Motorbike Passenger Weight?

[PeteC]

Paging Dr. Dave or other experts please.

You may have seen my post about my friend who dumped his bike, and that he is about 130 kilos.

Do these small Yamahas, Hondas, Suzuki's etc., come with a listed maximum rider weight number...either in the manual or on the bike ID plate?

I've started talking about what happened to my friend with several others over here and many have said they know of many people who were a bit "large" that things like this happened to. Their thinking is that these bikes are simply not stable with someone that heavy on them. Thanks. Pete

[olmate]

The more weight you add to a bike, its ability to stop, corner, and in general handle becomes greatly affected. Most manufactures advertise a bike dry weight and gross weight which will be the dry weight + 80kg rider + 10kg of fuel. I guess they use 80kg for the rider as an average.
I visited a few of the major bike manufacturers web sites and didnt find anything in specs for different models in regards to recommended rider weight.
Other motorcycle websites mainly preached more rider awareness when carrying extra weight, be it a pillion or luggage.
My view though is the little waves ect running about over there probably arnet safe for much more than 100kg rider. The things themselves probably only weigh 100kg.
The bike i ride in oz weighs 230kgs it quite easily zooms about with my 85kg weight, as soon as i chuck a pillion on the back though the handling of the bike completely changes longer braking times, and more suspension sag which greatly reduces overall handling of the bike.
With 2 people on the bike i still remain bottom heavy, rather than top heavy and retain a lower center of gravity which helps to keep me and my passenger upright and on 2 wheels.
I guess a general rule would be that it would be rather unsafe to have any added weight to a bike that is more than the bike itself weighs. That is if the bike weighs 150kg it probably isnt a good idea to have it carrying more than 150kg. For that past example i am talking about a stock standard model straight from the showroom floor and not hotted up ect which once again would change the bikes handling abilities.

But i dont think the thai scooter carrying 4 people down a backstreet have heard about overloading just yet.

[dr dave soul monsta]

Not to my knowledge, they will have a curbside weight, but they are certainly not made to carry any sort of weight such as a standard farrang never mind 2, they drive like a melting jelly at the best of times

[caller]

I do not ride bikes.

But maybe some advice as to how luggage, or baggage (not bodies) should be carried is also important?

Lost a best mate years ago, the inquest (in the UK) concluded that the looseness of his backpack/rucksack, I can't think of a better way to describe it, contributed to his losing control.

Sadly, a yard either side of the lampost he hit would have seen him fall onto a grass verge for 100 yards+ in either direction.

However, I also recognise that getting around on a bike in HH is, to say the least, the norm. I can't imagine always wanting to take a car for those simple, local errands that need doing. I've sat on the back of a bike many times, but it took some time for me to do that for obvious reasons, but it gave me a buzz! Does anyone offer lessons out there- to euro standards?

And yes, I recognise the above is contradictory.

[Guess]

Interesting question. I doubt though that there is a weight limit imposed on a bike although you may find a manufacturers disclaimer somewhere in small print. I believe this to be also be true of standard saloon cars.

The question has reminded me of two incidents here in Thailand. On one occasion I had to share a M/C taxi in Cha Am with a fat lady. I was at my heaviest weight ever at the time of 95 Kilos. The lady was about 70 kilos. The rider (also a lady) was exceptionally overwieght for a Thai woman and I reckoned her to be somewhere in between at about 80 kilos. The total weight carried therefore was about 245 Kilos. The two guys I was with with (one of which owned the fat lady) weighed in at about 150 kilos between them with a 50 kilo rider.

We had been set up for a laugh and when we arrived at the restaurant it was pointed out that there was absolutely no remaining movement left in the rear suspension of the Honda Wave 110.

The other in Second Road in Pattaya was two German men on a Honda Wave who must have totalled at least 240 kilos. Unbelievably the bike moved forward and the rider even managed to change into second gear.

[lomuamart]

A couple of years ago, my wife and I hired a 100cc bike and rode from Pai to Soppong - on the way to Mae Hong Song.
For those of you that don't know, it's seriously hilly terrain. I'm no bike rider, admittedly, but I was having serious trouble speeding the bike up in the face of a big up-hill slope. Down to second gear and had to change to first. I was really worried about doing a wheelie. At one point, my wife got off and walked to the top of the hill.
She then suggested that she ride. I pointed out that with my weight on the back of the bike going uphill we might as well be in a space shuttle. Oh. and it was just as dangerous coming downhill!!!
Sorry to hear about your friend, Pete, but even to my very inexperienced mind, there is a weight factor to be taken into account when riding a bike anywhere, as others have already said.
A great day out, but if we do it again, I'll take a taxi.

[Dangerous]

Dave,

I’d better lose some weight before I hire out one of your scooters.

[dr dave soul monsta]

you'l be sound mate they are made from 100% metal no plastic fantastics from me they were all built to last the youngest one is 31 years young and still going strong