Protective Motorbiking

Wear Full Protective Motorbiking Gear

Ideally the pillion should wear full protective gear, no less than the driver. At the minimum, a full-face helmet, leather jacket, leather gloves and sturdy boots should be worn. Knees, shoulders and elbows are the common impact spots during a crash, so these areas should be armoured and/or padded. Helmets should never be bought second-hand due to the possibility of microfractures; for the same reason they should be replaced after being dropped, or after any crash in which the helmet collided with any surface. People with long hair should wear it contained, both for safety reasons and practical - hair whipping in the wind is less poetic during the half-hour detangling process afterwards! Helmet-friendly hair styles keep long hair safe and neat.

Don't Shift Your Weight On the Bike

It is tempting for a pillion to either try to 'help' the driver lean around corners, or endeavor to compensate by leaning the other way. Neither practice is safe. Instead, the pillion should sit 'like a sack of potatoes', neither moving his body deliberately nor trying to keep stiffly upright. If the pillion is snugly tucked against the driver and clasping the driver around the waist, the two bodies will tend to naturally lean together around corners.

Cornering and decelerating are the two most unstable conditions for a bike. If a pillion must shift his weight, he should wait until the bike is accelerating or at least travelling quickly along a straight road. Gravel roads also make motorbikes very unstable.

Using Hand Signals to Communicate on a Motorbike

Unless you have an intercom system between the driver's and pillion's helmets (an expensive option), it is useful to have a simple system of communication. Some bikers recommend tapping the driver on the thigh to indicate 'Stop the bike now' or 'Stop the bike as soon as it's convenient'. Make sure to differentiate any hand signals from pointing out items on interest along the way.

Hold Onto the Driver's Waist, Not Shoulders

It can feel intuitive to hold onto the driver's shoulders, as they are the highest point on the bike. However, pushing on his shoulders puts a lot of tiring pressure on his arms, and may interfere with his ability to steer efficiently. Hold the driver around the waist instead, or use the pillion grab rail at the back of the seat instead. A belt with pillion handles may also be worn by the driver.

Keep Your Feet Up When the Bike is Stationary

A pillion does not need to 'support' the bike by putting his feet on the ground when the bike is at a stop sign. It is safer to keep the feet on the footpegs.

Dress Warmly on a Motorbike

The wind chill on a bike, especially an unfaired model, is considerable. Woollen gloves can be purchased to wear under the protective gloves. Special motorbike balaclavas are available to be worn under helmets, as are waterproof overjackets and overpants. Other warm or waterproof gear should be considered according to the conditions in which you are likely to be riding.

Drive Only with a Biker You Trust

Being a pillion is trusting your life to the driver's reactions, skill and wisdom. Follow common sense when asked to ride—is the driver experienced? Does she encourage you to follow or ignore safety guidelines, especially as regards protective clothing? Is she completely sober, strong enough to support the bike with your added weight, and experienced at carrying pillions?

London Museum Old Motorcycles

The London Motorcycle Museum is located in a quiet suburb of the English capital. But its contents scream motorcycle history, with bikes dating back as early as 1902.

The early motorcycles on display at the London Motorcycle Museum look more like bicycles with a motor attached than they do the motorbikes of today. Highlights of the museum’s early holdings include a 1902 Ormonde Kelecom 2-1/4hp; a 1903 Clyde, also 2-1/4hp; a 1915 Harley Davidson 1000cc, and a 1919 Triumph 550cc.

Triumph Motorcycles Predominate at Museum

The museum is filled with rare and vintage motorcycles. Triumph motorcycles dominate the collection, with more than 50 manufactured down through the years. The collection also includes BSA, Norton, Velocette and Royal Enfields. The museum specializes in British motorcycles, including racing and road bikes. A complete listing of the holdings can be found on the museum’s web site.

On display are motorcycles used by the military and police over the years.

Recent additions to the collection include a 1939 Sunbeam B24S, originally billed as the “gentleman’s motor bicycle,” and a 1949 500cc AJW Gray Fox Side Valve Twin. The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust also has several rare biks, including a 1925 500cc Beardmore Precision, on display at the London Motorcycle Museum.

Founder Started Museum to Display His Collection

The museum grew out of a collection of motorcycles owned by Bill Crosby, who began collecting motorcycles in the late 1950s when he bought a motorcycle shop, according to the museum’s web site. The collection grew from there, and soon he was looking for a place to display his bikes. Many years and several moves later, Crosby found a permanent home for his motorcycles at an old farm in Greenford, a quiet suburb of London. And thus the London Motorcycle Museum was born. It is the only motorcycle museum in London.

The museum today is run by Crosby and his family, plus volunteers, as a British Motorcycle Charitable Trust. Motorcycles are mainly displayed in one building now, but there are plans to expand into several other buildings, each one devoted to a specific area, the museum’s web site notes. Motorcycle enthusiasts can plunk down £20 on a bike of their choosing through the "adopt a bike" program.

Motorcycles Borrowed for British TV Shows

The museum also is mobile, taking motorcycles to shows and exhibitions around the area. Some motorcycles have also been used in British television shows, including the popular British soap opera Eastenders, and movies.

The museum is open weekends and bank holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In 2008, admission was £3 for adults and 50p for children 5 to 14 years old. The museum is located at Ravenor Farm, 29 Oldfield Lane, Greenford.

It’s reachable by train/subway and bus. Visitors with all-zone Travel Cards can use the passes to get to the museum. It takes about an hour by train and bus combination.

Motorcycle enthusiasts may also want to visit the Sammy Miller Museum ner Southampton.

Motorbike License

Once a rider has successfully taken her compulsory bike training (CBT), an off-road class that teaches basic riding skills, she may venture out on the road. Armed with a DL196 certificate for the CBT class, she may choose to learn alone or take professional training. Either way, the DL196 is the key to moving forward on two wheels.

All learner riders in the United Kingdom, regardless of age, must ride with special "L" plates, a very obvious placard attached to the vehicle that shows the rider is a learner. Welsh riders may use D-plates instead, the "D" in question standing for "dysgwr."

Learning to Ride Mopeds in the United Kingdom

According to the DVLA, a moped is a vehicle that goes no faster than 31mph and is no more than 50cc. A moped rider must be aged at least 16, and must obtain the DL196 unless he has passed his car test before 1 February 2001, in which case the provisional license is automatic. Otherwise, he must then pass the theory and moped riding tests, at which point he gets a "P" on his license to prove he may legally ride mopeds.

Under normal circumstances, the DL196 is valid only for two years. However, for those who passed a car driving test while the DL196 was still current or who did the CBT after passing a car test, the DL196 is permanent – but only for mopeds. Those wanting to get a motorcycle endorsement still only have two years from completion of the CBT to pass the theory and riding tests.

Learning to Ride Light Motorcycles in the United Kingdom

The DVLA splits motorcycle licenses up into two classes. The A1 class is for light motorcycles – no larger than 125cc with 11kW/14.6 bhp. (Until the mid-1990s, 125cc was the largest motorcycle that any learner rider could operate.) To get an A1 license, the rider must be at least 17 years old, and must have either a CBT certificate or have passed the moped test. If, however, she obtained her moped license after July 1, 1996, she does not have to do another theory test.

The riding test must be taken on a motorcycle between 75 and 125cc, after which the rider may ride a motorcycle up to 125cc and up to 14.6 bhp.

Learning to Ride Medium Motorcycles in the United Kingdom

The A license is for "medium" motorcycles. It is available from the age of 17, and is valid on motorcycles with maximum 33 bhp and a maximum power-to-weight ration of 16kW/kg. In the case of A licenses, the CBT requirement is waived for riders with either a moped or an A1 license, and the theory test is waived for those with an A1 or moped license. In other words, the rider need not take the theory and CBT tests repeatedly as he upgrades to larger motorcycles.

The riding test is carried out on a motorcycle between 120 and 125 cc which can go at least 62 mph. After passing the test, the rider is restricted to machines of 33 bhp for two years and can then upgrade to larger motorcycles without taking a new test.

The above rules were introduced to help prevent accidents in younger, statistically more rash, motorcyclists. However, there is a provision for older riders on larger bikes, with somewhat restrictive requirements.

Direct Access Options for Older Motorcycle Riders

The Direct Access license allows a rider aged at least 21 to learn on and take a riding test on a motorcycle over 35kW/46 bhp. He must have a provisional motorcycle license, and must take a CBT and theory test unless he has passed a moped or A1 riding test since July 1, 1996.

The beauty of the Direct Access system is that the rider can learn on a larger motorcycle. Its major drawback is that the rider can only ride that motorcycle if accompanied with an qualified instructor in radio contact at all times. This means that if she wants to practice alone, she will also need a smaller motorcycle – 125cc or less. On the other hand, once she passes the test there are no restrictions on what size and power of motorcycle she can ride.

Those who turn 21 before the two-year license restriction ends have an "Accelerated Access" option. They can get a larger motorcycle, riding it only with a qualified instructor, and can take the riding test a second time to get past the two-year restriction. If they fail, their existing A1 or P license remains mercifully intact.