My First Time Riding Pillion
So, I finally did it. Rode on the back of a motorcycle. My buddy Dave got himself a pretty decent bike, not too big, not too small, and kept offering me a ride. Always made excuses, you know? Bit nervous, I guess. But yesterday, the weather was perfect, and I thought, why not? Gotta try things once.
First hurdle: the gear. He handed me this helmet. Felt weird putting it on, heavy. Then a jacket, which was surprisingly thick. Already felt kinda clumsy before even seeing the bike up close.
Getting On Was Awkward
Okay, walking up to the motorcycle… it looks different when you know you’re getting on the back. Dave told me to wait until he had it steady. He hopped on, started it up – man, that sound goes right through you. Then he nodded. I sort of awkwardly threw a leg over, trying not to kick him or the bike. Felt super high up and wobbly for a second. He told me where to put my feet, these little pegs. Then the big question: where do I hold on?
- Grabbed the handles on the back at first.
- Then Dave said it’s better to hold onto him, around his waist. Felt a bit strange, but okay, safety first.
The Actual Ride
He gave it a little gas, and whoa. That initial pull is something else. You feel the engine right there. We started moving, just slowly through the neighborhood first. The wind wasn’t bad yet. But once we hit an open road? Man, the wind blast is real. Pushed my helmet back a bit. And the noise! Engine, wind, everything kinda blends together.
Leaning into turns was the weirdest part. My instinct was to stay upright, but Dave said just relax and lean with him. Took a few corners to get the hang of it. You really have to trust the driver, like, completely. You can’t see much directly ahead, just glimpses past their shoulders. Mostly looking side to side. It’s a totally different view of the road compared to being in a car.
We didn’t go super fast or for too long, maybe 30 minutes total. Enough for a first taste. Talking was impossible. We tried shouting a bit at a red light, but mostly it was just experiencing the ride.
Getting Off and Final Thoughts
Getting off felt almost as shaky as getting on. My legs were a bit stiff. Pulled the helmet off, and my hair was a mess, ears ringing slightly. But you know what?
It Was Pretty Cool
Yeah, honestly. A bit scary at moments, especially the leaning part. But feeling the movement, the wind, being out in the open like that… it’s very different. You feel much more connected to the road and what’s happening around you. Would I do it all the time? Probably not. But would I do it again? Yeah, I think I would. Good experience overall. Glad I finally gave it a shot.
