Think sleek retro bikes are no good for carrying a pillion? You're right, but I tried anyway...

The sleek lines of the BMW R12 nineT are perfect for a single rider… But this retro machine comes kitted out with a pillion seat, so it seemed necessary to get a pillion’s perspective on the perch provided. 

Previous updates

• Update one: First impressions after two months and 1288 miles
• Update two: Time to see how the retro fares on a wet Welsh weekender
• Update three: Electrical gremlins

It was going to be an interesting change to have a human instead of luggage behind me, but as I had planned to ride to the cheese-rolling in Gloucester and my friend wanted to come too, it was the perfect opportunity. 

For reference, the trip would take over two hours and cover over 100 miles – each way. My friend, Luci, hadn’t been on a motorcycle since the last time I took her out five years ago – and even then, she was new to the prospect. And we only went five miles for a pub lunch. This would be a learning experience.

She arrived early to try on riding kit, and after quick refresh brief on being a pillion we saddled up. 

The first stint out of town was a touch wobbly. When I’d previously taken her as a pillion, it had been on my Harley-Davidson where weight remains low to the ground – this was a new experience as the mass was higher, and I had to rebalance the bike to ride accordingly. But once we were out of town I’d settled in, and the BMW purred along. 

The first hour flew by, but with no pillion backrest, I stayed incredibly still to help Luci hang on confidently. As a result, by the time I got to Gloucester I had a numb bum and sore shoulders.

We were riding in convoy with my family, and Luci thankfully took a quick jaunt on my dad’s bike from Oily Rag onwards to shake off the muscle cramps and numbness. Then we all got to have a good laugh – and a few grimaces – at the legendary cheese rolling bonanza. 

Now more comfortable in the saddle, the ride home went by in a relative heartbeat and without any dramas (apart from getting caught in the rain) but man, did I feel sore the next day (as did Luci).

Maybe the Beemer’s rear perch is best for simply nipping out to a local pub lunch after all!  

What was the pillion ride like?

After the ride, Luci said: “The seat wasn’t bad, but after two hours nonstop riding, my rear was mostly numb. I’d previously been pillion on a bike with a backrest, so it was hard work relaxing on the bike for that long without one. When we were coming back I was counting down the miles! But it was easy enough to hold on, and I soon got used to it. Plus, the cheese rolling was hilarious!”