Two up riding

Hello Fellow Silver Wingers,

It's been a while since I posted a topic on the forum but the time has come for me to reach out to the more experienced riders on this topic.

My wife has a hard time getting on behind me because of how high the back seat is on the Wing. She is 5'6" and has bad knees which makes it even more default for her.

She really likes riding, does any body have any suggestions on how to help her get on and off of the Wing?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Bill

My wife had that problem when she rode with me. I use to use the raised curbs for her to get on. Always park where she can take advantage of the curb height. I did need to scoot forward to allow her more room to swing her leg up over the seat. She stopped riding with me because the foot pegs were too high for her when seated, and this put pressure on her knees.

You might try putting your bike up on the center stand and stand at the side of the bike and hold the handlebar and the grab rail, and then just let her climb up like she is going to drive the bike. She may be able to just use the floorboards to help her climb up. Then you just sit on your bike like normal and rock it off the center stand.

If you are strong enough to rock it forward you should be ok. Other than that I would use the curb method suggested above.

Don't you have a Hoyer lift ? I have one in my garage that I used to pull the engine out of my Model T when I restored it.   

This spring I installed a set of HD mini passenger floor boards and It made a big improvement in the comfort zone and she has been riding with me more often doing 3 to 400 kl a day rides with ease.Getting on the swing with my Trigg trike allows her to get on much better.I will try to post some pics later . The floor boards came from JP Cycle # 5500090 .

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I don't know if the lift would look very good behind Swing on the freeway  

I've been riding with my wife on the back of motor cycles for 40 yrs. on long trips & vacations. Never once laid us down until I got the s-wing last year. I put my foot down at a sandy stop sign and over we went. Love the S-wing, but not my favorite for double riding; top heavy. harley

I try to let my riding partner use curbs when I can. She's 5' flat, and her legs are short, getting on a Shadow is a trick for her.

My Swing has a topbox, and this makes it very difficult for my wife to raise her leg high enough to clear it and sit on the rear seat. We use JeffR's center stand down method when leaving home base and sometimes at places on the road.
I also can stand holding the brakes and handle bars with the sidestand down and she and sit on the bike and manuever back to her seat and then I sit down and raise the side stand. This works well on fairly level areas as well. billc.

OK it sounds like the using the curb and center stand is the way to go. I'll also try billc second method.

Thanks again,

Bill G

Before I converted my back rest to flip forward, I removed the screws that held it it place. Without the screws, it slides out, and made it easier for my wife to get on. I already had the backrest at the rearmost position, so it worked for me too.

9erfan, when my wife rode two up she did this, now all my pass are told to mount this way. she will use you to steady so you need to be rock solid on the bike and holding the bike steady. she mount from whatever is her strong side. from the left side, she would place her left hand on your shoulder, left foot firmly on the left foot peg (right hand on the top box if you have one) then right hand ready to also use you shoulders to steady herself as she stands up on the left foot peg. her right leg then "steps" over the seat finding the right peg. So as this point she is standing on both pegs with hands on your shoulders for support ( most times you need to lean forward a bit). she then can sit down onto the pinnon position.

dismounting works the same in reverse, you steady the bike and lean forward a bit, you must be ready, and then give the "command" ready, she then stands up with both feet on the begs, steading herself with your shoulders, steps back over the seat and to the ground. there is alot of movement so it takes some practice not only for her movements but for you to steady the bike allowing her to feel comfortable while mounting

Hope this might work for you

ebear, thanks I had thought of this method but didn't know if the foot pegs could hold a 130 lb person, can they? Also do you leave the side stand down just in case if she is mounting from the left side?

A very easy way for a passenger to dismount is the one my wife uses.
I stop the Swing, put the side stand down while I am seated on the bike. Then I stand up straddling the bike with both hands on the brakes and handlebars. This gives ample room for my wife to swing to her left and gently slide off the seat. Then I dismount the bike and lean it on the side stand. billc.

The Corbin seat has a place for a driver's backrest.
In addition to being a corbin seat, and having a driver's backrest,
which folds forward for letting the passenger on,
Its a great place to hold on to when maneuvering on and off the bike.

But you have to buy a corbin seat with a backrest to use that...

Dan