Took a passenger out for the first time...

[Staerke]

So I just had my first passenger, a lady friend needed a ride home from work and I was happy to oblige. She had ridden bikes as a passenger a few times before but I never had a passenger. She seemed to know what she was doing, leaned properly, never had a problem steering.
But she did tell me later that the back felt like it was fishtailing. She's nervous about bikes so I kind of want to chalk it up to that, especially since I didn't feel anything. She couldn't give me more specifics than it happened occasionally but she couldn't cite specific instances when. Is there something I should do about it or should I just chalk it up to paranoia?

[primal]

The fishtailing feeling may have something to do with the ergonomics of the bike. Sort of like sitting in the back of the buss... when it turns it feels like it swings out since you are behind the rear wheels.

[JimG4652]

Check your tire pressures?

[NBX33]

Think about the roads you were riding on..... Some textures on the road make the bikes sway.. IE grooved roads escpecially....

Also check tires pressure. And I think its the back of the bus theory.

ALso my son who rides with me alot says its feels the same way.

He thought it was the rear tires as well..
So its the nature of the mild mannered beast.

[primal]

I'm glad I know that the fishtailing feeling is normal, so now I can warn any potential passengers what to expect.

[JokerZwild]

fish tailing...im sure thats something you woulda noticed. especially if it was your first 2 up ride. But I agree that you oughta recheck your tire pressure just to be safe.

[Kreylyn]

It's a combination of the swingarm flex and tire shape/rim size on the Kats. Yep, your swinger flexes just a little when you hit those curves.

When running hard it means the tail feels like it's "kicking out" just a small amount as you settle in the curve, or transition to the next. It's very noticeable for the rear passengers. My wife (former barrel racer on horses) always refered to it as "taking it's seat" in the curves.

This was always unsettling a little to me. My swinger and rim mod stopped the issue, and my bike no longer does this at all.

Krey

[Staerke]

Wow, good to know. This site rocks, btw, everyone's extremely helpful I'll tell my friend not to worry.

[Silence]

Interesting.... i thought my dad was just failing hard at riding with me as a passenger

[Bugg]

Just a thought, did u bump up your preload on the rear?