[J.R.]

I want to be able to take my GF to the beach or pick her up from college but want to know how much performance I will lose ( acceleration, top speed, handling) ?

[Ixecapade]

I hear you can- but it will lug a little- so how far and how fast you go and how much you are willing to sacrifice (mpg- acceleration etc).

Although this being your first bike I wouldn’t be super worried about that. This is a crap ton of stuff to get through before even thinking about having someone ride bitch. Many miles to go before that becomes an issue!

[J.R.]

awesome info. ill let her use the car to get to school and maybe around june or july, ill have enough experience to safely escort her to the beach

[SantaCruzRider]

In terms of riding with a passenger, bikes are usually limited more by their wheelbase and suspension. The Ninja should be fine for the infrequent jaunt. Power will suffer a bit, but you generally want to take it easy and make acceleration smoother with a passenger as they are going to be less able to respond to sudden changes in speed.

But as mentioned above, you have a lot to learn before you put someone else’s life in your hands. Passengers are distracting, the make the bike top heavy, increase your stopping distance, shift their weight the wrong way in curves and upset your balance, and slam up on your back during hard braking — so now you’re braking hard and having to perform a bench press to keep from getting smashed into the tank. It’s not for the novice.

[eternal05]

I’ve done it, but the biggest issue is comfort and bike handling. The engine doesn’t really suffer much in my experience, but that’s with a 120lb passenger.

[briderdt]

“…but want to know how much performance I will lose ( acceleration, top speed, handling) ?”

I think if you’re talking about these kinds of things with a passenger, your GF is better off to NOT get on your bike. The very FIRST and LAST thing on your mind should be your and your passenger’s safety.

[J.R.]

well duh safety is the biggest concern, but i jus needed to have a rough guess of how the bike will perform so i know what im dealing with for our safety, im 23 with a family, of course im concerned about safety “bridert”

[J.R.]

eternal05 is your passenger weighed 120lbs. what was your weight im curious?

[CBBaron]

Manufacturers all list maximum load for their bikes. If you + passenger + gear + luggage is less than the max load then there is no problem with the bike. However like mentioned a passenger (or heavy, awkward load) will have significant impact on bike handling no matter what the bike.

Craig

[eternal05]

…was just over 300lbs (I’m 180-190 lbs depending on time of day).

[J.R.]

i feel ya on the weight haha

[Sean_D]

– Allow more time and space for passing.
– Be cautious when turning corners, since clearance may be affected.
– You’ll need to brake sooner than normal when carrying passengers.
– The extra weight of your passenger will increase the stopping power of your rear brake.
– You’ll need greater clutch finesse and more throttle when starting from a stop.
– If your passenger is heavy, it will take longer to turn, slow down, or speed up on your motorcycle.
– Avoid traveling at extreme speeds.
– The effects of the wind will be more distinct. Be prepared to counter the effects of wind when appropriate.
– Exercise caution in quick stops, as a passenger can move forward and bump your helmet with theirs.
– Before riding, practice low-speed clutch/throttle control and normal and emergency braking in an open area, like a parking lot, with a passenger.

[paulurmston]

I hear ya. My girl is constantly asking me to take her for rides. Where I live is a capital city, but around 15 minutes away are mountainous twisty roads that beg to be rode. TAKE IT EASY.

The power ratio drops, it will take longer to feel the bike respond… but braking is the worst. It takes REAL long to break.

I would suggest being VERY careful, and thinking at least twice before jumping out into oncoming traffic to pass someone.

[Author]

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