Demonstating to 2 up

by Pam Redfern
(Denr, CoO)

My former business partner and I use to demonstrate motorcycle skills all riders should have. Our demonstration showed that not just men can turn their cruiser in a 24 foot U-turn, or weave through 17 foot offset gates, demonstrated it side by side mirroring each other's movement. One part of our demo was to show that the passenger has a responsibility on the back of the bike. That is to be aware at all times what the rider is doing. Look through the turns with them. One inch movement of the handlebars causes the motorcycle to be one foot out of alignment. Picture a 24 foot U-turn and that is all you have after that is parked car or a curb. You the passenger are looking in the opposite direction of where the bike is going. You will probably be startled that the bike is making a turn and you could move just enough on the back of the bike to cause the rider to readjust the handle bars, now what is going to happen? You could hit the parked car or the curb. If the rider is really good they might just lean the bike more into the turn and this could cause the passenger to panic even more. Don't take a new passenger without letting them know that they are to be aware of what is going on. And technically the passenger does not lean with the bike, they go with the bike. NO LEANING PASSENGERS. Just stay with rider and you body will naturally just go with the bike and you will be leaning. If you lean you might lean to far and that too will cause a problem.

I was always surprised to see the reaction on passengers faces in the crowd when I gave the information on their responsibilities and what can happen if they are startled. I was thanked several times from men who's wife was a passenger, he said that she didn't know that stuff and he couldn't get her to listen.

Our skills and knowledge came from a former motorcycle officer/trainer here in the State of Colorado. We also participated in bike games. We practiced our skills all the time. And when two people are playing bike games the passenger has to be sure not to make sudden moves or the bike goes the oppossite direction. If that is what happens at slow speeds, it is worse at higher speeds.

For video's of our practices and some demo's go to youtube.com and search Pam Redfern or Civilian Top Gun Precision Riders.


Pam Redfern (Zipper)
Former Captain of the T3RG Precision Riders in Colorado