ALLINTHEFAMILY

BY SANDY BORDEN #188051

MOLDING
YOUR YOUNG
PILLION
RIDING TWO-UP IS A BONDING EXPERI-
ence, and keeping your pillion happy is the
key in creating a memorable trip. Each
member of the team must know their role
and how to play it, literally, at every curve.
Now, turn the pillion into your opinionated
eight-year-old son thus begins a whole
new game. There are benefits to teaching
them proper riding skills at an early age.
There are also times when you wish you
could drop them off at the next bus stop
and ship them home. But the experiences
shared on the road are irreplaceable, mak-
ing for a lifetime of remember when
conversations.
Jack began riding on the back of Ter-
rys R1150GSA when he was five years
old and big enough to wear proper gear.
Aside from the usual gear, Jack also
wore a full harness that hooked around
Terrys waist, making it impossible for
Jack to slide off. We also kept all of our
camping gear in a U-shaped duffel that
hugged Jack on all sides, thus complet-
ing the La-Z-Boy feel. This kid was rid-
ing in possibly the most comfortable
setup up yet created. Jack was safe and
secure as he dozed off from time to time,
resting his helmet on Terrys back as the lull
of the engine sang him to sleep.
So, what have we learned when it comes
to molding your young passenger? Oh,
where to begin! But I shall do my best in
narrowing it down to a few key
ingredients.
Making your little one comfortable is
Rule #1. An uncomfortable pillion equals
a miserable rider creating a bad time for all.
BMW OWNERS NEWS April 2013 48
ALLINTHEFAMILY
If youre looking to log some pretty long
miles, invest in a high quality seat with an
Airhawk at the ready just in case. On our
long treks, Jack knows immediately if the
touring seat is not in place. This small
investment could give you an extra 100
miles on any given ride.
Proper riding gear is a must on all
excursions. Are they cold? Have an extra
layer or heated gear ready at the next pit
stop. Do the pants or jacket pinch in funny
places? Pull over for a stretch and figure out
a solution before it becomes a major issue.
The sooner you figure out the right gear, the
less you have to hear about it along the way.
Ask me how I know. Years of experience,
people!
Knowing the limits of your pillions
internal odometer is a major player
for a successful voyage. When we
started out, Jack was good for about 50
miles before wanting to stop and stretch. I
know, I know. Stopping every 50 miles is
not ideal when you are looking to get to
your destination before sundown. But, if
you slow your pace and take the time to cre-
ate a pleasurable experience for your
young passenger, I guarantee all play-
ers will be better for it when you put
the kickstand down.
Food! If youre a parent, you know the
food swings that happen with kid-
dos. Famished 24/7 one day, maybe a
crouton or two the next. We keep
Zbars, Cliff Bars, oranges and Goldfish
on hand at all times. All are easy to
stuff in the corner of a side case, tank
bag or any crevice you may find. Dont
even think of packing bananas! Raise
your hand if youve ever had one
explode in your luggage! I rest my case.
Invest in a CamelBak for them to wear
or tuck into the pocket of a saddlebag.
This quickly cuts down on the number
of water stops and gives them a new
little gadget to work while rolling.
Our three-way communication sys-
tem has kept the meltdowns to a min-
imum, as Terry, Jack and I are able to chat
it up along the way. Terry and Jack have a
constant conversation of pilot-to-co-pilot
and pilot-to-control tower. Ill key up every
so often to hear Pilot Jack telling Control
Tower Terry that he is on his approach to
land his Cessna or 737 or whatever the
plane of the moment may be. Terry can also
pump in some music for them to bob their
helmets to while rolling. Hours of preteen
musical compositions have made Terry the
foremost adult expert of Naked Brothers
Band lyrics. This makes Jack very proud.
There are many more topics I could cover
on shaping your young passenger toys,
tools, clothes, the list continues. The most
important thing to remember, though, is no
matter what the miles or the route, if youre
both having fun, youre doing it right. Will
you get frustrated at times? Of course. Will
your little one complain? Um, yep! But like
anything else in life, its worth the extra
planning and research. When they take that
helmet off and flash you that toothy grin,
youll be the one asking, Can we do that
again? Cheers.
Consider a Rebuild for your Aging Motorcycle Parts
Bevel drive spline K & R models Drive
shaft splines and U-Joints Cylinder
head service Shock service 1985 on
monos Transmission Rebuilds
Brunos
Machine
& Repair
705-843-0822 www.brunos.us
Highway 554 #47, RR1 Iron Bridge, ON P0R 1H0
Holt BMW
9000 Cycle Lane
Athens, Ohio 45701
Holt BMW
Restoration & Custom
BMW Motorrad Paint
Repairs & Refinishing of
your current parts
Custom painting & Hand
pinstriping
New parts painted in
colors not available thru
BMW inventory
On site optimized color matching of all
BMW finishes
Suppliers of BMW recommended Glasurit
paint products
Full service BMW Retail Center
For pricing call 740.593.6690
www.holtbmw.com
BMW Motorrad
U8A
Authorized
Dealer
From novice tourers to expert long-distance
riders, all can beneft from the informative
articles, technical features, editorials
and product reviews in each issue of the
OR TRY
A SINGLE
COPY FOR
$5.95
+$2 S&H
To order, go to
the Iron Butt
Associations
web site:
www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine
Subscribe
Its not only for
IBA members!
M
A
G
A
Z
I
N
E

April 2013 BMW OWNERS NEWS 49