All good advice and I agree with having your GF learn how to ride behind you. I also fly a small private plane and always have to tell first time passengers how to just sit straight and lean with the plane, not lean away from a turn. Like a couple of passengers that I’ve had on my bike, they lean away from the banking turn. If your GF doesn’t sit straight on the bike and leans away from the bank in the turn, you both could end up in the ditch on the outside of the curve. Explain to her that she just needs to sit straight and let you do all the work. Any extra weight on the back of the bike WILL change it's handling characteristics, so you also will need to work your way up to highway speeds slowly. You, as well as she, NEED to learn what the bike will and won't do with the extra weight on board.
If you have a friend who is used to riding two up, you might ask him/her to give you and your GF some tips too. Maybe he/she could even take your GF for a short ride to get her used to leaning with the bike.
I also agree that she needs to wait for you to tell her when to mount and dismount from the bike. With some people that I know even the passenger removing their helmet disrupts their balance.

Good luck.

 

2009 FLHRC

I always remind everyone that wants a ride "Those Pipes Are HOT! " People who are not familar with motorcycle dont relize how hot the engine area can get.
Take it easy!!! don't try to impress her with how fast you can go or how hot you can take a curve. The lady that rides with me now was involved in a motorcycle accident in the past and she swore she would never get on another bike. It took some time to build up her confidence, She now enjoys riding again. Take lots of breaks it can get boring just sitting back there.

 

07 Ultra Classic

My wife has been riding with me for a long time and has her "routine" that we have established. 1st and foremost RIDING GEAR! Helmet, eye wear, boots and a good jacket. Secondly, ensure that she is comfortable in the seat and has some back support or rest. Dont want her to feel like she is going to fall off and for thirds..adjust your shocks. With that said:

• Learn how and when to mount, dismount and foot position. This will reduce the amount of "balance surprises" and reduces scuffs on painted surfaces, pipes and other equipment. Practice in driveway. And pipes GET HOT!!!
• Balance while riding and turning and while stopped. Leaning into turns with you and the bike and not against/opposite forces. This is critical when stopped. Not a good time to fidget or adjust riding positions. Make her line up her helmet with yours during while riding. Put a small round sticker in the middle of the back of your helmet and have her keep her chin lined up directly behind this dot while turning. The lean will come naturally with no nopposing forces.
• Hand signals. Teach her the proper way to perform hand signals for turns, rapid deceleration if need and to warn other riders or road hazards. This saved a fellow rider of mine from hitting a large piece of tire once.
• Equipment/PPE use and storage. Make sure her riding gear does not dangle or interfere with moving bike components. No long scarves, or any object that can get caught in wheel, belts etc. Also the importance of not putting a helmet or anything else on the seat of a running motorcycle. Keys, makeup, "scrunchies", brushes, smokes and other assorted female needs. These items can fall and get caught on motor or damaged when they hit the ground .Melted plastic lipstick SUCKS on a motot (trust me!!!!),and a helmet can get an ugly scratch or gouge from falling off the seat or cargo carrier. Make sure she has a place for all her stuff and use the SAME place everytime!! Zip up all jacket pockets while riding. Get rain gear for long hauls. Upon returning home have a place to store her riding gear and use ONLY FOR RIDING. Jacket is not for girls night out!
• Identification and insurance card. I throw this one in in case something does happen that requires either to be provided or needed. Let friends/ know that you are going riding and provide an approximate time of return.
• Bike cleaning instructions for after the ride!! I had to throw this in. My wife enjoys helping weather it needs a full wash or a simple wipe down after riding. If she does decide that she like to help after the ride, show her how YOU detail your bike. I hate cleaning tires and wheels while she loves it! They always look great. I have come home on several occasions and found her detailing the wheels even when we have'nt been riding. I found that she does an even better job if I put the bike on a stand and remove the hard bags!!Some people relieve stress in different ways. I will say this... she IS the ONLY one I would ever let wash my bike. I dont even let the detailers at the DH shop do that!!

Now with all this said, go out and enjoy! Once the routine is established, you will both be comfortable!
And finally...take the small round sticker off the back of your helmet that she used to line up with in turns!

 

Might be a good idea for both of you to practice a few hard on the brakes stops. That way both of you know what to expect when she gets plastered against your back! I try to tell the wifey when I see a large unavoidable bump ahead so she can sort of preload her leg muscles to absorb it better.

 

always get her on and off on the left side with stand down(dont ask me how i know).and acording to my wife if u dont have a backrest u dont love her.backrest helps keep pasenger from leaning out and turning u wide.

 

I've had passengers that were so light I didn't really notice they were there and nothing much changed. But with heavier passengers I take my time and increase my stopping distance. It also helps to get them in the habit of mounting and dismounting only when I AM READY.
Get on the bike and stand flat footed and forward so the passenger can step onto the left floorboard (left foot) and put their right foot over the seat and onto the footboard on the other side. First time they almost always try to swing a leg over the tourpack and unless she can actually put her feet behind her head (to be so lucky) she'll never do it without scratching something or tipping you over.

 

Have her hang onto your belt loops or belt and not behind her, this helps keep her keep in sync w you and the bike. Also tell her not to talk when stopped as she will tend to lean.

 

Seriously, can't be said enough...YOU control when she gets on and off. First time I rode with my wife it was just a quick lap around the block. I remembered to tell her to wait for my okay before getting on. I forgot to tell her about waiting to get off as well. As soon as I was stopped in the driveway she jumped off and I damn near dropped the bike. She saw that and was convinced I wasn't ready for a passenger. I tried to tell her it was her fault, but of course, nothing is ever her fault.

 

Make sure if she needs to shift to get comfortable, she informs you by tapping you, so you are aware of the sudden movement. Best time to shift is at a stop but not always the case.

 

Just to add to everything mentioned....

Before you leave on your journey.....Always tell her you LOVE HER!!!!

ALWAYS!!!!

Billy G