Two Up Question

[Jac]

Took my wife for a ride for the first time on my new Crosstourer yesterday.  I’d welcome your passenger mounting and dismounting technique recommendations for Crosstourers with panniers mounted from folks who have done a bit of two up riding, particularly with with a “mature” and “vertically challenged” pillion.  We did it, but I’m guessing there may be some “best practices” for mounting/dismounting older and shorter passengers on bikes with panniers.

[DE65Y]

Not had any pillions on the Tourer but if I was taking a pillion on the BIRD and had boxes on that I didn't want scratching.
I used to put the bike down on the side stand. That gave a more stable platform for the pillion while they were getting their leg across.

[Hartley]

I tour a lot with my wife on the back. Method we’ve always used is:
I sit on the bike holding the bike upright. My wife gets on from the left, puts left foot on pillion peg, one hand on my shoulder other on topbox and steps up onto the peg so she’s stood upright on peg. Then lilts right leg over the saddle onto other side of bike, lowers herself onto saddle.
My wife isn’t short but does have a weak knee so if possible I pull up near a kerb to make it easier for her to step up onto the pillion peg.
It does take some practice but it’s the best method we’ve found.

A friend of mine puts his bike on the side stand, his wife then gets onto the bike ( from the left obviously)  in the rider position and then shifts Back onto the pillion seat,he then gets onto the bike.

Hope this helps.

[Jac]

Hartley, we employed the method your friend uses on our first pillion passenger mount yesterday, but I was concerned about the safety of my wife moving herself from front to back while the bike was on the side stand.

[Hartley]

Jac, must admit, its not something i do, especially as the CT leans over so far and with that lean it makes pulling the bike upright once you get on even more of a strain.

That said, you could always apply a bit of light pressure on the front brake lever while your wife got on, youd know the bike cant move then.

Maybe try the method we use with a kerb (or something for you wife to stand on) first until she feels confident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQhttXPPOsU