I have written an article on my Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog about the fact that your passengers need to be trained too. You can find the article here: http://www.bikerlawblog.com/index.php?blog=3&title=motorcycle_passengers_need_training_too&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

There is one controversial aspect to my article that I would open up for debate. The sissy bar or back rest issue for passengers. Some think it's safer for passengers without a sissybar so they can fall off in case of an accident. I think it's safer for passengers to have a sissy bar so that they won't fall off.

Read the article and tell me what you think.

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Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
www.bikerlawblog.com

[quote=BikerLawyer]I am against taking a passenger on a motorcycle unless you have a sissy bar or backrest on the bike because of the danger that they will fall off if you accelerate too fast, or they lose their grip and fall off. I have seen it happen to other riders, it is a real danger.
Some are of the opinion that it is safer to not have a backrest or sissy bar on the back so that their passengers can fall off in case of an accident.

Having been a passenger before I started riding my own, I can tell you that I completely agree.  When my husband first got his Road King it had no backrest.  We took one ride that way, and I said I wasn't riding again until he got one.  I spent the whole time thinking I was going to fall off!  In order to be a good passenger, in my opinion, you have to be able to relax and go with the bike.  With nothing holding you there, it is really hard to do.

 You raise some really good points about training passengers.  My husband talks to everyone he takes on the bike about how to handle things.  It doesn't take much work to be a good passenger, but on the other hand, it doesn't take much work to be a really bad one.

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Only a biker knows why a dog hangs his head out the window.

I would have to side with backrest.  When I take a new passenger, I have them plant themselves against the back rest and tell them to go with it.  Plus a backrest makes it easier for the passenger to enjoy the ride and be a little more relaxed.   that's my opinion, at least

 Rando

I think that a backrest is safer and much more comfortable.  This is the speach I give ALL passengers before they ride with me.  http://www.chuckhawks.com/motorcycle_passenger_tips.htm

Good luck and ride safe.

Mike

I appreciate the feedback everyone.

I know of the and have seen the video you mention of the gal falling off of the back of the sportbike.

I have Google Alerts which notify me about motorcycle accidents on a daily basis. There were at least two deaths this week from passengers falling off of the back of motorcycles.

My article is much more about back rest and sissy bars, but it is a major point.

I will keep writing it as I see it.

Thanks,

Norm

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Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
www.bikerlawblog.com

There's actually a vid of a woman falling off the back of a sportbike, and a photo of a pretty blond girl without much skin left - they're two different women, which illustrates a danger to passengers.

The blonde woman, whose name is Brittany Morrow, just recently published an article about her experiences post-accident.

http://www.speedfreakinc.com/content/articles/riding/roadrashqueen.html

It's worth reading the whole thing. I know that it really hit me in the gut.

Sissy Bars? Do what you like, but with proper instruction a Sissy Bar is totally unnessary. Even as children, my siblings, and I started riding with our dad at an early age without a Sissy Bar. It's a matter of using your noggin as something more than a helmet rack. If you have a ditz that just can't follow instructions, or can't pay attention, leave them at the curb. I had a Sissy Bar once upon a time, but I got rid of it when I couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground because the ditz kept leaning on it. I left her on the curb, and threw the bar in the junk pile. Haven't used one since.

Kids as passengers are a matter of parental responsibility. If they can reach the pegs, and pay attention to what you tell them it should be no more problem than riding the minivan with a soccer mom. They crash too. I started as a passenger when I was four on the tank of my dad's Panhead. When I moved to the rear seat, there was no bar. I have never fallen off, and my dad wasn't a timid rider. My kids started around age seven with aftermarket pegs installed to fit them. My grandkids all ride with me when they visit. The Old Woman used to ride with me, till she got her own bike. They all learned without the aid of a Sissy Bar. And I'm not a timid rider either. My personal opinion.

"DUCK" WV

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"DUCK" WV

I hear you man. It really is about personal choice and opinion. My opinions come from having to deal with the aftermath or poor decisions that people make as a lawyer, and from my own personal experiences as a biker.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on safety issues. I think the purpose of the forum was to engage in debates related to how we can decrease the number of injuries, accidents, and death's that are now increasing each year.

I respect everyone's opinion and I will be the first to say that I am surely not the holy grail when it comes to knowing everything.

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Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
www.bikerlawblog.com

Yes I agree and my wife took a co-rider course a couple of years ago with GWRRA and it really help us when we went down. Probably saved her life.

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Freddy & Doris Wheeler
Motorist Awaness Division
Alabama District Coordinator
Gold Wing Road Riders Assn.

I have never had a problem with passengers on any of my bikes that dont have backrests. I believe the major factor is the operator. It is their decision as to their ability to carry a passenger safely on the road. This includes their throttle control and ability to control their bike at slow and high speed with a large moving weight on the back. A passenger briefing is also important. I believe proper gear for the passenger is far more important than worring about wether they have a backrest or not.