Guest Britcheflee Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Hi, I have not taken the wife for a ride on my Ballabio yet -would like to take her out for a ride one evening - has anyone had any feedback from pillion riders on the V11 sport? Is the seating position comfortable? On all the other bikes I have had the seat has been pretty much flat - so was thinking that she might end up hanging over my shoulder or something if I had to stop quickly. Thanks Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoltan c Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Hi,I have not taken the wife for a ride on my Ballabio yet -would like to take her out for a ride one evening - has anyone had any feedback from pillion riders on the V11 sport? Is the seating position comfortable? On all the other bikes I have had the seat has been pretty much flat - so was thinking that she might end up hanging over my shoulder or something if I had to stop quickly. Thanks Lee 90232[/snapback] My wife and I have gone on a few rides together. The first time we went to a swap meet and put about 200 km on the bike in one afternoon. She said that the seat isn't very comfortable and also it is slanted so she slides forward especially when I'm braking. This makes it uncomfortable for me as well because you get extra pressure on your hands from the bars because you are holding up your weight plus hers. (Not to mention the pressure on your nuts being crammed into the gas tank!) I like to have my wife along since she is my best friend but I think both of us agree that it would be better for her to get her own bike. Also the exhaust cans feel hot under her feet, I have the stock cans on the bike. (She doesn't have proper riding boots either so that could be why.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antonio carroccio Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My wife is 1,59 meter tall and she doesn't have to much problem. I think persons bigger than my wife should find the V11 uncomfortable. I know Jasper and his girl friend goes with him for a ride. She is a big girl. The problem of the V11 is that there is nothing in the neighbourhood of the seat to grip. Passengers have to grip the rider or put the hands on the knees. I happy my wife isn’t that big Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jasper Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 hi, our biggest problem with the v11 is the spacing of the seat.. my girlfriend is pretty tall ans skinny so she's sitting in the turbulence and cant sit close to me without sliding of the sadle onto the drivers bit of the saddle (does that makes sense?) Compared to other bikes the v11 isn't to bad.... but if your tall your in trouble! And yes be prepared to a lott of pressure on your wrists! And be surprised how an extra 65 kilograms (in my case) will really effect brake performance..... Not to mention accelaration... the sprint from 150 to 220 takes a lot longer! Good luck.. Ciao jap Just go for it i say..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchbob Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My wife isn't petite, and tends to slide forwards on the pillion of my V11, under braking. However, she says it's more comfortable than the Triumph it replaced [1994 Trident 900], although she does complain of hot feet [Mistrals, no guard]. She also says the turbulence is less at speed. I find the V11 less comfortable than the Triumph, riding with my wife on the back, but it's bearable for medium-length journeys [100 miles or so, with a stop]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MikeC Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My 10 year old daughter seems OK for short rides with no problem. She prefers the SS for long rides. I don't believe the V11 was designed for pillion comfort. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Werner Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My wife and I went on a 250-300 mile one day outing on the Rosso Corsa and she couldn't wait to get off. She is 5' 6" and about 130 lb. I even put a gel pad and sheepskin cover on the seat. The pillion area is too small, too firm, the footpegs are too high, and there is nothing behind to grab or lean on. She said it was her first and last trip on the Rosso so I bought a BMW R1150RT for two up. She loves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Britcheflee Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My wife and I went on a 250-300 mile one day outing on the Rosso Corsa and she couldn't wait to get off. She is 5' 6" and about 130 lb. I even put a gel pad and sheepskin cover on the seat. The pillion area is too small, too firm, the footpegs are too high, and there is nothing behind to grab or lean on. She said it was her first and last trip on the Rosso so I bought a BMW R1150RT for two up. She loves it. 90273[/snapback] Thanks for all your feedback - I had a feeling that the riding position was not the most comfortable....probably ok if you have a tiny 20 something babe clinging to you but thats not likely in my case....... Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Sean Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 My wife is tiny - about 5'0" and 105 lbs... on long rides she is a little sore, but she has not complained sliding forward on the seat. She does prefer that I sit back farther (than I do when I am alone) on the seat so I am closer to her, since she is on the raised portion of the seat, and that has not been a problem for me -- except at stops (and that is because I am only 5'8" and I need to be close to the tank to have both feet on the ground). I have remedied this situation by buying her her own Guzzi -- the 1982 V50 III! Guzzi family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Hi, My wife 5'8" and sons who are both over 6'4" insist on my giving them a pinion ride every weekend - no, not all at the same time. I have found a strap made in Australia which I wear around my waist which has loops at each side for pillions to use as a gripping point when on my V11. It saves all the helmet banging if you have to pull up quickly and seems to put more of their weight lower into the bike instead of on top of it, also aids in the syncronising of lean in cornering. My kids and wife will not ride with me now unless I wear it as it makes the whole experience more enjoyable for them. My wife is even thinking of getting me to wear it in bed... The strap has been one of the best things I have bought besides the Guzz and is only around AUD$27 + postage - & no I don't work for the company & NO the recomendation on the items site is not from me - Greg is spelt the wromg way ! The link to them is : if interested. Safe riding Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainrider Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Rich Maund two-up seat.It should be in the Guggenheim museum. My GF is 5'8 and she loves the riding position especially with a sheepskin. We went on a 2800 mile journey last year with camping gear and all.The most miles we did was two days of 500 milers.Tired,but not on the verge of suicide. I too have Mistral cans and made a bracket from SS muffler clamps and spacers to add the footrest from the stock cans to the Mistrals.Works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchbob Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Rich Maund two-up seat.It should be in the Guggenheim museum.My GF is 5'8 and she loves the riding position especially with a sheepskin. We went on a 2800 mile journey last year with camping gear and all.The most miles we did was two days of 500 milers.Tired,but not on the verge of suicide. I too have Mistral cans and made a bracket from SS muffler clamps and spacers to add the footrest from the stock cans to the Mistrals.Works great. 90313[/snapback] Any chance of a picture of that modification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nogbad Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 I have done longish (300 miles) trips with my 6' son on the back of the V11. My wife finds it ok too but she is quite short. All agreed it was the bike from hell to ride on the back of until I fitted one of these. Approx £50 from Motomecca. Ok its @#!#$# all use as a rack but the grabrail is just right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan M Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Hi,I have not taken the wife for a ride on my Ballabio yet -would like to take her out for a ride one evening - has anyone had any feedback from pillion riders on the V11 sport? Is the seating position comfortable? On all the other bikes I have had the seat has been pretty much flat - so was thinking that she might end up hanging over my shoulder or something if I had to stop quickly. Thanks Lee 90232[/snapback] It's all relative. Variables are the bike, the wife, & the wifes experiences. Bearing long term emotional scars from a very long day on the back of the Commando, I can't convince her to even try the V11. It's the RT or nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 It's all relative. Variables are the bike, the wife, & the wifes experiences. Bearing long term emotional scars from a very long day on the back of the Commando, I can't convince her to even try the V11. It's the RT or nothing. 90376[/snapback] Speaking of wives with scars my wife has a scarred knee from a motorcycle accident back when she was in college (she was pillion). She has ZERO interest in ever getting on a motorcycle again so I'm riding solo for the forseeable future, which is OK with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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