball Rally. One of the characters was racing across the country riding a Kawasaki two stroke triple and became covered with bugs and chicken feathers.
From the different bikes I tried my usual passenger swears by ADVs with a cushioned top case. Leg room, back is supported and straight. I fully agree except for my desire to get a naked eheh
What used motorcycles (besides a 2nd gen Versys 650 for $3k lol) would you recommend for someone looking to get off a metric cruiser (2007 shadow 1100) and on to a standard/naked/ potentially ADV bike? I don’t like the ergos, handling, or twin carburetors. For reference, I’m 6’ and 210 lbs with a 31” inseam. Do I get a T-shirt if I say that the versys 650 could whoop a VFR800 in the twisties? But really, I’d appreciate some conversation on the podcast about switching from cruisers to other riding styles and what bikes to look at. Thank you guys!
Cicada season in Ohio, Harley has excellent products for bugs. They have a polish that keeps bugs from sticking to your helmet or motorcycle. Just like Teflon in a can!
I live in Sydney. We now are allowed to lane split. It has made getting through traffic easier and safer for me. I get in front of the tin heads and away.
I find this conversation fascinating, because I never found riding a bike with a passenger troublesome at all. Slightly different, yes, but not at all difficult or anything. Didn't feel any more dangerous or anything. But it may also have something to do with me riding around with my brother on the back and vice versa of a bicycle as 5 and 8 year olds, and that I live in India and bikes are a part of every household and very commonplace.
May I add... use the right bike. Kawasaki Concours (C1000) is a great two-up machine, and we loved it while we were moving. But me being 5'6" and 140 lb... Let's just say the trips are a lot smoother on the F800GT
Lanesplitting isn't as universally legal in europe as most americans seems to think. Though it is in countries like France and Italy, it is not in Germany. I live in Denmark, and it is not legal here either, you have to ALWAYS pass on the left, and if you lane split, you are passing someone on the right. In the left most lane, you are allowed to pass and share the lane while doing it if there is room for it however.
Love this show, I've watched every episode. My only complaint is that they talk about specific motorcycles but since I am so new to biking, I have no idea what the motorcycle looks like. So, maybe add some graphics of the bikes in the videos.
I’m having the rear shocks changed on my Speed Twin because giving rides. It is seriously strange when a passenger starts moving about as it is now. The originals does have preload adjustment but is a bitch to adjust. I want as much adjustment as possible so Öhlins will be fitted. Why Öhlins? I’m Swedish and so are they.
I feel lane split should not happen in traffic above 20mph and rider cannot ride faster than 40mph for braking distance. And any accident is rider’s responsibility. It’d be good to allow “lane split” on right side (in single file only), almost like city bike lanes, so drivers are not bothered by a running engine with Doppler effect while getting stressed sitting in traffic, or if the riders tend to rev if they feel there’s no gap.
I can confirm, a passenger who wants to sit backwards to take photographs of the twisty highland b road definitely makes a bike handle in such a way that the laws of the universe cannot cope, and the passenger must succumb to gravity. (Sorry Gordon, but you wanted to!) :)
This is a very interesting perspective. For people from Asia, especially, south & south east, motorcycles are a very primary form of transportation. In these areas, people learn to ride with an experienced rider sitting as a passenger and instructing them what is good and what is not. Taking a passenger is a necessary skill in these parts of the world. Yeah, mostly these are 100cc - 300cc light weight bikes and not super fast for western standards. Most of my saddle time, I had a passenger or I sit as a pillion. Its usually 2 friends sharing a motorcycle - splitting gas bills and so on. Going to trips? motorcycles two up. School? Two up. Hitchhikers? Yes sir! :) Different worlds
hard to lane split on a cruiser bike with road bars, and idiot's in four wheeler's playing on their phones...an another note is most drivers can't even tell how big or small the vehicle is so driving straight is hard for them
Once the passenger is on the back of the bike, the shifts and braking that felt so smooth solo, no longer feel so smooth. So how many helmet vs helmet hits are tolerable before you need to replace the helmet?
I have the same hope in regard to Harley and the Revolution Max engine. I ride a K1200LT and have been looking for a successor as I am nearly at 100,000 miles, but the current crop of touring bikes just haven’t impressed. The K1600s are just too complex, expense and not as comfortable as the LT. I had high hopes for the new Wing, but after test riding it and seeing the minis use bag capacity and the small fuel tank, it didn’t impress. Harley has the engine now to build a world class luxury touring bike for the riding couple and I am hoping they do that, but I am not holding my breath. It appears the current focus is on bikes for the solo rider, ADV and sport touring bikes, so maybe long distance touring couples are simply fading away.
I'll be getting my first bike this year, and am planning to take my SO for some rides. We have quite some experience on scooters (those electric ones that go 45 kph), how does a motorcycle compare to that? I imagine it's mostly the higher seat (and thus larger impact on balance) that's the difference, correct?
Picked up a fine young lady after I stopped and waited behind a yellow cab in the city. Was the third week into motorcycling on my 250cc Taiwanese Rebel cruiser
I don't think lane splitting is something people should be doing. ..............Due to something going on down the road (accident, broke down vehicle, etc) the traffic on a major highway has come to a stop. A truck driver sitting in the traffic sees an issue with something on his truck/trailer. He looks in his mirror to make sure nothing is coming (lane splitters). Nothing is coming at that instance. Then, he opens his door to step out of his truck. In the mean time, a lane splitter pulls out from behind the trucker's cargo trailer and runs into the trucker's open door that is opening just as he gets to that point, and dies from injuries he suffered in the impact. That truck driver will live the rest of his life trying to figure out what he could have done for that situation to have never happened.
My best Two-up story: When I was on a bike tour in the Alps, we had one pair in the group in their 60s. They rode up the Stelvio Pass 2-up, on a Harley. Did I mention that he had a peg-leg?
1. I want to ride backwards when Zack wheelies. 2. My wife hated being a passenger because she was bored. After 20 years of riding Bi……, er, passenger she did her MSF and now operates our Bonne SE and wants to ride all the time.
I had a Honda SL350 with a sissy bar (this was in the early 70's) and when giving my girlfriend a ride for the first time, we were going around a corner when she decided to lean, but the wrong way. I stopped the bike (after almost going down) and said "You put your back against the sissy bar and you DON'T MOVE!" She shortly thereafter decided to get her own license.
I think the people who ride who think lane splitting is dangerous probably ride big touring bikes or Harley's. I know I was very uncomfortable doing it in my Vulcan 900 because it was so big and bad at low speeds.
AH! So mine's not the only one! She fell asleep on some rather fun coastline twistied (30-40mph). No knee down bs of course but I just felt the pressure since she leaned on me and asked what what going on... asleep like a baby
Get more HSLS on Common Tread: rvz.la/3wBx7OQ
I'll never forget the time I was 14 and rode my KX 80 big wheel to my friends house and picked him up along with a case of beer he had stole from his parents.
2 kids riding a little dirt bike full speed down the street while the rear passenger holds onto a case of beer like his life depended on it.
My “two up” story involved taking my new wife to the Blue Ridge Parkway. An hour or so into the mountainous section of North Carolina she motioned she wanted to stop, being a lover of mountain vistas I sailed into the next turn off and up to the curb of the overlook, flipped out the side stand, and before I could even rest the bike on the stand, she was off the bike and on her hands and knees crawling toward the wall of the mountain 🤔. Unbeknownst to me, she was afraid of heights 😱! It took me 45 minutes to get her back on the bike 😆. It all worked out well though. We completed the parkway before heading home, and 36 years later we’re still married 😉.
That is such a fun and beautiful ride. Very good choice of ride though.
Amazing!!
@@fs3994; We certainly do ! Together two up on an “adventure bike”, and individually on smaller lighter bikes 😃🏍🏍🏍👍.
Spurgeon's instant regret of how he worded Zacks "first time" 🤣 I love the banter between these guys 😄
Bugs? Wet towel/cloth/similar, drape it over the visor/screen and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Special store bought solutions aren't necessary unless you are in a real hurry :)
Towel ruined for the rest of your life.
@@Baleur you can get micro fiber cloths in bulk for cheap :)
Thanks for the name drop, Spurge at 02:12
Dude! Ahah
hahaha
Bugs and passengers! One of my favorite experiences (in retrospect…😬)
My first bike: Triumph Bonneville.
One of my first passengers was my buddy, Dave and we were going to a party in the neighboring town 10 miles away. It was summer and dark, in Illinois.
Anybody familiar with “June Bugs?” They’re all over the place, hard-shelled flying beetles the size of a dime.
I’m wearing my open-face helmet, he’s not (hey, it was 1972 and we were invincible.)
On the dark lonesome highway, I see a June bug glowing ahead in my headlight beam, spiraling toward us at 65mph.
At the last moment before it strikes me in the face, I duck and Dave takes it in the forehead…
WHACK!
”You fucker!” he yelled…
Dave was undeterred and rode on the back of my Triumph many times (later on I got a spare helmet AND a fairing…a Windjammer, in fact since I worked for Vetter…)
😎
Hi Guys! This "two up" discussion is all good advice and, I might add, advice that cannot be shared enough among us motorcyclists. Your stories caused me to reminisce about my own pillion experiences going back to 1970 when I first started carrying passengers. I think a most interesting experience was when I gave my sister-in-law (who is an accomplished equestrian and competition horse rider) a ride on my big touring bike. On that ride, I learned what her mount must experience as she straddles her horse. I was amazed that every directional change I made during the ride was inadvertently telegraphed to me as my passenger subconsciously signalled the turns using her legs, squeezing my hips as our ride progressed. I learned what it must feel like to be a show horse in an arena during a riding competition! After the ride, I asked her about it and learned she wasn't even aware of doing it. That's another form of "motor memory." Thanks for another great HSLS!
Zack, I think the reason I do stops where ever possible without putting my feet down as much as possible is from watching your ride videos.
The only two up I've done is with my cousin when I visit his city. He doesnt drive so all our adventures are 2 wheeled. Nothing funnier than two 6'2" guys riding around on a 600 sportbike or a 640 adventure with a 50L backpack full of beer/groceries.
The last time we made a girl cry she laughed so hard 🤣
Raise your glasses for all the uncle Bobs out there! 😁
When I had my Rocket 3, I took a girl out on a motorcycle ride. Good thing about the Rocket, is that a 60 kilos girl can do whatever on the back and the bike does not care.
And I was being all nice driving kinda slow and she was egging me to go faster. So I did. I warned her: "Hold tight", and the Rocket is very on/off when you twist the throttle. She asked me "not to do that again".
Instead of "don't do that again" I get a couple of slaps on the shoulder when I start going over the speed limit. It's like a speed limiter ahah
Usually just listen to this podcast while i'm out on the highway on my bike.
Learned so much over the years from these guys.
Thanks alot for all the hardwork fellas, keep bringing more!!
Happy Father’s Day to me! All I wanted in all the world was a HSLS t-shirt and the kids got me one! And get this, revzilla messed up and sent me two! I secretly think the second one is really a prize because I am a loyal listener. Anyway, my daughter claimed it, so no send backs!
Sounds like she deserves it! Enjoy it, Dad!
Saturday evening sorted 😂
Spurg has beautiful eyes and Zack has a lovely smile... do I get a T-shirt?
Joe has a nice beard. Tshirt please 🥺
No T-Shirt for you, unless you comment on ITunes...
Great Episode! Always looking forward high side/low side!
Dude it looks like spurg has lost considerable weight. It could just be the camera, but usually they say “the camera adds 10 pounds” not “the camera removes 50 plus pounds”
Took my better half down the road to a local farm to check out what they had out at the stand. Nice one-and-a-half mile ride, except the speed limit is 45 mph (which in NJ means 60 mph). There’s a nice S turn before the stand. I took it slow (40) ignoring the impatient car behind me. This is the first time she has been on the bike going over 25 mph. When I heard “oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit” I knew at that moment 40 was still too fast and cruising around the block at 25 is where we are going to stay for a while.
This was both so entertaining and informative! :D thanks!
Great topic and great tips! I just started riding 2 up with my girlfriend and it's been awesome to share the experience with her. Keep up the great work guys!
This is fantastic. I haven't ridden in years, bought an MT-03 last year to get my legs back, and my wife already wants to jump on back. I'll make sure this video is part of my "training program" once I've got something big enough for us to enjoy together. The last time we rode anything on two wheels together was when I rented a scooter on our honeymoon in Key West for a night, which was about 13 years ago lol.
This podcast is so damn good. I wasn’t really into the subject today since I never ride 2 up but still fully entertained throughout the episode as usual. You guys are awesome !
Great advice from Zack on planning a different ride with a passenger. I've never been a passenger, but it is a completely different experience and should be taken into consideration.
Thanks guys! Great information on tiding two up.
Love listening to you guys.... normally listening to the pod cast while I’m riding 😂
Perfectly fine to have a podcast with just Zack and Spurg but anyone else think Lance would have some amazing stories to add here? I live in NJ and I want to be one of Spurgs buds lol. Lets get a RC going call it B.O.S. Buds of Spurg! Spot on Zack "if done properly" are the key words in lane splitting/filtering and there are a host of videos out there that show what can happen when it is not done properly. The other hurdle to is driver/rider education. Drivers need to be made fully aware that this is now legal and they must allow riders to split/filter even if they do not agree with it. If a driver interferes or accosts a rider spitting/filtering the penalty should be severe, as should the penalty for a rider not splitting/filtering legally. For those who say its too dangerous under any circumstance please understand that no one is making you split/filter, just because you can does not follow that you must. For instance, its legal to smoke weed here in NJ but Im not rolling dubes and toking up, I can but I am choosing not to. Holy Crap Im an Uncle Bob! I dont think any mom is really cool with her kids on motorcycles. Good show lads, see you next cast!
No crazy uncle but two older brother inlaws that took me to the motorcycle street drags. 40 years later still riding. The two up conversation hit home in every scenario
Are you guys going to bring back Ari as part of the High Side Low Side?
You'll probably enjoy the next episode of Season 4.... Releasing this weekend....
Had to ride on the back of my uncles bike to go pick up my new bike. That was a new experience and then the sport bike i got was also a new experience :D
great episode guys thank you !
Low speed lane filtering is great. It's much safer moving to the front of traffic, and lessening the risk of being rear-ended. + It's much faster than being stuck in traffic.
I own a VStrom, it's good for a loaded 2up. The bad part is the suspension, but for street that's not an issue most of the time. But for that price, that bike is a mule that gets the job done.
I've also ridden 1200gs and... I love it, I'm just too poor to have one. That one was REALLY comfortable for both, and had PLENTY of power that my Strom doesn't have.
PS: I ride with the wife, loaded with luggage and, sometimes, the dog. To travel around the country we currently live in (MX)
PSS: I changed the dogbones or whatever those are called, so it is higher from the ground. And with the Anakee ADV tires, I feel really confident.
Utah lane splitting is pretty good since you can filter to the front of the queue at red lights as long as the speed limit on the road is 45 or below. Makes riding on surface streets way nicer. But it's a no-go on the highway. I got pulled over for lane splitting through a traffic jam on a 65 mpg state highway on a hot day. At least he let me off with a warning.
Im with zack on the Terra. Awesome bike, made mine into sort of an ADV Supermoto, kinda like the SWM SuperDual T. Fun all arround.
I remember seeing Zack's post on Instagram saying he got married and I felt super happy for him. Then the wheelie picture brought the memory back
I owned a Kawasaki Ke-100 when I was 16. I sold it and bought a Suzuki GS550. On my first drive home with the 550, I was not used to the clutch on the bike and chirped the rear tire every time I shifted it. So yeah there is something to be said about getting to know a new bike before taking a passenger for a ride on it.
I have only done lane splitting in London, on a rented bike. I found it scary at first but when I saw that the drivers actually understood and seemed to really accept it, it was wonderful and definitely safer than being a bike in Friday afternoon rush hour. I live in Chicago now and it would take A LOT of cultural change to make Chicago drivers happy to just scoot their cars over so people can ride through.
My two-up story is, don't ride with a passenger that is carrying a long backpack when your exhaust is under the seat... I have an FZ6 S2 (twin exhaust under the seat) and a friend was carrying a backpack... Well... To our surprise, when she was sitting upright, the exhaust gas was close enough to the backpack to melt the whole bottom!! Thankfully, it wasn't a long drive and we weren't stuck in traffic so we didn't lose anything. But separating melted plastic from hot house-keys is not the easiest hahahahah
PS; for me, I know that I have impressed a passenger when they tell me "wow!! You are a very smooth driver / rider"
My first ride as a passenger, and before riding on my own as well, was on the back of my friend's dirtbike. We were like 13-14 and going over to another friend's house, he had a TTR 125 or something like that. No passenger pegs, small seat, definitely not meant for a passenger. I could feel my shoes hitting the chain and was worried about my pants getting into the sprocket, worried about slipping off the back, plus he was riding pretty fast on a rough trail. I about pissed myself before I told him to slow down.
Great Podcast!
Proud of my bug collection on my headlight and helmet 🤘
Another fun show, even without guests!
Lane splitting should be legal everywhere. Without lane splitting, I have no reason to commuteon a bike. Here in NY I consider any tickets part of the cost of riding. One of my fond riding memories is splitting lanes leaving LA, on the way to Monterey for the Moto America round at Laguna Seca, 2 summers ago, following a CHP officer. It felt awesome!
You made me dig up Lee Parks books!
A bit more technical info on riding 2 up might have been helpful.
Yes, the bike will accelerate, brake and corner differently, but no discussion of preload adjustments or any other ways to mitigate the additional weight.
Enjoyed the banter while working.
Electric motorcycles are a weird niche that will be difficult to make work outside of a city context until something changes. RyanF9 broke it down pretty well in one of his recent vids.
I had a pretty good strategy for helping ladies know the rules of being a passenger (before I got married, grand total of 3 including my now wife) Id dance with them waltz style on the side of the road like an idiot. Fallow my body when I move, I lean, you lean etc. Stay on until its stopped and try not to wiggle to much or we'll crash. Good ol 2007 triumph bonnie was a great bike for the time I had it. Great episode, you guys are always fun
I feel like we need a CTXP episode of Spurge getting that ride with Randy Mamola
I know most people would choose a KTM Duke 390 over the Yamaha MT-03, but I swung a leg over both and found the Duke seat to be a bit higher (at least in my mind) and much less comfortable, and the foot and body position a bit agressive for my taste. About a week later I took the MT-03 for a test ride and bought it that day.
Seeing the bug covered helmet made me think of the 70's era Gumball Rally. One of the characters was racing across the country riding a Kawasaki two stroke triple and became covered with bugs and chicken feathers.
From the different bikes I tried my usual passenger swears by ADVs with a cushioned top case. Leg room, back is supported and straight.
I fully agree except for my desire to get a naked eheh
What used motorcycles (besides a 2nd gen Versys 650 for $3k lol) would you recommend for someone looking to get off a metric cruiser (2007 shadow 1100) and on to a standard/naked/ potentially ADV bike? I don’t like the ergos, handling, or twin carburetors. For reference, I’m 6’ and 210 lbs with a 31” inseam.
Do I get a T-shirt if I say that the versys 650 could whoop a VFR800 in the twisties?
But really, I’d appreciate some conversation on the podcast about switching from cruisers to other riding styles and what bikes to look at. Thank you guys!
Listening to this late at night on my bed and I am missing my bike a lot. I have been away from my bike due to pandemic for last 5 months.
Cicada season in Ohio, Harley has excellent products for bugs. They have a polish that keeps bugs from sticking to your helmet or motorcycle. Just like Teflon in a can!
I live in Sydney. We now are allowed to lane split. It has made getting through traffic easier and safer for me. I get in front of the tin heads and away.
I find this conversation fascinating, because I never found riding a bike with a passenger troublesome at all. Slightly different, yes, but not at all difficult or anything. Didn't feel any more dangerous or anything.
But it may also have something to do with me riding around with my brother on the back and vice versa of a bicycle as 5 and 8 year olds, and that I live in India and bikes are a part of every household and very commonplace.
My uncle Bob has a 82 cb650 but it was my cousin and his dirt bike that I was a passenger on first.
May I add... use the right bike. Kawasaki Concours (C1000) is a great two-up machine, and we loved it while we were moving. But me being 5'6" and 140 lb... Let's just say the trips are a lot smoother on the F800GT
Finally! Next dog walk entertainment sorted
That's one lucky dog if he's getting an hour and a half walk out of this!
43:20 I tried explaining that breaking for a corner and doing manual rev-matching was highly rewarding only to have a confused face as a reaction
Everyone needs a slightly irresponsible uncle Bob lol
Lanesplitting isn't as universally legal in europe as most americans seems to think. Though it is in countries like France and Italy, it is not in Germany. I live in Denmark, and it is not legal here either, you have to ALWAYS pass on the left, and if you lane split, you are passing someone on the right. In the left most lane, you are allowed to pass and share the lane while doing it if there is room for it however.
LANE SPLITTING LANE SPLITTING!! 😆
Lol that first time on public roads on a motorcycle is fun.
The KLR 600 was sold from 1984 till 1986, when it was replaced by the KLR 650.
Love this show, I've watched every episode. My only complaint is that they talk about specific motorcycles but since I am so new to biking, I have no idea what the motorcycle looks like. So, maybe add some graphics of the bikes in the videos.
I’m having the rear shocks changed on my Speed Twin because giving rides. It is seriously strange when a passenger starts moving about as it is now.
The originals does have preload adjustment but is a bitch to adjust. I want as much adjustment as possible so Öhlins will be fitted. Why Öhlins? I’m Swedish and so are they.
I feel lane split should not happen in traffic above 20mph and rider cannot ride faster than 40mph for braking distance. And any accident is rider’s responsibility.
It’d be good to allow “lane split” on right side (in single file only), almost like city bike lanes, so drivers are not bothered by a running engine with Doppler effect while getting stressed sitting in traffic, or if the riders tend to rev if they feel there’s no gap.
I can confirm, a passenger who wants to sit backwards to take photographs of the twisty highland b road definitely makes a bike handle in such a way that the laws of the universe cannot cope, and the passenger must succumb to gravity.
(Sorry Gordon, but you wanted to!) :)
This is a very interesting perspective. For people from Asia, especially, south & south east, motorcycles are a very primary form of transportation. In these areas, people learn to ride with an experienced rider sitting as a passenger and instructing them what is good and what is not. Taking a passenger is a necessary skill in these parts of the world. Yeah, mostly these are 100cc - 300cc light weight bikes and not super fast for western standards. Most of my saddle time, I had a passenger or I sit as a pillion. Its usually 2 friends sharing a motorcycle - splitting gas bills and so on. Going to trips? motorcycles two up. School? Two up. Hitchhikers? Yes sir! :) Different worlds
I need more Zack and Ari.... Thumbnail brought me here... Plz
I’m sure it’s been said, but there was a KL600 prior to the KLR650.
Spurg, you are looking trim! Is there ice cream shortage!
I quit the frozen treats, cold turkey!
Breaking that foot peg off really got to Spurge….he’s looking thin!
Breaking a foot peg off is a real reality check …
😂
Tera 650s are great when they work!
hard to lane split on a cruiser bike with road bars, and idiot's in four wheeler's playing on their phones...an another note is most drivers can't even tell how big or small the vehicle is so driving straight is hard for them
Once the passenger is on the back of the bike, the shifts and braking that felt so smooth solo, no longer feel so smooth. So how many helmet vs helmet hits are tolerable before you need to replace the helmet?
Cheaper to learn how to shift and brake competently.
... nope.. no bugs here in Kansas...
...now if you're talking flying fortresses.. yes we can talk...
I have the same hope in regard to Harley and the Revolution Max engine. I ride a K1200LT and have been looking for a successor as I am nearly at 100,000 miles, but the current crop of touring bikes just haven’t impressed. The K1600s are just too complex, expense and not as comfortable as the LT. I had high hopes for the new Wing, but after test riding it and seeing the minis use bag capacity and the small fuel tank, it didn’t impress. Harley has the engine now to build a world class luxury touring bike for the riding couple and I am hoping they do that, but I am not holding my breath. It appears the current focus is on bikes for the solo rider, ADV and sport touring bikes, so maybe long distance touring couples are simply fading away.
Spurgeon, looking sharp.
Do you remember the motorcycle taxis in London
YEAH BUDDY!
I didn't have a motorcycle riding uncle Bob, but uncle Donald taught me all kinds of fun stuff. There was a KLR 600.
I'll be getting my first bike this year, and am planning to take my SO for some rides. We have quite some experience on scooters (those electric ones that go 45 kph), how does a motorcycle compare to that? I imagine it's mostly the higher seat (and thus larger impact on balance) that's the difference, correct?
Picked up a fine young lady after I stopped and waited behind a yellow cab in the city. Was the third week into motorcycling on my 250cc Taiwanese Rebel cruiser
Holy bejesus I won and only realized today!
Also, it's pronounced Tay-shae-ra, Teixeira , the x makes a sh sound in that placement
I don't think lane splitting is something people should be doing. ..............Due to something going on down the road (accident, broke down vehicle, etc) the traffic on a major highway has come to a stop. A truck driver sitting in the traffic sees an issue with something on his truck/trailer. He looks in his mirror to make sure nothing is coming (lane splitters). Nothing is coming at that instance. Then, he opens his door to step out of his truck. In the mean time, a lane splitter pulls out from behind the trucker's cargo trailer and runs into the trucker's open door that is opening just as he gets to that point, and dies from injuries he suffered in the impact. That truck driver will live the rest of his life trying to figure out what he could have done for that situation to have never happened.
Lane splitting is not allowed here in Germany 😢 Can’t say for the rest of Europe though…
My best Two-up story:
When I was on a bike tour in the Alps, we had one pair in the group in their 60s. They rode up the Stelvio Pass 2-up, on a Harley. Did I mention that he had a peg-leg?
When will you guys have Anthony on the show? I loved his effort in the older Revzilla videos, be great to hear from a sport bike rider too!
My guess would be anthony doesnt work there anymore. I could be wrong, maybe he is just doing more important things
@@absolutelysobeast he still does.
THE KLR600 is absolutely real. 1984-1985 It happened.
1984-1986. I believe that in some countries up to 1990 even.
1. I want to ride backwards when Zack wheelies.
2. My wife hated being a passenger because she was bored. After 20 years of riding Bi……, er, passenger she did her MSF and now operates our Bonne SE and wants to ride all the time.
I had a Honda SL350 with a sissy bar (this was in the early 70's) and when giving my girlfriend a ride for the first time, we were going around a corner when she decided to lean, but the wrong way. I stopped the bike (after almost going down) and said "You put your back against the sissy bar and you DON'T MOVE!" She shortly thereafter decided to get her own license.
Bugs are water soluble...i use water on my face shield and Honda cleaner on my bike
I think the people who ride who think lane splitting is dangerous probably ride big touring bikes or Harley's. I know I was very uncomfortable doing it in my Vulcan 900 because it was so big and bad at low speeds.
I ride so smooth, my girlfriend sleeps through half of the trip. I had to tie her up to the top case few times so she wouldn't fall to the side
AH! So mine's not the only one!
She fell asleep on some rather fun coastline twistied (30-40mph). No knee down bs of course but I just felt the pressure since she leaned on me and asked what what going on... asleep like a baby
Maybe Uncle Bob had a KLR 250?
Lane splitting is not legal in Switzerland.
My Dad's the family's uncle Bob.
1:21:15 Zack mentioning the footless stops. Ever since the first episode of Daily Rider, he's got me hooked on doing that as well...
Yes. KLR 600 was a real thing.
If u have someone on the back don't go around corners too fast. The pillion is quite likely to end up in a field.
Why would the passenger end up in a field?