PILLION PASSION

The World from the back of a bike

Our first ride – West Head views on a Sunday

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February 9, 2014 by pillionpassionista Leave a Comment

The time has come for our first ride together.

Riding attire:

The Pillionpassionista

In my new helmet & ‘temporary’ attire

I’m all kitted up. Kind of.

I’ve got my brand spanking new helmet and teamed it up with a pair of jeans (ok, so they’re Armani), a leather jacket (admittedly, it’s only a dress jacket, but it zips up the front and sits hip-length), my old leather boots (they’re Ferrari – Diana Ferrari, that is – but they’re almost knee length with a very low heel) and borrowed gloves that are two sizes too big.

Zorro’s not happy with my lack of real protective gear, but I’m not convinced I’ll be back for a second outing at this stage.

The bike:

One of the things putting me off is that the bike in question is a superbike – the BMW S1000RR.

BMW S1000RR

BMW S1000RR – not much room for a pillion

Awesome machine for sure.

But not really intended for riding 2-up. I’ve even heard it has the smallest pillion seat of any bike. Just as well my bum ain’t too big…

I’m not a complete newbie to pillion riding. I had ridden a number of times in my youth (too many years ago to mention) on the back of a Kawasaki 1000 and a Yamaha FJ1100. So I at least know the basics of leaning with the bike and, most importantly, to hang on!

On the other hand, Zorro has only taken a pillion on a couple of short rides, so I was feeling more concerned about him than myself.

He sensibly selected “rain mode” on the S1000RR, which restricts the throttle and even the amount of lean.

It’s meant to be idiot-proof.

The first two corners still felt awkward, though I couldn’t tell if that was me or the rider.

Underway, I wrapped my arms around Zorro’s jacket and could thankfully check the traffic and upcoming corners to each side of his helmet.

Better yet, I could even keep an eye on the speedo if I sat higher and peered over his shoulder. All good.

Braking isn’t so comfy as I slide forward into him (and onto my crotch, right on the nasty little diamond ridge on the seat. Who designed that??).

The foot pegs are set high so I’m in a real jockey position, meaning there’s little opportunity to press against the pegs to hold myself.

I played with having one hand forward and one behind, gripping the sharp edge of the tail, but felt unbalanced. Eventually I settled on keeping both hands forward and pushing against the tank as the bike slowed.

Once we found a more open road, I began to appreciate the bike itself.

It’s nimble and beautifully poised. Despite the small seat, I felt quite balanced and secure.

The route:

We were joined by some friends, another couple quite new to riding 2-up.

the route to-from West Head

The route – North Sydney up to the northern beaches, then West Head via Bayview and back via Frenchs Forest

It was a beautiful sunny day and we headed up to Pittwater and took the turnoff to Church Point.

The run up to West Head can be a nightmare in a car on weekends, thanks to the number of cyclists that pedal up the challenging hills there. Being on the bike, I could see it was easier to “share the road” with them, but I was still nervous about meeting cars coming the other way who might be risking things while overtaking cyclists.

We stopped and I gingerly swung my leg over the bike to dismount. As my legs straightened my knees screamed in agony. My crotch begged for mercy as I took my first bandy-legged steps, a la John Wayne.

Then I cracked up laughing as I saw my friend do the same when she jumped off the back of their Honda VFR800.

Finally, the View:

lion island seen from west head

Looking down to the aptly named “Lion Island”

The view from the top is certainly worth the trial especially on such a glorious Sydney day.

Lion Island sits proud, far below us on the left.

To the right is the long, gentle sweep of Palm Beach up to Barrenjoey.

And we’re surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Hawkesbury River, Pittwater and the Pacific Ocean.

panoramic view of lion island, barrenjoey and pittwater

Wow, the view from West Head is breathtaking.

A few photos are taken (well, quite a few) before it’s time to get back on the bikes. Gingerly… Ouch….

Only an hour later, we’re home safely.

That’s been enough for my first ride. Once the aches subside, I’ll decide whether it was worth it…

Filed Under: Ride days Tagged With: NSW, Riding, Sydney

About pillionpassionista

The pillionpassionista is discovering the joy of being on the back of a motorcycle, one weekend at a time. She rides with her partner "Zorro" in Sydney, Australia - the greatest city in the world (at least when the sun is shining and the roads aren't clogged).

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Who is the Pillion Passionista?

Who am I? Probably not who you imagine. Nothing like the cliched 'bikie chick', certainly.

I grew up in the middle-class leafy north shore of Sydney, worked in the corporate world for many years, and left my mid-life crisis behind me some miles back.

When I tired of playing second fiddle to my beloved partner's beloved motorbike, I decided I wanted to be a part of his weekend road trips.

Not fancying the idea of learning how to ride, I took the easy rider option and hopped on the back.

Follow along as the pillionpassionista discovers the joy of being on the back of a motorcycle, one weekend at a time.

She rides with her partner "Zorro" in Sydney, Australia - the greatest city in the world (at least when the sun is shining and the roads aren't jammed).

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