May be Goldwing time

figment · 05-03-2004, 12:22 PM

My Fiance and I spent the weekend shopping for her gear. We got some nice marcupial MC gloves with carbonfibre protection and a Shoei RF1K helmet. We also found a nice Olympic textile Jacket with pretty good armor.

She can't ride without gear. (my rule of course) I used this as an excuse to buy her birthday presents early

The Beemer is a GREAT bike for riding two up, but the comfort level for a pillion rider, while certanly better than an RC51, is still less than the rider saddle. After looking at the Goldwings once again, I think Its time to take one on a test ride. Id like to know from those with first-hand experience:

1) How hard is it to maintain the bikes attitude while the pillion rider enters/exits the seat?
2) How is low-speed handling with a pillion?
3) How long do you think a "hardy" pillion rider could ride before her seat got tired?

TIA.

OSIRIS · 05-03-2004, 12:28 PM

These comments only pertain to the GL1800! The GL1500 to me feels much heavier and more of a chore to ride for me than the 1800

1) I had no problem carrying my wife on the back of a 1800 Goldwing...felt about the same to me as going 2 up on a Blackbird.
2) Low speed handling gets a little heavy, but if you can handle it by yourself...you can easily do it with a passenger.
3)

My wife rode with me for 1.5 hours or so and she was very comfy...much more so than after 1.5 hours on the 929.

Edit: That said...would I own one? Absolutely, but it costs just as much as my car

Pete · 05-03-2004, 12:52 PM

Fig, after seeing a friend of mine pilot his GL1800 with is wife aboard, and that included several stops with dismounting, I don't think you'll have any problems. I'm don't know what your or your fiance's physical sizes are, but this guy is not a big dude, about 5'9", 170lbs, and his wife is probably in the 120-130lb. range.

ND4SPD · 05-03-2004, 1:11 PM

No experience with a pillion, but from what I experienced with the bike, I don't think any of the 3 concerns you have should be a concern. The bike is amazing. Go drive one, be sure to get a ride from someone and bring your checkbook 'cuz you'll be taking it home

figment · 05-11-2004, 3:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

No experience with a pillion, but from what I experienced with the bike, I don't think any of the 3 concerns you have should be a concern. The bike is amazing. Go drive one, be sure to get a ride from someone and bring your checkbook 'cuz you'll be taking it home

Thats what I think too. I have a standing invitation to do a multi-hour test ride anytime except this weekend... I was beside one of these last week at around 1 am on the interstate with my 954. The guy was aching to race me. I ignored him and he eventually left, but did so in a suprising "close encounters of the third" kind kind of way