Two-up Riding

[echo42kp]

I have been riding my 2002 R1150R for over six months now and absolutely love it.

So, I bought the wife a helmet, jacket, and gloves....my friends tell me this is a huge mistake...but I bought them anyways. I have taken her out a few times and she enjoys it. I am 6' 2" 240 pounds and she is 5'5" and 135 ( so she tells me) and the bike seems to handle well. I guess with just us on the bike we come in at about 375 pounds together. I just wanted to get some advice or opinion on two-up riding with this bike:

Anything I should look out for?
Any tips?
Any prep?
Proper tire pressure (front and back)?
Seeing we are at 375 pounds, could I afford to put my side cases on with additional weight?

Thanks

[gregor]

From memory, 36psi front and 42psi rear. I turn the rear suspension preload wheel clockwise a couple of full turns (a click each time).

I always have the top box and the side cases on to provide a backrest and side protection in the event of an 'off'.

Enjoy the warmth from the rear!

[Oilhead]

From memory, 36psi front and 42psi rear. I turn the rear suspension preload wheel clockwise a couple of full turns (a click each time).

Yes your memory is correct on the pressure.

As for the rear preload, I would crank it to full stiff. I'm only about 190 lbs and my girlfriend is about 108 lbs and I still crank it to full stiff when we go two up. Otherwise, I have it set for about 19 clicks out from full stiff.

[gregor]

I meant an extra couple of turns from my normal solo mid point setting. Works for me anyway.

[sjbmw]

preload full on. all the cases are fine, just balance the weight evenly.

My total weight record on a R1150R is almost 600 lbs, when my kid grew to 16 years old, and all the camping gear had to go, along with my big fat can too. My 2004 has handled one or 2 longer (500+) trips a year like this since 2005.

If you don't have a Pirate's Lair backrest, your passenger will demand one the first time she sees another bike with one.
They are hard to find though, but are safety bliss for a passenger.

Also, if you ever want to do longer trips, start looking into a aftermarket seat for both of you. (If you have a stock seat, try taking her on a long day ride, but don't stop until 150 miles. I'll bet a nickel she will be asking for a rest top/leg stretch much, much sooner than that, with complaints about blood loss in her arse.

I like the Sargent, and adding a beadrider on pillion helps too.

[billbeemer]

my wife and i went riding together sunday on my '03 r1150r. it is a much better 2 up ride than my old '04 kgt. rider and passenger are more like one unit. i actually enjoyed. btw, i always shift at above 4k when riding with extra weight. less pull on the engine.

[riceburner]

They're damned good bikes for 2-up riding (having had it as part of the spec within the design process, not an afterthought).

As said - preload to full, if I was going to be doing a full day I'd probably put a little more air in the rear (not much, just a couple of psi).

Otherwise - just ride!

[echo42kp]

Well we have been riding around pretty regular now and as someone mentioned, the wife is asking for a backrest. I could not find the Pirates Lair back-rest as mentioned. The website states they are not making them anymore.

I have the stock r1150r seat (with rider high seat as well).

The only two options I have ben able to find on the backrest is by a company named Verholen and Corbin.

The Verholen is about $300 (US) and the Corbin is part of a whole seat adventure that would cost somewhere north of $700. Both are detachable so I would be able to remove when I am riding around solo (90% of time).

Does anybody have any input on these two options, or another option that I haven't found yet?

[Sunbeemer]

A top box makes a nice a backrest for a pillion rider and provides storage for her purse

[asphalt]

I did two up on one of my older R1150r's about 5 years ago. I was about 220lb and so was my (now ex)wife. Plus we had side cases full, and top case with stuffed. Needless to say we were over the GVWR, and it showed. With the preload all the way up, the bike was doing all it could, but the extra flex was pushed into the tires. The rear was shot in a little over 1000 miles. Not so much in tread wear, but it was cupping, and that was on 45psi. I didn't dare go higher than that, and the tread blocks were still walking around.

Lesson learned. New Girlfriend has her own EX500.

[RedRyder]

Right here on the forum are the specs for the R1150R. 525 lbs. wet with a capacity of 992 lbs. That means you have 467 lbs. left for your weight and your passenger plus gear. Maintain your tires at the right pressure and minimize the stuff you carry and you will be fine. I find the R to be a very serviceable 2-up machine. You should never over inflate your tires to "trick" the bike into carrying more. That's not safe and puts you and your passenger in jeopardy.