[Miziovoi]

Any recommendation on a bike for weekend excursions (<200 miles)?

We are both 5.6, 280 pounds total.

I was thinking of a 250 cruiser such as the Honda Rebel. Is the rear seat confortable enough?

Thanks

[AtlAggie]

When I owned my Rebel, I went ahead and installed a driver’s backrest, instead of a sissy bar. The pillion seat on a Rebel is neither long enough nor wide enough for anybody over 100 pounds.

To me, the Rebel, was my solo training bike. It’s NOT a 2-up bike.

[Clay Dowling]

Unless you buy their touring bikes, the pillion seats on a Honda bike are designed for very short trips by small people. It’s probably okay for giving my daughter a lift to school. Not for taking my wife to Mackinaw for the weekend.

Still somewhat irrelevant for me, as I’m nowhere near ready to carry pillion yet.

[Matt]

Give it a year of solid riding before upping both the difficulty and risk by adding a rider. Trust me, it really does make a big difference.

Secondly, The Honda Rebel is realistically too small (both in space and power) for two up trips of any length. The Honda Shadow 600 has the power, but the reat seat is more of a “small pad” than proper seat. not something I’d put someone on for any length of time. I’d look into other 500-650cc cruisers though. I think the Vulcan has a passenger back-rest option (not sure)… In this case, sit on as many of the bikes as you can (and get the Better Half to do so with you), then ride it by yourself for several thousand miles first.

[Munch]

Yes you can get a sissy bar… or as y’all call it… pillion/passenger back rest for the Vulcan 500.

[Miziovoi]

How about a 2007 Kawasaki 250 R Ninjia, instead? Not a cruiser, I know and a different bike from the Rebel altogether but the one I saw today at a dealer seemed to have decent passenger space, certainly more than the current 2008/2009 model, and probably more than a Rebel.

Of course, I will have her sitting behind me only after I have been riding solo for 2k miles… Thanks

[Mister]

For a very occasional short trip a 250 is fine. For more frequent and longer trips, bare bones minimum should be a 400. The Honda CB400 Super Four comes to mind as well as the ever trusty Suzuki GS500.

For numb bum consider an airhawk seat cushion. My friend got one for his Buell and I got one for my Honda after he was the guinea pig. Best darn thing I bought. Since getting it I can ride for hours without fatigue.

If you want to do a lot of pillion riding, take your pillion with you when trying the bikes. They will be sitting on the back so need to feel comfortable.

Back rests can be via a designated back rest sissy bar, or a pad on the back of a Top Box, or even a pad added to a Rack with rest bar like Ventura make.

[Author]

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