Conditions for a two-seater bike
There are various conditions for riding two people on a motorcycle under the Road Traffic Act and the Road Transport Vehicle Act, and not all motorcycles allow two people to ride two people. Also, just because you have a motorcycle license does not mean you can ride two people right away, so you need to be careful.
So, first of all, we will introduce the conditions for a motorcycle that can carry two people, what kind of bikes are not allowed and what kind of bikes are OK.
A review of the rules that beginners and others should know to enjoy riding two people safely and securely.
1. Mopeds are not allowed
Two-seater riding is prohibited by law on Class 1 mopeds (first-class motorized bicycles), which include engine vehicles with an engine displacement of 50cc or less, or 125cc or less with a maximum output of 4.0kW (5.4ps) or less, and electric motorcycles with a rated output of 0.6kW or less.
Conversely, it is generally possible to carry two people on a 51cc to 125cc Class 2 moped (Class 2 motorized bicycle), a 126cc to 250cc light motorcycle, or a small motorcycle of 251cc or more.
Two-seater riding is prohibited on 50cc scooters and other mopeds.
2. Equipped with equipment for two passengers
However, this does not mean that two people can ride on any motorcycle unless it is a Class 1 moped. This is because the law requires that two people must be equipped with the following three pieces of equipment.
・Pandem step
・Pandem seat (or carrier)
・Handle (also called tandem belt, grab bar, or tandem bar)
Therefore, even on Class 2 mopeds with an engine displacement of over 50cc, such as Honda’s Monkey 125, single-seater models that do not have these features cannot be used for two-person riding.
Honda Monkey 125
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However, like Honda’s CT125 Hunter Cub and Cross Cub 110, although there is no pillion seat, it is possible to sit on the rear carrier and, if the bike is equipped with pillion steps and grab bars, it is possible to carry two people.
Honda CT125 Hunter Cub
That said, it’s certainly not recommended for the passenger riding behind, as sitting on the rear carrier can cause pain in the buttocks. If you’re riding tandem on one of these models, it’s best to equip it with one of the optional rear seats or aftermarket parts.
Honda Cross Cub 110
Conditions for riders who can ride two people
To ride a motorcycle on public roads, you must have a license that allows you to drive a motorcycle of the engine displacement you intend to ride, before you can decide whether or not to ride with someone. In addition, there are also legal restrictions on the number of years you must have held a motorcycle license before you can ride with someone else, as follows:
To ride two people on public roads, you must have had your license for at least one year.
First, on public roads,
“More than one year has passed since you were first issued your regular motorcycle license (including your small-size limited regular motorcycle license) or large motorcycle license.”
It is also necessary.
Only riders who have held a license for at least one year can ride two people on public roads.
By the way, if you first get a regular motorcycle license and then a large motorcycle license, in this case, as long as more than one year has passed since you received your regular motorcycle license, you can ride two people on a large motorcycle even if you have received your large motorcycle license for less than one year.
Expressways are for drivers aged 20 or over who have held a driver’s license for at least three years.
There are other rules when riding two people on expressways (including expressways, the same applies below). The main rules are as follows:
1. A motorcycle with a capacity of over 125cc and equipped to carry two people.
2. The driver must be 20 years of age or older.
3. At least three years have passed since obtaining a regular motorcycle license or a large motorcycle license.
The first point is obvious, since motorcycles that can be driven on highways must have an engine displacement of over 125cc. Also, the equipment required for two-seater riding is whether or not the bike has the pillion step, pillion seat, grab bar, etc., as mentioned earlier.
Second, there is an age limit of 20 years or older for two-seater vehicles on the expressway.
In addition, as in 3, there is also the condition that more than three years have passed since obtaining a regular motorcycle license or a large motorcycle license.
The conditions are even stricter on expressways, where the speed range is even higher than on regular roads.
For example, if you have had a large motorcycle license for less than three years, but have had a regular motorcycle license for more than three years, in this case, riding two people on a large motorcycle on a highway is not considered a violation, so you can ride pillion without any hesitation.
Only riders over 20 years old who have held a driver’s license for at least three years can ride two people on the expressway.
There are sections of the expressway where two-seater riding is prohibited.
There are also sections of expressways where riding two people on a bicycle is prohibited, such as the Metropolitan Expressway, which runs through central Tokyo.
In areas where two-seater riding is prohibited, there are signs that say “Two-seater riding on large motorcycles and standard motorcycles is prohibited.” These signs are posted near the entrances to the Metropolitan Expressway, so be sure not to miss them.
Areas on the Metropolitan Expressway where two-seater riding is prohibited (Source: Metropolitan Expressway website “Metropolitan Expressway Drivers Site”)
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“No double riding on large or standard motorcycles” sign
Penalty points and fines in case of violation
As such, the law stipulates detailed conditions and rules regarding two-seater riding, and if you violate them, the fines and penalty points will be as follows:
1. Riding over capacity violation
fine: 6,000 yen for motorcycles, 5,000 yen for mopeds
Penalty points: 1 point
These penalties are mainly imposed when two people ride on a Class 1 moped. They are also imposed on Class 2 mopeds and above, such as the Monkey 125 mentioned above, when two people ride on a single-rider motorcycle.
2. Large Motorcycle and Other Vehicles Violation
Fine: 12,000 yen
Penalty points: 2 points
These are mainly imposed in the following cases:
– Riding two people on a large or standard motorcycle within one year of obtaining a license
– Riding two people on a large or standard motorcycle on a highway within three years of obtaining a license
– Riding two people on a highway while under the age of 20
– Riding two people in an area where two-person riding is prohibited
In particular, violations of the Large Motorcycle and Other Vehicles Act carry heavy fines, so you should be careful not to violate them.
If you violate the two-seater law, you will be fined and receive points.
Before riding tandem, be sure to check the tire pressure.
When riding with someone, you should be careful to make sure there are no malfunctions on the bike or that there are no problems with the equipment. In particular, you should be especially careful about the tire air pressure.
When riding a two-seater, the minimum thing you need to be careful about is tire pressure.
This is because, compared to solo riding, when riding tandem, the weight of two people is placed on the tire, which puts a greater load on it. If the tire does not have enough air pressure, it will not be able to stop properly or corner stably. In some cases, the tire may even burst.
Therefore, before riding with someone, it is important to check the tire pressure and make sure it is within the pressure range specified by the manufacturer.
When riding tandem, the weight of both people is placed on the tires, so it is especially important to check the air pressure beforehand.
The recommended tire pressure can be found in your car’s instruction manual or on stickers attached to the chain cover, etc. Depending on the model, the recommended tire pressure may differ between one-seater and two-seater vehicles.
For example, the Honda CT125 Hunter Cub
・When riding with one person: Front wheel 175kPa (1.75kgf/cm²), rear wheel 225kPa (2.25kgf/cm²)
・When riding with two people: Front wheel 175kPa (1.75kgf/cm²), rear wheel 280kPa (2.80kgf/cm²)
So, when riding with two people, the rear tire pressure is set to be higher than when riding alone. Also, depending on the bike, higher values may be specified for both the front and rear tires when riding with two people, so be careful.
Depending on the bike, higher values may be specified for both the front and rear wheels when two people are riding.
Regarding tires, you should also check to see if the tires themselves are worn out and if there are any scratches on the tread surface. These are the same whether you’re riding a single-seater or a two-seater, and with a motorcycle, only two tires, the front and rear, are in contact with the road while you’re riding, so this is one of the most important checks you need to make to ensure safe riding.
What if the rear suspension sags too much?
In addition, when riding two people, the rear suspension may sink considerably, causing the rear of the vehicle to drop too low. This is common when a large and heavy rider or passenger is riding, and in the worst case scenario, the suspension may bottom out while riding, causing a strong upward thrust. It may also cause the vehicle to sag outward when turning corners.
This is because the rear suspension of the bike is set too soft for the weight of the riders and cannot withstand the weight of two people. In such cases, if your bike has a rear suspension preload adjustment function, you can often make the ride more stable by making the preload stiffer (stronger).
In reality, how hard you want it to be will depend on the physiques of the two people in the car and their riding style. For this reason, you will need to adjust it several times to find the right value, but you can find out how to adjust it by looking at your car’s instruction manual, so we recommend checking it out.
When riding tandem, it may be necessary to adjust the rear suspension preload (photo shows a Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX).
Important points for beginners riding two-seater bikes
In addition, when riding with two people, there are a few things that both the rider and the passenger should be aware of, such as how to ride.
In particular, if it is your passenger’s first time riding a motorcycle, it is a good idea to discuss in advance how to ride so that the ride goes smoothly.
For example, when you are not used to riding, you should “keep as close to the rider’s back and waist as possible.” Also, while riding, you should “hold on to the grab bar and pillion belt firmly” and “use your knee grip to lightly hold the rider’s waist.”
Also, some passengers get scared of the bike leaning in corners and end up sitting upright. If the passenger moves too far in the opposite direction to the bike’s lean, they will lose their balance, making it difficult to ride smoothly and, in some cases, even causing a fall.
Therefore, when turning, it is a good idea to tell the rider to ride in sync with the other riders, for example, to lean their body slightly to the left when turning left, or to the right when turning right (leaning too much can easily cause loss of balance).
When riding with a rider, riders should also try to accelerate and decelerate as smoothly as possible.
On the other hand, if you’re not used to riding with someone, you should try to operate the bike as smoothly as possible, especially when accelerating and decelerating. Riding with the bike swaying back and forth excessively will scare the passenger more than necessary and make the ride uncomfortable.
Also, when cornering, slow down early and turn as slowly as possible. You should also try to ride with consideration for the passenger, avoiding leaning the bike as much as possible.
In addition, passengers as well as riders should pay attention to safety equipment such as long sleeves and long trousers, shoes that cover the ankles, a helmet, and chest protectors. Also, instructing passengers not to touch parts that become very hot, such as the engine and muffler, can help prevent accidents.
By the way, if you want to enjoy long-distance touring on the highway with two people, you’ll want a bike with a flat and wide rear seat. This will help passengers avoid fatigue even on long rides and also provide high stability.
Also, the larger the engine displacement, the more room you have to ride. As a guideline, it’s best to choose a bike with an engine displacement of 400cc or more if possible.
A bike with as large an engine displacement as possible will give you more room to maneuver and make tandem riding more comfortable (photo shows a Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE).
