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For many, the joy of riding on two motorised wheels is better shared with a pillion passenger. The word ‘pillion’ is derived from the Gaelic word ‘pillean’ or ‘little rug’, referring to the rug or animal skin that someone being carried on a horse sat on, and it carried over to the world of motorcycling.
While those riding pillion sustain only a tiny minority (around 6%) of all injuries when they are involved in a motorcycle crash, when these injuries occur they’re likely to be serious. This is perhaps why one survey in Australia found that just under a fifth of riders regularly carried pillion passengers, 56% carried them only occasionally and slightly under a quarter of the people questioned reported never allowing anyone to ride on the bike behind them.
If you want to carry a pillion passenger, you need to be aware of the proper safety gear required for both people – helmets are compulsory and protective clothing is strongly recommended – and of the difference in the way a bike handles when there are two people on the machine. You will be closer to the ground when taking corners, the brakes will feel and perform differently, and you may need to adjust your steering. Equally, you may need to work harder to change gears and take corners smoothly. You may also need to adjust tyre pressure and suspension to take into account the extra weight, and to retain the machine’s height. For obvious reasons, you can’t carry passengers on a provisional license, or if the bike isn’t designed to take a pillion.
Allowing a pillion passenger is a decision only you can make. You should consider all aspects of the ride with your pillion passenger, including how it may affect your insurance and premium payments.
In the last couple of years there has been a rise in personal injury claims. Now riders seeking a quote are routinely asked whether they intend to carry pillion passengers, although, historically, it has never been an issue, and the question was never asked. Interestingly, the same information is not required from motorists, since the number of seats in most cars means carrying passengers is assumed.
The carrying of pillion passengers is increasingly a rating factor when assessing risk because of rising bodily injury claims for these riders, especially on sports and supersports machines. For example, Britain’s biggest insurance provider said last autumn that it wouldn’t cover Honda Crosstourers at all unless motorcyclists said they would only ever ride solo on these bikes.
This VFR1200X sports bike is one of number of machines the insurer will not cover if passengers are carried. However, other brokers have said other underwriters would provide cover. Therefore the hardest machines to get pillion cover for are sports, supersports and off-road style motorcycles.
So check your policy carefully – and be aware that you can no longer expect to get pillion cover as a matter of routine. Click here to learn more about motorcycle insurance from Bennetts.
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